Tropicana
Ivan Cattaneo Lyrics
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Di un vulcano e una citta'
Gente che ballava sopra un'isola
Suonava Blue Gardenia
Un'orchestrina jazz
L'acqua ribolliva lentamente ad est
L'esplosione e poi dolce dolce
Un'abbronzatura atomica
Tutto andava giu'
Mentre la tivu' diceva
Mentre la tivu' cantava
Bevila perche' e tropicana je
Mentre la tivu' diceva
Mentre la tivu' cantava
Bevila perche' e tropicana je
Brucia nella notte la citta' di San Jose
Radio Cuba urlava fuori da un cafe'
La lava incandescente
Gremava gli hulahop
L'uragano travolgeva i bungalow
Noi stavamo li dimmi dimmi
Non ti senti come al cinema?
E stavamo li dimmi dimmi
Come dentro a un film?
E stavamo li dimmi dimmi
Non ti senti come al cinema?
E stavamo li dimmi dimmi
Come dentro a un film?
Mentre la tivu' diceva
Mentre la tivu' cantava
Bevila perche' e tropicana je
Mentre la tivu' diceva
Mentre la tivu' cantava
Bevila perche' e tropicana je
Mentre la tivu' diceva
Mentre la tivu' cantava
Bevila perche' e tropicana je
Mentre la tivu' diceva
Mentre la tivu' cantava
Bevila perche' e tropicana je
E tropicana je
E tropicana je
E tropicana je
The lyrics of Ivan Cattaneo's song "Tropicana" describe a strange dream that involves a volcano, a city, and people dancing on an island while an orchestra plays jazz music. The water slowly boils in the east before eventually exploding, followed by a sweet atomic tan. The lyrics also describe a city burning in San Jose, while Radio Cuba blares outside a café. The lava engulfs hula hoops while a hurricane destroys bungalows. Despite these chaotic and destructive scenes, the chorus urges the listener to drink because "it's Tropicana."
The song is full of surreal and exaggerated images that create a vivid dream-like atmosphere. The use of jazz and Latin music contribute to this, as they conjure up the image of a lively and exotic dance party on a tropical island. The lyrics seem to be a commentary on the seductive and escapist nature of popular media, urging listeners to indulge in hedonistic pleasures as a way to escape the harsh realities of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ma che strano sogno
The singer had strange dream
Di un vulcano e una citta'
The dream involved a volcano and a city
Gente che ballava sopra un'isola
People were dancing on an island in the dream
Suonava Blue Gardenia
The music being played was Blue Gardenia
Un'orchestrina jazz
A jazz band was playing the music
L'acqua ribolliva lentamente ad est
The water was gradually boiling in the east
L'esplosione e poi dolce dolce
There was an explosion followed by sweetness
Un'abbronzatura atomica
An atomic tan was present
Tra la musica dolce dolce
Amidst the sweet music
Tutto andava giu'
Everything was going smoothly
Mentre la tivu' diceva
While the TV said
Mentre la tivu' cantava
While the TV sang
Bevila perche' e tropicana je
Drink because it's tropicana, yeah
Brucia nella notte la citta' di San Jose
The city of San Jose is burning at night
Radio Cuba urlava fuori da un cafe'
Radio Cuba was loud outside a cafe
La lava incandescente
The incandescent lava
Gremava gli hulahop
Made the hula hoops hot
L'uragano travolgeva i bungalow
The hurricane was destroying the bungalows
Noi stavamo li dimmi dimmi
We were there, tell me, tell me
Non ti senti come al cinema?
Don't you feel like you're in a movie?
Come dentro a un film?
Like inside a film?
E stavamo li dimmi dimmi
And we were there, tell me, tell me
Mentre la tivu' diceva
While the TV said
Mentre la tivu' cantava
While the TV sang
E tropicana je
And it's tropicana, yeah
Contributed by Jason W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.