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 kleine Sechzehn
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in Pittsburgh PA
und auch da unten in Texas
rund um die Frisco Bay
genauso wie in St. Louis
und in New Orleans
ist jeder Junge ganz verrückt
nach Sweet Little Sixteen
Süße kleine Sechzehn
sie weiß, was sie will
'ne halbe Million Fotos
von Elvis, Chuck und Bill
und wenn 'ne Band in die Stadt kommt
dann ist sie da
mit großen feuchten Augen
verschlingt sie ihren Star
»Oh Mammi, Mammi
bitte sieh das ein
ich will mich schminken, wie die andern auch
ich bin doch nicht mehr so klein
Oh Daddy, Daddy
bitte lass mich gehn
sag der Mammi
du hast nichts gesehen«
Süße kleine Sechzehn
sie wär so gern eine Frau
Schaumgummibusen wie die Monroe
und macht die große Schau
doch am nächsten Morgen
kannst du sie sehn
als süße kleine Sechzehn
in die Schule gehn
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song Süße kleine Sechzehn talk about teenage fandom and infatuation towards musicians and rock bands. The song talks about how young girls all over America are obsessed with rock and roll, and how they follow their favorite musicians across various cities and states to attend their concerts. The opening lines of the song mention various American cities and states, including Boston, Pittsburgh, Texas, St. Louis, and New Orleans, suggesting how widespread and popular this music was in the 1950s and 60s.
The chorus of the song talks about the titular character, Sweet Little Sixteen, who is a sixteen-year-old girl with a passion for music and its stars. She knows what she wants, and she is not afraid to show it. She collects half a million photos of her idols, which included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Bill Haley, and follows bands wherever they go. She is enamored with her idols, and when they come to town, she is always there with big, dewy eyes, taking in every moment of their performance.
The second verse of the song focuses on the Sweet Little Sixteen's desire to grow up faster than she should. She wants to be like Marilyn Monroe, and she wants to wear makeup and be seen as a woman. She pleads with her parents, asking them to understand her wishes and allow her to become the person she wants to be. The final line of the song states that the next day, she may be seen walking to school, dressed as a sweet little sixteen-year-old, perhaps with no apparent care for the rock and roll world that she was so enthralled with the night before.
Line by Line Meaning
Sie rockten los in Boston
They started rocking in Boston
in Pittsburgh PA
And in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
und auch da unten in Texas
And down in Texas too
rund um die Frisco Bay
Around the Frisco Bay
genauso wie in St. Louis
Just like in St. Louis
und in New Orleans
And in New Orleans
ist jeder Junge ganz verrückt
Every boy is crazy
nach Sweet Little Sixteen
For sweet little sixteen
Süße kleine Sechzehn
Sweet little sixteen
sie weiß, was sie will
She knows what she wants
'ne halbe Million Fotos
Half a million photos
von Elvis, Chuck und Bill
Of Elvis, Chuck, and Bill
und wenn 'ne Band in die Stadt kommt
And when a band comes to town
dann ist sie da
She's there
mit großen feuchten Augen
With big wet eyes
verschlingt sie ihren Star
She devours her star
»Oh Mammi, Mammi
'Oh mommy, mommy
bitte sieh das ein
Please understand
ich will mich schminken, wie die andern auch
I want to wear makeup like the others
ich bin doch nicht mehr so klein
I'm not so little anymore
Oh Daddy, Daddy
Oh daddy, daddy
bitte lass mich gehn
Please let me go
sag der Mammi
Tell mommy
du hast nichts gesehen«
You haven't seen anything'
Süße kleine Sechzehn
Sweet little sixteen
sie wär so gern eine Frau
She would love to be a woman
Schaumgummibusen wie die Monroe
Foam rubber breasts like Monroe's
und macht die große Schau
And puts on a big show
doch am nächsten Morgen
But the next morning
kannst du sie sehn
You can see her
als süße kleine Sechzehn
As sweet little sixteen
in die Schule gehn
Going to school
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@blackmamba4754
Hahaha wie geil
@petemakkay
Danka, BlackMamba!
@alkoop100
1:32 Thumbs up !!
@petemakkay
Thanks again, alkoop100!
@FedericoBorluzzi
Wow, a very cool German version! :)
@petemakkay
Molto graz´ a te, caro amico Fede!
@petemakkay
Who the fuck is Krunoslav Slabinac?