After Guy Mitchell caught his set at one club, Jerry Vale began recording demonstration discs for Columbia. When A&R supremo Mitch Miller heard his excellent voice, however, he signed Vale to his own contract. Vale first hit the charts in 1953 with "You Can Never Give Me Back My Heart" (arranged by Percy Faith), and continued during the mid '50s with "Two Purple Shadows," "I Live Each Day," and his biggest hit, "You Don't Know Me." Though his first explicitly Italian recording, "Innamorata (Sweetheart)," finally appeared in 1956, it wasn't until 1962 that Vale convinced the notoriously conservative Miller to record a full album of Italian songs. "I Have But One Heart" proved a big seller and was followed one year later by "Arrivederci, Roma" and a continental LP, "The Language of Love," both of which placed even higher than the first on the album charts.
Though the mid '60s were a trying time for traditional pop singers, Vale continued to be successful, with singles like "Have You Looked Into Your Heart" and "For Mama," and Top 40 LPs like "There Goes My Heart" and "It's Magic." Even after his albums began failing to make the charts in the early '70s, Vale remained a popular name in clubs and on television throughout the '70s and '80s. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
Luna Rossa
Jerry Vale Lyrics
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A moon of red in a sky of white,
Because I'm selling a lie tonight,
And blushing moon, you know of it.
Oh luna rossa, you're smart at love
You know I'm playing the part of love,
I try my hand in the art of love,
Luna rossa, forgive me, luna rossa,
For the vows I made tonight that are untrue,
What else am I to do?
But blushing moon, there's a reason why,
The love I longed for has passed me by,
And so I play at the game but I,
I am lonely, luna rossa.
Luna rossa, forgive me, luna rossa,
For the vows I made tonight that are untrue,
What else am I to do?
But blushing moon, there's a reason why,
The love I longed for has passed me by,
And so I play at the game but I,
I am lonely, luna rossa.
I am lonely, luna rossa.
Jerry Vale's song "Luna Rossa" is a love song about a man who is pretending to be in love with someone, while in reality, he is not. The song starts with him acknowledging the presence of the red moon (luna rossa), which is a symbol of the conflicting emotions he feels about deceiving his love interest. He knows what he is doing is wrong but does it anyway, just for the thrill and excitement of it. The moon, being a witness to his actions, serves as a reminder of his guilt.
As the song progresses, he asks for forgiveness from the moon (luna rossa) for his lies and false promises. He realizes that the person he truly loves is not with him anymore, and he is left alone to play this game of love. The lyrics convey a sense of regret and loneliness, the longing for something genuine and authentic.
Jerry Vale's "Luna Rossa" is an emotional ballad that captures the essence of a broken heart. It is a passionate portrayal of the human emotions and how they can be both beautiful and destructive. The song's melancholic melody complements the lyrics, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh luna rossa, you're out tonight,
The singer is addressing the moon, acknowledging its presence on this particular night.
A moon of red in a sky of white,
The singer describes the moon's appearance, stating that it stands out against the white sky due to its red color.
Because I'm selling a lie tonight,
The singer admits to being dishonest in some way on this night.
And blushing moon, you know of it.
The singer believes that the moon is aware of his deceitful behavior and is ashamed of it.
Oh luna rossa, you're smart at love
The singer compliments the moon's understanding of love and its associated emotions.
You know I'm playing the part of love,
The singer acknowledges that he is pretending to be in love.
I try my hand in the art of love,
The singer is testing his ability to deceive others in matters of love.
Just for the thrill and glow of it.
The singer is motivated by the excitement and satisfaction he gets from successfully deceiving others.
Luna rossa, forgive me, luna rossa,
The singer begs for forgiveness from the moon for his dishonest behavior.
For the vows I made tonight that are untrue,
The singer specifically apologizes for making false promises or commitments on this particular night.
What else am I to do?
The singer questions what other choice he had in the situation that led him to be dishonest.
But blushing moon, there's a reason why,
The singer believes that there is a valid excuse or explanation for why he was dishonest.
The love I longed for has passed me by,
The singer suggests that he has been unable to find real love, which has led him to pretend to be in love on this night.
And so I play at the game but I,
The singer admits that his dishonest behavior is a result of his desire to pursue love, even if it means deceiving others.
I am lonely, luna rossa.
The singer confesses that despite his attempts to be deceitful, he is ultimately still alone and craving real love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTONIO VISCIONE, VINCENZO DE CRESCENZO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind