The LP Lindenberg (also 1971, and sung in English, already with Steffi Stephan on bass) was likewise unsuccessful. In the following year, the fist LP in German was released: Daumen im Wind (produced by Lindenberg and Thomas Kukuck, who also produced the next five albums together), from which the single "Hoch im Norden" became a radio hit in northern Germany. The year 1973 brought a breakthrough with the album Andrea Doria and its catchy "Alles klar auf der Andrea Doria" and "Cello". Over 100,000 copies sold, and Lindenberg quickly received the largest record deal of any German-language musician up to that time. Lindenberg was earning a special place in the new German-language music of the 70s: Between internationally-oriented Krautrock and pop music, he found his niche. German-language rock had previously been confined to predominantly political message bands whose music was directed at a narrow audience.
Lindenbergs brash style, everyday subject matter ("Bei Onkel Pö…") and his feel for language were an unprecedented combination in German-language music. His pioneering work helped other artists such as Stefan Waggershausen and Marius Müller-Westernhagen get record deals of their own. In 1973 Lindenberg first went on tour with his Panikorchester (Panic Orchestra).
1976 was one of Udo Lindenberg's most productive years. Besides the LP Galaxo Gang he also published under the name Das Waldemar Wunderbar Syndicat I make you feel good, a first Best of Panik Udo and the first in a series of foreign-language publications No Panic, on which Lindenberg translated his songs to English. In the same year (and on another LP: Sister King Kong) with the song "Rock ’n’ Roll Arena in Jena", Lindenberg first mentioned a Panic Orchestra tour in the GDR. In 1976, Lindenberg discovered Ulla Meinecke and produced her first two albums. She was a guest artist and co-author of the 1977 LP Panische Nächte (Panic Nights) and the 1978 Dröhnland Symphonie. On Lindenbergs Rock Revue (1978) Lindenberg and Horst Königstein "Germanized" rock classics from Little Richard to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and went on a big tour. The Nr.-1-Hit "We Gotta Get out of This Place" was also published with German lyrics.
The subsequent Dröhnland-Symphonie-Tour was staged by Peter Zadek as a big multimedia stage show with a plethora of costumed extras. The result was Lindenbergs first live album Livehaftig. In 1979, Der Detektiv was the second Rock Revue, in which more international hits such as "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John, "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, "My Little Town" and "As Time Goes By" (from the film Casablanca) were "Germanized". Also 1997 was published "Belcanto - Udo Lindenberg & das Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg" which included hits like "Horizont", "Bis ans Ende der Welt" along with a song by Bertold Brecht and Udo's own interpretation of The Windmills of Your Mind - "Under the drunkard moon" ("Unterm Säufermond").
One of his most famous songs is Sonderzug nach Pankow (Special train service to Pankow), an adaptation of Chattanooga Choo Choo, released as a single on 2 February 1983. It originated from the refusal of eastern German authorities to allow Lindenberg a concert in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
On June 3, 2011, Lindenberg performed at Kampnagel unplugged. The recording was later released as an album within the MTV unplugged series. Lindenberg was the 8th German artist in that series. The album became the second No.1 album for Lindenberg declared Platin status for 200,000 sold units after two weeks. The second single from the album "Cello" (feat. Clueso) went No.4 giving Lindenberg the highest chart position in German singles charts ever reached.
Lindenberg has worked collaboratively with various local and international recording artists (Eric Burdon, Helen Schneider, David Bowie, Tom Robinson, Keith Forsey, Gianna Nannini, and Nena) on a number of projects. He currently lives in Hamburg in the Hotel Atlantic (for several years now). His somewhat hoarse voice is the result of too much liquor and cigarettes. In 1989, he survived a heart attack. In 2010, he designed two stamps, themed on his songs "Andrea Doria" and "Sonderzug nach Pankow", for the Deutsche Post.
Na und?!
