He was an actor and Italian Tenor, who specialised in romantic-melodic “musica leggera”, reaching a sort of The Voice status in Italy as “il reuccio (della canzone)” - the small king, so called also because of his sanguine character. While Nilla Pizzi was the Queen.
But the baby-boomer generation disliked more and more his genre, style and virtuosisms (the long acute Grand Finale - e.g., notable in “Granada” -, bringing a stereotype operatic flavour into traditional pop or easy listening “musica leggera”). Sharp age divisions therefore emerged, so as to make music tastes become an identitarian, Weltanschaung space of generational divide, at the time of ‘50s rock (with Little Tony, Italy’s Elvis), then the ‘60s new pop (many thousands of cave bands, also in Italy). All this was not so specially Italian, of course; but, because of his so long career, Claudio became a target symbol (for the ritual “parricide”); he was gradually ghettoed into an ageing but always faithful audience (no empty space at his concerts). On the other hand, he basically sticked to his 1950s repertoire and style.
Together with Domenico Modugno, he holds the record for the most wins at the Sanremo Music Festival, where he won the competition in 1955 (Buongiorno tristezza), 1957 (Corde della mia chitarra), 1962 (Addio ... addio) and 1967 (Non pensare a me). He won the RAI-TV Canzonissima competition in 1964 with " ‘O sole mio", and in 1966 with "Granada".
His debut was as a follower of the folk singer Carlo Buti (Florence 1902-1963, “the Golden Voice of Italy”); in 1947 he records his first 78 giri record (a rarity now) and in 1952 he is the main actor in the movie “Serenata amara” dir. by Pino Mercanti - followed by about 30 movies, where he is often singing as well; he most loved the Mario Valli character, an artist in “Granada Addio” (1966) dir. by Marino Girolami.
In the 1950s, together with his archi-rival Luciano Tajoli, he interpreted even many songs that will almost disappear afterward: "Il Ponte", "La luna nel rio" (Who threw the moon in the river, who threw it ...) and "Fontane Romane". Among Claudio Villa’s classics, one shoud also mention: 1948 Scalinatella, 1949 Fontana di Trevi and Signorinella, 1950 Luna Rossa, the 1951 Neapolitan suite (Voce 'e notte - Core 'ngrato - 'Na sera 'e maggio - Anema e core - Malafemmena - Munasterio 'e Santa Chiara - Marechiaro), 1951 I’ te vurria vasà, 1952 Vola colomba and Vecchio scarpone, 1955 Arrivederci Roma, 1956 Guaglione, 1957 Corde della mia chitarra, Lazzarella, La vie en rose, and Ave Maria di Schubert, 1958 Nel blu dipinto di blu (Modugno’s Volare), 1960 Romantica and Marina, 1969 Strangers in the night, 1974 Michelle and La Paloma, 1980 Dove sta Zazà and Tamurriata nera, 1982 El Condor pasa, 1985 Nessun dorma, and Caro amore (Concerto per Aranjuez).
In 1973 he interprets unforgettably on TV some “stornelli a dispetto” in duet with the great folksinger Gabriella Ferri, his great admirer and friend. After different labels, he ended up recording with Cetra (later on becoming Fonit-Cetra).
His death in 1987 by heart attack was announced live on Italian television by Pippo Baudo, during the last night of the Sanremo Music Festival of 1987.
He recorded across 4 decades over 3000 songs, and sold over 45 million records.
Mala femmena
Claudio Villa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Si avisse fatto a n′ato
Chello ch'hê fatto a me,
St′ommo t'avesse acciso...
E vuó' sapé pecché?
Pecché ′ncopp′a 'sta terra,
Femmene comm′a te,Nun ce hann"a stá pe' n′ommo
Onesto comm'a me...
Femmena,
Tu si′ na Malafemmena...
A st'uocchie hê fatto chiagnere,
Lacreme 'e ′nfamitá...
Femmena,
Tu si′ peggio 'e na vipera,
Mm′hê 'ntussecato ll′ánema,
Nun pòzzo cchiù campá...
Femmena,
Si' doce comm"o zzuccaro...
Peró ′sta faccia d'angelo,
Te serve pe' ′nganná!
Femmena,
Tu si′ 'a cchiù bella femmena...
Te voglio bene e t′odio:
Nun te pòzzo scurdá...
Te voglio ancora bene,
Ma tu nun saje pecché...
Pecché ll'unico ammoreSi′ stato tu pe' me!...
E tu, pe′ nu capriccio,
Tutto hê distrutto oje né'...
Ma Dio nun t"o pperdona
Chello ch'hê fatto a me...
Femmena,
Tu si′ na Malafemmena...
A st′uocchie hê fatto chiagnere,
Lacreme 'e ′nfamitá...
Femmena,
Tu si' peggio ′e na vipera,
Mm'hê ′ntussecato ll'ánema,
Nun pòzzo cchiù campá...
