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 vecchia giacca nuova
Paolo Conte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
e per la strada nessuno fa:
"Guarda, guarda che giacca nuova
sulle spalle di quello là "
La folla anonima
che rende anonimi
quasi invisibili
così cosÃ
Ripropongo la giacca nuova
e per la strada nessuno fa:
"Guarda, guarda che giacca nuova
sembra la fodera di un sofà "
Basta resistere, basta ripetere
fissare un codice
così si fa
Ho portato la giacca nuova
per tanti anni e la gente fa:
"Vedi vedi che giacca nuova
forse è uno del varietà "
più che carezze vuole certezze
il mondo vuole
chissà chissÃ
Si ma io con la giacca nuova
non lavoro nel varietÃ
sono uno con la giacca nuova
questa è l'unica veritÃ
così si offendono
e si rivoltano
e ti sgambettano
sarà sarÃ
poi dopo un attimo
si ricompongono
dimenticandoti
la strada va...
The song "La vecchia giacca nuova" by Paolo Conte reflects on the idea that people often become invisible in the midst of the monotonous routine of their daily lives. It talks about the singer buying a new jacket, expecting it to bring him attention or recognition, and being disappointed when nobody seems to notice it. The crowds of people in the streets make everyone anonymous and the jacket that the singer wants to be noticed for is ignored. The anonymous mass renders everyone invisible, which is a metaphor for modern society's tendency to blank out people's personalities.
The singer tries to persist in wearing the jacket, and strangely enough, the public's response to his jacket switched from ignoring to ridicule. The song suggests that people will lash out against anyone who tries to defy their expectations, even if it is something as minor as wearing a new jacket. However, the singer continued to wear the jacket for several years, and eventually, people began to notice it, but not in the way he had intended. They thought he might be a performer from a variety show, and he had to admit that he was not.
Line by Line Meaning
Ho comprato una giacca nuova
I bought a new jacket
e per la strada nessuno fa:
And on the street, nobody says:
"Guarda, guarda che giacca nuova
"Look, look at that new jacket
sulle spalle di quello là"
On that person's shoulders"
La folla anonima
The anonymous crowd
che rende anonimi
That makes us anonymous
quasi invisibili
Almost invisible
così cosà
So it goes
Ripropongo la giacca nuova
I wear the new jacket again
e per la strada nessuno fa:
And on the street, nobody says:
"Guarda, guarda che giacca nuova
"Look, look at that new jacket
sembra la fodera di un sofa'
It looks like the lining of a couch
Basta resistere, basta ripetere
Just resist, just repeat
fissare un codice
Adhere to a code
così si fa
That's how it's done
Ho portato la giacca nuova
I've worn the new jacket
per tanti anni e la gente fa:
For many years and people say:
"Vedi vedi che giacca nuova
"Look, look at that new jacket
forse è uno del varietà"
Maybe he's in show business"
più che carezze vuole certezze
More than caresses, it wants certainty
il mondo vuole
The world wants
chissà chissà
Who knows, who knows
Si ma io con la giacca nuova
But I, with the new jacket
non lavoro nel varietà
Don't work in show business
sono uno con la giacca nuova
I am one with the new jacket
questa è l'unica verità
That is the only truth
così si offendono
So they get offended
e si rivoltano
And they revolt
e ti sgambettano
And they trip you up
sarà sarà
Whatever will be, will be
poi dopo un attimo
Then after a moment
si ricompongono
They compose themselves
dimenticandoti
Forgetting about you
la strada va...
The road goes on...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Salvatore Merlo
"basta resistere, basta ripetere, fissare un codice, così si fa". Geniale.
matteo tassinari
La vera musica, che sa far ridere e all'improvviso ti aiuta a piangere
Fra Fra
matteo tassinari verissimo...sto ridendo tra le lacrime..Paolo Conte mi fa questo effetto, mi tira fuori tutto..
Aldo Giuliani
Fantastica! Paolo Conte è un vero genio 😍😍
Drahomira Biligova
Genio !! Paolo Conte un genio !
c.rosa martinez martinez
Bello Spiritoso!🙃
giuseppe puleo
Immenso...
Tiziana Battistutta
Dimenticandoti... È la strada va!