Buon Natale Se Vuoi

As we approach the Christmas holiday, I’m inspired to post a beautiful song sung by one of my favorite Italian artists, Eros Ramazzotti! His songs always have beautiful lyrics as well as moving music. This one speaks of the peace that Christmas should bring, but that is sadly missing in our world today. The official music video (which you can see here and which I could not embed into this post) was filmed under the gorgeous porticos of Bologna and shows Eros dressed up as a homeless man, meanwhile another famous Italian artist, Biaggio Antonacci, poses as a taxi driver. This song about Christmas is from his latest album Perfetto!

LA NOTTE VISTA DA QUI
SEMBRA BELLISSIMA
STELLE CHE ACCENDONO IL BLU
QUANTA LUCE C’E’
ECHI DI UN ALLELUJA
CHE NON SI SPENGONO MAI
OGGI E’ UN GIORNO SPECIALE, E’ NATALE ED E’ SEMPRE COSI’

DIMMI PERCHE’
E’ NATALE MA PACE NON C’E’
“BUON NATALE” MA IL SENSO QUAL E’ ?
UN SALUTO FORMALE NON E’
COME AMARE, QUANTI SOGNI FANNO GLI UOMINI
CHE IN UN GIORNO VANNO VIA
“BUON NATALE” SE VUOI, QUELLO VERO CHE E’ DENTRO DI NOI
DENTRO DI NOI

LA NEVE CHE CADE QUI
MI SEMBRA CANDIDA
MA NEL SILENZIO CHE FA
C’E’ UNA GUERRA
IN OGNI TERRA A META’
CHE NESSUNO MAI SALVERA’
ANCHE UN GIORNO SPECIALE FA MALE E TREGUA NON HA

DIMMI PERCHE’
E’ NATALE MA PACE NON C’E’
“BUON NATALE” MA IL SENSO QUAL E’ ?
UNA FRASE FORMALE NON E’
UN PENSIERO CHE VALE PERCHE’
C’E’ UN NATALE SE VUOI
MA PUO’ NASCERE SOLO DA NOI
DENTRO DI NOI

STELLA COMETA SARAI
STELLA PURISSIMA
SE DALL’ALTO DEI CIELI UN BEL GIORNO LA PACE VEDRAI

DIMMI PERCHE’
E’ NATALE MA PACE NON C’E’
“BUON NATALE” MA IL SENSO QUAL E’ ?
DUE PAROLE DA DIRE PERCHE’
E’ NORMALE
CRESCERA’ UN ENORME ALBERO
QUANDO FINIRA’ QUESTA FOLLIA
UN NATALE VERRA’ E PER SEMPRE CI CAMBIERA’
CI CAMBIERA’… CI CAMBIERA’

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The night seen from here

Seems beautiful.

Stars that light up the blue.

How much light there is.

Echoes of an alleluia

That never turn off.

Today is a special day, it’s Christmas and it’s always like this.

 

Tell me why

It’s Christmas but there’s no peace

“Merry Christmas”, but what does it mean?

A formal greeting, it is not

Like loving, how many dreams do men make

That disappear every day.

“Merry Christmas”, if you want, that which is real inside of us

Inside of us.

 

The snow that falls here

Seems like a cure

But in the silence it makes

There’s a war

In every country divided

That no one can ever save

Even a special day is bad and there is no truce.

 

Tell me why

It’s Christmas, but there is no peace

“Merry Christmas”, but what does it mean?

A formal phrase it’s not

A thought that means something because

It’s Christmas, if you want

But it can only be born from us

Inside of us.

 

Comet star, you’ll be

Pure star

If, from high in the heavens, a beautiful day of peace you’ll see.

 

Tell me why

It’s Christmas, but there is no peace.

“Merry Christmas”, but what does it mean?

Two words to say why

It’s normal

To grow a huge tree.

When will this folly be over

A Christmas will come and it will forever change us

It will change us…It will change us.

 

 

Beautiful Love Song by Eros Ramazzotti and Il Volo

Another romantic love song by the great Eros Ramazzotti, this time with the help of Il Volo!  Beautiful as always….

