Following a spell in London he began performing as a one-man-band playing guitar, harmonica, kazoo and kick drum. He shaped his character on Blues and Rock, fusing them with mediterranean elements.
His debut album called "Non farti cadere le braccia" was published in 1973. Over the next few years Bennato became one of the main Italian singer-songwriters for the counter-cultural youth movement, with songs which fused social protest with irony and sarcasm. "Burattino senza fili" (1978) which used Pinocchio's fable as a metaphor for Bennato's social commentary, introduced him to a more mainstream audience. His popularity was at its highest peak during a triumphal tour that included the St. Siro Stadium in Milan for an unforgettable concert in front of 70.000 people.
Nowadays he has 29 album published, and conuntered various collaborations: he performed with Bo Diddley, B.B. King and Jeff Healy. Still memorable are the great concerts at Hallenstadium in Zurich and at the Prater in Wien (1977), his partecipations at Montreux Jazz Festival (1987, 1992) and at the Apollo Theatre in New York City (1987) and the monogram of the Championship 1990 "Un'estate Italiana", sung with Gianna Nannini, which remained in hit parade for four months and went all around the world.
Still performing succesfully on stage with his new songs , he's also engaged in a new theatrical production: the Italian musical Peter Pan. The soundtrack of the Italian version is totally composed by Edoardo Bennato's lyrics, taken from his concept album "Sono solo canzonette" a musical transcription of the tale of Peter Pan which is going to be translated into English.
Official web site: www.bennato.net
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DISCOGRAPHY
NON FARTI CADERE LE BRACCIA (1973)
I BUONI E I CATTIVI (1974)
IO CHE NON SONO L’IMPERATORE (1975)
LA TORRE DI BABELE (1976)
BURATTINO SENZA FILI (1977)
UFFA, UFFA (1980)
SONO SOLO CANZONETTE (1980)
E’ ARRIVATO UN BASTIMENTO (1983)
E’ GOAL (live) (1984)
KAIWANNA (1985)
OK ITALIA (1987)
EDOARDO LIVE (1987)
IL GIOCO CONTINUA (1988)
ABBI DUBBI (1989)
EDO RINNEGATO (1990)
E’ ASCIUTO PAZZO ‘O PADRONE (1992)
IL PAESE DEI BALOCCHI (1992)
PERSONE PULITE (1993)
SE SON ROSE FIORIRANNO (1994)
LE RAGAZZE FANNO GRANDI SOGNI (1995)
QUARTETTO D’ARCHI (1996)
W LA MAMMA (Spanish) (1996)
SBANDATO (1998)
SEMBRA IERI (2000)
AFFERRARE UNA STELLA (2001)
IL PRINCIPE E IL PIRATA – soundtrack (2001)
L’UOMO OCCIDENTALE (2003)
TOTO’ SAPORE E LA MAGICA STORIA DELLA PIZZA - soundtrack (2004)
LA FANTASTICA STORIA DEL PIFFERAIO MAGICO (2005)
Relax
Edoardo Bennato Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Toller tanz im haus der unverbindlichkeit
Wo jeder zehn minuten star sein kann
Doch das tempo wird diktiert vom cadillac
Relax relax relax
Fili tesi tra le generazioni
Per distinguere chi è dentro e chi è fuori
Relax - Relax - Relax
Senza remore e senza rimpianti
Tutti insieme felici e contenti
Rimpatriate per tutte le età
Relax - Relax - Relax
Dove vai, questa sera dimmi dove vai
Di che segno sei?
Si - lo so - voi fanatici del base ball
Non ridete mai!...
Odalische dalle forme perfette
Vi tradiscono le voci artefatte
Ma il segreto è proprio l'ambiguità
Relax - Relax - Relax
Quando a Napoli arriva l'estate
Sento odore di spighe bruciate
E di idee realizzate a metà
Relax - Relax - Relax
Solo voi - un po' vittime e un poco eroi
Non mollate mai
Sempre là - a vantare antiche nobiltà
E nei vostri occhi - disprezzo - vedo...
Aden - pozzi di petrolio
Laghi - colorati in nero
Le palestre molto ben frequentate
I ragazzi con le scarpe firmate
Impresari in piena attività - Relax!...
The lyrics to Edoardo Bennato's song "Relax" contain a lot of social commentary on various aspects of society. The first verse talks about the "dance in the house of insincerity" where everyone can be a star for ten minutes, but where the tempo is dictated by the Cadillac. This is a metaphor for the superficiality and consumerism that pervades society, where people are more concerned with image and status symbols than with substance.
The second verse talks about the tensions between generations and the need to differentiate between those who are "in" and those who are "out". The low blows of advertising are also mentioned, indicating how marketing manipulates people's desires to fit certain molds and buy certain products. The chorus "Relax - Relax - Relax" can thus be seen as a tongue-in-cheek invitation to not take all of this too seriously, to relax and enjoy the ride.
The third verse seems to celebrate the diversity of people coming together, regardless of age or background, to be happy and content. The question "where are you going tonight, tell me where are you going" introduces a bit of self-awareness and curiosity, as if the singer is genuinely interested in getting to know others beyond their surface appearances.
The fourth verse shifts to a more specific critique of the media and the beauty industry, which deceives people with artificially perfect bodies and voices. The secret to their success, however, is the ambiguity they cultivate, the ability to be whoever the public wants them to be.
The final verse ventures into more global issues, mentioning places like Aden with its oil wells and lakes colored black from pollution. It also references the gym culture and conspicuous consumption of designer clothes, which tie back into the themes from earlier in the song.
Overall, "Relax" offers a complex portrait of contemporary society, one that is both critical and appreciative, inviting listeners to take a step back and see the bigger picture.
Line by Line Meaning
Si
Yes
Toller tanz im haus der unverbindlichkeit
Great dance in the house of commitment-free, casual relationships
Wo jeder zehn minuten star sein kann
Where anyone can be a star for ten minutes
Doch das tempo wird diktiert vom cadillac
But the tempo is dictated by the Cadillac
Relax relax relax
Relax, relax, relax
Fili tesi tra le generazioni
Tense threads between generations
Per distinguere chi è dentro e chi è fuori
To distinguish who is inside and who is outside
Colpi bassi della pubblicità
Low blows of advertising
Senza remore e senza rimpianti
Without remorse and without regret
Tutti insieme felici e contenti
All together happy and content
Rimpatriate per tutte le età
Repatriated for all ages
Dove vai, questa sera dimmi dove vai
Where are you going, tell me where you're going tonight
Di che segno sei?
What's your sign?
Si - lo so - voi fanatici del base ball
Yes, I know, you baseball fanatics
Non ridete mai!...
You never laugh!...
Odalische dalle forme perfette
Odalisques with perfect forms
Vi tradiscono le voci artefatte
Betrayed by artificial voices
Ma il segreto è proprio l'ambiguità
But the secret is actually ambiguity
Quando a Napoli arriva l'estate
When summer arrives in Naples
Sento odore di spighe bruciate
I smell burnt wheat
E di idee realizzate a metà
And of ideas realized halfway
Relax - Relax - Relax
Relax, relax, relax
Solo voi - un po' vittime e un poco eroi
Only you - a bit victims and a bit heroes
Non mollate mai
Never give up
Sempre là - a vantare antiche nobiltà
Always there - boasting ancient nobility
E nei vostri occhi - disprezzo - vedo...
And in your eyes - I see disdain...
Aden - pozzi di petrolio
Aden - oil wells
Laghi - colorati in nero
Lakes - colored in black
Le palestre molto ben frequentate
The gyms are very well attended
I ragazzi con le scarpe firmate
The boys with branded shoes
Impresari in piena attività - Relax!...
Entrepreneurs in full swing - Relax!...
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.