PFM introduced new sounds, such as the synthesizer, to the Italian musical world. They were also among the first to combine symphonic classical and traditional Italian musical influences in a rock music context. Such innovations and their longevity have made them among the most important bands in the international Progressive rock genre.
The original core members of PFM (Franco Mussida, Franz Di Cioccio, Flavio Premoli, and Giorgio Piazza) came together in the mid 1960's while playing together as backup musicians for many different Italian pop, rock and folk singers such as Lucio Battisti, Mina, Adriano Celentano and Fabrizio De AndrΓ©. They appeared on many recordings for other artists during this period and quickly established themselves as top players on the Italian rock and pop scene. Mussida, Premoli, Piazza and Di Cioccio then formed the group "I quelli" (English translation "Them", or "Those Guys") in 1968. I quelli released one album and some successful Italian singles.
Premiata Forneria Marconi was officially formed in Milan, Italy in 1970 when the members of I quelli met Mauro Pagani from the group Dalton. Pagani helped the group expand their sound to include violin and flute. By this time they were already highly experienced musicians and easily able to play the kind of complex progressive heavy rock played by the leading English and American groups. Their early live performances included covers by groups such as King Crimson and Jethro Tull. Other early influences included Chicago, Ekseption, and The Flock.
They had a long name, as Italian progressive bands tended to have back then, and so were usually referred to as "La Premiata", and later "PFM". After rejecting Isotta-Fraschini (an Italian car maker) the group finally settled on Pagani's suggestion, "Forneria Marconi" (meaning "Marconi Bakery"), borrowed from the sign of a shop in the small town of Chiari, near Brescia. However, record producer and friend Alessandro Colombini suggested the name was not strong enough, so the title "Premiata" (award-winning) was added. Some objected that "Premiata Forneria Marconi" was too long a name, but the group's philosophy stated that the more difficult to remember a band's name, the more difficult to forget it.
The most recent line-up of PFM follows:
- Franco Mussida: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12 string guitar, mandolin, vocals (1970βpresent)
- Franz Di Cioccio: drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals (1970βpresent)
- Patrick Djivas: bass, programming (1974βpresent)
- Lucio Fabbri: violin, keyboards (1979β1987, 2000βpresent )
- Gianluca Tagliavini: piano, Hammond, Minimoog, other keyboards (2005βpresent)
- Piero Monterisi: additional drums (2006βpresent)
Former members of PFM follows:
- Flavio Premoli: piano, keyboards, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, lead vocals (1970β1980, 1997β2005)
- Giorgio Piazza: bass (1970β1974)
- Mauro Pagani: flute, piccolo, violin, vocals (1970β1976)
- Bernardo Lanzetti: lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1975β1977)
- Gregory Bloch: violin (1976β1977)
- Walter Calloni: additional drums (1982β1987)
- Roberto Gualdi: additional drums (1997β2005)
Out of the Roundabout
Premiata Forneria Marconi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
got a skin of sun
i'm breathing ceeophane
got a fadin' tan
to offer to the rain
who's the refere
when winter plays the ball?
runnin out of time
out of the roundabout
out of the roundabout
got a cotton hat
to wear all year round
got a time disease
that keeps me upsidedown
and the willow trees
are spittin' out some green
i would give a look
but springtime looks a scream
out of the roundabout
out of the roundabout
now all the seasons run together
and the middle days are gone
without our weather repetitions
i can't shake my dice
can't skip a line no no no no no ...
2.
had my bicycle risin'
fast wheelin' and climbin'
the equinox hurdles
over gates of heat
even numbers to bring out
and courses to follow
in search of the days
before i missed their beat
I ran into a black cat
good taste for all timing
his ivory shaker
couldn't pour out rain
I've been truckin' and trackin'
still missin' the rhythm
of changes that used to
make me feel all right ...
I met birds on a cable
a dark feathered station
time flown for migration
but they wouldn't fly
askin' cherries and peaches
to work on their accents
a natural compass
but they fooled me good
I've been joggin' and jugglin'
still missin' the rhythm
of changes that used to
make me feel all right ...
Premiata Forneria Marconi's song Out of the Roundabout speaks of how the seasons have begun to blend together, and time seems to be running out. The singer has a skin of sun and is breathing cellophane. They are running out of time to celebrate the fall and offer a fading tan to the rain. The singer is out of the roundabout and has a cotton hat to wear all year round. They suffer from a time disease that keeps them upside down and can't shake their dice or skip a line. The willow trees are spitting out some green, and springtime looks like a scream.
