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.
Süße Sucht
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
und ich, was fang' ich an
ich treibe mich rum
auf Parties nächtelang
doch der Whisky, der bringt's nicht mehr
und andere Frauen, das fällt mir schwer
Du bist die Droge, die ich brauch'
und davon komm ich nie mehr los
wir war'n schon viel zu weit
das war doch alles viel zu groß
einfach aufhör'n ist nicht drin
weil ich wie ein Junkie süchtig bin
Ich fahr' ohne Ziel durch's Labyrinth der Stadt
fühl' mich wie einer der kein zuhaus' mehr hat
weißt du eigentlich wie das ist
wenn du voll auf Turkey bist
und dein Dealer dich vergißt
Du bist die süße Sucht
und davon komm ich nie mehr los
wir war'n schon viel zu weit
das war doch alles viel zu groß
einfach aufhör'n ist nicht drin
weil ich wie ein Junkie süchtig bin
Ich hätte nie gedacht
daß mich das so fertig macht
daß du so 'ne harte Droge bist
die mir jetzt durch die Blutbahn schießt
The song "Süße Sucht" by Udo Lindenberg is a heartfelt ballad about addiction and the struggles one faces when trying to break free from it. The lyrics depict the story of the singer who feels lost and aimless after his lover has left him. He tries to distract himself by attending parties and drowning himself in alcohol and other women but nothing seems to help. The only thing that could fill the void is his ex-partner, who he describes as a drug that he cannot give up. The chorus "Du bist die süße Sucht" which translates to "You are the sweet addiction" emphasizes the desperation and dependency that the singer feels towards his ex-partner.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's mindset, as he drives aimlessly through the city, feeling like he has nowhere to go. However, his thoughts are interrupted when he is reminded of how it feels to be high on drugs and left stranded by his dealer. The song concludes with the realization that the singer never expected to be so affected by the breakup and acknowledges his ex-partner as a potent drug that has taken over his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Jetzt bist du weg
The person addressed in the song is no longer with the singer.
und ich, was fang' ich an
The singer is unsure of what to do now that the other person is gone.
ich treibe mich rum
The singer wanders around aimlessly.
auf Parties nächtelang
The singer goes to parties and stays up all night.
doch der Whisky, der bringt's nicht mehr
Drinking whiskey no longer has the desired effect on the singer.
und andere Frauen, das fällt mir schwer
The singer finds it difficult to be with other women.
Du bist die Droge, die ich brauch'
The other person is the 'drug' the singer needs.
Du bist die süße Sucht
The other person is a sweet addiction that the singer can't shake off.
und davon komm ich nie mehr los
The singer will never be able to get rid of this addiction.
wir war'n schon viel zu weit
The relationship had progressed too far to turn back now.
das war doch alles viel zu groß
Everything was too big and important to just let it go.
einfach aufhör'n ist nicht drin
Stopping the addiction is not possible.
weil ich wie ein Junkie süchtig bin
The singer is addicted to the other person like a drug addict.
Ich fahr' ohne Ziel durch's Labyrinth der Stadt
The singer drives aimlessly through the city.
fühl' mich wie einer der kein zuhaus' mehr hat
The singer feels like he has no home anymore.
weißt du eigentlich wie das ist
The singer is asking if the other person knows the feeling.
wenn du voll auf Turkey bist
The word 'Turkey' is most likely a slang term for a type of drug, indicating that both the singer and the other person are addicted to each other like drugs.
und dein Dealer dich vergißt
The dealer forgetting about you refers to the other person maybe forgetting about the singer.
Ich hätte nie gedacht
The singer did not anticipate the level of addiction he would have to the other person.
daß mich das so fertig macht
The addiction is taking its toll on the singer.
daß du so 'ne harte Droge bist
The other person is a 'hard drug' that is difficult to break away from.
die mir jetzt durch die Blutbahn schießt
The other person's effect on the singer is deep and intense.
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.