Italian songs

Learn Italian in Song: Ti Amo

October 18, 2010

Umberto Tozzi Ti amo*, un soldo I love you, a coin Ti amo, in aria I love you, [thrown] in the air Ti amo se viene testa I love you, if it comes down heads vuol dire che basta: it means enough lasciamoci. let’s leave each other Ti amo, io sono I love you, I [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Sei la Fine del Mondo

October 17, 2010

Another lovely song by Alex Britti. In un certo senso eccomi In a certain sense, here I am a parlarti dei miei guai to talk to you about my problems in un certo senso so in a certain sense I know cosa mi basta per vivere what is enough for me to live e ad [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Brava!

October 13, 2010

Bravo (said of or to a female, brava) translates as “great, good job, well done!” and/or praises the subject’s talents. It can also mean the opposite of evil (bravo/cattivo), or it can mean well-behaved. Brava! Brava! Sono tanto brava! Brava! Great, great, I’m so great! Sono tanto brava, sono brava … sono tanto brava faccio [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Luci-Ah

October 11, 2010

Another Battisti classic. Oggi è stata gran festa in paese sì lo so Today has been a big party in town, yes, I know ma non per questo si brucian le chiese, no no no. But the churches don’t burn for this, no La botte era grande, il vino era buono, The cask was large, [...]

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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: Domani 21/04/09

April 18, 2010

Jessica aka @italylogue asked me a while ago to translate this song done as a fundraiser for survivors of the L’Aquila earthquake, but it slipped to the bottom of my inbox/to do list. However, I can claim that it’s appropriate to resurrect this request now that we’re almost at the anniversary of the song. The [...]

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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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