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.
Rudi Ratlos
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
der streicht uns grad 'n Evergreen
er ist 80, hat zittrige Finger
und ist schon ganz weich in den Knien
Rudi Ratlos mit viel Pomade
in den wenigen Haaren, die er noch hat
schade, schade, schade, schade, Berlin '33
da war er der Liebling aller Frauen
und außerdem Leibmusikalartist
von Adolf Hitler und Eva Braun
Rudi Ratlos, heute wieder
auf den Brettern, die die Welt bedeuten
er wurde aus dem Altersheim abgeholt
von diesen cleveren Businessleuten
Der galante Carl Brutal
tanzt den Schieber jetzt nochmal
und er schiebt die Lady nett übers glänzende Parkett
und der Geiger geigt uns einen
und manche Damen fangen an zu weinen
und eine ist schon ganz naß
in den Augen und um die Nase blaß
Rudi Ratlos geigt den Tango
auf eine Art, die uns betört
er ist ein solcher Wahnsinnsmacker
daß selbst ein falscher Ton uns nicht stört
Und der galante Carl Brutal
tanzt den Schieber jetzt nochmal
und er schiebt die Lady nett übers glänzende Parkett
und der Geiger geigt uns einen
und manche Damen fangen an zu weinen
und eine ist schon ganz naß
in den Augen und um die Nase blaß
Dieser Rhythmus, daß jeder mit muß
diese Melodie vergißt man nie
uh, das geht in jedes Bein
so muß ein Tango sein
The song Rudi Ratlos by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of an aging violinist named Rudi Ratlos. Despite his age and trembling fingers, Rudi makes music that is still as captivating as ever. In his youth, Rudi was a popular musician, the darling of the ladies in 1933 Berlin, and even played for Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun. But now, he is being dragged out of a retirement home by businesspeople to play an evergreen on the "boards that mean the world," and he's once again joined by the smooth-suave dancer Carl Brutal who shimmies his partner across the dance floor as Rudi Ratlos plays on. The song highlights the beauty and timelessness of music that captures the attention and hearts of everyone.
The lyrics of the song highlight a common theme in the music industry, where artists who may have hit the peak of their fame have had to settle for less. The mention of Carl Brutal dancing the Schieber cycle explains how business opportunists use fading musicians to promote their events. Rudi's trembling fingers signify his old age and his years of playing the violin. However, even with Rudi's old age and trembling fingers, his music still captures the heart of the listeners. The song also indicates how music can touch and move people's emotions. The mention of some ladies weeping while listening to the music shows how music has a unique way of speaking to each listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Rudi Ratlos heißt der Geiger
The musician playing the guitar is named Rudi Ratlos
der streicht uns grad 'n Evergreen
He is currently playing a well-known classic song
er ist 80, hat zittrige Finger
Rudi Ratlos is 80 years old and has shaky fingers
und ist schon ganz weich in den Knien
He is feeling weak in the knees now
Rudi Ratlos mit viel Pomade
Rudi Ratlos has put a lot of pomade in his few remaining hairs
in den wenigen Haaren, die er noch hat
He has only a few hairs left on his head
schade, schade, schade, schade, Berlin '33
It's a shame, a shame, a shame that he was playing during the time of Berlin in 1933
da war er der schönste Geiger der Stadt
At that time, he was considered the most beautiful musician in the city
da war er der Liebling aller Frauen
All women loved him then
und außerdem Leibmusikalartist
He was also the personal musician of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun
von Adolf Hitler und Eva Braun
Rudi Ratlos, heute wieder
Rudi Ratlos is playing again today
auf den Brettern, die die Welt bedeuten
He is playing on the most important stage in the world
er wurde aus dem Altersheim abgeholt
He was picked up from the nursing home
von diesen cleveren Businessleuten
By these intelligent businesspeople
Der galante Carl Brutal
A man named Carl Brutal
tanzt den Schieber jetzt nochmal
He is currently dancing the Schieber
und er schiebt die Lady nett übers glänzende Parkett
He gracefully leads the lady across the shiny dance floor
und der Geiger geigt uns einen
Meanwhile, Rudi Ratlos is entertaining us with his violin
und manche Damen fangen an zu weinen
And some of the ladies are crying
und eine ist schon ganz naß
One of them is already teary-eyed
in den Augen und um die Nase blaß
Her eyes are red and her face is pale
Rudi Ratlos geigt den Tango
Rudi Ratlos is playing the Tango
auf eine Art, die uns betört
He is playing it in a way that enchants us
er ist ein solcher Wahnsinnsmacker
He is such an incredible musician
daß selbst ein falscher Ton uns nicht stört
Even if he plays a wrong note, we wouldn't notice or care
Dieser Rhythmus, daß jeder mit muß
The rhythm is so infectious that everyone has to move to it
diese Melodie vergißt man nie
The melody is unforgettable
uh, das geht in jedes Bein
It goes into every bone and makes us want to dance
so muß ein Tango sein
This is how a Tango should be played
Contributed by James A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ludmilla_windosasamtos_err3925
er ist achzig und nu gehst du selbst drauf zu.
Niemand kann es sich vorstellen, niemand will es glauben aber die Zeit geht, verfliegt im Nu. - Schade schade.. mögen sie noch alle unbegriffen sagen aber komm der Punkt ..
Toll, dass du immer noch alles so mitmachen kannst. - Ich glaube es ist nicht für viele ersichlich was für Leistung du wirklich derzeit überhaupt verbringst.
Alter, du bist ein wahnsinns Macker, aber bleib so wie du bist, weil "DU" machst sowieso dein Ding und so mögen wir alle DICH.
Hast noch 'ne Erinnerung an die Gurke?
PS. Du gehörst zu Hamburg wie einst auch Hans Alberts und bist aus dieser Stadt nicht mehr wegzudenken. - Immer alles ♥ Gute für Dich
@matthiasklemm5720
Wahnsinn nach 45 Jahren ist der Text einfach da
@Beatricechurlaud22
Guten Abend, wie geht es dir, ich hoffe, ich störe dich nicht??
@frankh.2669
Diese Melodie vergisst man nie... Genau so isses! Danke, Udo. Immer wieder gerne...
@AcapulKero
Das geht in jedes Bein. Hab auch drei hahahahahaha :) Einfach geil!
Auch der Rhytmus, wo jeder mit muss.
@silviaruhsen4666
Udo ratloS
@ronnywotapek372
einige der alten Songs haben meine Haltung bestätigt und gestärkt ....... danke Udo
@ulrichwill496
Udo ist der geilste!!! Liebe Grüsse aus Zürich. Habe ihn mal in Zürich zusammen mit Gianna Nanni gesehen! Top!!!
@whatsgoingup
Udo war immer schon gut und wird noch besser 👍
@ellenr.3409
Alles Gute zum 70. Udo!
Das waren noch so richtig geile Zeiten, die 70er!
Gab es die Videos damals schon? Dann habe ich die wohl als Teenager nicht sehen dürfen.
Einen Live Auftritt habe ich mal bei Ilja Richters Disco gesehen.
@RiccardoSchuhmann
Wo hätte man die Videos sehen sollen? Im Fernsehen kam sowas nicht!