His great passion for music showed up at a very young age. When he was 11, his parents enrolled him at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Turin. During his teen years, he performed in his hometown's night clubs as jazz singer or playing double bass and violin.
During World War II, he ended up in a US internment camp in Sardinia. Some military understood his musical talent, and had him join the orchestra of the allied radio station of Cagliari. This enabled Buscaglione to continue to make music in those war years, and to experiment with new sounds and rhythms coming from the US. Most foreign music had been officially forbidden by the Italian Fascist regime.
After the war, Buscaglione returned to Turin and resumed working as a musician for various bands. He then formed his own group, the Asternovas. In the meantime he was gradually creating his public character, inspired by Clark Gable and Mickey Spillane's gangsters. His friend Leo Chiosso, a lyricist who formed a very good songwriting duo with Buscaglione, provided him with humorous stories about gangsters and their babes, New York and Chicago, tough men who were ruthless with enemies but easily fell victims to a woman's charms. They wrote together the hits that brought nation-wide fame to Buscaglione: Che bambola, Teresa non sparare, Eri piccola così, Guarda che luna, Love in Portofino, Porfirio Villarosa, Whisky facile.
By the end of 1950s, Buscaglione was one of Italy's most demanded entertainers, not just singers. He appeared on advertising campaigns, on television, in movies, where he always played his amiable braggart role.
Buscaglione died unexpectedly at only 38 years old. He was killed in a car accident, his pink Ford Thunderbird crashing against a truck at the first light of dawn.
Love in Portofino
Fred Buscaglione Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Perché nei sogni credo ancor
Lo strano gioco del destino
A Portofino m'ha preso il cuor
Nel dolce incanto del mattino
Il mare ti ha portato a me
Socchiudo gli occhi a me vicino
Ricordo un angolo di cielo
Dove ti stavo ad aspettar
Ricordo il volto tanto amato
E la tua bocca da baciar
I found my love in Portofino
Quei baci più non scorderò
Non è più triste il mio cammino
A Portofino I found my love
I found my love in Portofino
Down in that small Italian bay
And everything was so divino
In Portofino, I found my way
The sun was shining that mattino
And so my words were just a few
I close my eyes and so vicino
In Portofino, I still see you
There was a place made just for lovers
The skies and sea and friendly bar
Tables and chairs and lazy waiters
A curly boy playing guitar
And when it's night in Portofino
The stars are twinkling up above
I close my eyes and so vicino
In Portofino I found my love (I found my love)
(I found my love)
(I found my love)
The lyrics to Fred Buscaglione's song Love in Portofino express the singer's delight at having found love in the Italian village of Portofino. He believes in the power of fate, and credits it with bringing him the love that he has been dreaming of. The singer is enchanted by the beauty of the morning and the sea, which he believes has brought his lover to him. As he remembers the moments he spent with his love, he recalls the heavenly environment and the happiness he felt anticipating their reunion.
The song is a celebration of love and the power of destiny, set in the quaint Italian village of Portofino. It captures the romance and beauty of the village, and the possibility of finding love unexpectedly. The lyrics highlight the singer's deep affection for his love and the joy that finding her has brought into his life. It is a timeless classic that resonates with many generations, making it a popular song in Italy and beyond.
Line by Line Meaning
I found my love in Portofino
I discovered the love of my life in the beautiful coastal town of Portofino
Perché nei sogni credo ancor
Because I still believe in dreams
Lo strano gioco del destino
The strange game of destiny
A Portofino m’ha preso il cuor
In Portofino, my heart was captured
Nel dolce incanto del mattino
In the sweet charm of the morning
Il mare ti ha portato a me
The sea brought you to me
Socchiudo gli occhi a me vicino
I close my eyes when you are near me
A Portofino rivedo te
In Portofino, I see you again
Ricordo un angolo di cielo
I remember a corner of the sky
Dove ti stavo ad aspettar
Where I was waiting for you
Ricordo il volto tanto amato
I remember the face I love so much
E la tua bocca da baciar
And your mouth to kiss
Quei baci più non scorderò
I will never forget those kisses
Non è più triste il mio cammino
My path is no longer sad
A Portofino I found my love
In Portofino, I found my love
Lyrics © Sugarmusic s.p.a., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jaques Larue, Matteo Chiosso, Ferdinando Buscaglione
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind