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.
Sex in der Wüste
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in der glühend heißen Sonne
narkotisiert
am Rand der Wüste
Die Luft vibriert
die Sonne sticht die helle Haut
und nichts geschieht
Der Horizont rückt näher
und was keiner weiß
jeder denkt das eine
doch dafür ist's zu heiß
Sex-
Sex in der Wüste
doch dafür ist's zu heiß
Der Sand ist heiß
kein Schatten weit und breit
die Cola kocht
man liegt im eignem Schweiß
im Katalog stand was von feiern
und wilden Abenteuern
und alles ist ganz geil
Doch jetzt hier
wo trokene Winde wehn
wird gar nichts feucht
und nichts will stehn
Der Horizont rückt näher
und was keiner weiß
jeder denkt das eine
doch dafür ist's zu heiß
Sex-
Sex in der Wüste
doch dafür ist's zu heiß
Udo Lindenberg's song "Sex in der Wüste" tells the story of someone who finds themselves stranded in the desert, surrounded by the scorching heat of the sun and the dryness of the sand. The lyrics paint a picture of a desolate and barren landscape, where the only companionship is the narkotizing effects of drugs. Amidst the unrelenting heat, the singer contemplates the possibility of sexual release and relief, but quickly realizes that the environment is too hostile and unforgiving for such desires to be fulfilled. The song is a commentary on the deceleration of desires and the powerlessness of the human body when confronted with the harsh realities of nature.
The song's lyrical content is coupled with a minimalist and repetitive musical arrangement, which reinforces the theme of stagnation and stifled desires in the lyrics. The use of drums and synthesizers, coupled with Lindenberg's gravelly voice, gives the song a hypnotic quality that mirrors the singer's narkotization. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Sex in der Wüste, doch dafür ist's zu heiß" (Sex in the desert, but it's too hot for that), serves both as a commentary on the singer's desires and as a statement on the environment's inhospitality.
Overall, "Sex in der Wüste" presents a haunting commentary on the complexities of human desire and the unforgiving nature of the environment. It is a song that reinforces the idea that even the most primal and basic of human needs can be challenged by the harshness of reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Am Strand von Tanger
Udo Lindenberg sets the scene for his story in Tangier's beach.
in der glühend heißen Sonne
The heat is intense and blazing.
narkotisiert
The heat is so unbearable that it makes him feel drugged.
am Rand der Wüste
The beach is situated at the edge of the desert.
Die Luft vibriert
The hot air causes a visible distortion of the surroundings.
die Sonne sticht die helle Haut
The sun is so bright and hot that it hurts his fair skin.
und nichts geschieht
Nothing seems to be happening around him.
nur ein Gefühl wird gestaut
He can feel something intense brewing within him.
Der Horizont rückt näher
The horizon seems to be approaching and this adds to his excitement.
und was keiner weiß
Although no one else knows it, he is steadily building up an anticipation for something.
jeder denkt das eine
It's natural for anyone to have sexual thoughts in such an environment.
doch dafür ist's zu heiß
However, the heat is so unbearable that it prevents anything from happening.
Sex-
A sexual encounter seems to be imminent.
Sex in der Wüste
A sexual encounter in the desert is what he desires.
doch dafür ist's zu heiß
But due to the extreme weather, it is impossible.
Der Sand ist heiß
The sand is scorching hot.
kein Schatten weit und breit
There is no shade anywhere nearby.
die Cola kocht
Even the cola he is drinking is boiling hot due to the heat.
man liegt im eignem Schweiß
He is drenched in his own sweat.
im Katalog stand was von feiern
In the brochure he read about wild parties and adventures.
und wilden Abenteuern
The brochure promised wild and exciting experiences.
und alles ist ganz geil
Everything sounds thrilling.
Doch jetzt hier
Now that he is here in reality.
wo trokene Winde wehn
Where dry winds are blowing.
wird gar nichts feucht
Due to the dry heat, everything is dry.
und nichts will stehn
Nothing seems to stand upright.
Der Horizont rückt näher
The horizon still looks closer than ever.
und was keiner weiß
Even though nobody else knows his intention.
jeder denkt das eine
Everybody thinks of the same thing.
doch dafür ist's zu heiß
The heat is so unbearable that everybody is unable to act on their thoughts.
Sex-
A sexual encounter seems to be imminent.
Sex in der Wüste
A sexual encounter in the desert is what he desires.
doch dafür ist's zu heiß
But due to the extreme weather, it is impossible.
Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.