Peppino began singing and playing the piano at age 4, entertaining the American army troops stationed on the island of Capri with a repertoire of American standards. After 6 years of classical studies and playing at nightclubs around Capri, Peppino and his group The Rockers released their first single, with the songs Malatia (Illness) and Nun è Peccato (It's not a sin), sung in Napoletano in 1958. The single was an instant hit, and Peppino spent most of the following year touring. A string of hit singles soon followed, usually alternating between Italian versions of American rock'n'roll and twist songs (with some verses sung in English), and originals in Italian and Napoletano, and Peppino became one of the top acts in the country.
After performing as the opening act for The Beatles in their 1965 tour of Italy, Peppino and his group attempted, with moderate success, to break out of the Italian market. Their work was very well-received particularly in Brazil, thanks to the large Italian immigrant community in the country.
The 70s saw Peppino veer toward a more adult contemporary style of music, with a new band, the New Rockers. He won the prestigious Festival della canzone italiana (Festival of the Italian song) in 1973, with the song Un grande amore e niente più (A great love and nothing more). The same year, he released the song that would accompany him through the rest of his career: Champagne was a big hit in Italy, Germany, Spain and Brazil. He won the Festival della canzone italiana again in 1976, with the song Non lo faccio più (I won't do it anymore). In 1991, he represented Italy at the Eurovision song contest, coming in 7th place with the song Comme È Ddoce 'O Mare (How sweet is the sea), sung in Napoletano.
As of 2006, Peppino di Capri is the performer with the most appearances at the Festival della canzone italiana, his last appearance being in 2005, singing La Panchina (The little park bench).
Eurovision Song Contest 1991 - Rome
Entry for Italy
Performer: Peppino di Capri
Song title: Comme E' Ddoce 'o Mare
Song writer(s): Giampiero Artegiani
Song composer(s): Marcello Marocchi
Sang in Position: 22
Final Position: 7
Total Points: 89
The 1991 Eurovision Song Contest was supposed to be held in the seaside resort San Remo which is known for its annual festival of Italian music, but host broadcaster RAI moved it to Rome at a very late stage. The moving of the show meant that RAI was not completely ready for the show and on the day of the contest, there were still works on the set to be done.
For the second time since the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, the Netherlands decided to withdraw from the contest due to the country's Rememberance Day. Malta took the open spot which meant that the country was back for the first time since 1975. The winner of the previous year and the co-host of this year, Toto Cutugno, had big difficulties with the pronunciation of the song titles and names of the artists and conductors. The other host was Gigliola Cinquetti, Italy's first Eurovision winner from 1964.
The postcards to present the different national singers were very special this year: the singers were asked to sing a known Italian song which would then be used as a short clip for the postcard. Yugoslavia's entry Brazil by Baby Doll only managed to get one single point from Malta but the extravagant performance created a cult following among Eurovision Song Contest fans.
At the end of the voting procedure, both Sweden and France had 146 points each. Because of that the the newly-created rule of 1989 was put in effect giving the victory to Swedish entrant Carola who got more '10 points votes' than France. Both Sweden and France had an equal amount of '12 point votes.' Carola had already participated in 1983 with the song Främling which ended up 3rd in Munich. She had already tried to enter the 1990 contest in Zagreb but lost out in the Swedish national heats. In 2006 though, she would re-appear on the Eurovision stage in Athens, performing Invincible which came 5th.
Lucia
Peppino Di Capri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'stu nomme e' 'na speranza ca fa male
e' 'na ferita doce ca fa bbene
fa bene e fa male
lucia. luci'
mente tu duorme e astrigne 'nata mano
io sto 'nfunnenno 'e lacreme 'o cuscino
pe tte, ...lucia
si dint'e suonne tuoje
me 'ncuntre ancora,
chi sa
si dint'a 'stuocchie nire
tremma 'na lacrema
pensanno a me.
