Heavily influenced by his idol, Elvis Presley, and the 1950s rock revolution, he is also known as the most famous dancer of the Hula hoop fad. For the last 40 years he has retained his popularity in Italy, selling millions of records and appearing in numerous TV shows and movies (including a short appearance in Fellini's La Dolce Vita, before becoming a famous artist). In the latter respect, he has also been a creator of a comic genre, with his characteristic walking and his facial expressions. For the most part, his films were commercially successful, in fact in the 1970s and part of the 1980s, he was the king of the Italian box office in low budget movies. As an actor, critics point to Serafino (1968), directed by Pietro Germi, as his best effort.
As a director he frequently casts Ornella Muti, Eleonora Giorgi and his wife Claudia Mori. His best movie like director is "Yuppi Du", winner of The Golden Palm at Cannes Festival. He and Claudia are the parents of Rosita, Rosalinda and Vincent Celentano, the latter most notable to worldwide audiences for playing the Satan character in Mel Gibson`s The Passion of the Christ. He also works often as a host for several Italian television shows.
His 1968 song "Azzurro" has regained popularity in 2006, due to it being the anthem of the Italian national football team (the Azzurri) who won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The artist Vincent Fiorello has also created a remix of the song.
His last concert-event in 2012, after 18 years without live performances, was transmitted on Canale 5, with over 9 million viewers both evenings.
Anna Magnani
Adriano Celentano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
verso la vita mi affaccio
indosso il cappotto di mio zio
soldato scampato alla guerra.
Passando tra sfollati
e ragazzini in festa
cerco la mia vecchia casa,
i nespoli abbandonati
con un bacio
apro la porta
ed ho in mente
la faccia dell'Italia coi denti stretti
e il sangue che cola
ma ha il cuore di pietra...
La' dove prima vibrava un pianoforte
soltanto polvere e terra
e mi sembra di udire
la voce arsa di Anna Magnani
che infonde speranza...
Foglie d' ulivo argentate
raccontano una pasqua lontana
il tetto che quasi frana,
una rondine giace senza vita
fra una scarpa e un secchio
ed ho in mente la faccia dell'Italia
la statua grigia e vetra di Mazzini
coi suoi lisi taccuini.
La' dove prima vibrava un pianoforte
soltanto polvere e terra
e mi sembra di dire
la voce arsa di Anna Magnani
che infonde speranza..
E mi sembra di udire
la voce calda di Anna Magnani
che intona una dolce melodia...
The song "Anna Magnani" by Adriano Celentano is a powerful commentary on the destruction and rebuilding of Italy after World War II. The first verse describes the singer's journey through the rubble and devastation of war-torn Italy, searching for his old home and reminiscing on the past. He mentions his uncle's coat, which was likely a symbol of survival and resilience in such difficult times. He also encounters other refugees and children celebrating, highlighting the contrasting experiences of hope and despair. Despite the destruction and chaos around him, the singer feels a sense of determination to carry on, symbolized by the modest hunt and kiss that open the door to his memories.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on the ruined state of his old home, where there used to be music and life. He hears the voice of Anna Magnani, a famous Italian actress known for her grit and strength, and her words offer hope and inspiration amidst the destruction. The singer also observes the signs of nature and time passing in the form of silver olive leaves and Easter traditions. He mentions a falling roof and a dead swallow, perhaps symbolizing the fragility of life and the sadness that accompanies loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Da tegole e calcinacci
From the rooftops and debris
verso la vita mi affaccio
I look out towards life
indosso il cappotto di mio zio
I wear my uncle's coat
soldato scampato alla guerra.
A soldier who escaped the war.
Passando tra sfollati
Passing through refugees
e ragazzini in festa
And celebrating children
cerco la mia vecchia casa,
I search for my old house,
i nespoli abbandonati
The abandoned medlar trees
una caccia modesta
A modest hunt
con un bacio
With a kiss
apro la porta
I open the door
ed ho in mente
And I have in mind
la faccia dell'Italia coi denti stretti
The face of Italy with its teeth clenched
e il sangue che cola
And the blood that flows
ma ha il cuore di pietra...
But it has a heart of stone...
La' dove prima vibrava un pianoforte
Where once a piano played
soltanto polvere e terra
Nothing but dust and earth
e mi sembra di udire
And it seems to me that I hear
la voce arsa di Anna Magnani
The burning voice of Anna Magnani
che infonde speranza...
That instills hope...
Foglie d' ulivo argentate
Silver olive leaves
raccontano una pasqua lontana
Tell of a distant Easter
il tetto che quasi frana,
The roof that almost collapses,
una rondine giace senza vita
A swallow lies dead
fra una scarpa e un secchio
Between a shoe and a bucket
ed ho in mente la faccia dell'Italia
And I have in mind the face of Italy
la statua grigia e vetra di Mazzini
The gray and glass statue of Mazzini
coi suoi lisi taccuini.
With his worn notebooks.
E mi sembra di dire
And it seems to me that I say
la voce arsa di Anna Magnani
The burning voice of Anna Magnani
che infonde speranza..
That instills hope..
E mi sembra di udire
And it seems to me that I hear
la voce calda di Anna Magnani
The warm voice of Anna Magnani
che intona una dolce melodia...
Singing a sweet melody...
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrea Canterv
Senza togliere nulla ad Adriano Celentano che è un mito indiscusso ma la versione della Consoli è meravigliosa
Mar Ste
che staordinario mix di parole musica e voce... Davvero Emozionante!... i miei complimenti ad Adriano, Carmen Consoli e Vincenzo Cerami! Davvero un grande omaggio per la migliore delle nostri attrici di tutti i tempi... ( marcosvizz )
Leon Jeekel
Heel mooi, hele fijne herinneringen aan alle films van AM, mijn moeder was een grote fan. Net als AM een trotse en sterke vrouw. Ik mis haar elke dag.
Nicola
grande celentanooooooooooo
Marco Bonardelli
Si sente che è di Carmen, grande sicula. ;) Grandi ieri sera su Raiuno sia lei che Celentano.
CIRO MONTAGNA
Il testo non e'della consoli ma di cerami viva celentano
ephram85
il testo è di Vincenzo cerami, la Musica della Consoli ;)
VelvetNick
devo dire che mi piace molto più cantata da carmen
isingjazz83
x quanto io ne sappia il testo è di Carmen Consoli, la musica no...c'era un video su youtube tempo fa in cui Carmen entrava in sala di registrazione mentre Celentano registrava il pezzo, e Carmen si complimentava x come avevano musicato il pezzo di cui stava ascoltando la musica x la prima volta
ephram85
valutava l'arrangiamento semmai. La melodia l'ha fatta lei :)