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.
La nostalgia del Mocambo
Paolo Conte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Risplende in un ambiente maron,
Si vede una coppia in silenzio
Che beve l'assenzio del tempo ladron...
Passi si senton dall'alto
Sull'umido asfalto
Chissà mai chi è
È aperto il portone
Prepara il caffè
Questa è la nostalgia del Mocambo
Per chi non lo sa
Un ritmo sconfinato di rumba
Che se ne va per la città per la città
Ma come in fretta è salito
Di nuovo ha suonato
Nervoso... drin drin
Vai più veloce Janine
Ad aprire la porta
E nascondi i patin
Lo c'è nessuno
È uno scherzo
Saranno i ragazzi del '73
Torniamo in tinello e beviamo
Ce lo meritiamo il nostro caffè
Questa è la nostalgia del Mocambo
Per chi non lo sa
Un ritmo sconfinato di rumba
Che se ne va per la città per la città
. . . . . .
The song La nostalgia del Mocambo by Paolo Conte reflects on the nostalgia of a club called Mocambo. In the opening lines, the singer describes a couple sitting in silence while drinking the absinthe of the stolen time, which can be interpreted as the couple remembering the good old times they spent in the club. The sound of footsteps on the damp pavement indicates the arrival of someone, and the singer asks, "who is that?" As it turns out, someone has rung the doorbell, and the feeling of nervousness overwhelms the singer. They hurriedly ask Janine to open the door and hide the skates, considering who might have come to visit.
As the song progresses, the singer reminisces about the early days at Mocambo - a club with an endless rhythm of rumba that spreads throughout the city. The arrival of a stranger at the door ignites memories of the past and rekindles the desire to step back in time. There is an overwhelming urge to return to the living room to drink coffee and reminisce. The song concludes with a final emphasis on the nostalgia of Mocambo - a rhythm that fades away in the city, leaving behind only memories of a time long gone.
Overall, the song evokes a sense of tranquility and longing for the past, capturing the essence of nostalgia and the memories that it brings. It's a reminder that moments, whether good or bad, will always be cherished and remembered by those who experienced them.
Line by Line Meaning
Mentre la sera discende una luce
As the evening descends, a light shines.
Risplende in un ambiente maron,
It glows in a brown environment.
Si vede una coppia in silenzio
A couple is seen in silence.
Che beve l'assenzio del tempo ladron...
Drinking the absinthe of stolen time...
Passi si senton dall'alto
Footsteps are heard from above.
Sull'umido asfalto
On the humid asphalt.
Chissà mai chi è
Who knows who it is.
Drin hai sentito han suonato
Ding, did you hear them ring.
È aperto il portone
The door is open.
Prepara il caffè
Prepare the coffee.
Questa è la nostalgia del Mocambo
This is the nostalgia of Mocambo.
Per chi non lo sa
For those who don't know.
Un ritmo sconfinato di rumba
An unbounded rhythm of rumba.
Che se ne va per la città per la città
That goes through the city, through the city.
Ma come in fretta è salito
But as quickly as he rose.
Di nuovo ha suonato
He has played again.
Nervoso... drin drin
Nervously... ding ding.
Vai più veloce Janine
Go faster, Janine.
Ad aprire la porta
To open the door.
E nascondi i patin
And hide the skates.
Lo c'è nessuno
There's no one here.
È uno scherzo
It's a joke.
Saranno i ragazzi del '73
Maybe the boys from '73.
Torniamo in tinello e beviamo
Let's go back to the dining room and drink.
Ce lo meritiamo il nostro caffè
We deserve our coffee.
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.