Ligabue's Mondovisione: Which songs do you want to see?

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OUR NEW NAME AND ADDRESS IS VIA OPTIMAE! {www.viaoptimae.com}

Didattichiamo! will slowly be phased out, so read this post on our new site and subscribe by email to receive our latest updates.

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Ligabue's tenth album Mondovisione recently released in Italy.  Many have said it is the most "political" of all his albums but Ligabue sees it as expressing of his sentiments— something he has tried to do in all of his albums.

"This is not a political album, because even songs about being pissed off are sentimental songs"

The album has been met with positive reviews and described as da ascoltare (worth listening to)— I personally can't wait to buy the mp3 version when it becomes available through a US site (so far, I could only find an imported CD available through amazon.com) but I've been enjoying listening online in the meantime:

(Having problems with the embedded player?  Listen on grooveshark.com)

I learned a lot of Italian by listening to Italian songs in general and Ligabue's music in particular.  Going over the song titles and lyrics, there were several that peaked my interest and that I think would be interesting to discuss their meaning and translation.

Explore the song titles and their rough English translations by playing this little timed matching game:

Hint: Game displays 8 of the 14 song titles at a time, so play more than once to see them all, and improve your time! You can also "View this study set" to see them as flashcards or a list.

What do you think?  Let me know which songs interest you the most and we'll cover those first! You can use the "Ask your language questions!" form on the right to submit your vote.  [Note: 'Capo Spartivento' and 'Il suono, il brutto e il cattivo' are instrumental tracks]

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 I already covered the album's first single 'Il Sale della Terra'…in case you missed it: UPDATE: redirects you to the same post on the new site, VIA OPTIMAE

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Ligabue- Il Sale della Terra

"Il sale della terra" music video, testo in italiano and lyrics in English.

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I'm anxiously awaiting your input! 

In the meantime…

Buon ascolto!
Happy listening!

-Alex

More advanced readers may also enjoy:

Mondovisione – Luciano Ligabue: la recensione

A full, song-by-song review in Italian from lamusicarock.com.

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OUR NEW NAME AND ADDRESS IS VIA OPTIMAE! {www.viaoptimae.com}

Didattichiamo! will slowly be phased out, so read this post on our new site and subscribe by email to receive our latest updates.

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Neffa - Quando Sorridi: Song Meaning, Lyrics & Present Tense Italian Verbs

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OUR NEW NAME AND ADDRESS IS VIA OPTIMAE! {www.viaoptimae.com}

Didattichiamo! will slowly be phased out, so read this post on our new site and subscribe by email to receive our latest updates.

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The upbeat tune and the simple, straightforward lyrics make Neffa's Quando Sorridi (When you smile) the perfect song to work on your Italian pronunciation as well as see the simple present tense of some common Italian verbs in use.

First, familiarize yourself with the song using this video which includes the lyrics:

(As always, I recommend singing along when you can! It will improve your pronunciation, cadence, and rhythm  so you sound more natural, plus it will help commit vocabulary and expressions to memory!)

Now, let's take a look at the verbs in the song, all of which are in the simple present tense or the infinitive (the unconjugated form of the verb, roughly corresponding to "to + verb" in English and ending in -are, -ere or -ire in Italian.)

I've underlined verbs in the simple present tense.. for each, what is the infinitive form? is it a regular or irregular verb? what is the subject of the verb? (Remember, in Italian the subject is rarely expressed with the subject pronoun, and most often determined by the verb ending!)

Ognuno ha un peso da portare con sé 

non dirmi che tu non lo sai 

Ma più ci pensi e più succede che poi 

finisce che non ce la fai 

Sospesi in volo su una grande giostra al suono della musica 

giriamo io e te 

giriamo io e te 

La stessa vita così amara qualche istante fa 

se solo tu vuoi poi diventa più dolce che mai 

Non lo sai che quando sorridi 

è un attimo 

E così i pensieri più tristi 

svaniscono 

A che serve farsi la vita difficile 

se alla fine è già complicata così com'è 

Ognuno ha un po' amore dentro si sé 

non dirmi che tu non ce l'hai 

Ma più ne chiedi e più non serve perché 

dipende da quanto ne dai 

E poi lasciarti andare fino in fondo alla tua solitudine 

se è quello che vuoi 

se è quello che vuoi 

Ma finché al mondo c'è qualcuno che ci tiene a te 

ricorda se puoi quello è il bene più grande che hai 

Non lo sai che quando sorridi 

è un attimo 

e così i pensieri più tristi 

svaniscono 

a che serve farsi la vita difficile 

se alla fine è già complicata così com'è x3

Thanks to angolotesti.it for the song lyrics!

