At 11 years old he ran away to Milan, as he was humiliated by his family due to his stuttering. Because of his difficult childhood he used to sign autographs, later on, by the name 'Pasquale'. He took lessons in music theory, played the saxophone and sang in a few amateur bands, with american-style singers.
He came to public attention, as he participated in 1946 on Radio Bari, at the "Amateur Paradise" competition, organized by composer Vito Vittorio Crocitto and maestro Carlo Vitale.
"I started young. I studied a bit 'of harmony, I was, actually I am, a Bach convinced, I like everything about Sebastian" - Nicola
In 1952, he participated at the Newport Jazz Festival, thanks to music critic Marshall Brown, who noticed him earlier. Back in Italy, he participated as an actor in numerous television programs, and started his professional career as an entertainer.
His life is divided between music and television. His first disc dates from 1956 and was a 78 rpm record; it consisted of a few napolitan songs and was released by RCA Italia. The following year, he moved to Fonit and released other recordings with Alberto Pizzigoni and Riccardo Rauchi.
With the transition to 45 rpm records, and to the Columbia label, the first success came with the recording of the song "Simpatica" by Garinei, Giovannini and Kramer, taken from the musical comedy Buonanotte Bettina.
In 1958 he participated in Canzonissima and later was noticed in a television program entitled Sentimentale, led by Lelio Luttazzi, where he attended as a regular guest, along with Mina. The homonymous theme became a hit, recorded by both the singers in two different versions.
In the meantime, Nicola went on to improve his great passion, jazz, by participating at festivals and dedicated performances (for example, the 1959 Festival Del Jazz, together with Franco Cerri), highlighting himself thanks to his crooner style.
His greatest hits: "Un giorno ti dirò", "Amorevole", "I sing amore", "My wonderful bambina", "I love you forestiera", are from this period. The titles in two different languages were a habit of songwriters at the end of the 50's, who saw "postcard-songs" as a way to promote Italy's touristic beauties (the most famous example will have been "Arrivederci Roma" by Renato Rascel).
In 1963 he was the protagonist of another Saturday night show, "Il cantatutto", together with Milva and Claudio Villa, wherein he enjoyed swapping his repertoire with the two other colleagues and performing gags and comic sketches.
In 1964 he participated in the Sanremo Festival with "Venti chilometri al giorno" and at the 12th edition of Napolitan Songs Festival with the theme of Nisa and Salerno "Si' turnata", performed together with Sergio Bruni. Afterwards he began a long and very successfull career as an advertising testimonial, first for the "Amaro Cora" liquor - for which he played his song "Amorevole" with the title changed to "Amarevole" - and later appeared in a play to advertise for Antonetto(digestive pill) - he played a braggart who boasted amazing business with friends and regularly lost every bet with them and ended up paying expensive dinners. This activity assured his income even when his musical commitments will have become less frequent, thanks to generation replacement and arrival of beat wave.
Arigliano surprisingly came back to television in 1977 in several episodes of "Non stop", a show by Enzo Trapani dedicated to cabaret.
In 1985 he made a live record "Mario Schiano presenta Nicola Arigliano al night club Il Sorpasso - Con l'orchestra I Primi" where, in spite of the title, Mario Schiano was not there: he was, in fact, the promoter of some music performances near Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome to celebrate the PCI's overtaking of DC during European election of 1984 (this thing explains the night club's name "Il Sorpasso"); on the record played some of the most famous Italian jazz musicians, like Marc 4 keyboard player, Antonello Vannucchi, Gegè Munari on drums and Giorgio Rosciglione on double bass.
More recently (1996) he won the Tenco award for his album "I sing ancora"; in 2001 he published "Go man!", album recorded live in Milan that houses some of the most famous Italian jazz musicians: Franco Cerri, Enrico Rava, Gianni Basso, Bruno De Filippi, Renato Sellani and Massimo Moriconi.
In 2005, at 81 years old, he was the oldest singer to take part to Festival di Sanremo: on the occasion he introduced the song "Colpevole" winning the Critics Prize. On the evening of Friday, that of alternate versions, after playing a song in the competition, which was accompanied by Antonello Vannucchi of Marc4 and Franco Cerri, conductor Paul Bonolis asked Nicola for a jam session with his fellow musicians from On the Sunny Side of the Street. The song was however deleted by the jury and did not make the final evening.
On the summer of 2005 his band revolutionized opting for a formation without piano, replaced by accordion and guitar. With this versatile band he started a particularly fervent and industrious moment of his career earning unanimous approval everywhere.
His last performance (with the inseparable Frank Antonucci on guitar, Reverendo Otis on double bass, Al Ventura - accordion and Santi Isgrò - drums) dates back to September 8th, 2007 on the occasion of the Career Award that his hometown Squinzano wanted to bestow upon him.
April In Paris
Nicola Arigliano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holiday tables under the trees
April in Paris, this is a feeling
No one can ever reprise
I never knew the charm of spring
Never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to?
What have you done to my heart?
I never knew my heart could sing
Never missed a warm embrace
Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to?
What have you done to my heart?
April in Paris
is a classic song that speaks of the magic and charm of the city in the springtime. The first verse sets the scene of the city in bloom, with trees and holiday tables adorned with the blossoming chestnuts. It then moves on to the chorus, describing the feeling of being in Paris in April, which is unlike anything else. There is a sense of wonder and awe in the lyrics, as if the singer is experiencing something completely new and enchanting. The second verse goes on to describe the personal effect that Paris in April has had on the singer, causing his heart to sing and yearn for a warm embrace. The final chorus repeats the same questions as the first, expressing the singer's bewilderment at the power that the city has over him.
Overall, the song is a beautifully romantic tribute to the city of Paris and the transformative power of spring. It speaks to the idea that certain places and experiences have the ability to change us on a profound level, whether it be through their beauty, their culture, or their history.
Line by Line Meaning
April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
The beautiful sight of blooming chestnuts during springtime in Paris creates a mesmerizing experience that is unforgettable.
Holiday tables under the trees
People celebrate and enjoy delicious food during holidays under the beautiful trees in Paris.
April in Paris, this is a feeling
The fresh and exciting vibe of Paris in April creates a unique feeling that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
No one can ever reprise
This feeling of April in Paris cannot be replicated or done again by anyone.
I never knew the charm of spring
Before experiencing spring in Paris, the artist never fully understood the beauty and enchantment of this season.
Never met it face to face
The singer had never experienced the spring season in person before visiting Paris.
I never knew my heart could sing
Experiencing the beauty and charm of spring in Paris brought so much joy to the singer that they realized their heart could 'sing' and feel extreme happiness.
I never missed, a warm embrace
The artist had never really missed having someone's arms wrapped around them until experiencing the warmth and comfort of spring in Paris.
Till April in Paris
It wasn't until experiencing spring in Paris that the artist fully understood the joy and beauty of this season.
Whom can I run to?
The artist seeks someone to talk to and share their feelings about the enchantment of Paris.
What have you done to my heart?
Experiencing the magic of spring in Paris has left the singer with a heart filled with joy and happiness that they never knew was possible.
April in Paris
The beauty and charm of Paris in springtime creates a magical and unforgettable experience that is truly one of a kind.
Contributed by Asher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.