Cosí

 

Cosí cosí
L’amore a volte ci dimentica
Ci lascia solo un pugno di ricordi
Come farfalle libere

Cosí cosí
L’amore píano se ne va cosí
In cerca di nuovi sorrisi altrove
Nei cuori di questa cittá

Aíutami a capire cosa sento
Ora nel mio petto c’é un rimpianto
Cosí grande
cosí grande

Il cuore é come un mare senza vento
Muore sulle labbra quell’istante
Che era grande
Cosí grande

Cosí cosí
L’amore piano ci dimentica
Lo fa cosí in modo naturale
Come é arrivato se ne va da me.

Autami a capíre cosa sento
Ora nel mio petto c’e’ un tramonto
Cosí grande
cosí grande

E non so piu’ che cosa sento dentro
Il cuore ha le rughe di un deserto
Che e’ troppo grande
Così grande

Per noi
Che non vogliamo ancora smettere
L’amore e’ un bimbo da rincorrere
Ma come l’alba tornera’

Da noi
L’amore e’ come un uragano
Ma se lo guardi da lontano
Lo vedi anche da qui che e’ grande
Cosí grande
Autami a capire cosa sento
Ti accorgi di un rumore se si e’spento
Quanto e’grande
Cosí grande

Ascolta la tua mano sul mio petto
Quanto fa paura un cielo aperto

Cosí grande
Cosí grande
Cosí grande

Cosí cosi
L’amore adesso ti ha lasciato qui

Ma senti l’aria arriva un temporale
Chi l’avrebbe detto mai

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So

So, so
love sometimes forgets about us
it leaves us a handful of memories
like butterflies liberated

So, so
love quietly goes away
to search for new smiles elsewhere
in the hearts of this city

Help me understand what I´m feeling
now in my chest there is a yearning
so big
so big

The heart is like a sea without the wind
it dies on the lips of that moment
it was big
so big

So, so
love silently forgets about us
it does it like this so naturally
like it came it goes away from me

Help me understand what I´m feeling
now in my chest there is a sunset
so big
so big

I don´t know anymore what I feel inside
my heart is dry like a desert
which is too big
so big

For us
who don´t want to stop yet
love is like a child to chase after
but like the dawn it will return

To us

Love is like a hurricane
but if you look at it from afar
you will see also from here, that it is big
so big

Help me understand what I´m feeling
you realize a noise if it is silent
It’s so big
so big

Listen to your hand on my chest
How much fright is an open sky
so big
so big

So big

So, so
love has left you here

But you can feel in the air a storm arriving
who could ever have imagined

Love is in the Air

 

Romantic summer nights, flowy white gowns…perfect summer weddings!  We are so excited to have been invited to a wedding in Italy this summer!  It will actually be the very first wedding I have ever attended in Italy and I am thrilled to celebrate Italian Style!  Even though my wedding was pretty much “Italian” with lots of food, wine, and dancing late into the night, it was not celebrated in Italy!  San Francisco’s Little Italy was pretty close, though, so no complaints from me!

As always with Mr. Eros Ramazzotti, he has the perfect lyrics for a the most romantic moment of a couple’s life.  Here is his beautiful love song I Will Marry You Because….with photos of his beautiful wife Marica Pellegrinelli.  There’s a bit of an age difference and I won’t make judgment – only to say that as a musician, he is WONDERFUL and has the most beautiful way with words.  Enjoy!

 

“Ti Sposerò Perché”

 

Ti sposerò perché
Mi sai comprendere
E nessuno lo sa fare come te
Ti sposerò perché
Hai del carattere
Quando parli della vita insieme a me
E poi mi attiri sai da far paura
Fra il bianco e il nero dell’abbronzatura
Ti sposerò perché
Ti piace ridere
E sei mezza matta proprio come me
C’è in comune fra di noi c’è più di una cosa
Ti sposerò perché
Per esempio so che del pallone sei tifosa
Ti sposerò perché
Non mi chiedi mai il giorno che sarai mia sposa
E poi
E poi perché io so già che
Se litighiamo io e te
Non stiamo mai più di un minuto
Col cuore arrabbiato
Ti sposerò perché
Ami viaggiare e poi
Stare in mezzo alla gente quando vuoi
E sei di compagnia
Si vede subito, tant’è vero
Che il mio cane ti ha già preso in simpatia
Sono straconvinto che sarà una cosa giusta
Ti sposerò perché
Sei un pò testarda si, ma quel che conta onesta
Ti sposerò perché
Per un tipo come me sembri fatta apposta
E poi
E poi perché se chiedo a te
Fiducia e un pò di libertà
Non dici no anche per questo
Vorrei sposarti presto
Ti sposerò perciò
Ci puoi scommettere
Quando un giorno quando io ti troverò

