They didn't receive much mainstream attention for their first two albums, 2000's punk-pop Sussidiario Illustrato della Giovinezza and 2003's La Moda del Lento, though they were critically acclaimed.
Fabrizio left for perosnal and artistic reasons, after their newly produced and managed third album finally brought them more widespread popularity.
Now made up of leader Francesco Bianconi on vocals, guitar, and synths, Rachele Bastreghi on vocals and keys, Claudio Brasini on guitar, and Claudio Chiari on drums, the band released La Malavita on Warner Bros. Italy in 2005. Mixing the romantic sounds of British artists like the Smiths and Depeche Mode with Italian composers like Ennio Morricone and Angelo Badalamenti and American acts like Television and Scott Walker, as well as with modern sounds of electronica and indie rock, the record gained immediate attention in the group's home country, resulting in an extensive nationwide tour.
I Baustelle sono un gruppo musicale alternative rock italiano, formatosi nel 1996 a Montepulciano, in provincia di Siena. Dal 2005 la formazione del gruppo si è stabilizzata a tre elementi: Francesco Bianconi, Rachele Bastreghi e Claudio Brasini.
Il gruppo ha all'attivo sei album in studio (Sussidiario illustrato della giovinezza del 2000, La moda del lento del 2003, La malavita del 2005, Amen del 2008, I mistici dell'Occidente del 2010 e Fantasma del 2013) e una colonna sonora (Giulia non esce la sera, 2009).
A vita bassa
Baustelle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dice oggi Monica
che la personalità
se la può permettere
se la può concedere
solo una piccola elite: il cantante, l'attore, eccetera, eccetera...
E l'antidoto che ho al futuro anonimo
è la scritta Calvin Klein, è la firma D&G tatuata sugli slip
Ed i cantanti dalla radio cantano
ed ogni anno foglie morte cadono
i calendari cambiano
i centravanti contano
e tutto il resto è inutile
Hai ragione Monica
la sconfitta storica
ma non posso dirtelo
posso solo piangerla
e guardarti crescere
come cresce l'edera
come il rovo su pietre e macerie
Ed i cantanti dalla radio cantano
ed ogni anno foglie morte cadono
i calendari cambiano
ed i famosi ridono
e tutto il resto è inutile
E le modelle per le strade sfilano
ed ogni anno foglie morte nascono
comete nuove cadono
per un errore cosmico
è un universo inutile!
In Baustelle's song "A vita bassa" (which translates to "Low Waist"), the singer is having a conversation with someone named Monica. They discuss the concept of personality and how it is something that only a small elite can afford to have, such as singers and actors. The singer suggests that their antidote to an anonymous future is to wear clothes with designer labels, such as Calvin Klein or D&G. They especially highlight the trend of wearing low-rise jeans, which they describe as being worn "low waist".
Throughout the song, there is a sense of resignation and isolation as the singer reflects on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of fame and beauty. They observe that every year, the leaves fall and calendars change, while famous people still laugh and models still strut down the streets. They describe this state of existence as an "useless universe" and mourn the fact that they cannot express their feelings to Monica, only watch her grow like ivy or thorn on rubble, much like how things change and everything else seems irrelevant.
This song can be interpreted as a commentary on modern society's obsession with fame, beauty, and material wealth. The use of designer labels and low-rise jeans represents a desire to belong to a certain social class, while the theme of the passing of time and the inevitability of change emphasizes the fleeting nature of these desires. The lyrics suggest that while these things may provide temporary satisfaction and a sense of identity, they ultimately lack substance and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Professore lei non sa
A professor you don't know
dice oggi Monica
Today, Monica says
che la personalità
That personality
se la può permettere
Only a few elites can afford it
se la può concedere
Only a few elites can allow it
solo una piccola elite: il cantante, l'attore, eccetera, eccetera...
Only a small elite, such as singers or actors, can possess it
E l'antidoto che ho al futuro anonimo
And the antidote that I have for the anonymous future
è la scritta Calvin Klein, è la firma D&G tatuata sugli slip
Is the Calvin Klein logo, the D&G signature tattooed on the underwear
sopra la vita dei jeans che quest'anno va bassa, va bassa
Above the waistline of this year's low-cut jeans
Ed i cantanti dalla radio cantano
And the singers on the radio sing
ed ogni anno foglie morte cadono
And dead leaves fall every year
i calendari cambiano
Calendars change
i centravanti contano
Strikers count
e tutto il resto è inutile
And everything else is useless
Hai ragione Monica
Monica, you're right
la sconfitta storica
The historic defeat
ma non posso dirtelo
But I can't tell you
posso solo piangerla
I can only cry about it
e guardarti crescere
And watch you grow
come cresce l'edera
Like the ivy grows
come il rovo su pietre e macerie
Like the bramble on stones and rubble
E le modelle per le strade sfilano
And models parade the streets
ed ogni anno foglie morte nascono
And dead leaves are born every year
comete nuove cadono
New comets fall
per un errore cosmico
Due to a cosmic mistake
è un universo inutile!
It's a useless universe!
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.