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.
Riki Masorati
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
und reckt den Hals wie 'ne Giraffe
denn Riki Masorati dröhnt vorbei
wie ein Kamikaze-Affe
gedresst in Asbest und in Angst
so daß er ins Cockpit näßt
doch volles Rohr, sonst wird das nix
mit dem hochdotierten Grand Prix
Refrain:
Riki Masorati mit dem Bleifuß
fährt als Formel-1-Pilot
in jeder Kurve kichert der Tod
bremst er zu spät, ist alles finito
bremst er zu früh, hat er das Rennen verloren
rauscht er gegen die Balustrade
hat er angebrannte Ohren!
So wie damals im Crashy-Hospital
da ist er wieder aufgewacht
und sie hatten ihm versehentlich
ein Auge am Hinterkopf angebracht
er war sehr geschockt und meint
was ist hier eigentlich los ?
Doch Professor Dr. Abwiegel
sagte: Sehen Sie doch mal, wie praktisch das ist
da brauchen Sie nie wieder einen Rückspiegel
und sein Gesicht hatten sie zu sehr geliftet
er hatte hinten nur noch ein Mono-Ohr
und seitdem hört er leider nicht mehr
den Stereosound von seinem Brüllmotor
Refrain
Und gestern passierte es wieder
daß nach dem Rennen auf dem Nürburgring
sich ein Versuchs-Niki-Lauda-Fahrer
an einem Baum verfing
doch der war ja nur
ein kleiner Rennrauschfamilienvater
da war man nicht so interessiert
da macht man nicht soviel Theater
The song "Riki Masorati" by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of a reckless Formula 1 driver named Riki Masorati. The lyrics describe how Nora Nagelmann, a spectator at the race, watches Riki Masorati drive past with a death-defying recklessness. He is described as being dressed in asbestos and fear, and he wets himself in the cockpit due to his fear. But even with his fear, Riki Masorati is determined to win the highly paid Grand Prix, and he drives with everything he's got.
The chorus emphasizes the danger and risk that Riki Masorati has taken, stating that in every turn, death is laughing. If he brakes too late, it's all over, but if he brakes too early, he has already lost the race. If he crashes into the balustrade, he'll have burnt ears. The song also mentions a time when Riki Masorati was hospitalized after a crash, where it's said that he woke up with an eye attached to the back of his head. Professor Dr. Abwiegel assures him that it's useful as he'll never need a rearview mirror again. The song ends with the description of a minor crash on the Nürburgring that didn't cause much drama because the driver was just a small-time father.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the thrill-seeking and reckless behavior of Formula 1 drivers and the risks they take every time they get behind the wheel. It also touches on the societal phenomenon of celebrating reckless and dangerous behavior, especially within the world of racing.
Line by Line Meaning
An den Boxen steht Nora Nagelmann
Nora Nagelmann stands at the pit box.
und reckt den Hals wie 'ne Giraffe
She stretches her neck like a giraffe.
denn Riki Masorati dröhnt vorbei
Because Riki Masorati races by with a roar.
wie ein Kamikaze-Affe
Like a kamikaze monkey.
gedresst in Asbest und in Angst
Dressed in asbestos and fear.
so daß er ins Cockpit näßt
So much so that he wets the cockpit.
doch volles Rohr, sonst wird das nix
But full throttle, or it won't work.
mit dem hochdotierten Grand Prix
For the highly-paid Grand Prix.
Riki Masorati mit dem Bleifuß
Riki Masorati with a lead foot.
fährt als Formel-1-Pilot
Drives as a Formula 1 pilot.
in jeder Kurve kichert der Tod
In every curve, death giggles.
bremst er zu spät, ist alles finito
If he brakes too late, it's all over.
bremst er zu früh, hat er das Rennen verloren
If he brakes too early, he loses the race.
rauscht er gegen die Balustrade
If he crashes against the railing.
hat er angebrannte Ohren!
He'll have singed ears!
So wie damals im Crashy-Hospital
Just like in the Crashy Hospital.
da ist er wieder aufgewacht
Where he woke up again.
und sie hatten ihm versehentlich
And they had accidentally given him.
ein Auge am Hinterkopf angebracht
An eye attached to the back of his head.
er war sehr geschockt und meint
He was very shocked and said.
was ist hier eigentlich los ?
What's going on here, actually?
Doch Professor Dr. Abwiegel
But Professor Dr. Abwiegel,
sagte: Sehen Sie doch mal, wie praktisch das ist
Said, "Just look how practical that is."
da brauchen Sie nie wieder einen Rückspiegel
You'll never need a rearview mirror again.
und sein Gesicht hatten sie zu sehr geliftet
And they had lifted his face too much,
er hatte hinten nur noch ein Mono-Ohr
He only had one ear in the back.
und seitdem hört er leider nicht mehr
And since then, he can't hear
den Stereosound von seinem Brüllmotor
The stereo sound of his roaring engine.
Und gestern passierte es wieder
And yesterday it happened again,
daß nach dem Rennen auf dem Nürburgring
That after the race at the Nürburgring.
sich ein Versuchs-Niki-Lauda-Fahrer
A test Niki Lauda driver.
an einem Baum verfing
Got caught on a tree.
doch der war ja nur
But he was just
ein kleiner Rennrauschfamilienvater
A little racing frenzy family man.
da war man nicht so interessiert
So he wasn't as interesting.
da macht man nicht soviel Theater
They didn't make such a big fuss.
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lucifuge Rufucale
Udo der "Geilomat" und noch ohne Hütchen
aber schon damals absoluter Wahnsinn!
DriveLongRoad
Das ist "mein" UDO-Song! Danke fürs zeigen!
Scheiße ist das lange her. Disco, 12. November 1977. Man wird langsam alt.
Alter Scheiß aus meiner Kindheit
Und udo mit euch
Lawrence McDowall
Pl
Uwe Graf
Der größte Rock - Poet aller Zeiten....🎯👍💖
Karl-Heinz Huth
Udo Lindenberg ,das Geilste und Beste was es je in Deutschland an Musik gab ,seine Texte waren ,sind und werden immer Einzigartig bleiben....Ich Lieb Dich Udo !!
Franz Pille
Er is wieder da. Und er bleibt für immer ;-)
Thorsten Dunker
Franz Pille du hast so recht alter.
Steffen Meister
einfach nur geil UDO forever
Karsten Koehler
Das Lied sang ich schon 1979 in der Ausbildung mit, einfach geil.