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.
Jailhouse Rock
Adriano Celentano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The band was jumpin and the joint began to swing.
You shouldve heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock.
Spider murphy played the tenor saxophone,
Little joe was blowin on the slide trombone.
The drummer boy from illinois went crash, boom, bang,
The whole rhythm section was the purple gang.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock.
Number forty-seven said to number three:
Youre the cutest jailbird I ever did see.
I sure would be delighted with your company,
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock.
The sad sack was a sittin on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin all alone.
The warden said, hey, buddy, dont you be no square.
If you cant find a partner use a wooden chair.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock.
Shifty henry said to bugs, for heavens sake,
No ones lookin, nows our chance to make a break. Bugsy turned to shifty and he said, nix nix,
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock.
Adriano Celentano’s song Jailhouse Rock is a cover of the classic Elvis Presley hit from 1957. In the song, the warden of the county jail throws a party and invites everyone in the jail, including the prison band. The band starts playing and the whole jail starts dancing to the “jailhouse rock,” a wild and energetic style of dance that was popular at the time.
The lyrics describe the different instruments that are played by the band members, including Spider Murphy on the tenor saxophone and Little Joe on the slide trombone. The whole rhythm section is referred to as the “purple gang,” which was a real-life gang that was active in Detroit during the 1920s.
The lyrics also mention several different inmates who are all dancing to the jailhouse rock, including Number Forty-Seven who says to Number Three, “You’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see.” Even the sad sack in the corner eventually joins in on the fun, with the warden encouraging him to “use a wooden chair” as a dance partner if he can’t find a human partner.
Overall, the song is a lively celebration of music and dance, even in the most unlikely of places.
Line by Line Meaning
The warden threw a party in the county jail.
The warden hosted a gathering in the prison.
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The group played their instruments passionately.
The band was jumpin and the joint began to swing.
The band was lively and the event was exciting.
You should’ve heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
The prisoners sang beautifully and with enthusiasm despite their circumstances.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Let's dance and have a good time.
Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin to the jailhouse rock.
All the prisoners were dancing to the song in unison.
Spider murphy played the tenor saxophone, Little joe was blowin on the slide trombone.
Two specific members of the band played specific instruments.
The drummer boy from illinois went crash, boom, bang, The whole rhythm section was the purple gang.
The drummer was enthusiastic and played loudly. The whole group played in harmony.
Number forty-seven said to number three: You’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see.
One prisoner expressed admiration for another.
I sure would be delighted with your company, Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me.
I would enjoy dancing with you to this song.
The sad sack was sittin’ on a block of stone, Way over in the corner weepin' all alone.
A depressed prisoner was alone and upset.
The warden said, hey, buddy, don’t you be no square. If you can’t find a partner use a wooden chair.
The warden encouraged the sad prisoner to participate in the dancing.
Shifty henry said to bugs, for heavens sake, No ones lookin, nows our chance to make a break.
One prisoner suggested escaping while no one was paying attention.
Bugsy turned to shifty and he said, nix nix, I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks.
Another prisoner declined the idea of leaving and wanted to continue enjoying the party.
Contributed by Grace E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pd1977w
Челентано молодец!🎉
@cliffrichard2867
❤❤❤❤❤
@dorischirino514
Yes, to me he looks like Jerry Lewis!😁😅
@dorischirino514
A Jerry Lewis Elvis!!😁😂
@charliec9728
it’s Adriano Celentano, but can I see the resemblance
@russopeppe59
Elvis e Elvis il resto e imitazione
@АлександрАлександр-к9в9х
👍👍👍☀️☀️☀️👏👏👏
@gabrielbalazs9310
Yeaaah !
@LupoAndy
Jerry Lewis? Even more like the actor Fernandel. :D
@Elisa19................
Speriamo che Elvis non abbia mai visto questa performance 😂