When their first album "Elio Samaga Hukapan Karyiana Turu" came out (1989), the concept of an underground band was outdated by the 150,000 copies that were sold in the first ten months. This result was even more significant since they were not supported by the official media.
Slowly the media's ostracism would be transformed into a clear admiration for a project that did not undergound traditional market rules, but had instead created a new market. Today Elio e le Storie Tese is one of the most appreciated bands by the press and one of the most requested to appear on television.
The second album "Italyan Rum Casusu Çikti" that contains "Pipppero" (recorded with Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares, the world-famous female Bulgarian traditional choir), reached success even quicker selling 150,000 copies in the first 6 months.
The hilarious impact of the lyrics, the catchy melodies, the stage presence, (their concerts are real happenings that are attended by a more and more vast and loyal audience), the professionality (the six musicians are some of the best performers in Italy); all these things together with a boost of energy and the constant seek of innovative ideas, make the group undoubtely a "unique case" in the Italian musical panorama.
Their impact on the media grew constantly, more and more. In 1996 they participated in the world-known "Festival di Sanremo", which contributed to increase their popularity without diluting their original and intelligent way of making music. Both critics and audience were stunned by their hit "La Terra dei Cachi".
Their next album "Eat the Phikis", released a few months after Sanremo, jumped immediately to number one of the Italian top selling chart.
Between 1997 and 1998 two new releases from Elio e le Storie Tese: their greatest hits called "Del Meglio del Nostro Meglio Vol. 1" and the special box "Perle ai Porci", containing all of their recordings, previously released and unreleased. Few days before the new year's day the band dramatically lost Feyez, the sax player, who died during a concert, because of an ictus.
"Craccracriccrecr", the next studio album, was released in 1999, followed two years later by "Made in Japan", a double live cd that ironically refers to the well known Deep Purple live album.
Their latest studio release is "Cicciput" (2003). Some of the most popular italian artists (Gianni Morandi, Laura Pausini, Max Pezzali, Litfiba) gave their contribution to the record.
During these years the band won more than a prize for their musical carreer: Best Italian Band at the Mtv European Music Awards 1999, Best Videoclip (Shpalman) at the Italian Music Awards 2003, "Critics' Prize" plus the second place at the Sanremo Festival in 1996.
They have been pioneers, in their own special way, in the field of marketing, communication and promotion. Nothing that ever comes from Elio e le Storie Tese could be less than unique.
At present Elio e le Storie Tese are the first artists in Italy (and among the very few in the world) to record each live performance and sell the mastered copy right after the show; in addition to that, this new website has been activated, with a new form of membership (annual or quarterly) allowing members to download a wide range of audio/video recordings for free.
The band:
Elio: voice, flute
Faso: bass guitar
Cesareo: guitar
Rocco Tanica: keyboards
Christian Meyer: drums
Jantoman: additional keyboards
(source: elioelestorietese.it)
L'eterna lotta tra il bene e il male
Elio e le Storie Tese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spaghetti bolonnaise
Capuccino bolonnaise
Pizza napoli paesa'
Pizza with spaghetti
Drink salted water
Parmisan cheese in the air
Capuccino
Espresso
Espresso with vinegar
Bread with lasagna in it
Gnocchi filled with motoroil
Don't put meatbolls in espresso
The table is on the table
Bread is very good
But don't fill it with lasagna
Gnocchi in the nose
Bread filled with bread
Sfilatino italiano
Pizza bolonnaise
Gnocchi with lasagna
Spaghetti western
Espresso on top of lasagna
Choose the right combination
Garlic
Garlic with italian icecream
Italian icecream
Italian icecream with tuna
Tuna
Tuna with honey
Red wine
Red wine with tuna
The table is on the table
The cat is it in garlic
The garlic is on the cat
Salami
Salami in the capuccino
Espresso
Espresso with garlic
Garlic
Vinegar with vinegar
Garlic in the garlic
The garlic is on the table
Vinegar with pizza
Vinegar
Table is on the italian icecream
The lyrics to Elio e le Storie Tese's song "L'eterna lotta tra il bene e il male" are intentionally nonsensical and absurd. The song is structured as a list of seemingly random food combinations and instructions on how to consume them. However, the title of the song translates to "The Eternal Struggle Between Good and Evil," and the lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on human desire and temptation.