...solo...
lucia, luci'
mente tu duorme
'na campana sona
'stu core sta murenno chiano chiano
pe tte, lucia
pe tte lucia...
The song "Lucia" by Peppino Di Capri is a passionate and emotional tribute to a woman named Lucia. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and contrasting emotions, highlighting the complex nature of love and longing.
The song begins with the repeated phrase "Lucia, luci'" which means "Lucia, shine" in English. The singer describes Lucia as both a source of hope and a sweet wound that brings both pleasure and pain. The line "mentre tu duorme e astrigne 'nata mano" (while you sleep and tighten a hand) suggests that the singer is watching Lucia sleep and holding her hand, implying a deep sense of intimacy and closeness between them.
As the song continues, the singer becomes more emotional, describing how he weeps into his pillow while thinking of Lucia. He wonders if she is thinking of him too, and imagines that he can feel her presence in the world around him. The final lines of the song describe the singer's heart slowly dying as he longs for Lucia's love and companionship.
Overall, "Lucia" is a powerful and evocative song about the intense emotions of love and longing, and the deep connection that can exist between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
lucia. luci'
Lucia, your light shines bright
'stu nomme e' 'na speranza ca fa male
This name is a hope that hurts
e' 'na ferita doce ca fa bbene
It's a sweet wound that feels good
fa bene e fa male
It does both good and bad
mente tu duorme e astrigne 'nata mano
While you sleep, you hold one hand tight
io sto 'nfunnenno 'e lacreme 'o cuscino
I'm drowning my pillow in tears
pe tte, ...lucia
For you, Lucia
chisa'...si 'o 'ssaie ca me faje male
Maybe you know that it hurts me
si dint'e suonne tuoje
If in your dreams
me 'ncuntre ancora,
You meet me again
chi sa
Who knows
si dint'a 'stuocchie nire
If in those black eyes
tremma 'na lacrema
A tear trembles
pensanno a me.
Thinking of me
...solo...
...alone...
lucia, luci'
Lucia, your light shines bright
mente tu duorme
While you sleep
'na campana sona
A bell rings
'stu core sta murenno chiano chiano
This heart is dying slowly
pe tte, lucia
For you, Lucia
pe tte lucia...
For you, Lucia...
Contributed by Nolan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brunoperna2034
Bellissima.... grande Peppino
@ritadagostino328
La cantavano un complesso di amici I TOPS IO AVEVO 14 anni ,che bei tempi!
@emiliamigliaccio3068
Ah quei balli in casa,...quanti bei ricordi!
@giuseppelandolfi391
Peppino con questi brani mi fa tornare indietro di 50 anni
@mammamiapontefract5631
Bellissima. Canzona
@adolfogravagnuolo2570
Questa canzone ebbe un gran bel successo ed è stata dimenticata era il 1961, si ballava nelle feste in casa.
@MrFranco36
era estate ed io avevo Lucia e gli dedicavo questa bellissima canzone, e comprai il 45 giri che bei tempi con queste canzoni che ci facevano da partner.. Franco da Salerno
@MrGiulia51
grazie!!! l'ho cercata tanto questa canzone . . .
@roda6741
quanti ricordi... giovanili..
@ElGauchoRojo
Finalmente provo a suonarla e cantarla. Che piacevoli accordi. Penso alle spiagge del 1968 che mi racconta mio padre. Sincerità, pazienza, lentezza, ingenuità.. Valvole, potenziometri, al massimo un pò di bachelite. ------------------- Finally I try to play it and sing it. What a pleasant arrangement. I think of the beaches of 1968 that my father tells me. Sincerity, patience, slowness, ingenuity .. Valves, potentiometers, at most a bit of Bakelite. ------------------------------- Finalmente trato de jugarlo y cantarlo. Qué arreglo tan agradable. Pienso en las playas de 1968 que mi padre me dice. Sinceridad, paciencia, lentitud, ingenio ... Válvulas, potenciómetros, como máximo un poco de baquelita.