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.
Smog-Rock
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dröhnoxyd, das voll reinzieht - ich fühl' mich schon ganz high
Huste-Huste, aus der Puste - hin zu meiner Kleenen
da steht sie im Nebel, atemberaubend - fast hätt' ich sie nicht gesehen
Refrain:
Oh Baby, Baby, nimm die Gasmaske ab
Ich will dich küssen - Smog Smog
Ich will dich küssen - Smog Rock
Ich pack' sie in ein Taxi - das Taxi hat Air-condition
und 'ne Minibar mit Smog-Grog zum Erfrischen
Ey, du süße Nebelkrähe, du bist mein Sündenfall
komm, wir fahren in die Disco zum Smog'n'Roll-Gasmaskenball
Refrain
Ein neues Gift liegt in der Luft - ist noch ungewohnt
Ein neuer Duft liegt in der Luft - ich fühl' mich völlig stoned
komm, ich werde dir jetzt mal die Sterne zählen
ach ne, die sind ja nicht zu sehen
Ok, dann laß uns doch im Smogmondschein spazierengehen...
Hust, Hust
Oh Baby Baby, zieh die Gasmaske runter
du hast so 'n süßen Knutschemund dadrunter
Oh Baby Baby, kannst das Ding mal runternehmen
Ich möchte dir ein Lindenblütenküßchen geben
Knutsch - Knutsch
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song "Smog-Rock" depict the ill-effects of pollution on human lives. The singer of the song is jogging in a highly polluted environment, where the air quality has reached Alarmstufe 3, which means it is highly toxic. Despite this, he is feeling high because of the inhalation of Dröhnoxyd. He manages to make his way to his partner's place, who he finds standing in the smog in a breathtaking manner, almost invisible until he gets closer.
In the refrain, he urges his partner to take off her gas mask so that he can kiss her, indicating his desire for her. He then proceeds to take her to a disco, where they drink Smog-Grog and indulge in Smog'n'Roll-Gasmaskenball, a party in which the guests wear gas masks. The lyrics convey the idea that even though polluted air has become the norm for the singer, he still yearns for human connection, love, and intimacy.
The song embodies the environmental consciousness of Udo Lindenberg and his commitment to creating awareness about the effects of pollution. The lyrics and music of the song convey the message powerfully in a manner that is both amusing and disturbing.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich jogg' durch den Smog - Alarmstufe 3
I am jogging through the thick smog, which has reached a dangerous level 3 alarm.
Dröhnoxyd, das voll reinzieht - ich fühl' mich schon ganz high
The fumes of the smog are so strong that I feel a bit high from inhaling them.
Huste-Huste, aus der Puste - hin zu meiner Kleenen
I am panting and coughing as I make my way to my sweetheart's location.
da steht sie im Nebel, atemberaubend - fast hätt' ich sie nicht gesehen
There she stands in the fog, looking breathtaking, and I almost didn't notice her.
Refrain: Oh Baby, Baby, nimm die Gasmaske ab Ich will dich küssen - Smog Smog Oh Baby, Baby, nimm die Gamaske ab Ich will dich küssen - Smog Rock
Chorus: Oh baby, take off your gas mask, I want to kiss you in the smog. Oh baby, take off your mask, let's embrace the smog rock.
Ich pack' sie in ein Taxi - das Taxi hat Air-condition und 'ne Minibar mit Smog-Grog zum Erfrischen
I put her in a taxi that has air conditioning and a mini bar with smog grog to refresh ourselves.
Ey, du süße Nebelkrähe, du bist mein Sündenfall komm, wir fahren in die Disco zum Smog'n'Roll-Gasmaskenball
Hey, you sweet misty raven, you are my downfall. Let's go to the disco for the smog and roll gas mask ball.
Refrain
Chorus
Ein neues Gift liegt in der Luft - ist noch ungewohnt Ein neuer Duft liegt in der Luft - ich fühl' mich völlig stoned komm, ich werde dir jetzt mal die Sterne zählen ach ne, die sind ja nicht zu sehen Ok, dann laß uns doch im Smogmondschein spazierengehen... Hust, Hust
A new poison is in the air, which is still unfamiliar. A new scent is in the air, and I feel completely stoned. Let's count the stars together, oh wait, they are not visible. Well, let's stroll in the smog moonlight instead... cough, cough.
Oh Baby Baby, zieh die Gasmaske runter du hast so 'n süßen Knutschemund dadrunter Oh Baby Baby, kannst das Ding mal runternehmen Ich möchte dir ein Lindenblütenküßchen geben Knutsch - Knutsch
Oh baby, take off your gas mask, you have such a sweet kissing mouth underneath. Oh baby, can you take that thing off for a moment? I want to give you a kiss of linden blossom. Smooch - smooch.
Contributed by Savannah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.