A disciple of Luciano Pavarotti and Zucchero Fornaciari, the blind, Tuscany-born, vocalist has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary opera. His participation in Pavarotti's 1992 hit, Miserere, and Fornaciari's 1993 world tour brought him international attention. Opera, however, represents only one side of his musical persona. Bocelli has been equally successful as a pop ballad singer, having recorded duets with Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman and Eros Ramazzotti. Al Jarreau, who sang with Bocelli during The Night of Proms in November 1995, praised Bocelli when he said, "I have had the honour to sing with the most beautiful voice in the world." Bocelli grew up on a farm in Lajatico, a rural village in Tuscany. Beginning piano lessons at the age of six, he later added flute and saxophone.
Despite his obvious musical talents, Bocelli didn't consider a career in music until he had studied law at the University of Pisa and had earned a Doctor Of Law degree. Inspired to pursue music, he studied with famed tenor Franco Corelli, supporting himself by performing in piano bars.
Bocelli's first break as a singer came in 1992 when Fornaciari auditioned tenors to record a demo tape of Miserere, which he had co-written with Bono of U2. Successfully passing the audition, Bocelli recorded the tune as a duet with Pavarotti.
After touring with Fornaciari in 1993, Bocelli performed as a guest star in the Pavarotti International festival held in Modena in September 1994. In addition to performing solo and in a duet with Pavarotti, Bocelli sang with Bryan Adams, Andreas Vollenweider and Nancy Gustavsson. In November 1995, Bocelli toured Holland, Belgium, Germany, Spain and France with "Night Of Proms", which also featured Al Jarreau, Bryan Ferry, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp and John Miles.
Bocelli's first two albums -- Il Mare Calmo Della Sera in 1994 and Bocelli in 1996 -- showcased his operatic singing. His third effort, Viaggio Italiano, featured famous arias and traditional songs from Naples. Although released only in Italy, the album sold more than 300,000 copies. With his fourth album, Romanza, released in 1997, Bocelli turned to pop music. The album included the hit, Time to Say Goodbye, recorded as a duet with Sarah Brightman. Bocelli continued to focus on pop balladry with his fifth album, Sogno, released in 1999, which featured a duet with Celine Dion of the David Foster- and Carole Bayer Sager-penned tune, The Prayer, sold more than ten million copies, received a Golden Globe award and led to Bocelli being nominated for a Grammy as "best new artist".
Miserere
Andrea Bocelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miserere
Miserere, misero me
Però brindo alla vita
Ma che mistero è la ma vita
Che mistero
Dell'anno Ottantamila
Un menzognero
Ma dove sono
Cosa faccio
Come vivo?
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
Perso nel vivere profondo
Miserere, misero me
Però brindo alla vita
Io sono il santo che ti ha tradito
Quando eri solo
E vivo altrove e osservo il mondo
Dal cielo
E vedo il mare
E le foreste
E vedo me che
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
Perso nel vivere profondo
Miserere
Misero me
Però brindo alla vita
Se c'è una notte buia abbastanza
Da nascondermi, nascondermi
Se c'è una luce, una speranza
Sole magnifico che splendi dentro me
Dammi la gioia di vivere
Che ancora non c'è
Miserere, miserere
Quella gioia di vivere
Che forse ancora non c'è
The song "Miserere" by Andrea Bocelli and John Miles is a prayer for forgiveness and a deep reflection on the meaning of life. The opening lines "Miserere, misero me, però brindo alla vita" ("Have mercy on me, miserable as I am, but still I toast to life") set the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics detail the singer's struggles with sin and self-doubt, as he questions his place in the world and the purpose of his existence.
The verse "Sono un peccatore dell'anno Ottantamila, un menzognero" ("I am a sinner of the year eighty thousand, a liar") reflects the concept of original sin and the idea that all humans are flawed and in need of redemption. The chorus "Miserere, misero me, però brindo alla vita" is a plea for mercy and forgiveness, but also a celebration of life despite its difficulties and hardships.
The song continues on, with the singer reflecting on his role as a betrayer and a saint, as he watches the world from the perspective of the afterlife. "Vivo nell'anima del mondo, perso nel vivere profondo" ("I live in the soul of the world, lost in the deep living") is a poignant reminder that life is fleeting and that our time on earth is limited. The final verses express a hope for joy and meaning in life, even as the singer acknowledges that it is not always easy to find.
Line by Line Meaning
Miserere
Have mercy.
Miserere
Have mercy.
Miserere, misero me
Mercy, I am miserable.
Però brindo alla vita
Yet I toast to life.
Ma che mistero è la ma vita
But what mystery is life?
Che mistero
What mystery.
Sono un peccatore
I am a sinner.
Dell'anno Ottantamila
Of the year eighty thousand.
Un menzognero
A liar.
Ma dove sono
But where am I?
Cosa faccio
What am I doing?
Come vivo?
How am I living?
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
I live within the soul of the world.
Perso nel vivere profondo
Lost in living deep.
Io sono il santo che ti ha tradito
I am the saint who betrayed you.
Quando eri solo
When you were alone.
E vivo altrove e osservo il mondo
And I live elsewhere and observe the world.
Dal cielo
From the sky.
E vedo il mare
And I see the sea.
E le foreste
And the forests.
E vedo me che
And I see myself.
Se c'è una notte buia abbastanza
If there is a dark enough night.
Da nascondermi, nascondermi
To hide me, hide me.
Se c'è una luce, una speranza
If there is a light, a hope.
Sole magnifico che splendi dentro me
Magnificent sun that shines within me.
Dammi la gioia di vivere
Give me the joy of life.
Che ancora non c'è
That is not yet here.
Miserere
Have mercy.
Misero me
Miserable me.
Però brindo alla vita
Yet I toast to life.
Quella gioia di vivere
That joy of living.
Che forse ancora non c'è
That perhaps is not yet here.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adelmo Fornaciari, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Line On
Maravillosa actuación!!!! Admirable persona,su voz es cura para el alma ,es amor.
Flor do Amor
Yesterday, today and always two great artists whose voices are a solace for the soul and the heart. This piece is simply divine.
JonnySnooks
I remember my parents bringing home Andrea's CD - Romanza. It was played regularly in the house. This song is one of the favourites - the voices and sounds are a language that can be absorbed by any mind in the universe.
Gilberto Sousa Lima
Formidáveis... compositor e, principalmente, o intérprete!!! Esse Bocelli é admirável...
Dinyo
I still get goosebumps 10 years later
Michael DeMita
Andrea Bocelli i have seen many times in Canada and USA
Living in France ladt 3 years and Zucchero came to town
And damn it missed him by 1 day i kniw i will also see him in person some day
Andrea and Zucchero
Italian treasures
Walberson Baars
Simplesmente sensacional, show,dois monstro da música mundial 1❤❤
Maia Ziru
Acabo de ver la película "La música del silencio" absolutamente espectacular lloré de la emoción con cada tristeza narrada en ésta película , con cada éxito y ésta escena WoW ,sin palabras!
dom
Orgoglio della mia bella Italia 🇮🇹❤️
Patricia Barto
Amo voz e apresentação de Andréa Bocelli sua história de Vida ...Voz do Silêncio filme lindo cona uma parte desta Belíssima Apresentação ...Parabéns e seja Abençoado Voz Linda e Encanto