Compare your answers to my list of verbs (complete with the full present tense conjugations and meanings) here:

Verbs di Quando Sorridi da Neffa on Google docs

(document link only available through the same post on the new site, Via Optimae)

Now, listen to the song again- paying close attention to the verbs.  Do you have a better idea of what is being said and who the singer is "talking" to?

Now let's look at my rough translation of the lyrics in English.  Once you've read through them, listen to the song again and see if you can associate the Italian words with the English translation.  In some cases, you'll see that they correspond word for word, in other cases, the wording changes quite a bit.  Do you agree with the translation?  Anything you would have translated differently?

Neffa- Quando Sorridi Lyrics in English:


Everybody has a weight to carry along
Don't tell me that you don't know
But the more you think about it, the more it happens that
It ends up that you can't handle it.

Suspended on a big merry-go-round to the sound of the music
You and I go around
You and I go around
The same life, that was so bitter just a second ago
becomes sweeter than ever if you just want it to…

Don't you know that when you smile
It takes just a second
And all you're saddest thoughts
Disappear
What's the point of making life difficult
When it's already complicated enough, just as it is

Everybody has a bit of love inside themselves
Don't tell me that you don't have it.
But the more you ask for it the more it doesn't work because
It depends on how much of it you give.
And then you let yourself go to the very depths of your loneliness
If that's what you want
If that's what you want
But as long as in the world there is somebody who cares about you
Remember if you can, that that's the biggest asset you have.

Don't you know that when you smile
It takes just a second
And all you're saddest thoughts
Disappear
What's the point of making life difficult
When it's already complicated enough, just as it is.

Is the song a little clearer?  More meaningful?  What is the message of the song?  Do you agree with it?

To me, the song is a simple reminder that how you react to situations and events in life is important and choosing to smile is a powerful way to instantly improve everything. Life can be difficult at times, but remembering what really counts can provide a little perspective and make even life's complications more enjoyable.

So, keep pressing play.. and Sorridi!

-Alex

*At the time of posting, this song was not available on amazon.com (where I generally buy all of my music) but they do have another, recent Neffa hit: "Molto Calmo" which I also recommend!

Song Lyrics and meaning: L'essenziale by Marco Mengoni

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OUR NEW NAME AND ADDRESS IS VIA OPTIMAE! {www.viaoptimae.com}

Didattichiamo! will slowly be phased out, so read this post on our new site and subscribe by email to receive our latest updates.

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..

L'essenziale can be found on the 2013 album #prontoacorrere.

If you follow the Italian music competition, Sanremo, then you already know that the 2013 winner in the "Campioni" category was Marco Mengoni with his song "L'essenziale." What you may not know, however, is all the lyrics to the song and/or what they mean so let's watch a video of the song with the lyrics included. If you can, listen several times and sing along when you feel ready.

Now that you're familiar with it, let's look at the text all at once:

Sostengono gli eroi
"se il gioco si fa duro,
è da giocare!"
Beati loro poi
se scambiano le offese con il bene.
Succede anche a noi
di far la guerra e ambire poi alla pace
e nel silenzio mio
annullo ogni tuo singolo dolore.
Per apprezzare quello che
non ho saputo scegliere.

Mentre il mondo cade a pezzi
io compongo nuovi spazi
e desideri che
appartengono anche a te
che da sempre sei per me
l'essenziale.

Non accetteró
un altro errore di valutazione,
l'amore è in grado di
celarsi dietro amabili parole
che ho pronunciato prima che
fossero vuote e stupide.

Mentre il mondo cade a pezzi
io compongo nuovi spazi
e desideri che
appartengono anche a te.
Mentre il mondo cade a pezzi
mi allontano dagli eccessi
e dalle cattive abitudini,
torneró all'origine,
torno a te che sei per me
l'essenziale

L'amore non segue le logiche
Ti toglie il respiro e la sete.

Mentre il mondo cade a pezzi
io compongo nuovi spazi
e desideri che
appartengono anche a te.
Mentre il mondo cade a pezzi
mi allontano dagli eccessi
e dalle cattive abitudini,
torneró all'origine,
torno a te che sei per me
l'essenziale

Text provided by angolotesti.it (they're my favorite resource for the lyrics to Italian songs!)

What words do you recognize?  Which words don't you understand?  Using a dictionary (I almost always use wordreference.com) make a list of the unknown words.  See if you can identify which part of speech each word is (noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, preposition, etc.) For the verbs, can you tell which tense is used?  Any tenses you haven't studied yet?

