Banda Bassotti was formed in 1988, by a group of politically active musicians who began to sympathize with the Nicaraguan, Salvadorean, Palestinian, and Basque people fights. This group of friends supports the Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional with solidarity initiatives by creating some work brigades. From 1984 to 1987 they took part to a three months brigade with the building cooperative XXV Aprile, to build some students houses and a school. From 1987 to 1989 the group creates a rock-band which begins to stir in the squats and in the demonstrations. The Banda Bassotti together with other comrades establishes the project Gridalo Forte No fascism! No racism! A documentation centre against fascism and racial prejudice.
From 1990 to 1991 they organize an antiracist festival with the same title who took place in Rome on 1991 May 3rd and 4th. European antiracist bands took part into such festival with concerts, videos and meetings. From this documentation centre, after two years the label Gridalo Forte Records is created. From this documentation centre the project Balla e Difendi arises, always in 1991, where the Banda Bassotti, took part to, together with other roman bands, such as: Red House, Filo da Torcere, AK 47. In this record, produced by the Gridalo Forte Records independent label, took part the most active bands of the left roman antagonist scene. "Figli della stessa rabbia" the first Banda Bassotti cd follows the success of such initiative and it is produced by the same label. This cd obtained a great success of both audience and critics and acted as an ingagements band multiplier: from a roman dimension to a national, and then an international one.
Without abandoning their roots, the BB obtained appreciation in Spain and especially in the Basque Country, where they performed in several concerts together with some independist left bands. During the recording of "Bella Ciao" together with the GANG, it raised the idea to play in Salvador for the FMNL. The occasion to realize such idea comes out few months later in march 1994, for the first political elections after 11 years of civil war in Salvador. The Banda Bassotti played with the Negu Gorriak in San Salvador central square at the end of the campaign with an audience of 50.000 people. They performed in 4 concerts in less than a week.
In June 1995 the band moved to Euskadi for 15 days in the IZ studio, on the mountains and with Kaki Arkarazo –sound technician and Negu Gorriak guitarist- they recorded "Avanzo di Cantiere" produced by Gridalo Forte Records label. Fermin Muguruza took part to the traditional song "Carabina 30-30" This cd is sold also in Euskadi and Spain, published by Gora Herriak Records a branch of the International Basque label Esan Ozenki. The record has been presented in several concerts in Italy and all over Spain: Bilbao, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Santiago De Compostela, Saragoza, Gasteiz, Oiartzun. The Banda Bassotti played with the Negu Gorriak in summer 1995 in Bilbao Gaz Square at the town party with an audience of 10.000 people. After a while the Banda Bassotti took part to a Hitz Egin demonstration for the freedom of expression, a big concert to raising funds for the Negu Gorriak trial against the civil guard General Galindo. The song reported is Ustalkerria. They raised 200.000.000 liras for the defence, about 12.000 people took part to it and 15 bands played, there were all Basque bands and the Banda Bassotti represented the international sympathy.
In the mid 1996 the band decided to stop because of great energies spent and the obvious difficulties to go on both with the band and to work in the yard.
In February 2001 Negu Gorriak -who broke in the same time of of the Banda Bassotti- decided to keep the promise to get back together to play in a concert to celebrate the end of the legal prosecution of Colonel Galindo against their song Ustalkerria when the Negu Gorriak won the trial. The agreement stated that also the Banda Bassotti should have to rejoin nad play with the Basque band. The Banda Bassotti decided to increase the instruments of the band with the brass section: Sandokan to the tombone -singer of the Ramiccia and trombone of the International Fermin Muguruza Dub Manifest and of the Radici nel Cemento- and Stefano Cecchi to the trumpet -trumpet of the bands International Fermin Muguruza Dub Manifest and Radici nel Cemento-. They rearranged their songs and left for Bilbao.
Concerts in February should have been two but they were three, due to the great demand of tickets (30.000). Seizing this opportunity the Banda Bassotti organized two concerts in Rome on 15th and 17th March 2001. The first concert is in support of the people reported for the demonstration against the nazi Haider arrival in Rome, while the second took place in the Social Centre "Villaggio Globale" with an audience of 9.000 people. The great success of these occasional concerts was the input to find new energies and the Banda Bassotti started to reorganize its future as a band. They started again to play and they received great demands from Italy and Spain.
In May 2001 a double live cd has been published by the label Gridalo Forte Records with the title "Un altro giorno d’amore" recorded at the Villaggio Globale and mixed in the Euskadi Garate Studio by Kaki Arkarazo. The video is the live concert of May 17th as well. Fermin Muguruza took part to roman concerts singing "La Linea del Frente" and "Zu Trapartu Arte" the two most famous songs by Fermin Muguruza’s first band: the Kortatu. After a while they shoot the video of "Carabina 30-30" and Maurizio Gregori -Ramiccia’s saxophonist- joined the band.
In summer 2001 the Banda bassotti is on tour again in Italy, Spain and the Basque Country until September when they played at the Independent Day Festival with Manu Chao, Africa Unite, and so on. Without forgetting their attitude, the Banda Bassotti and their label organized a concert in Rome to support the partisan Walter Dall’Olmo and his family. After that they performed in Italy and Spain and in November 2001, during their first seven concerts tour, they had a total audience of about 30.000 people.
