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.
Marechiare
Claudio Villa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pure li pisce nce fanno a ll'ammore.
Se revòtano ll'onne de lu mare,
Pe' la priézza cágnano culore.
Quanno sponta la luna a Marechiare!
A Marechiare ce sta na fenesta,La passiona mia nce tuzzuléa.
Nu garofano addora 'int 'a na testa,
Passa ll'acqua pe' sotto e murmuléa.
A Marechiare nce sta na fenesta!
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
A Marechiare,
A Marechiare nce sta na fenesta!
Chi dice ca li stelle só lucente,
Nun sape st'uocchie ca tu tiene 'nfronte!
Sti ddoje stelle li ssaccio i' sulamente,
Dint' a lu core ne tengo li ppónte.
Chi dice ca li stelle só lucente!
Scétate, Carulí, ca ll'aria è doce.
Quanno maje tantu tiempo aggi' aspettato!
P'accumpagná li suone cu la voce,
Stasera na chitarra aggi' purtato.
Scétate, Carulí, ca ll'aria è doce!
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ascetate, ascetate, ca ll'aria è doce!
The song "Marechiare" tells a story of love and passion in the seaside town of Marechiaro. The lyrics describe the beauty of the moon's reflection on the water and how it stirs up the fish to mate. The waves of the sea also seem to dance and change colors, perhaps reflecting the emotions of the lovers.
The song speaks of a window in Marechiaro where the singer's passion is held captive, like the water that murmurs under the garofano (carnation) that adorns her hair. The imagery of the flower suggests the fragility of the passion, while the sound of the water implies its constant flow and change.
The singer's love is compared to the stars, but he claims that they pale in comparison to the eyes of his beloved. His heart is connected to her like a bridge, suggesting a deep and lasting bond.
The song ends with the musician Carulí playing his guitar, giving voice to the sounds of the night. The air is sweet, and the singer has waited a long time for this moment. The repetition of "ah" suggests a contented sigh, as the lovers are finally able to express their feelings through music.
Overall, "Marechiare" is a passionate love song that captures the beauty and romance of the seaside town of Marechiaro, as well as the deep emotions felt by the singer for his beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Quanno spónta la luna a Marechiare
When the moon rises in Marechiare
Pure li pisce nce fanno a ll'ammore.
Even the fish are making love
Se revòtano ll'onne de lu mare,
The waves of the sea are stirred
Pe' la priézza cágnano culore.
Taking on the color of the stars
A Marechiare ce sta na fenesta,
In Marechiare there is a window
La passiona mia nce tuzzuléa.
My passion is awakened there
Nu garofano addora 'int 'a na testa,
A carnation is fragrant on someone's head
Passa ll'acqua pe' sotto e murmuléa.
The water passes by below, murmuring
Chi dice ca li stelle só lucente,
Who says that the stars are bright
Nun sape st'uocchie ca tu tiene 'nfronte!
Doesn't know the eyes that you have in front!
Sti ddoje stelle li ssaccio i' sulamente,
These two stars, I know them by heart
Dint' a lu core ne tengo li ppónte.
They are anchored in my heart
Scétate, Carulí, ca ll'aria è doce.
Wake up, Carulí, the air is sweet
Quanno maje tantu tiempo aggi' aspettato!
I've been waiting for so long!
P'accumpagná li suone cu la voce,
To accompany the sounds with my voice
Stasera na chitarra aggi' purtato.
Tonight I brought a guitar.
Writer(s): FRANCESCO PAOLO TOSTI
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sfkcbf
I have come to realize that one of the attractions of Neapolitan-style singing is that the voices are not overly forced, as too often occurs with today's singers of 19th-century dramatic-operas.
@WMP777
A popular singer with a lyrical training, in the tradition of Buti and Tajoli. The felling for singing beautiful with a melodious line, another of the cultural treasures of la Bella Italia.
@EdmundStAustell
Да, мягкое и красивое! Вот где все начинается! Спасибо, Евгений!
@EdmundStAustell
Lei ha perfettamente ragione! Si tratta di una bella voce e canta molto bene. Ho ancora un po 'dei suoi dischi. Io probabilmente messo un paio di più. E davvero buono.
@EdmundStAustell
Yes, excellent observation. What really makes this apparent is when well known opera singers, with big voices and highly dramatic instincts take on Neapolitan songs without any particular interest in their history or natural style, and blast them to pieces. In addition their Neapolitan often sounds just like northern Italian. All they know is that the songs are popular, so maybe they should sing some. Villa was a great natural popular Roman singer, but he took the trouble to do it right!
@bach197474pandoramusic
Красивое мягкое пение! Очень понравилось. Большое спасибо, Эдмунд)
@Sibirjachka1
О,Эдмунд!!! Как я обожаю эту песню в его исполнении!!!! Большое спасибо!!!
@carlaligiaaangel1
¡Único excelente!
@EdmundStAustell
Спасибо, мой друг. Я рад, что вам понравилось!
@Arigatoalisa
Спасибо Вам большое!