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.
Straßen-Fieber
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sie fühl'n sich geladen, doch wohin mit der Energie?
Wenn man da draußen wieder mit voller Gewalt
gegen kalte Mauern knallt
kommt das Fieber
Gräber aus Stahl und Beton, in denen wir wohnen
man kann nicht leben in solchen Kältezonen
Ein bisschen Wärme holen sie sich aus Fusel und Chemie
Fieber - in den Straßen steigt das Fieber
Fieber - auf die höchsten Temperaturen
Fieber - und der Virus greift über
Fieber - in den Straßen steigt das
Fieber - bis das Thermometer platzt
Fieber - und der Funke springt über
in den Straßen steigt das Fieber
Die Polit-Popper in Berlin, die kannste vergessen
die haben die Weisheit mit zu kleinen Löffeln gefressen
einen Lügendetektor gibt's im Bundestag nicht
der wär' auch dauernd kaputt
weil man da zu selten die Wahrheit spricht
Fieber - in den Straßen steigt das Fieber
Fieber - auf die höchsten Temperaturen
Fieber - und der Virus greift über
in den Straßen steigt das Fieber
Guck dir deine Alten an - meterdicke Mauern
um Herz und Hirn
so ein Klima törnt vielleicht Eskimos an
doch wir haben Angst, dass wir erfrieren
leere Gesichter, die Augen blind
sie lachen nur noch, wenn sie besoffen sind
Eiszeit statt Zärtlichkeit
das schafft Hitze und Gewalt
und die ist kalt, die ist kalt, die ist kalt
Fieber - in den Straßen steigt das Fieber
Fieber - und die Ärzte wissen nicht
Fieber - wie man es unter Kontrolle kriegt
Fieber - diese Krisen-Mediziner
Fieber - und was verordnen sie?
Schwere Knüppeltherapie
gegen leichte Krawallerie
Fieber - in den Straßen steigt das Fieber...
The song Straßen-Fieber by Udo Lindenberg talks about the frustration and anger of the youth living in a society that feels cold, empty, and oppressive. The lyrics begin by describing the young people who listen to loud music, drink alcohol and feel charged up with energy, but do not know where to channel it. They live in homes that are like steel and concrete graves, where the only warmth comes from alcohol and chemicals. However, the temporary relief does not last long, and they feel the fever rising in the streets.
Lindenberg notes that the political leaders are not helpful either, and people cannot rely on them. The politicians have failed to provide a solution for the problems in society. The young people are filled with anger and frustration, and the virus of the fever spreads like wildfire, making people feel even more out of control. The older generations also seem empty and disconnected, with thick walls around their hearts and minds. The coldness and violence that result from this feeling of despair only create an even colder and more violent world. The lyrics end by saying that even the doctors cannot cure the fever, and instead, they prescribe harsh punishments for those who break the law.
Line by Line Meaning
So laut wie's geht, hör'n sie Punk und AC/DC
They listen to Punk and AC/DC as loud as possible
sie fühl'n sich geladen, doch wohin mit der Energie?
They feel charged, but where to direct their energy?
Wenn man da draußen wieder mit voller Gewalt gegen kalte Mauern knallt
When they hit cold walls outside again with all their might
kommt das Fieber
Fever sets in
Gräber aus Stahl und Beton, in denen wir wohnen
Our homes are graves made of steel and concrete
man kann nicht leben in solchen Kältezonen
One cannot live in such cold zones
Ein bisschen Wärme holen sie sich aus Fusel und Chemie
They get a little warmth from bootleg liquor and chemicals
doch das hält nicht lange und wieder spüren sie:
But it doesn't last, and they feel again:
Fieber - in den Straßen steigt das Fieber
Fever rises in the streets
Fieber - auf die höchsten Temperaturen
Fever to the highest temperatures
Fieber - und der Virus greift über
Fever spreads like a virus
Die Polit-Popper in Berlin, die kannste vergessen
You can forget those polit-pop icons in Berlin
die haben die Weisheit mit zu kleinen Löffeln gefressen
They have eaten wisdom with small spoons
einen Lügendetektor gibt's im Bundestag nicht
There is no lie detector in the Bundestag
der wär' auch dauernd kaputt
It would also constantly break down
weil man da zu selten die Wahrheit spricht
Because people there rarely speak the truth
Guck dir deine Alten an - meterdicke Mauern um Herz und Hirn
Look at your elders - meter-thick walls around their heart and mind
so ein Klima törnt vielleicht Eskimos an
Maybe an Eskimo would be turned on by such a climate
doch wir haben Angst, dass wir erfrieren
But we're afraid of freezing
leere Gesichter, die Augen blind
Empty faces, eyes blind
sie lachen nur noch, wenn sie besoffen sind
They only laugh when they're drunk
Eiszeit statt Zärtlichkeit
Ice age instead of tenderness
das schafft Hitze und Gewalt
That creates heat and violence
und die ist kalt, die ist kalt, die ist kalt
And it's cold, it's cold, it's cold
Fieber - und die Ärzte wissen nicht
Fever - doctors don't know
Fieber - wie man es unter Kontrolle kriegt
Fever - how to control it
Fieber - diese Krisen-Mediziner
Fever - these crisis-medics
Fieber - und was verordnen sie?
Fever - what do they prescribe?
Schwere Knüppeltherapie gegen leichte Krawallerie
Hard baton therapy against mild violence
Fieber - in den Straßen steigt das Fieber...
Fever rises in the streets...
Contributed by Violet B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.