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.
Roma Non Si Vende
Banda Bassotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
DAVANTI AL TROGOLO TUTTI INSIEME,
LÈGGI PARLAMENTÀ.
PERÒ JE SERVE UN SIGNORE,
UN SANTO DA PREGÀ.
NUN VONNO SOLO STO PARADISO, PURE QUELLO DELLÀ
MA NON RUBANO PER FAME, NÉ PER POVERTÀ
IL SIGNORE DEI CORROTTI LI PERDONERÀ.
CHE FA PAURA,
MA CE PENSA LA QUESTURAAAAAUUUUUUU
ME SVEJO PRESTO LA MATTINA SENZA NIENTE DA FA',
STO MOLTO MÒ PEGGIO DE PRIMA, C'HAI DA CAMBIÀ,
NON SE RIDE PIÙ DENTRO CASA, È SEMPRE COLPA MIA
DOPO NA VITA DE LAVORO
DEVO ARICOMINCIÀ
RESTÀ SENZA LAVORO, NUN È NA MALATTIA
C'È CHI NON CE L'HA FATTA, CHI SE N'È ANNATO VIA
E IL DIO DEI DISOCCUPATI SULLA TERRA NUN C'È,
CHISSÀ SE SOTTO TERRA SE... SE SE FA VEDÈ
LA GUERRA CONTRO I POVERACCI NON È FINITA MAI,
PALAZZINARI E BANCHIERI COMANNANO IN CITTÀ,
I BARABBA NON SO' TANTI, I MESSI IN CROCE SÌ,
CHI DEV'ESSE' LIBERATO
E CHI DEVE MORI'
MA NON RUBANO PER FAME, NÉ PER POVERTÀ
Il SIGNORE DEGLI USURAI LI HA PERDONATI GIÀ
LA GENTE SENZA FAME
NON C'HA PIÙ PAURA
E AL LARGO LA QUESTURAAA
NON CE SO' API NUN CE SO' FIORI, SO' QUADRETTI COSÌ
CE SO' LE FACCE DEI SIGNORI,
INSIEME, AI NUMERI PERCHÉ,
QUEL LORO DIO DENARO
È IL DIO DE TUTTI I FIIII
MA ROMA NON SI VENDEEE
MA ROMA SI DIFENDEEE
The lyrics to Banda Bassotti's song "Roma Non Si Vende" depict a stark portrayal of the struggles faced by the working class in Rome. The song highlights the plight of common people who are forced to work hard every day, symbolized by the reference to sirens going to work and gathering in front of the parliament to discuss laws. Despite their efforts, they feel the need for a higher power, a saint to pray to, emphasizing the sense of desperation and hopelessness among the marginalized.
The lyrics also touch upon the theme of poverty and corruption, where individuals are not stealing out of greed but out of necessity. The imagery of a corrupt God who forgives the corrupt hints at a broken system where the powerful exploit the vulnerable. The mention of homelessness and the fear it brings, juxtaposed with the indifference of the authorities, further highlights the inequalities and injustices prevalent in society.
The second paragraph delves into the personal struggles of an individual who finds themselves unemployed and facing an uncertain future. The loss of laughter in the home and the burden of starting over after a lifetime of work reflect the cycle of struggle and hardship that many face. The absence of a divine figure for the unemployed suggests a lack of support and compassion for those who are left behind in the ruthless pursuit of profit.
The song also critiques the ongoing war against the poor, with developers and bankers holding power in the city while the marginalized suffer. The reference to Barabbas and those who are crucified speaks to the injustices and sacrifices made by the oppressed. The assertion that people do not steal out of hunger or poverty but are still condemned by the god of usurers highlights the twisted values of a society driven by greed and exploitation. The defiant declaration at the end, "Roma non si vende, Roma si difende" translates to Rome is not for sale, Rome will defend itself, symbolizing the resilience and determination of the people to stand up against oppression and fight for their dignity and rights. Overall, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a society rife with inequalities, corruption, and struggles, while also portraying the strength and resistance of the marginalized in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
GENTE PER BENE CON LE SIRENE VANNO A LAVORÀ,
Respected people with luxury lifestyles go to work, guided by the authorities, to discuss political matters.
DAVANTI AL TROGOLO TUTTI INSIEME,
All together, they convene in front of the fountain to discuss and make decisions.
LÈGGI PARLAMENTÀ.
They form a parliament to legislate and govern.
