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.
Nathalie Aus Leningrad
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nie vergeß ich Nathalie.
Weiße Nächte in der Stadt,
Lief mir Dir die Straßen lang,
Verstanden uns sofort,
Obwohl ich kein Wort Russisch kann.
Du hast mir Deine Stadt gezeigt,
- Paläste und Ruinen,
Und alles, was da früher so war.
Und plötzlich merke ich,
Es ist soweit: Ich liebe Dich.
Nathalie aus Leningrad,
In der großen fremden Stadt,
Wir war'n verknallt übre beide Ohr'n.
Der erste Kuß am Newa-Fluß
Und daß es weitergehen muß
Das haben wir uns da geschwor'n.
Und dann hast Du mir erzählt
Von der Nazi-Terror-Zeit,
Deine Stadt im Todeskampf,
900 Tage Ewigkeit.
Dein Vater war erst zehn,
Hat seine Eltern verhungern seh'n.
Nathalie aus Leningrad,
In der großen fremden Stadt,
Wir war'n verknallt über beide Ohr'n.
Der erste Kuß am Newa-Fluß
Und daß es weitergehen muß
Das haben wir uns da geschwor'n.
Ich denk so oft an Dich, Nathalie.
Nein, diese Stadt und Dich vergeß ich nie.
Nathalie aus Leningrad,
In der großen fremden Stadt,
Total verknallt über beide Ohr'n.
Der erste Kuß am Newa-Fluß,
Und daß es weitergehen muß,
Das haben wir uns da geschwor'n.
Nathalie aus Leningrad,
In der großen fremden Stadt,
Ich komm bald wieder...
The song "Nathalie aus Leningrad" by Udo Lindenberg is a touching love story about the singer's time spent in Leningrad with Nathalie. The song starts with the singer reminiscing about his time spent in Leningrad, and how he will never forget the city or Nathalie. He states that despite not being able to speak Russian, their understanding and compatibility was instant. Nathalie showed him around the city and its landmarks, and he suddenly realized that he was in love with her.
The song takes a dark turn when Nathalie tells the singer about the Nazi terror times and the 900 days of suffering that Leningrad endured during World War II. Nathalie's father was just ten years old at that time, and he witnessed his own parents perish due to starvation. Regardless of the sadness in Nathalie's life, the two remain in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Nie vergeß ich Leningrad,
I will never forget Leningrad.
Nie vergeß ich Nathalie.
I will never forget Nathalie, either.
Weiße Nächte in der Stadt,
The white nights in the city were beautiful.
Lief mir Dir die Straßen lang,
We walked down the streets together.
Verstanden uns sofort,
We understood each other immediately.
Obwohl ich kein Wort Russisch kann.
Even though I don't speak any Russian.
Du hast mir Deine Stadt gezeigt,
You showed me your city.
Den alten Newski-Boulevard - Paläste und Ruinen,
You showed me the old Nevsky Boulevard with its palaces and ruins.
Und alles, was da früher so war.
And everything that used to be there.
Und plötzlich merke ich,
And suddenly I realize
Es ist soweit: Ich liebe Dich.
That it's time: I love you.
Nathalie aus Leningrad,
Nathalie from Leningrad,
In der großen fremden Stadt,
In the big, foreign city,
Wir war'n verknallt übre beide Ohr'n.
We were head over heels in love.
Der erste Kuß am Newa-Fluß
Our first kiss at the Neva river
Und daß es weitergehen muß
And that it must continue
Das haben wir uns da geschwor'n.
We swore it to each other then.
Und dann hast Du mir erzählt
And then you told me
Von der Nazi-Terror-Zeit,
About the Nazi terror time,
Deine Stadt im Todeskampf,
Your city in the throes of death,
900 Tage Ewigkeit.
900 days of eternity.
Dein Vater war erst zehn,
Your father was only ten years old,
Hat seine Eltern verhungern seh'n.
And saw his parents die of starvation.
Ich denk so oft an Dich, Nathalie.
I think of you often, Nathalie.
Nein, diese Stadt und Dich vergeß ich nie.
No, I will never forget this city or you.
Nathalie aus Leningrad,
Nathalie from Leningrad,
Total verknallt über beide Ohr'n.
Totally in love, head over heels.
Ich komm bald wieder...
I'll be back soon...
Writer(s): HENDRIK SCHAPER, ANGELINA MACCARONE, UDO LINDENBERG
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.