The repetition of food items such as spaghetti, pizza, and espresso may represent the common desires and indulgences in life. The mention of "the right combination" implies that there is a perfect balance or harmony to be achieved, but it is constantly being fought against by impulses and cravings. The reference to "gnocchi filled with motoroil" and "salted water" suggest that some desires or temptations may not be beneficial or healthy. The inclusion of garlic, vinegar, and salami may symbolize the darker, more sinful side of humanity.
Overall, the lyrics of this song are a humorous and satirical take on the human struggle between good and evil, represented through the metaphor of food combinations and consumption.
Line by Line Meaning
Eat the right combination of italian food:
Make sure to choose the perfect combination of Italian dishes:
Spaghetti bolonnaise
Enjoy some spaghetti with Bolognese sauce:
Capuccino bolonnaise
Have a cappuccino with some Bolognese sauce:
Pizza napoli paesa'
Try a Neapolitan-style pizza:
Pizza with spaghetti
Don't be afraid to put spaghetti on your pizza:
Drink salted water
Stay hydrated with some salted water:
Parmisan cheese in the air
Smell the delicious aroma of Parmesan cheese:
Capuccino
Savor a classic Italian cappuccino:
Spaghetti with capuccino
Indulge in some spaghetti with a creamy cappuccino sauce:
Espresso
Enjoy a strong and flavorful espresso shot:
Espresso with vinegar
Get creative and try an espresso with a splash of vinegar:
Bread with lasagna in it
Try a unique and tasty bread with lasagna baked inside:
Gnocchi filled with motoroil
Don't eat gnocchi filled with motor oil, it's not good for you:
Don't put meatbolls in espresso
Avoid putting meatballs in your espresso:
The table is on the table
The table is present and visible, it's not invisible:
Bread is very good
Bread is a delicious staple of Italian cuisine:
But don't fill it with lasagna
However, don't stuff your bread with lasagna:
Gnocchi in the nose
Don't stick gnocchi in your nose:
Bread filled with bread
It's okay to have bread with your bread:
Sfilatino italiano
Try a long and crispy Italian breadstick:
Pizza bolonnaise
Satisfy your cravings with a pizza topped with Bolognese sauce:
Gnocchi with lasagna
Enjoy some gnocchi with a side of lasagna:
Spaghetti western
Get into the spaghetti western spirit with a plate of pasta:
Espresso on top of lasagna
Top your lasagna with a shot of espresso for a unique taste experience:
Choose the right combination
Ultimately, choose the Italian food combination that suits your taste:
Garlic
Add some flavorful garlic to your dishes:
Garlic with italian icecream
Experiment with garlic and Italian ice cream for a unique taste:
Italian icecream
Satisfy your sweet tooth with some delicious Italian ice cream:
Italian icecream with tuna
Get adventurous and try Italian ice cream with tuna:
Tuna
Enjoy some tuna as part of your Italian meal:
Tuna with honey
Add some sweetness to your tuna with honey:
Red wine
Sip on some delicious and robust Italian red wine:
Red wine with tuna
Pair your tuna with a glass of red wine:
The cat is it in garlic
The cat may like garlic, but it's not necessarily good for them to eat:
The garlic is on the cat
The garlic may have accidentally landed on the cat, but it should be removed:
Salami
Enjoy some delicious Italian salami as part of your meal:
Salami in the capuccino
Although it may sound strange, don't put salami in your cappuccino:
Espresso with garlic
Experiment with adding garlic to your espresso for a new taste sensation:
Garlic
Garlic is a staple in Italian cooking:
Vinegar with vinegar
Don't overdo it with vinegar, one splash is enough:
Garlic in the garlic
Get extra garlic flavor by adding even more garlic to your dish:
The garlic is on the table
The garlic is present and ready to be used in your cooking:
Vinegar with pizza
Try adding a splash of vinegar to your pizza for a unique taste:
Vinegar
Vinegar is a flavorful addition to many Italian dishes:
Table is on the italian icecream
Make sure the table won't tip over and ruin your Italian ice cream:
Contributed by Emily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.