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I Will Marry You Because…

I will marry you because

You understand me

And no one knows how to do it like you

I will marry you because

You have a special character

When you speak about a life spent with me

And then you attract me, so much that it’s scary

Between your body and the darkness of your tan

I will marry you because

You like to laugh

And you’re half crazy just like me

We have a lot in come between us, more than only one thing

I will marry you because

Because, for example, I know you are a soccer fan

I will marry you because

You never ask me when the day will come that you will be my bride

And then

And then because I already know

that if we fight, you and me,

we don’t last for more than a minute

with an angry heart

I will marry you because

You love to travel and then

being around people when you want

You like having company

It’s evident right away, it is true

that my dog has already taken a liking to you

I am so convinced that it will be the right thing

I will marry you because

You’re a bit stubborn, but what counts is the honesty

I will marry you because

For a type like me, you were made special

and then

And then, if I ask you

Fidelity and a bit of liberty

You won’t say no and for this

I want to marry you soon

I want to marry you because

We can bet

On one day, when I will find you.

I am not a Groupie….well, maybe just a little ;)

When my friend told me I was such a groupie and asked if I’d be throwing my underwear on stage, I laughed!  Just because I was travelling 400 miles to see one of my favorite Italian singers doesn’t make me a groupie…or does it? It’s not like I travel to every single concert he does…I just go when it’s actually feasible for me to make it!  I mean, Los Angeles is a lot closer than Italy, right?  So, when I heard that Eros Ramazzotti was going to be putting on a concert in L.A., I figured I’d better seize the opportunity now or wait until who knows when for another chance!  It’s not like he puts on World Tours every day!

So, last Thursday, we left work early and boarded a flight to Los Angeles for the 7:30 pm concert at the Greek Theater.

What a beautiful venue!  The evening was perfect – perfect temperature, perfect atmosphere, and a perfect concert!  We sipped on a glass of wine while we enjoyed a spectacular show.

Eros sang for almost 2 hours and he sang so many of my favorite songs.  And the best part was that he sang almost all his songs in Italian!  Eros, like many other Italian pop artists, has translated many of his albums into Spanish to be able to reach a larger audience.  The fact that the concert was being held in Los Angeles made me wonder in what language he would be singing.  Don’t get me wrong – they are beautiful in Spanish as well, but I still prefer the original Italian versions!  I feel that his beautiful words were written in Italian and therefore more of his true feelings are portrayed in his native tongue – a particular nuance that I’m afraid may get lost in translation.

Los Angeles was his first stop in the USA, after having been in South and Central America on his NOI World Tour.  The concerts on this tour have been very successful and he deserves lots of kudos for a job truly well done.  He has lots of energy on stage and his voice is perfect.  The special effects added to the spectacle and were VERY good!

I especially liked those that projected a mosaic of him on the screen while you could see him singing on the stage!

He truly has a great stage presence and I was smitten!  Add to that, he’s VERY Italian… making him, in my biased opinion, that much more attractive 🙂  So….I guess, maybe, just a little… you could call me a groupie 🙂

Un Cuore Con Le Ali…and Some Deep Reflections

This beautiful song by Eros Ramazzotti evokes various responses in me whenever I hear it.  The music, as always, is mesmerizing and artistically pleasing to the ear, but it’s the lyrics of this song that trigger my inner reflections.  I am instantly transported to Italy with  ci si trova in compagnia, sotto i portici del centro, alle uscite del metrò (We find each other, under the porticos of the city center, at the exits of the metro)…the old porticos of the ancient cities with the modern metro…it is so descriptive that I can easily picture myself in that same scene.

