Although the main genre for these songs is Eurodance, it does have a considerable amount of Italian influence. This is especially prevalent in Dark Night Rider and It's a Rainy Day. But Think about the Way and It's a Rainy Day were so successful that many Eurodance fans still listen to them. In 1994, due to some legal issues, Ice MC separated from Roberto Zanetti and Alexia. In 1996, Ice MC struck back with a new album called The Dredatour. The hit song of the album was the pure Eurodance song Give me the Light, but the album itself wasn't particularly successful. After this, many thought that Campbell had caused irreparable damage to his career.
At the end of 2002 he decided to return to Italy and to contact Robyx (Roberto Zanetti) again. Together, they decided to realize a new project. Ice and Robyx started by writing some new material and, at the beginning of 2004, they withdrew into the studio to record a new album.
Italiano Ragga
Ice MC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ina Germany dem nyam pork sausage
Ina China dem nyam wid chopstick
Ina Italy dem nyam maccaroni
An me seh Italiano ragga ragga
Italiano ragga ragga ragga
Quando cresci saro' ganzo watch yaself ya know
Stai attento guarda qui' se stai attento guarda la'
Mangia spaghetti con la parmigiano
Dopo quello c'e' cotoletta alla milanese
Wash it down con vino rosso mel yu'ead go crazy
Bevo Chianti Gallo Nero it nel ya blood swyle
Ya fi check out di riddim in lasagna stye an me seh
Italiano ragga ragga
Italiano ragga ragga ragga
Hail jah man an me se ragga ragga
Hail jah man an me se ragga ragga
An mi se italiano ragga ragga
Italiano ragga ragga ragga
Raggamuffin in a rubber dub style
Raggamuffin in a rubber dub style
Mi seh one day me ketch di train fi go an cool a Milan
Intercity con ristorante all de people dem a nyam
From formaggio to uova some a dem a nyam ham
Mi seh dat a how 'im nyam a true Italian man
Seh mi go a London – Paris – Milan even a Nizza
In a Napoli adesso fine de bes pizza
Al prosciutto, margherita con olive o con salsiccia.
Italiano ragga ragga...
Quattro formaggi quattro stagioni an dem
A even mec pizza peperoni gimme de pizza
Le vuole al funghi dammi la menu' prendi un calzone
Io sto a casa non me muovo finchi'
Lo vedo il film su Canale 5
But if no good me radda get up an go
Change to rai fi check pippo baudo a mi seh
Italiano ragga ragga...
Ina Jamaica nyam akee an salfish
Cool an deadly ina danhall style
Ina Germany dem nyam pork sausage
Cool...
Ina China dem nyam wid chopstick
Cool...
Ina Italy dem nyam maccaroni
Cool...
Italiano ragga ragga
The lyrics of Ice MC's song Italiano Ragga play with the idea of food as a cultural marker. The first verse highlights how different countries have their signature foods, with Jamaica eating akee and saltfish, Germany enjoying pork sausage, China eating with chopsticks and Italy indulging in macaroni. The chorus repeats the phrase "Italiano ragga ragga" as a nod to the fusion of Italian and Jamaican cultures that the song seeks to represent. The second verse explores the idea that one's upbringing shapes one's tastes, with the singer's mother warning him to be careful as he grows up and teaching him to enjoy classic Italian dishes like spaghetti with parmesan, cotoletta alla milanese and Chianti Gallo Nero.
The song ultimately celebrates the mix of cultures, as seen in lines like "Raggamuffin in a rubber dub style" and the references to cities like London, Paris, Milan and Nizza. The lyrics mix Italian and English, creating a linguistic hybrid that echoes the fusion of cultures that the song seeks to represent. Ice MC's Italian-Jamaican heritage is an important influence on the song's style and themes, as is his background in electronic dance music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ina Jamaica nyam akee and sait fish
In Jamaica, they eat ackee and salt fish
Ina Germany dem nyam pork sausage
In Germany, they eat pork sausage
Ina China dem nyam wid chopstick
In China, they eat with chopsticks
Ina Italy dem nyam maccaroni
In Italy, they eat macaroni
An me seh Italiano ragga ragga
I say Italian ragga
An me seh quando sono nato mia mamma ha detto
And I say when I was born my mamma said
Quando cresci saro' ganzo watch yaself ya know
When you grow up you’ll be handsome, watch yourself, you know
Stai attento guarda qui' se stai attento guarda la'
Be careful, look here, if you’re careful, look there
Mangia spaghetti con la parmigiano
Eat spaghetti with Parmesan cheese
Dopo quello c'e' cotoletta alla milanese
After that, there’s Milanese schnitzel
Wash it down con vino rosso mel yu'ead go crazy
Wash it down with red wine and your head will go crazy
Bevo Chianti Gallo Nero it nel ya blood swyle
I drink Gallo Nero Chianti and it swells in your blood
Ya fi check out di riddim in lasagna stye an me seh
You have to check out the rhythm in lasagna style, and I say
Italiano ragga ragga
Italian ragga
Hail jah man an me se ragga ragga
Hail Jah man, and I say ragga
Raggamuffin in a rubber dub style
Raggamuffin in a rubber dub style
Mi seh one day me ketch di train fi go an cool a Milan
I say one day I caught the train to go and chill in Milan
Intercity con ristorante all de people dem a nyam
Intercity with a restaurant, everyone is eating
From formaggio to uova some a dem a nyam ham
From cheese to eggs, some of them eat ham
Mi seh dat a how 'im nyam a true Italian man
I say that’s how he eats, a true Italian man
Seh mi go a London – Paris – Milan even a Nizza
Say I go to London, Paris, Milan, even Nice
In a Napoli adesso fine de bes pizza
In Naples now, the best pizza
Al prosciutto, margherita con olive o con salsiccia.
With prosciutto, Margherita with olives or with sausage.
Italiano ragga ragga...
Italian ragga...
Quattro formaggi quattro stagioni an dem
Four cheeses, four seasons and them
A even mec pizza peperoni gimme de pizza
Even mixed pizza, give me the pepperoni pizza
Le vuole al funghi dammi la menu' prendi un calzone
You want mushrooms, give me the menu, take a calzone
Io sto a casa non me muovo finchi'
I’m staying at home, I won’t move until
Lo vedo il film su Canale 5
I watch the movie on Channel 5
But if no good me radda get up an go
But if it’s no good, I have to get up and go
Change to rai fi check pippo baudo a mi seh
Change to Rai to check Pippo Baudo, and I say
Ina Jamaica nyam akee an salfish
In Jamaica, they eat ackee and salt fish
Cool an deadly ina danhall style
Cool and deadly in dancehall style
Cool...
Cool...
Writer(s): Roberto Zanetti, Ian Colin Campbell
Contributed by Alexis P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.