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.
Salato parte uno
Jovanotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Australe
Lungo il Niger Timbuctu
Appare
Sotto un cielo di caucciù
Perduto
Come un granello di sale in un mare
Salato
Dentro al vento di Bahia
Gabbiani
Ali per volare via
Le mani
Dentro al ritmo di una vecchia santeria
Perduto
Come un granello di sale in un mare
Salato
Come il petalo di un fiore
Dentro mille primavere
Come una parola dentro a un libro
Nella biblioteca di Babele
Come un raggio di sole
Nell'estate dell'amore
Come il il filo di un tessuto
Che ricopre il sonno intatto di un bambino
Dentro al ritmo di una vecchia santeria
Perduto
Come un granello di sale in un mare
Salato
The lyrics to Jovanotti's "Salato parte uno" paint vivid and poetic imagery of the vast expanse of the world around us, and highlight the tiny, seemingly insignificant nature of human existence in comparison. The first two lines, "Un tramonto a testa in giù, Australe" ("An upside-down sunset, Southern Hemisphere") evoke an image of a surreal scene, casting a different perspective on a natural occurrence that is usually taken for granted. It creates a sense that everything is not as it seems, that the world is full of secrets and mysteries waiting to be explored.
The following lines, "Lungo il Niger Timbuctu appare, Sotto un cielo di caucciù perduto" ("Along the Niger, Timbuktu appears, Lost under a sky of rubber") further sets the scene of exploring far-off lands and discovering hidden places. The contrast between the vastness of the natural world and the smallness of humanity is emphasized in the next line, "Come un granello di sale in un mare salato" ("Like a grain of salt in a salty sea"). This metaphor highlights the insignificance of individual human beings in the grand scheme of things, lost in the vastness of the universe.
The subsequent verse takes a more personal turn, with lines like "Come il petalo di un fiore dentro mille primavere" ("Like the petal of a flower in a thousand springs") and "Come una parola dentro a un libro nella biblioteca di Babele" ("Like a word in a book in the library of Babel"). Jovanotti uses these metaphors to describe the profound beauty and potential impact of even the smallest things. Ultimately, the song explores the human desire to connect with something bigger than ourselves, and the ever-present feeling of being lost and insignificant in the vastness of the universe.
Line by Line Meaning
Un tramonto a testa in giù
A sunset upside down
Australe
Southern
Lungo il Niger Timbuctu
Along the Niger River towards Timbuktu
Appare
Appears
Sotto un cielo di caucciù
Under a sky of rubber
Perduto
Lost
Come un granello di sale in un mare
Like a grain of salt in a sea
Dentro al vento di Bahia
Inside the wind of Bahia
Gabbiani
Seagulls
Ali per volare via
Wings to fly away
Le mani
The hands
Dentro al ritmo di una vecchia santeria
Inside the rhythm of an old santeria
Come il petalo di un fiore
Like the petal of a flower
Dentro mille primavere
In a thousand springs
Come una parola dentro a un libro
Like a word inside a book
Nella biblioteca di Babele
In the library of Babel
Come un raggio di sole
Like a ray of sunshine
Nell'estate dell'amore
In the summer of love
Come il filo di un tessuto
Like the thread of a fabric
Che ricopre il sonno intatto di un bambino
That covers the unbroken sleep of a child
Perduto
Lost
Come un granello di sale in un mare
Like a grain of salt in a sea
Salato
Salty
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LORENZO CHERUBINI, CARLINHOS BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind