Sonderzug nach Pankow
Encyclopedia
Sonderzug nach Pankow is the title of the song of the German
rock singer Udo Lindenberg
released as a single
on 2 February 1983.
Its origin is a reaction to the refusal of his wish for a concert in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) by the GDR-administration in charge. The text of this approximately three minutes long song appeals ironically directly to the former president of the State Council of the German Democratic Republic Erich Honecker
. The melody is based on the swing classic Chattanooga Choo Choo
by Glenn Miller
from the year 1941; the text is loosely based on the lyrics for Zug nach Kötzschenbroda by Bully Buhlan from 1946, which uses the same melody. With regard to the Berlin
borough Pankow
, the title is based on the fact that Schloss Schönhausen situated there was the seat of the president from 1949 until 1960 and was later seat of the State Council of the German Democratic Republic until 1964. After that many members of the GDR government and high employees of the other administration departments of the government lived in Pankow, for example in the Majakowskiring
.
This song was in the western German music charts from 19 March 1983 to 6 May 1983 for seven weeks, spending four weeks at number 5. The reaction to the song led to the first and only concert of Udo Lindenberg in the GDR on 25 October 1983. This concert took place during the festival "Rock für den Frieden" (Rock for peace) in Berlin's Palast der Republik
, but Udo Lindenberg did not sing this song then. A planned tour through the GDR in the following tour was cancelled. The song Sonderzug nach Pankow became a cult song in the GDR and is one of Udo Lindenberg's most famous songs.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
rock singer Udo Lindenberg
Udo Lindenberg
Udo Lindenberg is a German rock musician and composer.-Career:Lindenberg started his musical career as a drummer. In 1969 Lindenberg founded his first band Free Orbit and also appeared as a studio and guest musician . In 1970 he collaborated as a drummer with jazz-saxophonist Klaus Doldinger in...
released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on 2 February 1983.
Its origin is a reaction to the refusal of his wish for a concert in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) by the GDR-administration in charge. The text of this approximately three minutes long song appeals ironically directly to the former president of the State Council of the German Democratic Republic Erich Honecker
Erich Honecker
Erich Honecker was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1971 until 1989, serving as Head of State as well from Willi Stoph's relinquishment of that post in 1976....
. The melody is based on the swing classic Chattanooga Choo Choo
Chattanooga Choo Choo
"Chattanooga Choo Choo" is a song by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon . It was recorded in a big-band/swing manner by Glenn Miller and his orchestra and featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade, which starred Sonja Henie, John Payne, Glenn Miller and his orchestra, The Modernaires, Milton Berle...
by Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
from the year 1941; the text is loosely based on the lyrics for Zug nach Kötzschenbroda by Bully Buhlan from 1946, which uses the same melody. With regard to the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
borough Pankow
Pankow
Pankow is the third borough of Berlin. In Berlin's 2001 administrative reform it was merged with the former boroughs of Prenzlauer Berg and Weißensee; the resulting borough retained the name Pankow.- Overview :...
, the title is based on the fact that Schloss Schönhausen situated there was the seat of the president from 1949 until 1960 and was later seat of the State Council of the German Democratic Republic until 1964. After that many members of the GDR government and high employees of the other administration departments of the government lived in Pankow, for example in the Majakowskiring
Majakowskiring
The Majakowskiring is an ellipse-shaped street in the Pankow district of Berlin, Germany, in the Niederschönhausen locality...
.
This song was in the western German music charts from 19 March 1983 to 6 May 1983 for seven weeks, spending four weeks at number 5. The reaction to the song led to the first and only concert of Udo Lindenberg in the GDR on 25 October 1983. This concert took place during the festival "Rock für den Frieden" (Rock for peace) in Berlin's Palast der Republik
Palast der Republik
The Palace of the Republic in Berlin was the seat of the parliament of the German Democratic Republic, the People's Chamber, and also served various cultural purposes...
, but Udo Lindenberg did not sing this song then. A planned tour through the GDR in the following tour was cancelled. The song Sonderzug nach Pankow became a cult song in the GDR and is one of Udo Lindenberg's most famous songs.