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.
Sulla Frontiera
Jovanotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh
Cos'è?
Ci ascoltano al telefono
Ci guardano i satelliti
Ci intasano nel traffico
Ci rubano le password
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
Perché io danzo
Sulla frontiera
Ci sommano le cellule
controllano i rifiuti
Ci spiano 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
Perché io danzo
Sulla frontiera
Perché io danzo
Perché io danzo
Sulla frontiera
Noi siamo delle lucciole che stanno nelle tenebre
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
Ci timbrano la mano per uscire dal locale
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
Perché io danzo
Perché io danzo
Sulla frontiera
Perché io danzo
Perché io danzo
Sulla frontiera
Tra i medriochistan
e gli estraneistan
Tra i privatistan
e i massmedistan
Tra i passatistan
e i futuristan
Tra i giornalistan
e i realystan
Tra i tenebristan
e i solaristan
Tra i doloristan
e i piaceristan
Tra l'urbanistan
e i naturistan
Al centro dell'umanistan
Io danzo
Io danzo
Io danzo
Io danzo
Io danzo
Dadadadada, dadadadada
Noi siamo delle lucciole che stanno nelle tenebre
Noi siamo delle lucciole che stanno nelle tenebre
The lyrics to Jovanotti's "Sulla Frontiera" convey the constant surveillance and control that people feel subjected to in modern society, from the monitoring of phone calls and purchases to the use of cameras and radar to track movement. Despite this, the singer declares that he has never felt so free, and attributes this feeling to his dancing on the frontiers between different states, ideologies, and ways of life. He describes how people are controlled through censorship, propaganda, and social judgments, yet he affirms his individuality and independence through his dance.
The metaphor of dancing on the frontier represents the ability to exist on the border between different worlds, to fluidly move between different cultures and identities, and to reject the restrictions and definitions imposed by those in power. The phrase "sulla frontiera" also implies the fragility of the boundaries between different nations and social classes, as well as the potential for new connections to be forged and new ideas to be explored. Ultimately, the song celebrates the resilience and creativity of individuals in the face of conformity and uniformity.
Line by Line Meaning
Ci ascoltano al telefono
Our phone conversations are being listened to
Ci guardano i satelliti
Satellites are watching us
Ci intasano nel traffico
We are stuck in traffic
Controllano gli acquisti
Our purchases are being monitored
Ci rubano le password
Our passwords are being stolen
Ci frugano nel bancomat
Our bank accounts are being searched
Ci irradiano
We are being radiated
Ci scannerizzano
We are being scanned
Ci perquisiscono
We are being searched
Eppure non mi sono mai sentito così libero
And yet, I have never felt so free
Perché io danzo
Because I dance
Sulla frontiera
On the border
Ci sommano le cellule
Our cells are being counted
Controllano i rifiuti
Our waste is being monitored
Ci spiano telecamere piazzate sui semafori
We are being spied on by cameras installed on traffic lights
Ci seguono col radar
We are being followed by radar
Ci usan per i calcoli
We are being used for calculations
Controllano le cose che guardiamo alla parabola
Our TV viewing is being monitored
Noi siamo delle lucciole che stanno nelle tenebre
We are fireflies in the darkness
Controllano le cose che si fanno la domenica
Our Sunday activities are being controlled
Ci fanno propaganda elettorale nella predica
We are being influenced by political propaganda during religious sermons
Ci impongono censure sulle cose da sapere
We are being censored on what we can know
Ci danno indicazioni sulle fonti di piacere
We are being told where to find pleasure
Ci dicon cosa bere
We are being told what to drink
Ci copiano lo stile
Our style is being copied
Ci giudicano in base a quale zona uno vive
We are being judged by where we live
Ci timbrano la mano per uscire dal locale
We are being stamped on the hand to leave a venue
Tra i medriochistan e gli estraneistan
Between the mediocre countries and the foreign countries
Tra i privatistan e i massmedistan
Between the private countries and the mass media countries
Tra i passatistan e i futuristan
Between the past countries and the future countries
Tra i giornalistan e i realystan
Between the journalists and the realists
Tra i tenebristan e i solaristan
Between the dark countries and the solar countries
Tra i doloristan e i piaceristan
Between the countries of pain and the countries of pleasure
Tra l'urbanistan e i naturistan
Between the urban countries and the nature countries
Al centro dell'umanistan
In the center of the human realm
Io danzo
I dance
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SATURNINO CELANI, LORENZO CHERUBINI, RICCARDO ONORI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AnaMa Vega
¡Este hombre en vivo es asombroso!
Jova Notti
Genio total!!! Ojalá haga un concierto en Buenos Aires!!!
Giuseppe De Francesco
Absolutely awesome! Grande, grandissimo Lorenzo.
byron milla
No hay de Otra cuando SE nace en la frontera 🤣🤣🤣🤘🤘🤘
Anna Pramatarova
Страхтни,невероятни,музиканти!Само да се кефиш!
Ivan Testolina
Questa versione mi piace tantissimo.
byron milla
Lavoro onesto!!! Como dicen Ellos
smashpunk82
Mitico Jovanotti!
andrei partag
HIT (^_^) BRAVO [ Jovanotti ] Sulla Frontiera (Live on KEXP)
giuseppe di lonardo
Che gran pezzo!!! W jova & band!!!!!!!!!!!!!