This song has a deeper message, though….it is a social commentary on Eros’ view of Italy’s youth culture back in 1985 (when the song was released).  He seems to be saying that the youth felt bored and trapped – they wanted to do so much and had desires to fly, but they weren’t capable of achieving those goals.  I’d be curious to understand why and what was holding them back…was it a stab at the government or the state of the Italian economy?  And would this song be pertinent in today’s world?  Perhaps someone from Italy can clue me in…but the song has a sad and desperate tone about it.  What do you think?

quando il cielo si fa scuro
e la notte cade giù
come intonaco dai muri
ci si trova in compagnia
sotto i portici del centro
alle uscite del metrò
per guardarci dentro
e parlare un pò…

ci hanno detto a muso duro
che per camminare soli
noi non siamo ancor maturi
e che siamo tutti uguali
ma un cuore con le ali
ce l’abbiamo solo noi
e nessuno sa
che presto volerà…

cosa si fa
cosa si fa questa sera
dove si va
dove si va fuori un’idea
prima che ci soffochi la noia…
cosa si fa, dove si va
questa sera…

per adesso si comincia
a girare la città
fino in fondo alla provincia
per i viali e per le piazze
a chiamare le ragazze
che ci aspettano di già
per vedere fuori
l’alba a colori…

che nessuno ha preparato
come il mondo che ci han dato
senza domandarci niente
è per questo che i pensieri
così grandi, così seri
ce li abbiamo anche noi
e nessuno sa
che fatica è…

fuori di te
fuori di te, fuori di testa
che gente è
che vita è e quanto ne resta
quella che vogliamo
non è questa
la carità, finta pietà
nessuno l’ha chiesta…

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When the sky gets dark

And the night falls down

like plaster from the walls,

we find each other

under the porticos of the center

at the exits of the metro

to look within

and talk a bit…

They told us, with a stern face,

that to walk alone

we are not yet ready

and that we are all the same;

but a heart with wings

we are the only ones to have it

and nobody knows

that soon it will fly…

What are we going to do?

What are we going to do tonight?

Where are we going to go?

Where are we going to go…let’s have some ideas

before we suffocate from boredom…

What are we going to do, where are we going to go

tonight…

for now, we’ll start

by wandering the city

until the end of the province,

through the alleys and in the piazzas,

calling the girls

that have been waiting for us for a while now

to see outside the dawn and the colors…

Nobody prepared

the world that was given to us

Nobody asked us anything

and for this reason, the worries

so big, so serious

we have them, too

and no one knows

what hardship it is…

Outside of yourself,

Outside of yourself, out of your mind

What kind of people are there,

What kind of life is it and what remains

The life we want

Is not this one.

The charity, the false pity

No one asked for it….

Cose Della Vita

Eros Ramazzotti has teamed up with the phenomenal and dynamic Tina Turner for this sensational video and song!  Their two voices, both a little rough around the edges, blend so well and complement each other to make this one of my favorite songs.  The scenery in the video is so beautiful – driving along those incredibly scenic roads and meeting in one of those truly Italian of piazzas has me daydreaming of my own time nel Bel Paese!  And best of all….Tina has translated a lot of it for us 🙂

Cose Della Vita

Sono umana situazioni                          These are human situations
quei momenti fra di noi                        These moments between us
i distacchi e i ritorni                               The detachments and returns
da capirci niente poi                               Just to understand nothing
gia…come vedi                                         As you can see….
sto pensando a te….si…da un po’      I’ve been thinking of you, for awhile.

They’re just human contradictions
feeling happy, feeling sad
these emotional transitions
all the memories we’ve had
yes, you know it is true
I just can’t stop thinking of you

No, I just can’t pretend
all the time that we spent could die
wanna feel it again
all the love we felt then

Confinanti di cuore solo che ognuno sta       Hearts that are close but stand
dietro gli steccati degli orgogli suoi                behind the fences of their pride
sto pensando a te                                                    I am thinking of you
sto pensando a noi…                                             I am thinking of us…

Sono cose della vita                                              These are things of life
vanno prese un po’cosi                                        That are taken a bit like this.