The singer is searching for the days that came before they missed their beat. They ran into a black cat who had good taste for all timing, but his ivory shaker couldn't pour out rain. They've been trucking and tracking but are still missing the rhythm of changes that used to make them feel all right. The singer met birds on a cable, a dark feathered station whose time had flown for migration, but they wouldn't fly. They asked cherries and peaches to work on their accents, a natural compass, but they fooled them good.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a statement on the effects of climate change. The seasons are blending together, and the singer is suffering from a time disease, which could represent how people are affected by the changing climate. The willow trees spitting out some green could also represent the effects of climate change on nature. The singer is searching for days before they missed their beat, which could represent a better time before the effects of climate change became more apparent. The song has be played many times on the radio and is loved by many people. Its meaningful lyrics continue to resonate with people today.
Line by Line Meaning
got a skin of sun
I have tanned skin from being outside in the sun a lot
i'm breathing ceeophane
I feel like I'm suffocating and trapped
got a fadin' tan
My tan is starting to fade
to offer to the rain
I have nothing left to give
who's the referee when winter plays the ball?
Who can we turn to for guidance when things get tough?
runnin out of time to celebrate the fall
I'm running out of time to enjoy the good things in life
out of the roundabout
I feel lost and directionless
got a cotton hat to wear all year round
I have a comfortable hat that I wear all the time
got a time disease that keeps me upsidedown
I struggle to keep up with the passing of time
and the willow trees are spittin' out some green
Spring is here and new growth is starting
i would give a look but springtime looks a scream
I can't enjoy the beauty of spring because of my own struggles
now all the seasons run together and the middle days are gone
Time seems to be passing by too quickly and without clear distinction
without our weather repetitions
Without the predictability of the weather, I feel lost
i can't shake my dice
I can't control the outcome of my life
can't skip a line no no no no no ...
I can't avoid the challenges and hardships I face
had my bicycle risin'
I used to feel free and unstoppable when biking
fast wheelin' and climbin'
I used to be agile and motivated
the equinox hurdles over gates of heat
I faced obstacles but overcame them with my energy and drive
even numbers to bring out and courses to follow
My life used to be methodical and organized
in search of the days before i missed their beat
I long for the simplicity and predictability of the past
i ran into a black cat good taste for all timing
I had a chance encounter with bad luck
his ivory shaker couldn't pour out rain
I can't shake off the bad luck or turn it into something positive
i've been truckin' and trackin' still missin' the rhythm
I've been trying to continue with my life but I feel out of sync
of changes that used to make me feel all right ...
I miss the comfort and stability of the past
i met birds on a cable a dark feathered station
I had another unexpected encounter with the natural world
time flown for migration but they wouldn't fly
I can't understand why things that should be happening aren't
askin' cherries and peaches to work on their accents
I'm grasping at straws and asking for things that aren't possible
a natural compass but they fooled me good
I thought I had a way to navigate my life but it let me down
i've been joggin' and jugglin' still missin' the rhythm
I'm trying to keep moving forward but I still feel lost
of changes that used to make me feel all right ...
I miss the way my life used to be and how it made me feel
Contributed by Alexander W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@apsarafloripa
QUE PRAZER OUVIR MUSICOS COM TANTA CATEGORIA , ESTILO E CRIAΓΓO. PARABΓNS ππππ.
@apsarafloripa
Very High level of musitions ! So beautiful!!! β€β€β€β€
@giuseppecampo3195
Grande PFM: sono cresciuto con la vostra musicaπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺππππππππππ
@lupat5630
Probabilmente il pezzo migliore della Forneria, capolavoro.
@yurigalanti8108
ragazzi io la pfm la adoroda sempre tutte le volte che ascolto brani della pfm mi vengono in mente i vigili del fuoco
@yurigalanti8108
tutti i brani della pfm glieli dedico a loro a tutte le forze dell ordine e a tutte le associazzioni di volontariato
@carlosarroyo1802
MAESTROS TODOS!!!!! Por siempre GRACIAS.....
@MartinBellemare
Wow! Bravissimo! Belle prestation. Mon groupe prΓ©fΓ©rΓ©! Mille grazie!
@stefano15061
...mi hanno accompagnato in tanti viaggi in auto da Rimini a Prato negli anni 90...la notte tra Bologna e la Toscana...che sogno..
@zeelias_zezito65
Grazie mille per questa meravigliosa presentazione. Auguri direttamente di Brasile.