PERÒ JE SERVE UN SIGNORE,
But they need a leader,
UN SANTO DA PREGÀ.
A saint to pray to.
NUN VONNO SOLO STO PARADISO, PURE QUELLO DELLÀ
They don't want only this paradise, but also the one beyond.
MA NON RUBANO PER FAME, NÉ PER POVERTÀ
But they do not steal out of hunger or poverty.
IL SIGNORE DEI CORROTTI LI PERDONERÀ.
The Lord of the corrupt will forgive them.
TANTA GENTE SENZA CASA,
Many people without homes,
CHE FA PAURA,
It's frightening,
MA CE PENSA LA QUESTURAAAAAUUUUUUU
But the police will take care of it.
ME SVEJO PRESTO LA MATTINA SENZA NIENTE DA FA',
I wake up early in the morning with nothing to do,
STO MOLTO MÒ PEGGIO DE PRIMA, C'HAI DA CAMBIÀ,
I am much worse off than before, something needs to change,
NON SE RIDE PIÙ DENTRO CASA, È SEMPRE COLPA MIA
There is no laughter inside the house, it's always my fault.
DOPO NA VITA DE LAVORO
After a life of work,
DEVO ARICOMINCIÀ
I have to start over.
RESTÀ SENZA LAVORO, NUN È NA MALATTIA
Being unemployed is not an illness.
C'È CHI NON CE L'HA FATTA, CHI SE N'È ANNATO VIA
Some cannot make it, some have gone away.
E IL DIO DEI DISOCCUPATI SULLA TERRA NUN C'È,
And the god of the unemployed is not on Earth,
CHISSÀ SE SOTTO TERRA SE... SE SE FA VEDÈ
Who knows if underground he... he shows himself.
LA GUERRA CONTRO I POVERACCI NON È FINITA MAI,
The war against the poor never ends,
PALAZZINARI E BANCHIERI COMANNANO IN CITTÀ,
The property developers and bankers rule the city,
I BARABBA NON SO' TANTI, I MESSI IN CROCE SÌ,
There are not many Barabbas, but there are many who are crucified,
CHI DEV'ESSE' LIBERATO
Who should be set free,
E CHI DEVE MORI'
And who should die.
MA NON RUBANO PER FAME, NÉ PER POVERTÀ
But they do not steal out of hunger or poverty.
Il SIGNORE DEGLI USURAI LI HA PERDONATI GIÀ
The Lord of the usurers has already forgiven them.
LA GENTE SENZA FAME
The people without hunger,
NON C'HA PIÙ PAURA
Have no more fear,
E AL LARGO LA QUESTURAAA
And the police are kept at bay.
NON CE SO' API NUN CE SO' FIORI, SO' QUADRETTI COSÌ
There are no bees, no flowers, just little squares like this.
CE SO' LE FACCE DEI SIGNORI,
There are the faces of the masters,
INSIEME, AI NUMERI PERCHÉ,
Along with the numbers because,
QUEL LORO DIO DENARO
Their god is money
È IL DIO DE TUTTI I FIIII
It's the god of all sons.
MA ROMA NON SI VENDEEE
But Rome is not for sale,
MA ROMA SI DIFENDEEE
Rome defends itself.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Angelo “Sigaro” Conti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SkaPartizan
La Banda continua ad essere un faro nello scuro oceano in tempesta... SIGARO NEL ❤
Xavier Batista
Sempre GRANS! Sempre Banda Bassotti! Gràcies!
ratatoskr ToT
субтитров очень не хватает. Вокал звучит мощно.
Alina Lopez Fuentes
Stupenda ragazzi!
Caterina Corradi
Daje Banda Bassotti!
Vincenzo Cricchio
A volte ritornano………………
W la BANDA!!!
Sigaro nel cuore
Giovanni Ruiu
Grazie Banda Bassotti ❤️
Leonardo Sciuto
Tutte le forze del popolo per schiacciare il nemico!!! Grandi!!!✊⚒️⭐
oliver aliaga
E estado en Roma 4 veces y es una de las ciudades más bellas del planeta tierra, historia corre por sus calles y monumentos. Sobretodo espero que tenga vivo en sus corazones a Antonio Gramsci , un saludo desde España camaradas.
Jesus Puig
Sempre benvinguts a ManresA.
Consciència, Unitat, Venceremos.
Per Sigaro i tots tots k els recordem.