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.
Sister King Kong
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
War 2 1/2 Zentner schwer.
Sie war die Meisterin I'm Catchen
I'm Leute zerquetschen
War gefährlich wie ein GrizzIybär.
Mit der Grazie einer Elefantin
Stieg sie in den Ring zu dieser dreisten provokantin
Und sie sagt: "ich zermalm dich und nicht zu knapp
Und überall auf dieser katastrophengeilen Welt
Wurden Millionen Wecker gestellt.
Und morgens um 5 hingen sie vorm Fernsehbild
In der Hoffnung
Heut' wird original gekillt.
Gleich kommt der Gong
Sister King Kong
Doch erst noch das Banner
Und der Nationalsong.
Arme wie Keulen
Beine wie Säulen
Selbst Ex-Weltmeister Ali
Ist dein Fan -
Catch as catch can.
Bei diesen Gladiatorenkämpfen
Kassieren sie Millionen
Und da fühle ich mich animiert
Ich steh ja sowieso auf Horrorshow
Und da hab' ich erst mal hart trainiert
Und die Welt stand kopf als beim Titelfight
Sie in der ersten Runde kapitulierte
Als ich ihr zeigte
Was Trumpf ist
Und ihr locker in den Rumpf biá
Und ihr geil mit dem Seil den Hals massierte.
Gleich kommt der Gong
. . .
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's "Sister King Kong" depict a monstrous, dangerously massive female wrestler who weighs two and a half hundredweights and has the grace of an elephant. She confronts her opponent with a boastful challenge, warning that he will lose the fight unless he submits to her. The song satirizes the brutality of gladiator fights that are staged for public entertainment and profit. The image of millions of viewers worldwide setting their alarm clocks to watch the fighters, with the expectation of witnessing a genuine killing, underscores the callousness of the modern-day Roman circus.
The song turns on the refrain, "Here comes the gong, Sister King Kong," signifying the moment of combat when the cage is closed, the banner is unfurled, and the national anthem is played. The wrestler, with arms like clubs, legs like pillars, and fanatics comprising even retired world champions, enters the ring, ready to fight. The lyrics expressed Lindenberg's revulsion with the commodification of violence, as sports promoters construct a spectacle of human carnage, where the only matter of importance is the commercial success of the event. It encapsulates themes of power and domination, sexism, and societal dehumanisation.
Line by Line Meaning
Sie sah aus wie die Schwester von King Kong
She looked like the sister of King Kong
War 2 1/2 Zentner schwer.
She weighed 2 and a half hundredweight
Sie war die Meisterin I'm Catchen
She was the master of wrestling
I'm Leute zerquetschen
And crushing people
War gefährlich wie ein GrizzIybär.
She was as dangerous as a grizzly bear
Mit der Grazie einer Elefantin
With the grace of an elephant
Stieg sie in den Ring zu dieser dreisten provokantin
She stepped into the ring against this daring provocateur
Und sie sagt: "ich zermalm dich und nicht zu knapp
And she said, 'I'll crush you thoroughly'
Bei diesem Kampf gibst do den Löffel ab"
You'll give up the ghost in this fight'
Und überall auf dieser katastrophengeilen Welt
And all around this disaster-loving world
Wurden Millionen Wecker gestellt.
Millions of alarm clocks were set
Und morgens um 5 hingen sie vorm Fernsehbild
And at 5 o'clock in the morning, they were glued to the TV screen
In der Hoffnung
In the hope
Heut' wird original gekillt.
That original killing will happen today
Gleich kommt der Gong
The bell will sound soon
Sister King Kong
Sister King Kong
Doch erst noch das Banner
But first, the banner
Und der Nationalsong.
And the national anthem
Arme wie Keulen
Arms like clubs
Beine wie Säulen
Legs like pillars
Selbst Ex-Weltmeister Ali
Even former world champion Ali
Ist dein Fan -
Is your fan
Catch as catch can.
Catch as catch can
Bei diesen Gladiatorenkämpfen
In these gladiatorial battles
Kassieren sie Millionen
They make millions
Und da fühle ich mich animiert
And that inspires me
Ich steh ja sowieso auf Horrorshow
I'm into horror shows anyway
Und da hab' ich erst mal hart trainiert
So, I trained hard
Und die Welt stand kopf als beim Titelfight
And the world was turned upside down when, in the title fight
Sie in der ersten Runde kapitulierte
She surrendered in the first round
Als ich ihr zeigte
When I showed her
Was Trumpf ist
What was important
Und ihr locker in den Rumpf biá
And easily hit her in the back
Und ihr geil mit dem Seil den Hals massierte.
And passionately massaged her neck with the rope
Gleich kommt der Gong
The bell will sound soon
. . .
. . .
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: UDO LINDENBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johanna Rudolf
Udo singt das so wie er fühlt und deshalb bin ich seit vielen Jahren ein großer Fan von ihm lang lebe Udo!
Johanna Rudolf
Udo singt das so wie er fühlt und deshalb bin ich seit vielen Jahren ein großer Fan von ihm lang lebe Udo!
Andreas B.
Udo Lindenberg, angesagt von Frank Zander - zwei große Musiker, die den Mut hatten, eigene Ideen zu verwirklichen 👍
Christian
1976 , der Kollege bewegt sich heute kein Stück anders - zu geil !
Lucifuge Rufucale
Mit der Grazie einer Elefantin.....
Einer meiner ersten Lieblingssongs!
Udo der Beste!
Hei Ka
Eine meiner ersten Musikkassetten....Udo und sein Panikorchester; Sister King Kong...geile Sache:)
Thomas
Wie geil ist das denn!?!?! Riesenspaß!!!
MDC
Das kenne ich als Live Video gar nicht ich bin Baujahr 67 voll geil
Stefan von Leuzbach
Hättest du in dem Alter aber locker schon kennen können.
Robert Sterner
Arme wie keulen beine wie seulen ha ha very funny stuff from udo..