Paolo Conte (born 6 January 1937 in Asti, Piedmont, Italy) is a craggy-voic… Read Full Bio ↴Paolo Conte (born 6 January 1937 in Asti, Piedmont, Italy) is a craggy-voiced italian singer, pianist and composer. He both writes and performs his own material and his grainy, resonant voice redolent of Francophone singers like Jacques Brel adds a certain charm to his wistful, sometimes melancholic lyrics.

His performing career began as a vibraphone player in local and touring bands. He began songwriting with his brother Giorgio Conte early on and eventually began writing songs of his own. As a poet, painter and lawyer as well as a musician, he first earned attention during the late '60s and early '70s as the creative force behind hits from Adriano Celentano and Patty Pravo. Conte began his solo career with a 1974 self-titled LP, with subsequent efforts like 1987's Aguaplano and 1990's Parole D'Amore Scritte a Macchina enjoying considerable success throughout Europe. 1998's Paolo Conte, a greatest-hits collection, was his first U.S. release. His compilation album is titled The Best of Paolo Conte.

Some of his hits were used in many movies, for example "Come di" (1999), "Via con me" in French Kiss (1995), Welcome to Collinwood (2002) , "Sparring Partner" in 5x2 (2004), "Chiamami Adesso" in The Lake House (2006), and the "Fritz" Coca Cola commercial that was widely shown in US movie theaters in early 2006. French humourist Pierre Desproges used both in his Chroniques de la haine ordinaire. The lyrics of "Insieme a te non ci sto più" was performed by Caterina Caselli in the Italian 2001 hit-at-Cannes La Stanza del Figlio.

Paolo Conte was a lawyer for years and has only retired recently.

Ballerina
Paolo Conte Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ballerina, mi guardi e chiedi a me
Se s'inventa roba nuova
Ballerina, è tutto qui per te
Passi lunghi, passi corti
Ehi, rataplan, ballerina, slégati
Sei di legno ma t'insegno io
Come si balla

Bella canzone, su
Ballerina, su rataplan
Ballerina, invitami
Che da più vicino sento meglio come balli
Ehi, ballerina, vuoi?

Ehi, rataplan, ballerina, infuriati
Che infuriata sembri un desiderio di ragazza

Ehi, rataplan, ballerina, sganciati
Che nel ritmo un altro ritmo puoi trovare
Balla, ehi, ballerina, vai

Ballerina nell'ambra ride il rhum
Ballerina, ballerina

Ehi, rataplan, ballerina, informati
Fatti dire, insomma fatti fare un resoconto
Ride nell'ambra il rhum, ballerina

Zum, zum, zum, ballerina, sganciati

Che da più lontano vedo meglio
Come balli, vai, ballerina, vai

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Paolo Conte's song "Ballerina" depict a conversation between the singer and a ballerina. The singer describes the ballerina's elegance and asks her if she is inventing new moves. He expresses his admiration for her and invites her to dance closer so he can better observe her. The repetitive use of "rataplan" and "ehi" in the lyrics adds a playful and rhythmic element to the song. The singer encourages the ballerina to let go and find new rhythms within the existing rhythm. The song ends with the singer observing the ballerina's movements from afar, acknowledging that he can better appreciate her dancing from a distance.

Line by Line Meaning

Ballerina, mi guardi e chiedi a me
As a dancer, you observe me and ask for my expertise

Se s'inventa roba nuova
If something new is invented

Ballerina, è tutto qui per te
Dancer, everything is for you

Passi lunghi, passi corti
Long steps, short steps

Ehi, rataplan, ballerina, slégati
Hey, rataplan, dancer, let yourself go

Sei di legno ma t'insegno io
You may be wooden, but I will teach you

Come si balla
How to dance

Bella canzone, su
Beautiful song, come on

Ballerina, su rataplan
Dancer, up with the rhythm

Ballerina, invitami
Dancer, invite me

Che da più vicino sento meglio come balli
Because I can better hear how you dance from closer