Italy

Learn Italian in Song: Tu Vuo’ Fa’ o’ Talebano

August 22, 2010

“Gino the Chicken” was a phenomenon in Italy a few years ago. Today a reader comment on my translation of Tu Vuo’ Fa’ L’Americano directed me to YouTube, where I ran across Gino’s version of the song, directed at Osama bin Laden: You Want to Be a Taliban Tienni la barba longa chiù d’un metro, [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: I Watussi

March 2, 2010

One of the most popular songs of all time in Italy, written and recorded by Edoardo Vianello. Outside of Italy, the lyrics don’t stand up to today’s politically-correct scrutiny, but keep in mind that, when this first came out in 1963, Americans were dancing "The Watusi," and it was still okay to call black people [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Volare

March 1, 2010

To Fly The original, as sung by Domenico Modugno fifty years ago at the Eurovision song contest. The Dean Martin version is far from a literal translation. I have trouble hearing this song without picturing Ricardo Montalbano singing about a car with "rrrrrich Corrrinthian leather."     Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Voglio Volere

February 28, 2010

I Want to Want Ligabue Voglio un mondo comico voglio un mondo che faccia ridere un cielo comodo che qualcuno s’affacci a rispondere voglio svegliarmi quando voglio da tutti i miei sogni voglio trovarti sempre qui ogni volta che io ne ho bisogno voglio volere tutto cosi voglio riuscire a non crescere voglio portarti in [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Via Con Me

February 27, 2010

Paolo Conte, 1981. Below is the Neri per Caso version that first introduced me to the song. Via Con Me Away with Me Via, via, vieni via di qui, Away, away, come away from here niente più ti lega a questi luoghi, Nothing more ties you to these places neanche questi fiori azzurri… not even [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: L’Ultimo Bacio

February 26, 2010

The Last Kiss     Cerchi riparo fraterno conforto tendi le braccia allo specchio ti muovi a stento e con sguardo severo biascichi un malinconico Modugno Di quei violini suonati dal vento l’ultimo bacio mia dolce bambina brucia sul viso come gocce di limone l’eroico coraggio di un feroce addio ma sono lacrime mentre piove [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Uguale a Lei

February 26, 2010

Equal to/the Same as She A remake of Elvis Presley’s “She”, by Laura Pausini. Lei il viso che non scorderai L’orgoglio ed il coraggio lei Come un tesoro l’oro dentro gli occhi suoi Lei l’estate che ricanterai il giorno che ricorderai e mille cose che non sai che può insegnarti solo lei lei la tua [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Tu Vuo’ Fa’ L’Americano

February 25, 2010

You Want to Act American Renato Carosone This is a tricky translation; the original is more or less in Neapolitan dialect, which I don’t know much of. I hope some qualified readers will jump in to help out! Puorte ‘e cazune cu nu stemma arreto…na cuppulella cu ‘a visiera aizata… passa scampanianno pe’ Tuleto comm’a [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Tuo Bacio é Come Un Rock

February 24, 2010

  by Adriano Celentano Another song in a rather silly vein by Celentano.   Il tuo bacio è come un rock   Your Kiss is Like a Rock [Song]       ritornello:   refrain: Il tuo bacio e’ come un rock   Your kiss is like a rock [song] che ti morde col suo [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: La Terra dei Cachi

February 24, 2010

The Land of Persimmons By Elio e le Storie Tese, who also did Fossi Figo. This song was a huge hit when it first came out in 1996, with its punning, ironic references to topics such as Mani Pulite and various hospital scandals. (Pity not much has changed since… ) I don’t know if cachi [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Ti Voglio Bene

February 21, 2010

    Tiziano Ferro This is one of the first songs someone requested me to translate when I started this "service" on the site. Sorry it’s taken me so long to get around to it. I don’t actually know the song, so may be missing some sfumature (shades of meaning).   Ti Voglio Bene   [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Tintarella di Luna

February 20, 2010

Mina & I Solitari – 1960 Our friend Aldo – formerly a DJ, now a priest and Augustinian friar – introduced me to the fun, silly music of Italy’s 1960s with a wonderful compilation disc he made for us (I Favolosi Anni 60 – "The Fabulous 60s") that immediately became a family favorite. This is [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Stessa Spiaggia, Stesso Mare

February 19, 2010

    Piero Focaccia There’s not much to this song: apparently, the singer wants to relive last year’s summer fling. But it’s also a profound statement of traditional Italian vacation habits: the same sea, the same beach, practically the same ombrellone (beach umbrella – which you rent, along with the lounge chairs and a patch [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Sparring Partner

February 19, 2010

Sparring Partner Paolo Conte Someone asked me to translate this a while ago, but I confess I don’t understand it much…     È un macaco senza storia, dice lei di lui, che gli manca la memoria infondo ai guanti bui… ma il suo sguardo è una veranda, tempo al tempo e lo vedrai, che [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Sono Una Donna, Non Sono Una Santa

February 18, 2010

  Sono Una Donna, Non Sono Una Santa   I’m a Woman, I’m Not a Saint       Sono una donna non sono una santa   I’m a woman, I’m not a saint Non tentarmi non sono una santa   Don’t tempt me, I’m not a saint Non mi portare nel bosco di sera [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Sentimento, Pentimento

February 17, 2010

Sentimento Pentimento Recorded by Neri Per Caso (“Black by Accident”), an a capella group, this song demonstrates a very Italian – and very healthy – attitude towards sex. Non restare sulla porta Don’t wait at the door entra pure se ti va Come in if you like che se non sarà stasera ‘Cause if it [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Sandokan

February 16, 2010

as sung by… Claudio Baglioni??? I noticed that someone had ended up on my site while searching for these lyrics. Sandokan, the Tiger of Malaysia, is an old favorte of mine, so I’m happy to fill this gap.The video above is a montage that gives you an idea what the TV show was like, using [...]

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Learn Italia in Song: La Pulce d’Acqua

February 15, 2010

  Music by Angelo Branduardi, lyrics by Luisa and Angelo Branduardi, 1977 This cheerful, Renaissance/Baroque-inspired tune makes a great kids’ song. It’s an old favorite of mine from when Enrico introduced me to Branduardi’s music during one of my first trips to Italy. A few years later, travelling together across the northern US, we were [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Questo Piccolo Grande Amore

February 14, 2010

This Small, Great Love Claudio Baglioni, 1973 Another classic that everyone knows, perhaps the most famous from pop star Claudio Baglione. This translation was originally done by reader Jared Hill, who had looked for it on my site but didn’t find it, and quite rightly pointed out that it should be here! I have changed [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Eri Piccola Cosi’

February 14, 2010

Fred Buscaglione ( the Italian version of this wikipedia bio is much better)  music by Fred Buscaglione, lyrics written by/with Chiosso Buscaglione invented a stage persona drawn from Damon Runyon, Mickey Spillane, et al – the cigarette-puffing, whiskey-drinking tough with a weakness for bad women, as in this example.  The video here is of an [...]

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