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.
Tre Passi Avanti
Adriano Celentano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
mi piaci tanto, virgola
sei forte perchè hai portato
oltre alla musica
dei bellissimi colori
che danno una nota di allegria
in questo mondo pieno di nebbia. Punto
Però se i ragazzi
che non si lavano, virgola
quelli che scappano di casa, virgola
e altri che si drogano
e dimenticano Dio
fanno parte del tuo mondo, virgola
o cambi nome, o presto finirai
Tre passi avanti
E crolla il mondo beat
Una meteora che fila e se ne va
Ragazza svegliati
ehi, cosa fai
Mi lasci per andare con uno
che ti mette nei guai
Guarda che coppia
Dicono già
Visti di spalle
chi è la donna non si sa
E già io mi immagino
come finirà
Voi fate la comica in città
E se ridono gli altri o no
Sono triste, per lei piangeròSono triste, per te piangerò,
piangerò, piangerò
Tre passi avanti
E sola resterai
In una nuvola di fumo
come il beat
E sono certo che rimpiangerai
I miei capelli corti
e questo amore nato con te.
E resta pulita
Come tu sei
Quando arrossivi
nel guardare gli occhi miei
Io parlo ancora ma
zitta te ne vai
Ma dentro di me
tu resterai.
E se ridono gli altri o no
Sono triste, per te piangerò
Sono triste, per te piangerò,
piangerò, piangerò
The song "Tre passi avanti" by Adriano Celentano is a pop/rock track with a message about the changing culture of the time. The opening lines of the song praise the "beat" culture for bringing "beautiful colours" and "a note of joy" to a world full of "fog." However, the song takes a darker turn when it addresses societal issues such as unwashed youth, drug addiction and godlessness. Celentano warns that if the "beat world" is filled with such negativity, it will not survive for long.
The chorus of the song declares that with "three steps forward," the "beat world" will crumble, and the listener will be left in a cloud of smoke. Meanwhile, the verses focus on a love story between Celentano's character and a woman who ends up leaving him for another man, who leads her down a dangerous path. The singer mourns the loss of the relationship and predicts that the woman will regret leaving him one day.
Overall, "Tre passi avanti" is a reflection of the uncertainty and fear that permeated Italian society at the time, with youth culture and the changing societal norms leading many to question the values of the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Caro beat
mi piaci tanto, virgola
sei forte perchè hai portato
oltre alla musica
dei bellissimi colori
che danno una nota di allegria
in questo mondo pieno di nebbia. Punto
Dear beat, I really like you. You are strong because, in addition to music, you have brought beautiful colors that provide a note of joy in this hazy world.
Però se i ragazzi
che non si lavano, virgola
quelli che scappano di casa, virgola
e altri che si drogano
e dimenticano Dio
fanno parte del tuo mondo, virgola
o cambi nome, o presto finirai
However, if the boys who don't bathe, the runaways, and the ones who use drugs and forget about God are part of your world, then you need to change your ways or you'll soon be finished.
Tre passi avanti
E crolla il mondo beat
Una meteora che fila e se ne va
Ragazza svegliati
ehi, cosa fai
Mi lasci per andare con uno
che ti mette nei guai
Three steps forward and the beat world crumbles. A meteor that streaks by and disappears. Wake up, girl. Hey, what are you doing? You're leaving me to go with someone who will get you into trouble.
Guarda che coppia
Dicono già
Visti di spalle
chi è la donna non si sa
E già io mi immagino
come finirà
Voi fate la comica in città
Look at that couple. People are already talking. Seen from behind, it's unclear who the woman is. And I can already imagine how it will end. You two are the talk of the town.
E se ridono gli altri o no
Sono triste, per lei piangerò
Sono triste, per te piangerò,
piangerò, piangerò
And whether others are laughing or not, I am sad. I will cry for her. I will cry for you. I will cry, cry.
Tre passi avanti
E sola resterai
In una nuvola di fumo
come il beat
E sono certo che rimpiangerai
I miei capelli corti
e questo amore nato con te.
Three steps forward and you will be left alone in a cloud of smoke like the beat. And I'm sure you will regret leaving me, and missing my short hair and the love we had together.
E resta pulita
Come tu sei
Quando arrossivi
nel guardare gli occhi miei
Io parlo ancora ma
zitta te ne vai
Ma dentro di me
tu resterai.
Stay pure, like you are. When you blush looking into my eyes. I keep talking, but you silently walk away. But inside of me, you will remain.
Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.