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.
His most recent CD, Ora breaks new ground with a new style of production.
Io Danzo
Jovanotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the drums beats go like this
Yeah
Ci ascoltano al telefono
Ci guardano i satelliti
Ci tracciano nel traffico
Controllano gli acquisti
Ci frugano nel bancomat
Ci irradiano
Ci scannerizzano
Ci perquisiscono
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Perché io danzo (uh)
Perché io danzo (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Ci sommano le cellule
Controllano i rifiuti
Ci spiano le telecamere piazzate sui semafori
Ci seguono col radar
Ci usan per i calcoli
Controllano le cose che guardiamo alla parabola
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Perché io danzo (uh)
Perché io danzo (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Ci esaminano il sangue
Ci prendono le impronte (uh)
Ci scattano una foto quando attraversiamo il ponte
Controllano le cose che si fanno la domenica
Ci fanno propaganda elettorale nella predica
Ci impongono censure sulle cose da sapere
Ci danno indicazioni sulle fonti di piacere
Ci dicon cosa bere
Ci copiano lo stile
Ci giudicano in base a quale zona uno vive
Restiamo in fila ore per passare alla dogana
Ci timbrano la mano per uscire dal locale
Ci istigano ad essere nemici di qualcuno
Ci insinuano sospetti sugli affari del vicino
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Perché io danzo (uh)
Perché io danzo (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Perché io danzo (uh)
Perché io danzo (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Tra i medriochistan
E i stradistan
Tra i privatistan
E i massmedistan
Tra i passatistan
E i futuristan
Tra i giornalistan
E i realitystan
Tra i tenerbistan
E i solaristan
Tra i doloristan
E i piaceristan
Tra i localistan
E i globalistan
Al centro dell'umanistan
Io danzo (uh)
Io danzo (yeah)
Io danzo (uh)
Io danzo (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Sulla frontiera (uh)
Sulla frontiera (yeah)
In Jovanotti's song "Io Danzo," the lyrics explore themes of surveillance, control, and the loss of privacy in modern society. The opening lines describe the various ways in which people are monitored and tracked, from phone calls to satellite surveillance to banking transactions. The chorus, however, reminds listeners that despite all of this invasive tracking and control, the act of dancing embodies a sense of freedom and liberation. The word "frontiera" ("frontier") is repeated throughout the song, suggesting that this freedom is found at the edges between what is known and what is unknown, in the liminal spaces beyond the boundaries of control.
The subsequent verses continue to list ways in which people are monitored and controlled, from cell counts to cameras on traffic lights to political propaganda. However, again the chorus offers the antidote of dancing on the frontier. The song concludes with a list of various "stans" (e.g. "mediocre-istan," "future-istan," "reality-stan"), which can be read as a comment on the fragmentation and compartmentalization of our globalized world, but also as a reminder that dancing, which brings people together across borders, has the power to unite us all.
Overall, the lyrics of "Io Danzo" are a commentary on the ways in which technology and politics can be used to control and disempower individuals, but also a reminder that the act of dancing is a form of resistance and a celebration of freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Put the needle on the record When the drums beats go like this Yeah
Starting to dance as a result of the music beats played by the drums and putting the record player needle into the groove to start the music.
Ci ascoltano al telefono Ci guardano i satelliti Ci tracciano nel traffico Controllano gli acquisti Ci rubano le password Ci frugano nel bancomat Ci irradiano Ci scannerizzano Ci perquisiscono
There is a widespread surveillance of people through the use of phone monitoring, satellite surveillance, traffic tracking, and scanning of bank account details. People are exposed and prone to identity theft, irradiation, scanning, and the installation of body scanners for security at public places.
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Despite the above-mentioned restrictions, it is the dancing that liberates an individual.
Perché io danzo (uh) Perché io danzo (yeah) Sulla frontiera (uh) Sulla frontiera (yeah)
The singer is reclaiming his freedom through his dancing, which is energy instilled with rebelling against any restrictions he faces, as he stands on the border.
Ci sommano le cellule Controllano i rifiuti Ci spiano le telecamere piazzate sui semafori Ci seguono col radar Ci usan per i calcoli Controllano le cose che guardiamo alla parabola
Further restrictions include cell counting, waste control or monitoring, spying telecameras installed near traffic signals or streetlights, radar monitoring, and control of media viewed through satellite receivers or screens at public places.
Ci esaminano il sangue Ci prendono le impronte (uh) Ci scattano una foto quando attraversiamo il ponte Controllano le cose che si fanno la domenica Ci fanno propaganda elettorale nella predica Ci impongono censure sulle cose da sapere Ci danno indicazioni sulle fonti di piacere Ci dicon cosa bere Ci copiano lo stile Ci giudicano in base a quale zona uno vive Restiamo in fila ore per passare alla dogana Ci timbrano la mano per uscire dal locale Ci istigano ad essere nemici di qualcuno Ci insinuano sospetti sugli affari del vicino
Further restrictions include monitoring one's lifestyle and taking blood samples or fingerprints, being photographed in public places, propaganda tactics in preaching or public advertisement, censorship, guiding what someone should drink, copying one's style, and judging people based on their location. Queue control and stamping the hand for verification are required to exit a location or cross border, insinuating suspicions in neighboring affairs or inciting hostility between groups.
Tra i medriochistan E i stradistan Tra i privatistan E i massmedistan Tra i passatistan E i futuristan Tra i giornalistan E i realitystan Tra i tenerbistan E i solaristan Tra i doloristan E i piaceristan Tra i localistan E i globalistan Al centro dell'umanistan
In this world filled with borders and restrictions, people are subject to live between the lands of the mediocre and the streets, between privatization and mass media, between past and future worlds, between news and reality shows, between bleakness and brightness, between pain and pleasure, between the locality and the world at the center of the universe.
Io danzo (uh) Io danzo (yeah) Io danzo (uh) Io danzo (yeah) Sulla frontiera (uh) Sulla frontiera (yeah) Sulla frontiera (uh) Sulla frontiera (yeah) Sulla frontiera (uh) Sulla frontiera (yeah) Sulla frontiera (uh) Sulla frontiera (yeah)
Despite all these restrictions, people can keep pushing their limits and fighting for their freedom. Dancing on the border is a way to reclaim all that. Energy is instilled with rebelling against any restrictions, and people can overcome the difficulties of life in the divided world by dancing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Lorenzo Cherubini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind