Gino Paoli (born 23 September 1934) is an Italian singer-songwriter.
Read Full Bio ↴Gino Paoli (born 23 September 1934) is an Italian singer-songwriter.

Paoli was born in Monfalcone, but moved very early to Genoa.

After several different jobs, he was called by Ricordi with his friends Luigi Tenco and Bruno Lauzi. His first success was the single "La gatta". This was followed by "Sapore di sale", arranged by Ennio Morricone. In the same year he attempted suicide by shooting at his heart, but he survived.

In 1974 he returned with the LP I semafori rossi non sono Dio, followed by Il mio mestiere (1977). Both showed a more mature inspiration than his 1960s works. In the 1980s Paoli procuded a series of successful albums, and in 1985 he toured Italy together with Ornella Vanoni.

In 1987 he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies for the Italian Communist Party. He abandoned politics in 1992.

He was married with actress Stefania Sandrelli, from whom he divorced. Their daughter Amanda Sandrelli is also an actress.
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Fingere Di Te
Gino Paoli Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Non so cosa mi è preso questa sera
Ti parlo come fossi ancora qui
Mi volto e sei seduta vivino alla finestra
Sorridi come tanto tempo fa

È vero, non si puo' fermare il tempo
Ma puoi fermare i sogni intorno a te
E dentro ai miei pensieri

I sogni sono veri
E quelli il tempo non li cambierà

Le storie che non vivi
Rimangono nell'aria
Come farfalle al sole
Ubriache di luce
E tornano a volare
Appena tu le tocchi
Ti tornan nelle mani
Ritornano negli occhi

L'amore non è mai quello che sembra
È spesso quel che sembra ma non è
Ma se ti parlo ancora
Adesso come allora
Diventa vero fingere di te

Le storie che non vivi
Rimangono nell'aria
Come farfalle al sole
Ubriache di luce
E tornano a volare
Appena tu le tocchi
Ti tornan nelle mani
Ritornano negli occhi

L'amore non è mai quello che sembra
È spesso quel che sembra ma non è
Ma se ti parlo ancora

Adesso come allora
Diventa vero fingere di te

Overall Meaning

The song "Fingere Di Te" by Gino Paoli talks about the uncertain nature of love and how memories and dreams can sometimes feel more real than reality. In the first verse, the singer confesses that he doesn't know what has come over him tonight as he speaks as if the person he is addressing is still present. Yet, he realizes that time cannot be stopped but dreams can be held on to, and in his thoughts, dreams remain true and unchanging. The chorus emphasizes that even the stories and moments that are not lived in present hold a special place in our lives, just like butterflies that are drunk with light and continue to soar high only to return back to us when we touch them.

The second verse reinforces the theme that love is not always what it seems to be. The singer concedes that although we may try to pretend and hold on to our memories, they cannot make up for the real thing. Even though he speaks to the person as if they were present, he acknowledges that it's only an illusion in his mind. The repetition of the verse highlights the paradox of how one can pretend and see things as they were in the past but cannot bring those moments back to life.

Overall, "Fingere Di Te" provides a poignant insight into the human nature of holding onto and reminiscing about the past, especially when it concerns those we have loved and lost. It underscores the fact that memories and dreams can be a source of comfort and a way of keeping those cherished times in our hearts.

Line by Line Meaning

Non so cosa mi è preso questa sera
I don't know what's gotten into me tonight

Ti parlo come fossi ancora qui
I speak to you as if you were still here

Mi volto e sei seduta vivino alla finestra
I turn around and you're sitting near the window

Sorridi come tanto tempo fa
You smile like you did such a long time ago

È vero, non si puo' fermare il tempo
It's true, you can't stop time

Ma puoi fermare i sogni intorno a te
But you can hold on to the dreams around you

E dentro ai miei pensieri
And within my thoughts

I sogni sono veri
The dreams are real

E quelli il tempo non li cambierà
And time won't change them

Le storie che non vivi
The stories that you don't live

Rimangono nell'aria
Remain in the air