Sir Paolo Tosti (April 9, 1846 – December 2, 1916) was an Italian, later Br… Read Full Bio ↴Sir Paolo Tosti (April 9, 1846 – December 2, 1916) was an Italian, later British, composer and music teacher.

Tosti is remembered for his light, expressive songs, which are characterized by natural, singable melodies and sweet sentimentality. He is also known for his editions of Italian folk songs entitled "Canti popoliari Abruzzesi". His style became very popular during the Belle Époque and is often known as salon music. His most famous works are Serenata (lyrics: Cesareo), Goodbye (lyrics: George J. Whyte Mellville) which is sometimes performed in Italian as Addio (lyrics: Rizzelli), and the popular Neapolitan song, Marechiare, the lyrics of which are by the prominent Neapolitan dialect poet, Salvatore Di Giacomo.

As a composer, Tosti is exceptional. Since the beginning of the recording era, numerous recording artists specializing in classical Italian repertoire have recorded Tosti songs, yet Tosti never composed opera. Notable examples on recording include Alessandro Moreschi (the only castrato who ever recorded) singing "Ideale", Nellie Melba singing "Mattinata" and Jussi Björling singing "L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra".

Francesco Paolo Tosti received most of his music education in his native Ortona, Italy, as well as the conservatory in Naples. Tosti began his music education at the Royal College of San Pietro a Majella at the age of eleven. He studied violin with Pinto and composition with Saverio Mercadante,who became so impressed with Tosti that he appointed him student teacher, which afforded the young man a meagre salary of sixty francs a month. Poor health forced Tosti to leave his studies and return home to Ortona. He was confined to his bed for several months. During this time he composed several songs, two of which he submitted to the Florentine Art Society, and two others he submitted for publication to Ricordi. All four were rejected.

Once recovered from his illness, Tosti moved to Ancona, where his poverty was such that for weeks at a time he subsisted on nothing but oranges and stale bread. His travels brought him to Rome, where his fortunes turned. He met the pianist and composer Giovanni Sgambati, who became his patron. Sgambati arranged for Tosti to give a concert at the Sala Dante at which the Princess Margherita of Savoy (who later became Queen of Italy) was present. She was so impressed with his performance that she appointed him her singing professor. She later appointed him curator of the Musical Archives of Italy at the Court.[2]

In 1875 Tosti traveled to London, England. He made several powerful friends who introduced him to the highest levels of English society. Tosti was a staple in fashionable drawing rooms and salons, and in 1880, he was made singing master to the Royal Family. His fame as a composer of songs grew rapidly while he was in England. One of his compositions, For ever and ever was introduced by Violet Cameron at the Globe Theatre. This song became a favorite overnight, and there was an enormous demand for his compositions. By 1885 he was the most popular composer of songs in England. His publishers paid him a staggering retaining fee for twelve songs a year.

In 1894 Tosti joined the Royal Academy of Music as a professor. In 1906, he became a British citizen and was knighted two years later by his friend, King Edward VII. In 1913 he returned to Italy to spend his last years there. He died in Rome on December 2, 1916.

Pour un Baiser
Francesco Paolo Tosti Lyrics

Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴

VIctor
Nimekam na moto–oh
Moto moto–oh
(Dj Venji)

Dance to the beats
Unlock your feat
Si una look so sweet

Si ukam tu chill
Hadi uko dunga beach (eeeeh)
Hadi uko dunga beach
Yani mi ndio nyoria
Ukipenda fagiah
Mama Hassan Bhagia
Aii ngoja, aii Ngojah
Tinga Tinga Malo
Take off the preacher
Owaro the teacher
Chukuwa khalifa
Juu njaga ndio speaker
Juu njanga ndio speaker
Juu njaga ndio speaker

Chora chora Saba Saba
Nikiona itashika
Nitasonga songa songa
One two, ndio game two
Ninaplay two, tripple two
Hype Po two
Ka bonjour, ka bonjour
Ka bonjour, ka bonjour
Ka bonjour, ka bonjour

Basi twende tuki Bost
Tip toeing on your toes
Hata muki boost
Mi ndio boss
Like fifteen
Mi hukill, hata ma big fish
Na hata ma big deals, na hata ma big deals
Na hata ma big deals, na hata ma big deals

Dance to the beats
Unlock your feat
Si una look so sweet
Si ukam tu chill
Ati uko dunga beach (eeeeh)
Ati uko dunga beach (eeeeh)
Chora chora Saba Saba
Nikiona itashika
Nitasonga songa songa
One two
Ndio game two
Ninaplay two
Tripple two
Hype Po two
Ka bonjour, ka bonjour
Ka bonjour, ka bonjour
Basi twende tuki Bost
Tip toeing on your toes
Hata muki boost
Mi ndio boss
Like fifteen
Mi hukill
Hata ma big fish
Na hata ma big deals
Dance Dance Dance to the beats
Unlock unlock your feat
Si una look so sweet
Si ukam tu chill
Ati uko dunga beach (eeeeh)
Ati uko dunga beach
Yani mi ndio njoria
Ukipenda fagia

Mama Hassan bajia
Mama Hassan bajia, aii ngoja
Mama Hassan, aii ngoja
Instrumental

Tinga tinga malo
Take off the preacher
Owaro the teacher
Chukuwa khalifa
Juu njaga ndio speaker
Juu njanga ndio speaker
Ju njaga ndio speak

Tingisha, tin tin tingisha (baby)
Tingisha, tin tin tingisha
Tingisha, tin tin tingisha (baby)
Tingisha, tin tin tingisha
Tingisha, tin tin tingisha (baby)
Tingisha, tingisha baby
Zungusha baby
Waki wakisha tunarintisha
Wakilipuwa tunalipuwa

Eeeeeeh
Tingisha, tin tin tingisha (baby)
Zungusha (baby)

Line by Line Meaning

VIctor Nimekam na moto–oh Moto moto–oh (Dj Venji)
I am Victor I am on fire The fire is blazing (DJ Venji)

Dance to the beats Unlock your feat Si una look so sweet Si ukam tu chill Hadi uko dunga beach (eeeeh) Hadi uko dunga beach Yani mi ndio nyoria Ukipenda fagiah Mama Hassan Bhagia Aii ngoja, aii Ngojah Tinga Tinga Malo Take off the preacher Owaro the teacher Chukuwa khalifa Juu njaga ndio speaker Juu njanga ndio speaker Juu njaga ndio speaker
Dance to the rhythm Free your feet You look so sweet If you come to chill Until you reach the beach (eeeeh) Until you reach the beach I am the boss If you desire, sweep Mother Hassan (a famous businesswoman) Hold on a moment, hold on Tinga Tinga Malo (a Kenyan cartoon) Take off the priest's robe Owaro the teacher Take the reins The top dog is the singer The top dog is the singer The top dog is the singer

Chora chora Saba Saba Nikiona itashika Nitasonga songa songa One two, ndio game two Ninaplay two, tripple two Hype Po two Ka bonjour, ka bonjour Ka bonjour, ka bonjour Ka bonjour, ka bonjour
Cry, cry out 7-7 When I see it, it will stick I move here and there One is for one game I play with two, triple two Hype Po Two Like "Hello", like "Hello" Like "Hello", like "Hello" Like "Hello", like "Hello"

Basi twende tuki Bost Tip toeing on your toes Hata muki boost Mi ndio boss Like fifteen Mi hukill, hata ma big fish Na hata ma big deals, na hata ma big deals Na hata ma big deals, na hata ma big deals
Let's go, we're on the Boston road Tip-toeing on your toes Even if we need a boost I am the boss Like fifteen I kill, even the big fish And even the big deals, and even the big deals And even the big deals, and even the big deals

Dance to the beats Unlock your feat Si una look so sweet Si ukam tu chill Ati uko dunga beach (eeeeh) Ati uko dunga beach (eeeeh) Chora chora Saba Saba Nikiona itashika Nitasonga songa songa One two Ndio game two Ninaplay two Tripple two Hype Po two Ka bonjour, ka bonjour Ka bonjour, ka bonjour Basi twende tuki Bost Tip toeing on your toes Hata muki boost Mi ndio boss Like fifteen Mi hukill Hata ma big fish Na hata ma big deals Dance Dance Dance to the beats Unlock unlock your feat Si una look so sweet Si ukam tu chill Ati uko dunga beach (eeeeh) Ati uko dunga beach Yani mi ndio njoria Ukipenda fagia Mama Hassan bajia Mama Hassan bajia, aii ngoja Mama Hassan, aii ngoja Instrumental Tinga tinga malo Take off the preacher Owaro the teacher Chukuwa khalifa Juu njaga ndio speaker Juu njanga ndio speaker Ju njaga ndio speak Tingisha, tin tin tingisha (baby) Tingisha, tin tin tingisha Tingisha, tin tin tingisha (baby) Tingisha, tin tin tingisha Tingisha, tin tin tingisha (baby) Tingisha, tingisha baby Zungusha baby Waki wakisha tunarintisha Wakilipuwa tunalipuwa Eeeeeeh Tingisha, tin tin tingisha (baby) Zungusha (baby)
Dance to the rhythm Free your feet You look so sweet If you come to chill You're at the beach (eeeeh) You're at the beach (eeeeh) Shaking 7-7 When I see it, it sticks I move here and there One is for one game I play with two Triple two Hype Po Two Like "Hello", like "Hello" Like "Hello", like "Hello" Let's go, we're on the Boston road Tip-toeing on your toes Even if we need a boost I am the boss Like fifteen I kill Even the big fish And even the big deals Dance, dance, dance to the rhythm Free, unlock your feet You look so sweet If you come to chill You're at the beach (eeeeh) You're at the beach I am the boss If you desire, sweep Mother Hassan's candy Mother Hassan's candy, hold on Mother Hassan, hold on Instrumental Tinga Tinga Malo (a Kenyan cartoon) Take off the priest's robe Owaro the teacher Take the reins The top dog is the artist The top dog is the artist The top dog is the artist Shake, tin tin shake (baby) Shake, tin tin shake Shake, tin tin shake (baby) Shake, tin tin shake Shake, tin tin shake (baby) Shake baby Spin around baby When they finish, we vibrate When they hurt us, we hurt them back Eeeeeh Shake, tin tin shake (baby) Spin around (baby)

Pour un BaiserFrancesco Paolo Tosti Lyrics

Alberto Aguirre

Alberto Aguirre

Pour un Baiser
Francesco Paolo Tosti Lyrics