A man knocked on my door yesterday evening and handed me a flier on the candidate he was touting, a Democrat. I handed it back and said: "Appreciate it but no. Thank you." His jaw dropped as if it were a complete surprise. He gazed at the clipboard he was carrying, and I wondered if my name were on it and how it got there. I've never voted for a Democrat and probably never will now that the party has gone insane collectively. Of course, me being me, I spent the night feeling I'd done something wrong and telling myself I hadn't.
I'm lame when it comes to Italian culture and last night this was manifested in a big way. The Lounge Sound streams standards at itunes. It played Stornelli Amorosi, which I was certain I'd never heard. Released in 1959, it was largely unknown in North America until the appearance of the film Big Night (1996), which I've seen. Listening to the beautiful ballad - which is not operatic - I was certain the singer was female. Wrong. Born in Rome in 1926, Claudio Villa (real name Pica) recorded over 3000 songs, sold 45 million records, and appeared in 25 musicals. He succumbed to a heart attack at 61 in 1987. Here are the lyrics and a line by line translation by someone named Bruno, posted at soundtrackcollector.com. It is followed by an audio clip of the recording:
E' SCRITTO NEL TUO CUORE
It’s written on my heart
IL MIO DESTINO
My destiny (My destiny is written on your heart)
ANCHE SE L'ESISTENZA M'AVVENENO
Even if my existence poisons me
ANCHE SE L'ESISTENZA M'AVVENENO
Even if my existence poisons me
VOGLIO RESTARE SEMPRE A TÈ VICINO
I always want to be close to you
PER QUELLA BOCCA ROSSA
For that red mouth (crimson, ruby lips)
E PROFUMATA
And that scent
CI PERDO VOLENTIERI LA MIA VITA
I voluntarily lose my life
CI PERDO VOLENTIERI LA MIA VITA
I voluntarily lose my life
PER POTER DIRE AL MONDO L'HO BACIATA
To be able to tell the world “I’ve kissed her”
SE TU FOSSI REGINA
If you were a queen
ED IO REGNANTE
And I king (the reigning king)
TI COLMEREI DI PERLE DELL'ORIENTE
I would lavish you with pearls from the orient (adorn, decorate)
TI COLMEREI DI PERLE DELL'ORIENTE
I would lavish you with pearls from the orient
IN CAMBIO DEL TUO AMORE AFFASCINANTE
In exchange for you fascinating love
SON COSE BELLI IL SOLE COLLA LUNA
Beautiful things are sun and the moon
SARANNO BELLE È PURE LE SIRENE
Mermaids are beautiful and pure (sirens)
SARANNO BELLE È PURE LE SIRENE
Mermaids are beautiful and pure
MA BELLA COME TE NON C’È NESSUNA
But as beautiful as you there are none (there is none)
PERDONA I MIEI SOSPIRI
Forgive my sighs
E I MIEI LAMENTI
And my laments (moaning, weeping)
MA IL CUORE MIO NON VIVE CHE DI I CANTI
But my heart doesn’t live if not for songs (singing of my hopeless love)
IL CUORE MIO NON VIVE CHE DI I CANTI
My heart doesn’t live if not for songs
E IL NOSTRO AMOR LO CANTO A I QUATTRO VENTI
And of our love I will sing to the four winds (for all to hear)
DA QUANDO L’AMOR TUO
From the moment your love
IL CORE M’ACCESSE
Touched my heart (accessed, got a hold of, lighted)
STÒ COLTIVANDO VIOLE, GIGLI E ROSE
I’ve been cultivating violets, lilies and roses (planting, growing)
STÒ COLTIVANDO VIOLE, GIGLI E ROSE
I’ve been cultivating violets, lilies and roses
TI CONDURRÒ AL ALTARE A FINE MESE
I’ll conduct you to the altar at the end of the month (bring, lead)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeXPJn8pYeM&list=RDHeXPJn8pYeM&start_radio=1&t=0
And here's a pic of the singer/songwriter.actor:
My thanks to the gentleman who purchased a lovely pictorial on cats, and to the woman who bought a book in Russian; and to Bad News Billy, who selected 100 Ways to Live to 100 by Charles Inlander; and to Lou, who helped the time pass by schmoozing with yours truly.
My Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Vic-Fortezza/e/B002M4NLJE
Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza
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