In their second tour in December, with four concerts their audience was of around 7.000 people. During this month they released a compilation with the title "Poetry and reality" for the Japanese label Two Children Records.
Singer Angelo "Sigaro" Conti, died at the age of 62 on 11 December 2018.
Andrò dove mi porteranno i miei scarponi
Banda Bassotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics of Banda Bassotti's song "Andrò dove mi porteranno i miei scarponi" (I will go where my boots will take me) convey a strong message of rebellion against societal norms and the oppressive ruling class. The song starts by stating that there is no need to conform to societal expectations and not to bother with pleasing others. The lyrics then describe the elite class, referring to them as "lords and ladies" who indulge in cocaine and sex dolls without any regard for the hard work of the common people. The lyrics then outline the need for change, with the working class taking charge and standing up against violence and terror.
The chorus repeats that they are not those who follow clowns and false leaders, nor are they those who sacrifice themselves for their country. The song emphasizes the need for the working class to stand united and reject religion and the bourgeoisie. The lyrics also differentiate between the lifestyle of the rich and the struggles of the working class, with lines like "paradise with your head down and no troubles, no. On earth, it's every man for himself in hell."
The song concludes with a call to action, asking the listener if they will stand with them and fight against the injustices of society. The lyrics promise that they will keep fighting and walking with those who live on the streets.
Overall, "Andrò dove mi porteranno i miei scarponi" is an anthem of rebellion and a call for the working class to unite and fight against societal oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
Non servirà farsi più in là non rompere i coglioni mai
It's not necessary to go too far, never be a pain. Just smile and watch other people's problems.
Sorrider Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah guardando te in compagnia dei tuoi guai
Laughing, Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah, while watching you in the company of your troubles.
Dall'alto dei gipponi signori e damerini bambole e cocaina e grazie tante al tuo sudore
From the top of the hills, rich people enjoying dolls, cocaine, and benefiting from your hard work.
Non sto parlando di pace e d'amore
I'm not talking about peace and love.
Per chi ci deruba violenza e terrore...Oi!
For those who steal from us, violence and terror... hey!
Chi non da retta a pagliacci e santoni....sono io
I'm the one who doesn't listen to clowns and charlatans.
Non si sacrifica per la nazione....sono io
I'm the one who doesn't sacrifice for the nation.
E allora classe operaia e non religione....siamo noi
So, the working class and not religion... that's us.
Paradiso testa bassa e niente guai, Nooo sulla terra all'inferno cazzi tuoi
In paradise, keep your head down and you won't have any trouble. But, on earth, it's every man for himself, and you're screwed.
Nooo nell'esercito della borghesia, Nooo quello che di fronte ti ritroverai
No, in the bourgeoisie's army, no, that's what you'll find yourself facing.
Il giorno che verrà quando deciderai che è ora di cambiare
The day will come when you decide it's time to change.
Carico a coppe e liscio denari....sono io
Drinks in abundance and smooth money... that's me.
Chi scarta il jolly e non donne di cuore....sono io
The one who throws away the wild card and not the women who love him... that's me.
Sulla pelle il sudore ha lo stesso colore....siamo noi
On our skin, sweat has the same color... that's us.
Uova di caviale, ghiaccio e champagne, Nooo lampade abbronzanti e business class
No to caviar, ice, and champagne. No to tanning lamps and business class.
tra chi sogna il ritorno del reich, Nooo quella strano voglia che abbiamo noi
Among those who dream of the return of the Reich, no, we do not have that strange desire.
Non essere così carini come voi di sterco profumati
Don't be as cute as those of you who are perfumed dung.
Mi troverai dove si suderà tra chi Rostock e Dachau non dimenticherà dove se sei ribelle griderai signor no!
You will find me where people sweat, among those who will not forget Rostock and Dachau... where, if you're a rebel, you will shout 'no, sir!'
e quando il vento fischia io ti cercherò
And when the wind whistles, I will search for you.
Cercherò Te! quando la musica andrà cercherò Te!
I will search for you! When the music plays, I will search for you!
quando si combatterà ci sarai? Si! e con te io canterò ci sarai? Si!
When there's a fight, will you be there? Yes! And I will sing with you. Will you be there? Yes!
Così vivrò la vita a modo mio con chi vive per strada io camminerò
So I will live my life my way. I will walk with those who live on the street.
Contributed by Emma P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
AngeloR1220
Grazie Ragazzi! Avete dei testi fantastici.
steSka88
....Non so parlare di pace ed amore, per chi ci deruba violenza e terrore Oi!!!!!.....
Francesca Digregorio
Quando deciderai che è ora di cambiare...Cercherò te quando la musica va.Si e ti troverò sempre nelle nostre città incasinate nella mia vita complicata ascoltando ska a volte piamgendo a volte ridendo a volte urlando incazzata....😈✊
Marcello Malloni
Direi proprio che è la mia preferita.
ytgfbndnmcnvkinbgfbo
AMA IL TERMOLI ODIA IL FASCISMO
Antofunk
ANTIFA SIEMPRE!!!!!!!!
Matteo Cavallari
Amor
Arcadio Buendia
porcoddi che bella
Xanti Garijo mikeliz
Agurrak euskal herritik!