Now, take a look at my rough English translation below. Note which words and phrases I translated literally and where I chose to change the wording a bit...  Can you think of other ways to word the expressions in English or do you see anything you would translate differently?


Heroes assert
“if the game is difficult,
then it’s to be played!”
Good for them then
if they mistake harm for good.
It happens also to us
to make war and then yearn for peace
and in my silence
I take away each one of your pains.
In order to appreciate what
I haven’t before known to choose.

While the world falls to pieces
I put together new spaces
and desires that
belong also to you
because you’ve always been to me
what’s essential.

I will not accept
another mistake in judgment
love is capable of
hiding itself behind loving words
that I said aloud before when
they were empty and stupid.

While the world falls to pieces
I put together new spaces
and new desires that
belong also to you
While the world falls to pieces
I move away from the excess
and from the bad habits,
I’ll return to the origin
I return to you because you are for me
what’s essential.

Now, listen to the song again.  Sometimes, I find that the mood of the song has changed once I understand the words more fully, is that the case with you?  Do you like the song any more or any less now?

Keep listening and singing along and stay tuned (pun intended) for more Song exercises... I promise, it's one of the best ways to learn a language!

-Happy Studying!

~A

If you're in the US, check out the cd in the Didattichiamo! SHOP

-or- 

Follow these direct links to Amazon in your country:

Mp3 album #prontoacorrere (or individual tracks): (uk) ~ (fr) ~ (de) 

CD #prontoacorrere: (uk) ~ (fr) ~ (de) ~ (it) ~ (es)

Cantare per imparare: Claudio Baglioni "Amore Bello"

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OUR NEW NAME AND ADDRESS IS VIA OPTIMAE! {www.viaoptimae.com}

Didattichiamo! will slowly be phased out, so read this post on our new site and subscribe by email to receive our latest updates.

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Learning with songs: 

First, listen to the song without looking at the lyrics. Either write down or just notice the words that you recognize. What is the song about? If you don't understand it all, can you grasp the general idea? the mood? 

Next, listen to the song again, this time looking at the lyrics (below).  Were you right about the words that you heard? Is the overall meaning clearer after reading it? 

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Così vai via                            

non scherzare no...

domani via

per favore no...

devo convincermi però      

che non è nulla

ma le mie mani tremano...

in qualche modo io dovrò

restare a galla...                 

e così te ne vai...

cosa mi è preso adesso?

Forse mi scriverai...

ma sì è lo stesso...

Così vai via

l'ho capito sai...

che vuoi che sia

se tu devi vai...

mi sembra già che non potrò

più farne a meno                

mentre i minuti passano...

forse domani correrò

dietro il tuo treno...

tu non scordarmi mai...

com'è banale adesso...

balliamo ancora dai...

ma sì è lo stesso...

Amore bello come il cielo

bello come il giorno

bello come il mare amore...

ma non lo so dire...

Amore bello come un bacio

bello come il buio

bello come Dio

amore mio

non te ne andare...

Perché è così...

no non è giusto se è così...

se te ne vai...

se te ne vai...

Perché è così...

perché finisce tutto qui

tra poco andrai...

un lento, l'ultimo oramai...

E fare finta, che ne so

di essere matto

piangere urlare e dire no...

non serve a niente, già lo so

è finito tutto...

e se tu caso mai...

ma non mi sente adesso...

balliamo ancora dai...

ma sì è lo stesso...

Amore bello come il cielo

bello come il giorno

bello come il mare amore...

ma non lo so dire...

Amore bello come un bacio

bello come il buio

bello come Dio

amore mio

non te ne andare...

Vai via così...

no non è giusto ma è così...

sei bella sai...

sei bella sai...

Vai via così...

finisce allora tutto qui

fra poco andrai...

un lento, l'ultimo oramai...
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Now let's look at the phrases and words that I highlighted.

andare via: 
-also-                        both mean 'to go away'
andarsene:               vai is the "tu" form of andare

a galla: afloat
restare a galla then is 'to stay afloat'

cosa mi è preso:        'what has come over me'/ 'what has gotten into me'

fare a meno di qualcosa:           'to do without something' 
farne a meno then is 'to do without the previously mentioned thing, "it"

Are there any other words or phrases that you didn't understand? Use a dictionary to look them up (I personally like WordReference)

The song meaning should be clearer, but it's ok you still don't understand everything. Keep listening and try to sing along to work on your pronunciation. The more you listen the better you'll get and the more natural it will feel, so keep pressing play. If you have any questions or need clarification, feel free to comment!

Happy singing!