He released his first albums under the Jovanotti byname to later switch into his real name (Lorenzo), as of the mid-nineties.
Most of his output is hip-hop influenced, although not most of his work should be viewed as hip hop music per se. Many of his songs are not hip hop related and may probably be best viewed as part of the earlier Italian cantautore tradition. Some of his earlier work is also closer to keyboard-heavy 1980s pop. Most of his songs are sung in the Italian language; he also released a Spanish-language greatest hits album. His live album includes a short version of the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight". Jovanotti appears on several international compilations, most notably Red Hot + Rhapsody, a 1998 tribute to George Gershwin, on which he performed "I Got Rhythm". Jovanotti has also appeared in one Luciano Pavarotti's charity concert in 1996.
His CD, Buon Sangue, includes influences from both rock and old school hip hop. It is one of his most innovative works to date. Edoardo Bennato collaborated on one track, while bass player Saturnino co-wrote two of the songs.
One of his most recent CDs, "Ora", breaks new ground with a new style of production.
India
Jovanotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh
E fu così che
Una vacca sacra dell'India che non era mai stata nella Palestina
Passando di fronte a un ristorante italiano riconobbe da fuori la
Sua vecchia cugina che lavorava come bistecca alla fiorentina in
Andare a trovare dove la terra si incrocia col cielo e col mare
Qualcuno le disse viaggiare è importante ma il posto che cerchi
Non è molto distante da dove ti trovi e da dove stai andando
Unisciti a noi che ci stiamo arrivando e se nel cammino noi poi
Invecchieremo se su quella terra non ci arriveremo ci saranno
Degli altri poi altri poi ancora, poi altri, poi altri, poi altri
Poi ancora fin quando qualcuno nell'anno
Del dunque sarà in nessun posto e sarà pure ovunque
The song "India" by Jovanotti tells a story about a sacred Indian cow venturing out of India and into Palestine where she sees her cousin working as a Florentine steak in an Italian restaurant. The cow asks for directions to find the place where the earth meets the sky and the sea, to which someone replies that although traveling is essential, the place she's looking for is not far from where she is and where she's going. The cow decides to join forces with the people who are trying to reach the destination, and when they grow old without reaching their goal, others will take up the cause. The song ends with a poetic line about someone being neither here nor there but everywhere in the year of the so-called "dunno."
The lyrics of "India" are full of symbolism and metaphor. The story of the cow represents the journey of the human soul searching for its place in the world. The idea of traveling being significant but not as essential as discovering where you are is prevalent in the song. The cow's decision to join forces with the people she meets symbolizes the idea that we are all in this together, and together we can achieve great things. The last sentence of the song is open to interpretation, but it portrays the idea that the journey is the destination, and in the end, we all end up wherever we need to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Opening refrain
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Follow-up to opening refrain
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Closing refrain
And so it was that
Narrating how events unfolded
A sacred cow in India that had never been to Palestine
Describing the cow encountered in the story
Passing by an Italian restaurant recognized from the outside
Detailing specific location where the cow is at
Her old cousin working as a Florentine steak inside
Revealing the cow's relative's occupation in the restaurant
An Italian restaurant in Palestine and asked for directions
Explaining the cow's reason for asking for help
To find where the land meets the sky and the sea
Describing the destination the cow is looking for
Someone said, traveling is crucial but the place you seek
Quoting advise given to the cow
Is not far from where you are and where you are going
Further explaining the advice and hinting proximity of destination
Join us as we are getting there
Inviting the cow to join others going to the same place
And if we get old in our journey
Acknowledging the risk of not making it to the destination
If we don't make it to that land
Continuing to acknowledge the possibility of not reaching the desired place
Others will follow, then others and others and others
Assuring the cow that others will continue the journey if they fail
Until someone in the year of
Shift in perspective and introduction of new concept of time
The then will be in no place and yet everywhere
Describing the in-between state of existence after the journey is complete
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Lorenzo Cherubini, Michele Centonze
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind