A Valentine to Italy
Countries need love too. When I sing Nel Corso I think of Italy; how countries are also performers on a stage of their own design, always keeping up an appearance, needing approval. Dancing for a smile and a buck or two in the public square.
Nel Corso is a song written by Ennio Morricone and the singer Gino Paoli in 1963. It was recorded by Italian singer Luigi Tenco, Italy's answer to Jacques Prevert. Tenco has an extremely fascinating story. My friend, musician and fellow crooner Malcolm Hamilton played it for me and I fell in love with the song's haunting melody, even moreso when I read the translation of the lyrics. I couldn't wait for a proper music track, so I created a montage of sorts with effects from a sound library. Malcolm also sent me a few accordion tracks for the anti-fascist Italian song of WWII, Bella Ciao… the squeezebox take he called 'unlistenable noodling' was exactly right for the picture I envisioned sonically, and so you have it; a Valentine to Italy.
I've also posted a Valentine's Day music show on the Radio Ragazza page -- CLICK HERE.
The lyrics to Nel Corso appear below, with my own rough translation.
Nel Corso is a song written by Ennio Morricone and the singer Gino Paoli in 1963. It was recorded by Italian singer Luigi Tenco, Italy's answer to Jacques Prevert. Tenco has an extremely fascinating story. My friend, musician and fellow crooner Malcolm Hamilton played it for me and I fell in love with the song's haunting melody, even moreso when I read the translation of the lyrics. I couldn't wait for a proper music track, so I created a montage of sorts with effects from a sound library. Malcolm also sent me a few accordion tracks for the anti-fascist Italian song of WWII, Bella Ciao… the squeezebox take he called 'unlistenable noodling' was exactly right for the picture I envisioned sonically, and so you have it; a Valentine to Italy.
I've also posted a Valentine's Day music show on the Radio Ragazza page -- CLICK HERE.
The lyrics to Nel Corso appear below, with my own rough translation.
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nel corso
sempre avanti e indietro stiamo a passeggiar un giorno uguale a un altro giorno il tempo se ne va sulla piazza del paese sono solo, sai chi c'è? Michelino, che per cento lire canta e balla il twist. E sento ogni tanto di qualcuno che se ne va se ne va lontano alla grande città. I razzi vanno sulla luna noi restiamo qua nel corso sempre avanti e indietro stiamo a passeggiar viene il sole il sole muore viene la luna e se ne va ma 'sta vita questa vita nostra quando cambierà? |
in the course
forever back and forth we are in passage one day, like another day the time goes on alone on the village square, do you know who's here? Michael. who, for pennies sings and dances the twist. and every now and then I feel someone who goes... goes away to the big city. the rockets fly to the moon we stay here in the course, always back and forth we are in passage the sun comes, the sun dies the moon comes and goes but 'this life, this is our life. when will it change? |