Femmena,
Si' doce comm"o zzuccaro...
Peró ′sta faccia d′angelo,
Te serve pe' ′nganná!
Femmena,
Tu si' ′a cchiù bella femmena...
Te voglio bene e t'odio:
Nun te pòzzo scurdá...
The song "Malafemmena" by Claudio Villa is an emotional tribute to a woman who has caused the singer distress and pain. The lyrics convey the feelings of betrayal and hurt that the singer has experienced at the hands of this woman. In the opening lines, he expresses his wish that whatever ill fate she had brought upon him would also befall her. He then goes on to explain the reason for his anger towards her. He describes her as a woman who, like her, is not fit to be with an honest man like him.
The singer then goes on to describe the woman's actions and the effect they have had on him. He compares her to a Malafemmena, a wicked woman, whose eyes have caused him to cry tears of shame. He likens her to a viper who has poisoned his soul, leaving him unable to go on living. Despite this, he acknowledges that she is sweet as sugar, with the face of an angel, but he sees this as a facade that she uses to deceive others.
The singer's conflicted feelings are evident throughout the song. He continues to carry a torch for her, despite the pain she has caused him. He can't forget her, even though he hates her. The emotions expressed through this song are intense and relatable. Anyone who has experienced the pain of a broken heart can understand the singer's anguish.
Line by Line Meaning
Si avisse fatto a n′ato
If someone had done to a loved one what you did to me
Chello ch'hê fatto a me,
What you did to me
St′ommo t'avesse acciso...
It would have killed us both
E vuó' sapé pecché?
And do you know why?
Pecché ′ncopp′a 'sta terra,
Because on this earth
Femmene comm′a te,
Women like you
Nun ce hann'a stá pe' n′ommo
Don't deserve an honest man
Onesto comm'a me...
Like me...
Femmena,
Woman,
Tu si′ na Malafemmena...
You are a bad woman...
A st'uocchie hê fatto chiagnere,
You made these eyes cry
Lacreme 'e ′nfamitá...
Tears of infamy...
Tu si′ peggio 'e na vipera,
You are worse than a snake,
Mm′hê 'ntussecato ll′ánema,
You've poisoned my soul,
Nun pòzzo cchiù campá...
I can't live anymore...
Si' doce comm'o zzuccaro...
You are sweet as sugar...
Peró ′sta faccia d'angelo,
But this angel face,
Te serve pe' ′nganná!
Is used to deceive!
Tu si′ 'a cchiù bella femmena...
You are the most beautiful woman...
Te voglio bene e t′odio:
I love and hate you,
Nun te pòzzo scurdá...
I can't forget you...
Te voglio ancora bene,
I still love you,
Ma tu nun saje pecché...
But you don't know why...
Pecché ll'unico ammore
Because the only love
Si′ stato tu pe' me!...
Was you for me!...
E tu, pe′ nu capriccio,
And you, for a whim,
Tutto hê distrutto oje né'...
Destroyed everything today,
Ma Dio nun t'o pperdona
But God won't forgive you
Chello ch'hê fatto a me...
For what you did to me...
Writer(s): Toto' A. De Curtis
Contributed by Evelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vincenzoruiu3233
Grazie Claudio,sei è sarai sempre il più grande cantante del mondo.
@francotrovato2237
Le canzoni che canta Claudio Villa non si possono mai dimenticare la voce più bella che esiste io ho ascoltato Claudio Villa dal 1950 fino adesso e l'ho ascolterò sempre , non c'è né meglio di lui Claudio Villa imperatore della canzone 🌺🎻🌼🌸🎸
@vincenzoruiu3233
Unico immenso solo tu sei all'altezza di questa bellissima canzone bravissimo.
@vincenzoruiu3233
Immenso interpretazione magistrale unico immenso vero imperatore del bel canto unico immenso anche se romano canta il napoletano magistralmente.
@vincenzoruiu3233
Superba interpretazione del nostro grande Claudio vero Re della canzone italiana e mondiale
@vincenzoruiu3233
Bellissima canzone bravissimo nell'interpretazione vero Re della canzone italiana e mondiale unico immenso grande Claudio vero Re della storia della canzone italiana e mondiale.
@claraleonori999
CAPOLAVORO LA CANZONE, CAPOLAVORO LA VOCE DI CLAUDIO
@vincenzoruiu3233
Unico immenso bellissima canzone bravissimo Re Claudio Villa nell'interpretazione vero interprete del bel canto unico al mondo.
@giuseppaincorvaia3216
Io non ricordo le parole, mia mamma si. È' un momento magico, quando sento che comincia a ricordare e piano piano, le snocciola.
@giuseppasemeraro8668
Canzoni. lndimenticabilli. più. li senti e più. li. vuoi sentire.