Some for worse and some for better
but through it all we’ve come so far

Gia’… come vedi                                                    As you see
io sto ancora in piedi                                          I am still standing

Perche                                                                      Because they are human
sono umani tutti i sogni miei                         these dreams of mine
con le mani io li prenderei, si perche         I would take them with my hands                                                               

What is life without a dream to hold?
take my hand and never let me go

It’s part of life together
but what future does it hold?

Sono cosa della vita                                     These are things of life
ma la vita poi dov’e                                     But then where is life?

Yes, you know it is true
I just can’t stop thinking of you

Questa notte che pasa piano accanto a me    This night that passes with you
cerco di affrontarla, afferrarla                           I will try to confront, grasp it

If our hearts miss a beat
or get lost like a ship at sea
I want to remember, I can never forget

Can’t stop thinking of you,
Sto pensando a noi
Can’t stop thinking of you

Eros and Cher Together?

Eros Ramazzotti, a beautiful singer and songwriter, occassionally teams up with various artists to create some beautiful duets.  He has sung with the likes of Tina Turner, Anastacia, Ricky Martin, Andrea Bocelli…and Cher!  Cher’s deep and sultry voice harmonizes perfectly with Eros’  high and somewhat nasally tone to create a piece that is unique and pleasant to the ear!  (at least to mine!!)  Also, the use of dual languages lends an extra element of beauty to the song.  They joined forces to sing Piu che puoi….the lyrics and the melody of this song are extraordinary, making it one of my favorites because of its positive message.  Live life to it’s fullest….and do “all you can” !!  

Guarir non e’ possibile                                                                  To heal is impossible
la malattia di vivere                                                                       This disease that is life.
sapessi com’e’ vera questa cosa qui                                        You should know how true this is.

E se ti fa soffrire un po’ puniscila vivendola                        And if it makes you suffer, then punish it by living it 
e’ l’unica maniera sorprenderla cosi’…                                  It’s the only way to surprise it like this….
Piu’ che puoi, piu’ che puoi                                                         All you can, all you can
afferra questo istante e stringi                                                  Embrace this instant and hold it tight
piu’ che puoi, piu’ che puoi                                                         All you can, all you can
e non lasciare mai la presa                                                         And don’t let it go
c’e’ tutta l’emozione dentro che tu vuoi                                Every emotion that you want is found inside
di vivere la vita piu’ che puoi                                                    To live life all you can.

You’ve got one chance, the gift to feel
love’s deepest pain you cannot heal
it shatters every memory that you
keep inside

I tell you this because I know
protect what’s dear, don’t trade your soul
’cause there’s nothing left around you
there’s no place left to go

All you can, all you can
you gotta take this life and live it
all you can, all you can
never let it go
’cause there’s one thing in this life I understand, ooh

Siamo noi, siamo noi                                                                    It is us, it is us
che abbiamo ancora voglia di stupire noi                           That have the need to still be amazed
siamo noi                                                                                           It is us
che la teniamo sempre accesa                                                  That always keep        
quest’ansia leggerissima che abbiamo poi                           This subtle anxiousness that we have
di vivere la vita piu’ che puoi                                                     To live life all you can.

Respira profondo                                                                             Take a deep breath
apri le tue braccia al mondo                                                        Open your arms to the world
e abbraccia tutto quello che ci sta                                            And embrace all there is
tutta l’emozione che ci sta                                                            All the emotion that there is

All you can, all you can
you gotta take this life and live it
all you can
all you can
and never let it go
’cause there’s one thing in this life I understand, ooh

Piu’ che puoi, piu’ che puoi                                                        All you can, allyou can
afferra questa vita e stringi piu’ che puoi                            Grasp this life and embrace all you can
piu’ che puoi                                                                                    All you can
e non lasciare mai la presa                                                        And never let that grip go
c’e’ tutta l’emozione dentro che tu vuoi                               All the emotion that you want is inside
di vivere la vita piu’ che puoi                                                   To live your life all you can.