He soon gained fame due to the power and strength of his voice. The young tenor earned valuable experience and significant recognition while touring on the invitation of soprano Joan Sutherland, making his 1965 U.S. debut in Miami, Florida on her recommendation. His position was solidified in the years between 1966 and 1972, during which Pavarotti first appeared at Milan's seminal La Scala, at other major European houses, and, in 1968, at NYC's Metropolitan Opera. He received great acclaim, particularly working well with Joan Sutherland.
By the mid-70s, the tenor became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. His "high C" became one of his trademarks. The late 70s and 80s saw Pavarotti making significant appearances in the world's opera houses and establishing himself as one of the great singers of the era.
Popular stardom came at the 1990 World Cup in Italy with the performances of "Nessun Dorma" (from Turandot) and as one of The Three Tenors in their famed first concert held on the eve of the final match of the tournament (repeated at later Cups). Pavarotti sang together with fellow star tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and brought to the much wider audience hits previously confined to the opera world. Appearances in advertisements and with pop icons in concerts around the world furthered his influence. Pavarotti always maintained his identity as an opera star, unlike many crossover artists.
The later years brought a decline in ability to perform on stage due to a weight gain and lack of mobility. Pavarotti's final appearance in an opera was at the Met in March 2004. The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy saw him performing for the last time. Pavarotti sang Nessun Dorma, with the crowd as its Chorus, and got a thunderous standing ovation. On September 6, 2007, he died at home in Modena from pancreatic cancer.
Funiculì Funiculà
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Funiculì, funiculà
Funiculì, funiculà
'Ncoppa, jamme jà
Funiculì, funiculà
Aissèra, Nanninè, me ne sagliette
Addò 'stu core 'ngrato cchiù dispietto
Farme nun pò (farme nun pò)
Addò lo fuoco coce, ma si fuie
Te lassa sta (te lassa sta)
E nun te corre appriesso, nun te struie
Sulo a guardà (sulo a guardà)
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Funiculì, funiculà
Funiculì, funiculà
Jamme, jamme ja
Funiculì, funiculà
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Funiculì, funiculà
Funiculì, funiculà
Jamme, jamme ja
Funiculì, funiculà
Se n'è sagliuta, oje n'è, se n'è sagliuta
La capa già (la capa già)
È gghiuta, pò è turnata, pò è venuta
Sta sempe ccà (sta sempe ccà)
La capa vota, vota, attuorno, attuorno
Attuorno a tte (attuorno a tte)
Sto core canta sempe nu taluorno
Sposamme, oje nè (posamme, oje nè)
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Funiculì, funiculà
Funiculì, funiculà
Jamme, jamme ja
Funiculì, funiculà
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Funiculì, funiculà
Funiculì, funiculà
Jamme, jamme ja
Funiculì, funiculà
The song, "Funiculì, Funiculà", is an Italian folk song that celebrates the new funicular railway that was constructed on Mount Vesuvius. The song is essentially about the new railway and the excitement surrounding it. The lyrics describe the journey from the bottom of the mountain to the top, with the singer expressing his amazement at the views and the thrill of the journey. The choral refrain, "jamme jamme 'ncoppa jamme ja," can be translated to "let's climb up, let's climb up," urging the travelers to keep moving up the mountain. The lyrics also contain a playful love story, with the singer expressing his desire to marry his love and stay together forever, surrounded by the beautiful views of Vesuvius.
Overall, the lyrics to "Funiculì, Funiculà" celebrate the excitement and beauty of nature, the thrill of exploration and travel, and the joy of love and companionship. It is a fun and lively song that captures the essence of Italian folk music and has become a beloved classic around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Aissèra, Nanninè, me ne sagliette
Come on, Nanninè, let's go away from here
Tu saie addò? Tu saie addò?
Do you know where? Do you know where?
Addò 'stu core 'ngrato cchiù dispietto
Where this ungrateful heart brings more sorrow
Farme nun pò! Farme nun pò
It can't stop me! It can't stop me
Addò lo fuoco coce, ma si fuie
Where the fire burns, but if it goes out
Te lassa sta! Te lassa sta
Leave it be! Leave it be
E nun te corre appriesso,nun te struie
And don't chase after it, don't torment yourself
Sulo a guardà, sulo a guardà
Just watch, just watch
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Let's go, let's go up, let's go!
Nè jamme da la terra a la montagna
Let's go from the land to the mountain
No passo nc'è! No passo nc'è
There's no obstacle! There's no obstacle!
Se vede Francia, Proceta e la Spagna
You can see France, Procida, and Spain
E io veco a tte! E io veco a tte
And I see you! And I see you!
Tirato co li ffune, ditto 'nfatto
Pulled by the ropes, indeed
'Ncielo se va, 'ncielo se va
We're going to heaven, we're going to heaven
Se va comm' 'à lu viento a l'intrasatto
Going like the wind in the opposite direction
Guè, saglie sà! Guè, saglie sà
Hey, who knows! Hey, who knows
Se n'è sagliuta, oje n'è,se n'è sagliuta
She left, oh she left, she left
La capa già! La capa già
The head already! The head already!
È gghiuta, pò è turnata, pò è venuta
She went away, but then she came back
Sta sempe ccà! Sta sempe ccà
She's always here! She's always here
La capa vota, vota, attuorno, attuorno
The head turns, turns around, around you
Attuorno a tte! Attuorno a tte
Around you! Around you
Sto core canta sempe nu taluorno
This heart always sings the same tune
Sposamme, oje nè! Sposamme, oje nè
Let's get married, oh yes! Let's get married, oh yes
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà
Let's go, let's go up, let's go!
Funiculì, funiculà!
Funiculì, funiculà!
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Public Domain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thalivenom4972
I climbed up high this evening, oh, Nanetta,
Do you know where? Do you know where?
Where this ungrateful heart
No longer pains me! No longer pains me!
Where fire burns, but if you run away,
It lets you be, it lets you be!
It doesn't follow after or torment you
Just with a look, just with a look.
(Chorus)
Let's go, let's go! To the top we'll go!
Let's go, let's go! To the top we'll go!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
To the top we'll go, funiculi, funicula!
Let's go from here below up to the mountain,
A step away! A step away!
You can see France, Procida, and Spain,
And I see you! And I see you!
You rise, pulled by a cable, quick as a wink,
Into the sky! Into the sky!
We'll rise up like a whirlwind all of a sudden
Knows how to do! Knows how to do!
(Chorus)
Let's go, let's go! To the top we'll go!
Let's go, let's go! To the top we'll go!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
To the top we'll go, funiculi, funicula!
The car has climbed up high, see, climbed up high now,
Right to the top! Right to the top!
It went, and turned around, and came back down,
And now it's stopped! And now it's stopped!
The top is turning round, and round, and round,
Around yourself! Around yourself!
My heart is singing the same refrain:
We should be wed! We should be wed!
(Chorus)
Let's go, let's go! To the top we'll go!
Let's go, let's go! To the top we'll go!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
To the top we'll go, funiculi, funicula!
@CossyVlad
Aissera, oje Nanniné, me ne sagliette, tu saje addó, tu saje addó Addó 'stu core 'ngrato cchiù dispietto farme nun pò! Farme nun pò! Addó lu fuoco coce, ma se fuje te lassa sta! Te lassa sta! E nun te corre appriesso, nun te struje sulo a guardà, sulo a guardà.
(Coro)
Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà, Jamme, jamme 'ncoppa, jamme jà, funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà, 'ncoppa, jamme jà, funiculì, funiculà!
Se n'è sagliuta, oje né, se n'è sagliuta, la capa già! La capa già! È gghiuta, po' è turnata, po' è venuta, sta sempe ccà! Sta sempe ccà! La capa vota, vota, attuorno, attuorno, attuorno a tte! Attuorno a tte! Stu core canta sempe nu taluorno: Sposamme, oje né! Sposamme, oje né!
(Coro)
Né, jamme da la terra a la montagna! Nu passo nc'è! Nu passo nc'è! Se vede Francia, Proceta e la Spagna... Io vedo a tte! Io vedo a tte! Tirato co la fune, ditto 'nfatto, 'ncielo se va, 'ncielo se va. Se va comm' 'a lu viento a l'intrasatto, guè, saglie, sà!
(Coro)
@TheMadisonMachine
i think it's so funny and great that Funiculì Funiculà was basically an advertisement for a cable car, yet it is one of the most beloved Italian songs in history.
@psychoh13
+TheMadisonMachine Figaro is in the same boat, it's Figaro advertising himself as the best jack of all trades in the city.
@TheMadisonMachine
psychoh13 If you're referring to "Largo al Factotum," from The Barber of Seville, they're still pretty different. Figaro is advertising his skill as a barber to gain work, but the context is within a play. The advertisement serves to set the scene as well as play to the hustle and bustle of Figaro's day to day life.
Funiculì Funiculà doesn't come from a play or opera or any other form of media like that. It wasn't written to do anything besides exist solely as an advertisement. It is the same thing as turning on the tv and seeing a commercial, because that is literally the only purpose of the song. The only problem is that it was so catchy it hung on for a century and a half!
@dwright4238
Also surprising is how old this song is (1880). I would have placed it maybe 25 years later. There is something very non-19th century about it, both being an advertising jingle of sorts, and the frothy inconsequentiality of the tune and lyrics. This song seems to deserve a special footnote in the history of popular music.
@TheMadisonMachine
D Wright Some valuable input there, friend. :)
@martisco
+TheMadisonMachine Here's another bit of related trivia for you then: the history of Vesuvius-related advertising is quite ancient. It's believed that the very first brand name in history was invented by an enterprising local during the Roman Empire, who sold wine made from grapes grown in the shadow of Vesuvius. Remnants of wine were found in jars labeled "VESUVINUM" which archaeologists have concluded was a deliberate combination of the words "Vesuvius" and "vinum" (wine).
@mikeor-
Funiculi Funicula was an Italian poem written in 1894 to commemorate the opening of the Funicular Railway in Naples that circled around Mount Vesuvius. This was one of the greatest railways in Italy, that was unfortunately destroyed during the most recent eruption of Vesuvius in 1944.
@AdistuffRBX
This song is all that remains.
@TheBlueEspeon
The railway has been destroyed, but the music will live on forever...
@alfredocarrillotenor2448
How sad! Thank you for sharing this information. If you enjoy Italian opera, it would be so kind of you to listen and comment here: https://youtu.be/UxB0vv53i98