Kahimi sings in English, French, and Japanese (among other languages) with breathy child-like vocals. Her music can be considered ethereal, whispery pop; a number of songs have been written for her by Momus. She also has a strong connection to Cornelius, who collaborated on many early works, and whose trendy Trattoria label released many of her EPs in the mid-'90s.
Giapponese a Roma
カヒミ・カリィ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Sono Giapponese a Roma)
Sono una ragazza sola
(Sono Giapponese a Roma)
Con la mia Vespa
(Sono Giapponese a Roma)
Voglio fare la ginnastica artistica
Modernista, Futurista
Il Duce e Fascista
Una Giapponese, bella ragazza
Solo con la mia Vespa
Via del Corso, Villa Borghese
Due cappucini per piacere
Cazzo di Dio, santa Madonna
Una Giapponese a Roma
A i giardini di Villa Borghese
(Sono Giapponese a Roma)
Voglio manigare i gelati
(Sono Giapponese a Roma)
Modernista, futurista
Manifestazione culunquista
Al Gianicolo
Sotto
Gli alberi di limone nel' grotto
Vogio scopare, fare l'amore
Con i ragazzi di Trastevere
Modernista, Futurista
Una Giapponese a Roma
Marinetti mangia gli spaghetti
Giorgio de Chirico beve cappucini
I ragazzi di Trastevere
Con le Lambrette e i Lamborghini
Io sono la vostra prima ballerina
Io sono prima donna discothequa
Andiamo
Allegri
Al mare in cinquo cento
Guarda il panorama
Sulla Christoforo Colombo
Madre mia, la mare
E com una bella pitura
Voglio trovare la dolce vita
The song "Giapponese a Roma" by カヒミ・カリィ is an eccentric representation of a Japanese woman who finds herself living in Rome. Throughout the song, the singer describes herself as "piccola com'e Lolita," or small like Lolita, and a "ragazza sola," or lonely girl. She longs for adventure and excitement, which she seeks out on her Vespa by doing artistic gymnastics. The lyrics also reference the Modernist and Futurist movements in Italy, as well as the fascist government and its leader, Il Duce. However, despite this historical context, the lyrics are more focused on the singer's individual experiences and desires.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Una Giapponese a Roma," which highlights the singer's feeling of being an outsider in a foreign country. Her desire to explore her surroundings and taste the local gelato in the gardens of Villa Borghese show her yearning to belong and experience the beauty of Rome. The lyrics take a slightly risqué turn when she expresses her desire to have sex with the boys of Trastevere, a neighborhood in Rome famous for its nightlife.
Overall, "Giapponese a Roma" is a fun and quirky song about a Japanese woman trying to find her place in a foreign city. The lyrics play with cultural stereotypes and blend Italian history and culture with a more modern sensibility. It's a celebration of youth, independence, and the joys of exploration.
Line by Line Meaning
Sono piccola com'e Lolita
I am small like Lolita
(Sono Giapponese a Roma)
(I am Japanese in Rome)
Sono una ragazza sola
I am a lonely girl
Con la mia Vespa
With my Vespa
Voglio fare la ginnastica artistica
I want to do artistic gymnastics
Modernista, Futurista
Modernist, Futurist
Il Duce e Fascista
The Duce and Fascist
Una Giapponese, bella ragazza
A Japanese, beautiful girl
Solo con la mia Vespa
Only with my Vespa
Via del Corso, Villa Borghese
Via del Corso, Villa Borghese
Due cappucini per piacere
Two cappuccinos please
Cazzo di Dio, santa Madonna
God's dick, holy Madonna
Una Giapponese a Roma
A Japanese in Rome
A i giardini di Villa Borghese
In the gardens of Villa Borghese
(Sono Giapponese a Roma)
(I am Japanese in Rome)
Voglio manigare i gelati
I want to eat ice cream
Modernista, futurista
Modernist, Futurist
Manifestazione culunquista
Whateverist demonstration
Al Gianicolo
At the Gianicolo
Sotto
Under
Gli alberi di limone nel' grotto
The lemon trees in the grotto
Vogio scopare, fare l'amore
I want to have sex, make love
Con i ragazzi di Trastevere
With the boys from Trastevere
Modernista, Futurista
Modernist, Futurist
Una Giapponese a Roma
A Japanese in Rome
Marinetti mangia gli spaghetti
Marinetti eats spaghetti
Giorgio de Chirico beve cappucini
Giorgio de Chirico drinks cappuccinos
I ragazzi di Trastevere
The boys of Trastevere
Con le Lambrette e i Lamborghini
With the Lambrettas and Lamborghinis
Io sono la vostra prima ballerina
I am your top ballerina
Io sono prima donna discothequa
I am the queen of the disco
Andiamo
Let's go
Allegri
Happy
Al mare in cinquo cento
To the sea in Fiat 500
Guarda il panorama
Look at the view
Sulla Christoforo Colombo
On the Christopher Columbus highway
Madre mia, la mare
My mother, the sea
E com una bella pitura
And like a beautiful painting
Voglio trovare la dolce vita
I want to find the sweet life
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.