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.
Narkosegespenst
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
mit dem großen Dröhnekoffer in der Hand
verteilt Relaxium-rauscho-easylin und zu saufen jede Menge
und dann seh ich die ganzen No-future-Typen
und das ganze Durchgehänge
Das Narkosegespenst präsentiert seinen Kundenkreis
im Betäubungs-TV die Coolhalte-Schau:
aber jede Sekunde kann's passieren
daß sich die Menschheit selber killt
und dann werden wir verseucht, versaftet
und mal eben kurz durchgegrillt
Da gab's mal einen Film von James Bond
der hieß: Man lebt nur zweimal
da kann ich doch nur lachen, wenn ich will -
nein, ich leb sechsmal
denn wir haben ja auch sechsfachen Overkill
sechsmal soviel Power - sechsmal soviel fighten
mit Gleitcreme an den Sohlen durch die Abenteuer gleiten . . .
Das Narkosegespenst nimmt den Leuten den Horror ab
Opium fürs Volk, Zuckerbrot und Spiele
und das macht sie alle so schlapp
Narkosegespenst, mich kriegst du nicht, trotz Raketen überall
ich kann doch mein Leben nicht schon jetzt aufgeben
und nur noch warten auf den großen Knall
Da gab's mal einen Film von James Bond
der hieß: Man lebt nur zweimal
da kann ich doch nur lachen, wenn ich will -
nein, ich leb sechsmal, denn wir haben ja auch sechsfachen Overkill
sechsmal soviel Liebe - sechsmal soviel Sex
ich bin ne Blume an der dunklen Mauer
ein Wiederstandsgewächs
The lyrics to Udo Lindenberg's "Narkosegespenst" critique a society that seeks to escape reality through drugs and entertainment. The Narkosegespenst, or anesthesia ghost, is a symbolic figure that represents the addictive substances that people use to numb themselves to pain and suffering. The opening lines describe the ghost as carrying a "big buzzing suitcase" filled with drugs and alcohol, which it distributes to the masses. The singer observes the aimless youth who have given up on their futures and have resigned themselves to a life of substance abuse and lethargy. The Betäubungs-TV, or anesthesia television, is a metaphor for the media's role in pacifying the population by distracting them with mindless entertainment. The singer is critical of the people's apathy and lack of action, warning them that they are complicit in their own destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Das Narkosegespenst geht um im Land
The anesthetic ghost is wandering around the land
mit dem großen Dröhnekoffer in der Hand
carrying a large suitcase full of anesthetic drugs
verteilt Relaxium-rauscho-easylin und zu saufen jede Menge
distributing Relaxium, Rauscho, and Easylin, and encouraging heavy drinking
und dann seh ich die ganzen No-future-Typen
observing all the no-future types
und das ganze Durchgehänge
and all the drugged-out behavior
Das Narkosegespenst präsentiert seinen Kundenkreis
The anesthetic ghost presents its customer base
im Betäubungs-TV die Coolhalte-Schau:
with the show of keeping cool on the anesthetic TV
Was ich nicht weiß, macht mich nicht heiß
What I don't know won't worry me
aber jede Sekunde kann's passieren
but at any second it could happen
daß sich die Menschheit selber killt
that humanity could self-destruct
und dann werden wir verseucht, versaftet
and then we'll be contaminated and drunk
und mal eben kurz durchgegrillt
and quickly grilled
Da gab's mal einen Film von James Bond
There was a James Bond movie once
der hieß: Man lebt nur zweimal
it was called 'You Only Live Twice'
da kann ich doch nur lachen, wenn ich will -
I can only laugh about that if I want to
nein, ich leb sechsmal
no, I live six times
denn wir haben ja auch sechsfachen Overkill
because we have six times the overkill
sechsmal soviel Power - sechsmal soviel fighten
six times the power - six times the fighting
mit Gleitcreme an den Sohlen durch die Abenteuer gleiten . . .
sliding through adventures with lubricant on our soles...
Das Narkosegespenst nimmt den Leuten den Horror ab
The anesthetic ghost takes away people's horror
Opium fürs Volk, Zuckerbrot und Spiele
Opium for the masses, bread and circuses
und das macht sie alle so schlapp
and that makes them all so weak
Narkosegespenst, mich kriegst du nicht, trotz Raketen überall
Anesthetic ghost, you won't get me, despite rockets everywhere
ich kann doch mein Leben nicht schon jetzt aufgeben
I can't give up my life already
und nur noch warten auf den großen Knall
and just wait for the big bang
nein, ich leb sechsmal, denn wir haben ja auch sechsfachen Overkill
no, I live six times, because we have six times the overkill
sechsmal soviel Liebe - sechsmal soviel Sex
six times the love - six times the sex
ich bin ne Blume an der dunklen Mauer
I am a flower on the dark wall
ein Wiederstandsgewächs
a plant of resistance
Contributed by Cameron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.