He was the composer of Caruso (1986), which has been covered by numerous international artists. A version of Caruso sung by Luciano Pavarotti sold over 9 million copies and the song was a track on Andrea Bocelli's first international album Romanza which has sold over 16 million albums world wide thus far; the song is a tribute to the emblematic opera tenor Enrico Caruso.
He began to play the clarinet at an early age, in a jazz band in Rome. The singer-songwriter Gino Paoli noticed Dalla's vocal qualities and suggested he attempt a solo career as an Italian soul singer. In 1964, at age 21, Dalla recorded his first 45 rpm containing "Lei (non è per me)" and "Ma questa sera". However, Dalla's debut at the Cantagiro festival in 1965 was unsuccessful probably due to his appearance and to his music, which was considered too experimental for the time. His first album, 1999, was released the following year. His next album, Terra di Gaibola (from the name of a suburb of Bologna), was released in 1970 and contained some early Dalla classics.
His first hit was "4 Marzo 1943", which garnered some success at the Sanremo Festival. Regardless of its title, the song became popularly known as "Gesu bambino". Also successful was "Piazza grande", which Dalla would sing again at Sanremo.
At this point, Dalla made a decisive move in his career, starting a collaboration with the Bolognese poet Roberto Roversi. Roversi wrote the lyrics to Dalla's next three albums Il giorno aveva cinque teste (The Day Had Five Heads) (1973), Anidride solforosa (1975) and Automobili (Automobiles) (1976) Although these albums did not sell in large numbers, they were noted by critics for the unusual mix of Roversi's weird lyrics with Dalla's improvisatory, and sometimes experimental, compositional abilities.
The duo had already broken up by the time the concept album Automobili was released. Roversi, who had been against the album's release, chose the pseudonym "Norisso" when it was time to register the songs. The album, however, included one of Dalla's most popular songs, "Nuvolari", named after the famous 1930s Italian racer.
Affected by the end of the collaboration, Dalla decided to write the lyrics of his next albums himself. This decision proved to be surprisingly good, and he soon emerged as one of the most intelligent and musically cultured of the Italian singer-songwriters. The first album of this new phase was Com'è profondo il mare (1977), in which Dalla was accompanied by some members of the future pop band Stadio. The title track or "Quale allegria" are today ranked among the best Italian songs.
Dalla's poetic inspiration was confirmed by the following albums, all entitled Lucio Dalla or Dalla and all best-sellers. They contain classics like "Anna e Marco", "L'anno che verrà", "Futura", and "Cara".
In 1979, his popularity was confirmed by the success of the Banana Republic tour and album of 1979 together with singer-songwriter Francesco De Gregori, his band, and his friend Ron.
The hit single Attenti al Lupo (1990) gave him wider success in Europe.
He was invited for duetting on Pavarotti and friends, singing his own hit "Caruso" with Luciano Pavarotti.
He died from a heart attack in 1 March 2012 while on tour at Switzerland.
Bella
Lucio Dalla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E quella faccia sempre pallida
E quelle mani da speranza languida
E il tuo passato che siccome è già passato
Adesso un po' ti stanca
Bella, con quei due figli messi al mondo con una forza cagniula
E i tuoi capelli tutti gialli come fossi mamola
Sei cosi'tu, che per me, si',
tu per me sei l'unica
Io per te, per quell'immagine che hai di me
in fondo piccola rinuncerei
Alla mia eterna solitudine
Sarei sociale,anche gentile un po' normale, bella
Bella, ti porterei ogni tanto via,
magari dentro ad una scatola
Perché la mia è una solitudine del resto già un po' elastica
Potremo uscire e ritornare nella notte,
non dormire ed aspettare l'alba.
Io per te, come dicevo per telefono,
Vorrei che il mondo si fermasse per un attimo
Cosi' scendiamo e non ci vedono mai più
Bella, perché quegli occhi un po' bagnati da una lacrima
E quella faccia che di colpo torna pallida
Io adesso vado e ma ritorno,
se non domani, stai tranquilla,
Un altro giorno…
The song "Bella" by Lucio Dalla is a love song that describes the feelings and admiration the singer has for a woman named Bella. The song is full of imagery that describes Bella's physical attributes, such as her narrow eyes, pale face, and languid hands, and how they have affected the singer. Bella's past has also taken a toll on her, and while it is now behind her, it still weighs her down.
The singer then goes on to express his love for Bella and how much she means to him. He says that he would even give up his eternal solitude for her, and how he wishes to escape with her and disappear forever. However, Bella seems to be going through a rough patch as the singer describes her eyes being wet with tears and her face growing pale once again. Nonetheless, the singer reassures Bella that he will return soon, and they will have another day together.
Overall, the song paints a touching image of love, devotion, and admiration for someone the singer truly cares about. It speaks of the strong emotions people can feel and how they are willing to overcome any obstacle that gets in the way of their happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Bella, con quei due occhi stretti
Beautiful, with those two narrow eyes
E quella faccia sempre pallida
And that face always pale
E quelle mani da speranza languida
And those hands of languishing hope
E il tuo passato che siccome è già passato
And your past, which since it's already past
Adesso un po' ti stanca
Now tires you a little
Bella, con quei due figli messi al mondo con una forza cagniula
Beautiful, with those two children brought into the world with a force of labor
E i tuoi capelli tutti gialli come fossi mamola
And your hair all yellow as if you were Mamola
Sei cosi'tu, che per me, si', tu per me sei l'unica
It's you, who for me, yes, you for me are the only one
Io per te, per quell'immagine che hai di me
I, for you, for that image you have of me
in fondo piccola rinuncerei
Deep down, I would give up a little
Alla mia eterna solitudine
To my eternal loneliness
Sarei sociale,anche gentile un po' normale, bella
I would be social, even kind of normal, beautiful
Bella, ti porterei ogni tanto via,
Beautiful, I would take you away sometimes,
magari dentro ad una scatola
Maybe inside a box
Perché la mia è una solitudine del resto già un po' elastica
Because my loneliness is already a bit elastic
Potremo uscire e ritornare nella notte,
We could go out and return in the night,
non dormire ed aspettare l'alba.
Not sleep and wait for dawn.
Io per te, come dicevo per telefono,
I for you, as I was saying on the phone,
Vorrei che il mondo si fermasse per un attimo
I would like the world to stop for a moment
Cosi' scendiamo e non ci vedono mai più
So we can get off and never be seen again
Bella, perché quegli occhi un po' bagnati da una lacrima
Beautiful, because those eyes a little wet from a tear
E quella faccia che di colpo torna pallida
And that face that suddenly turns pale
Io adesso vado e ma ritorno,
I'm leaving now but I'll be back,
se non domani, stai tranquilla,
If not tomorrow, don't worry,
Un altro giorno…
Another day...
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fanny Campillo
Para mi una de ls mejores y hermosas canciones de Lucio. Excelente album: Cambio. Te xtrañamos
Andreas Ceraolo
capolavoro!! e quanti ricordi...
Marte lecta
Io per te, per quell'immagine che hai di me
in fondo piccola, rinuncerei alla mia eterna solitudine. Sarei sociale, anche gentile un po' normale 🖤
Pierpa
Daniela è bella veramente, fuori e dentro !!
cicaflo1
parla di 2 figli,non è riferita alla madre,ma alla compagna di allora,con la quale è stato parecchi anni ,di nome Daniela
luciano lancia
che dire. Bella!!
Pupi di Zuccaro
grazie della dritta! posso chiederti come l'hai saputo?
cicaflo1
conosco bene Daniela
Paquale Castaldo
Non cambiai