… Read Full Bio ↴Ornella Vanoni (born September 22, 1934 in Milan) is an Italian singer.
She started her artistic career in 1960 as a theatrical actress of Bertolt Brecht works under the direction of Giorgio Strehler. At the same time, she started singing, recording for a high-class public. The folklore and popular songs she reinvented in her recordings of this period, especially ones connected with organized crime, gave her the nickname of cantante della mala (literally translated as "singer of the bad life")
Soon after her popularity rose, thanks to the songs "Senza fine" and "Che cosa c'è" (1963) written for her by Gino Paoli. In 1964 she won the Napoli Festival with "Tu si na cosa grande".
She subsequently took part in a series of Sanremo festivals, which resulted in great successes with the songs; "Abbracciami forte" (1965), "Io ti darò di più" (1966), "La musica è finita" (1967), "Casa bianca" (1968), and "Eternità" (1970). "Casa Bianca", which came second, was the subject of the dispute between its author Don Backy and the Clan of Adriano Celentano because of copyright problems.
During the same period she released the songs "Una ragione di più", "Un'ora sola ti vorrei" and "L'appuntamento".
In 1976 she met Vinicius de Moraes and Toquinho, and she released the songs "La voglia, la pazzia, l'incoscienza e l'allegria". During the 1980s she also released "Ricetta di donna" (1980), "Uomini" (1983) and "Ti lascio una canzone" (1985, a duet sung with Gino Paoli). In 1989 she returned to Sanremo with the song "Io come farò".
In 1999 she recorded "Alberi", a duet sung with Enzo Gragnaniello. She was mostly active in live concerts and as a guest singer in recordings. In 2004 she released a duo album with Gino Paoli as a way of celebrating her 70th birthday.
In addition to her singing career, Ornella Vanoni was active in many other performing arts. Apart from the aforementioned theatre career, she also took part in movies, posed nude for the Italian version of Playboy Italy and also participated in television programmes such as a parody of a velina of Striscia la notizia.
The inclusion of her song "L'Appuntamento" on the Ocean's Twelve soundtrack sparked a renewal of interest in Vanoni in the US.
Gianna
Ornella Vanoni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gianna Gianna Gianna prometteva, pareti e fiori
Gianna Gianna aveva un coccodrillo, ed un dottore
Gianna non perdeva neanche un minuto, per fare l'amore.
Ma la notte la festa è finita, evviva la vita
La gente si sveste e comincia un mondo
un mondo diverso, ma fatto di sesso
e chi vivrà vedrà...
Gianna Gianna Gianna non cercava il suo pigmalione
Gianna difendeva il suo salario, dall'inflazione
Gianna Gianna Gianna non credeva a canzoni o UFO
Gianna aveva un fiuto eccezionale, per il tartufo.
Ma la notte la festa è finita, evviva la vita
La gente si sveste e comincia un mondo
un mondo diverso, ma fatto di sesso
e chi vivrà vedrà...
Ma dove vai, vieni qua, ma che fai?
Dove vai, con chi ce l'hai? Vieni qua, ma che fai?
Dove vai, con chi ce l'hai? Di chi sei, ma che vuoi?
Dove vai, con chi ce l'hai? Butta là, vieni qua,
chi la prende e a chi la da! Dove sei, dove stai?
Fatti sempre i fatti tuoi! Di chi sei, ma che vuoi?
Il dottore non c'è mai! Non c'e' mai! Non c'è mai!
Tu non prendi se non dai! Vieni qua, ma che fai?
Dove vai, con chi ce l'hai? Butta là, vieni qua,
chi la prende e a chi la da! Dove sei, dove stai?
Fatti sempre i fatti tuoi! Di chi sei, ma che vuoi?
Il dottore non c'è mai! Non c'è mai! Non c'è mai!
Tu non prendi se non dai! Vieni qua, ma che fai?
The song Gianna by Ornella Vanoni is a reflection on the life and personality of Gianna, a woman who had strong opinions and beliefs. Gianna was someone who believed in herself, and her abilities to achieve her goals. She had aspirations and ideals that she pursued with passion and determination. Despite being a successful and independent woman, Gianna was also a sensual and passionate lover who enjoyed making love. However, the song also suggests that there is a different side to life at night, where everything is about sex.
The lyrics seem to be questioning and provocative, asking the listener where they are going, who they are with, and what they are doing. It reflects the nature of society and the expectations that are placed on individuals, often leading to moral ambiguity and hypocrisy. The song suggests that life is unpredictable and one never knows what they may encounter on their journey. Overall, the song seems to suggest that people should pursue their dreams and their passions, but at the same time, be mindful of the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Gianna Gianna Gianna sosteneva, tesi e illusioni
Gianna supported theories and illusions.
Gianna Gianna Gianna prometteva, pareti e fiori
Gianna promised walls and flowers.
Gianna Gianna aveva un coccodrillo, ed un dottore
Gianna had a crocodile and a doctor.
Gianna non perdeva neanche un minuto, per fare l'amore.
Gianna didn't waste a minute to make love.
Ma la notte la festa è finita, evviva la vita
But the party is over at night, oh long live life!
La gente si sveste e comincia un mondo
People undress and begin a world
un mondo diverso, ma fatto di sesso
A different world, but made of sex
e chi vivrà vedrà...
And who will live will see...
Gianna Gianna Gianna non cercava il suo pigmalione
Gianna didn't search for her Pygmalion
Gianna difendeva il suo salario, dall'inflazione
Gianna defended her salary from inflation
Gianna Gianna Gianna non credeva a canzoni o UFO
Gianna didn't believe in songs or UFOs
Gianna aveva un fiuto eccezionale, per il tartufo.
Gianna had an exceptional nose for truffles.
Ma dove vai, vieni qua, ma che fai?
But where are you going, come here, what are you doing?
Dove vai, con chi ce l'hai? Vieni qua, ma che fai?
Where are you going, with whom do you have it? Come here, what are you doing?
Dove vai, con chi ce l'hai? Di chi sei, ma che vuoi?
Where are you going, with whom do you have it? Whose are you, what do you want?
Dove vai, con chi ce l'hai? Butta là, vieni qua,
Where are you going, with whom do you have it? Throw it away, come here,
chi la prende e a chi la da! Dove sei, dove stai?
Who takes it and who gives it! Where are you, where are you?
Fatti sempre i fatti tuoi! Di chi sei, ma che vuoi?
Mind your own business always! Whose are you, what do you want?
Il dottore non c'è mai! Non c'e' mai! Non c'è mai!
The doctor is never there! Never there! Never there!
Tu non prendi se non dai! Vieni qua, ma che fai?
You don't receive if you don't give! Come here, what are you doing?
Dove vai, con chi ce l'hai? Butta là, vieni qua,
Where are you going, with whom do you have it? Throw it away, come here,
chi la prende e a chi la da! Dove sei, dove stai?
Who takes it and who gives it! Where are you, where are you?
Fatti sempre i fatti tuoi! Di chi sei, ma che vuoi?
Mind your own business always! Whose are you, what do you want?
Il dottore non c'è mai! Non c'è mai! Non c'è mai!
The doctor is never there! Never there! Never there!
Tu non prendi se non dai! Vieni qua, ma che fai?
You don't receive if you don't give! Come here, what are you doing?
Contributed by Jayden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.