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich wollt 'n Text schreiben
Doch mir fiel überhaupt nichts ein
Und plötzlich kamst du
Du sagst: „Zu zweit geht es besser“
Du würdest mir behilflich sein
Es machte Klick
Und später zogen wir durch die Gegend
Es war ein wildes und tolles Klima
Wir mochten uns sehr, immer mehr
Und dann sagtest du: „Ey, irgendwie lieb' ich dich sehr“
Plötzlich denke ich: „Moment mal“
Und da wurd' mir erst wieder klar, dass du ein Junge warst
Und jetzt war erstmal wieder alles ganz anders
Ich war sehr irritiert
Weil so was mir als altem Mädchenaufreißer äußerst selten passiert
Ich stand da wie ein Spießer
Der sich Sorgen um seine Keuschheit macht
Und du sagtest: „Es geht doch hier nicht um 'ne schnelle sexuelle Nacht“
Wir wurden Freunde immer mehr
Und du erzähltest, dass es manchmal so schwer wär'
Dass sich viele Schwule sich noch immer verstecken
Auf dem Männerpissoir
Und der Pöbel sagt: „Weg damit“
Wie das damals schon bei den Nazis war
Wir mochten uns sehr, immer mehr
Und ich sagte: „Ey, irgendwie lieb' ich dich sehr“
Plötzlich denke ich: „Moment mal“
Und da wurd' mir erst wieder klar, dass du ein Junge warst
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song Na und?! tells a story of a narrator sitting in a café, struggling to come up with ideas for a text when suddenly a person approaches him and offers their help. The two hit it off and end up spending time together, enjoying each other's company. However, the singer later realizes that the person they have grown to care for is actually a boy. Initially, the singer is taken aback and concerned with preserving their own perceived heterosexuality but eventually realizes that their feelings are genuine and they continue to develop a deep connection with the person.
At its core, Na und?! is about the fluidity and unpredictability of human relationships, as well as a critique of societal norms that dictate who one should or shouldn't love. The song challenges the idea that love should be based solely on gender and emphasizes the importance of accepting and embracing love in all forms.
The song was released in 1973 and is considered to be one of Udo Lindenberg's most important and influential works. It served as a significant statement about LGBTQ+ rights, which were not widely accepted at the time of its release in Germany. Na und?! has become an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community and is still widely popular today for its message of love and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich saß im Café
I was sitting in a cafe
Ich wollt 'n Text schreiben
I wanted to write a text
Doch mir fiel überhaupt nichts ein
But I couldn't think of anything
Und plötzlich kamst du
And suddenly you came along
Du sagst: „Zu zweit geht es besser“
You said: 'It's better together'
Du würdest mir behilflich sein
You offered to help me
Es machte Klick
We clicked
Und wir verstanden uns prima
And we understood each other well
Und später zogen wir durch die Gegend
And later we traveled around
Es war ein wildes und tolles Klima
It was a wild and great atmosphere
Wir mochten uns sehr, immer mehr
We liked each other a lot, more and more
Und dann sagtest du: „Ey, irgendwie lieb' ich dich sehr“
And then you said: 'Hey, I kind of love you a lot'
Plötzlich denke ich: „Moment mal“
Suddenly I thought: 'Hold on a minute'
Und da wurd' mir erst wieder klar, dass du ein Junge warst
And then it dawned on me again that you were a boy
Und jetzt war erstmal wieder alles ganz anders
And now everything was completely different
Ich war sehr irritiert
I was very confused
Weil so was mir als altem Mädchenaufreißer äußerst selten passiert
Because something like this rarely happened to me as an old girl-charmer
Ich stand da wie ein Spießer
I felt like a square
Der sich Sorgen um seine Keuschheit macht
Worrying about his chastity
Und du sagtest: „Es geht doch hier nicht um 'ne schnelle sexuelle Nacht“
And you said: 'This is not about a quick sexual night'
Wir wurden Freunde immer mehr
We became friends, more and more
Und du erzähltest, dass es manchmal so schwer wär'
And you told me that it's sometimes so hard
Dass sich viele Schwule sich noch immer verstecken
That many gay people still hide
Auf dem Männerpissoir
In the men's restroom
Und der Pöbel sagt: „Weg damit“
And the mob says: 'Get rid of them'
Wie das damals schon bei den Nazis war
Like it was back in the Nazi times
Und ich sagte: „Ey, irgendwie lieb' ich dich sehr“
And I said: 'Hey, I kind of love you a lot'
Plötzlich denke ich: „Moment mal“
Suddenly I thought: 'Hold on a minute'
Und da wurd' mir erst wieder klar, dass du ein Junge warst
And then it dawned on me again that you were a boy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Udo Lindenberg, Jean-Jacques Kravetz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Benny Flu
Auch nach fünfzig Jahren noch nicht vergessen.., seine Musik geht immer rein!!
Count Jaye & The Hard Beats
When I was a young teeny I listened to that a lot. from the Livehaftig album.
Angelika Frisch
Toller Song👍
🌞🍀
Ralf egal
absolut klasse song
Reni Hanke
Immer schon seiner Zeit voraus
Himmelsstürmer
Wichtiges Lied.
Silvia Kist
schön <3 hab ich gar nicht gekannt :-)
Stephan Busch
Damals wie Heute, up to date.
By day so, the night very different 🫠
Udo ohne Sonnenbrille Identitätschutz 😆Wyld
Simon der Horribiles
Wahr früher besser!!!!!