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.
Vasco
Jovanotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Perché una storia così
Non c'è mai stata
Che ci ammazziamo
Ci divertiamo
Facciamo i scemi e qualche volta pensiamo
Non c'è problema
È tutto OK
E quando torni
Facciamo festa
Senza nessuno che ci lasci la testa
No, Vasco
No, Vasco
Io non ci casco
Per quelli che alla notte ritornano alle tre
No, Vasco!
No, Vasco
Io non ci casco
Per quelli come te
Per quelli come me
Oh, mamma stasera esco
Prendo la moto, sì, ma senza casco
Andiamo in centro
Viene anche Vasco
Torno tardissimo
Fuori fa fresco
Sì che sto attento
Io son mica matto
È tutto a posto, vai!
Tu vai a letto
Tu e le tue amiche
M'avete rotto
Siete voi, siete voi
Che avete capito tutto
No, Vasco
No, Vasco
Invece Vasco questa sera non c'è
Chissà perché fratello ce l'hai con me
Oh, dimmi con chi sei, da un po' non ci sei mai
Vasco, tu sei noi non ci sputtanare, dai!
No, Vasco
No, Vasco
Io non ci casco
Perché io non mi fido di chi non suda mai
No, Vasco
No, Vasco che mica ci facciamo tradire dai guai
Sudi o no?
Sudi o no?
The lyrics of Jovanotti's song "Vasco" can be interpreted as a commentary on society's obsession with celebrities and the dangers of blindly following their example. The titular character, Vasco, is used as a symbol for a certain type of person who stays out late and lives life on the edge. The singer, however, refuses to be taken in by this lifestyle and instead advocates for being true to oneself and not being swayed by flashy images and superficial appearances.
The chorus of the song - "No, Vasco/Io non ci casco" (No, Vasco/I'm not falling for it) - is repeated several times throughout and serves as a kind of mantra for the singer's refusal to conform. He encourages those around him to trust their instincts and not be led astray by those who live recklessly and without regard for consequences. The final lines of the song - "Sudi o no?/Sudi o no?" (Do you sweat or not?) - serve as a reminder that true success and happiness come from hard work and perseverance, not just the appearance of being cool or tough.
Overall, "Vasco" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that challenges listeners to think about the kind of person they want to be and the values they hold dear. It is a call to resist the pressures of society and stay true to oneself, even in the face of temptation.
Line by Line Meaning
Vai così, è una figata
Going like this, it's great
Perché una storia così
Because a story like this
Non c'è mai stata
Has never existed before
Che ci ammazziamo
That we kill each other
Ci divertiamo
We have fun
Facciamo i scemi e qualche volta pensiamo
We act like fools and sometimes we think
Non c'è problema
There's no problem
È tutto OK
Everything is okay
Numero uno, faccio quello che farei
Number one, I do what I would do
E quando torni
And when you come back
Facciamo festa
We party
Senza nessuno che ci lasci la testa
Without anyone ruining our fun
No, Vasco
No, Vasco
Io non ci casco
I won't fall for it
Per quelli che alla notte ritornano alle tre
For those who come back at three in the night
No, Vasco!
No, Vasco!
Io non ci casco
I won't fall for it
Per quelli come te
For those like you
Per quelli come me
For those like me
Oh, mamma stasera esco
Oh, Mom, I'm going out tonight
Prendo la moto, sì, ma senza casco
I'll take the bike, yeah, but no helmet
Andiamo in centro
We're going downtown
Viene anche Vasco
Even Vasco is coming
Torno tardissimo
I'll be back very late
Fuori fa fresco
It's cool outside
Sì che sto attento
Yes, I am careful
Io son mica matto
I'm not crazy
È tutto a posto, vai!
Everything is okay, go!
Tu vai a letto
You go to bed
Tu e le tue amiche
You and your girlfriends
M'avete rotto
You're annoying me
Siete voi, siete voi
It's you, it's you
Che avete capito tutto
Who have understood everything
Invece Vasco questa sera non c'è
Instead, Vasco is not here tonight
Chissà perché fratello ce l'hai con me
Who knows why, brother, you have it in for me
Oh, dimmi con chi sei, da un po' non ci sei mai
Oh, tell me who you're with, you haven't been around lately
Vasco, tu sei noi non ci sputtanare, dai!
Vasco, you're one of us, don't ruin it, come on!
Perché io non mi fido di chi non suda mai
Because I don't trust those who never sweat
No, Vasco
No, Vasco
No, Vasco che mica ci facciamo tradire dai guai
No, Vasco, because we don't let the troubles betray us
Sudi o no?
Do you sweat or not?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CLAUDIO CECCHETTO, LUCA CERSOSIMO, LORENZO CHERUBINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind