A fantastic and passionate Naples characterized his youth. A Naples full of laughs and poetry ruled by irony and comedy, where everything is between the dream world and reality.
Upon visiting Italy, Goethe once said “Naples is a place where everyone lives in an exhilarating oblivion.
Carosone doesn’t hesitate to show his genuine passion for music and in particular his love for the piano. With several sacrifices, his parents indulge him in his passion and they have him study with real “maestri” such as Vincenzo Romaniello, Celeste Capuana and Alberto Curci. When his mother dies prematurely, Renato (the eldest of 3) helps his father run the household, by doing all kinds of odd jobs.
He forms the first Carosone “trio” with his brother and sister. His relatives, neighbors and peers are very enthusiastic.
As the years go by Renato who at this time is a seventeen-year-old, goes to Africa with an artistic Company of performers as a pianist and an orchestra director.
When the African tour concludes its stay, they all return to Italy, all except Carosone who remains in Africa with the Addis Abeba orchestra.
In 1937, Carosone has several musical experiences. These experiences show him new ways of making music.
During the Second World War, Carosone is drafted and sent on the British – Somalia front. The following year, Carosone takes his place behind the piano, with Jazz, but this time in an English club.
He will later direct small and big orchestras for nightclubs, variety shows, operettas and real orchestra concerts.
In 1946 at the age of 26, Carosone returns to Italy from Somalia on one of the first ships. His success in the ex-colony doesn’t help him much, since he is completely unknown in Italy.
He has to start from scratch. The magical moment happened after several record contracts and small ballroom orchestras. In 1949, he was personally asked to form a “trio” in order to inaugurate a new nightclub in Naples. He befriends a Dutch man by the name of Van Wood and takes him on as a guitar player and singer at three in the morning.
All that was missing was the third man, the meeting takes place with the owner of the nightclub who asked Renato to form the trio.
The bespectacled Gegè di Giacomo shows up at 4:30 sharp at the Hotel Miramare in Naples where Carosone is rehearsing with Van Wood. This first meeting turns out to be somewhat comical: the drummer has no drums, since he brought them to be chromed. Carosone and Van Wood are annoyed by this and they begin doubting Gegè who then creates makeshift drums made out of: a wooden chair, a tray, three different size glasses and a whistle.
This marks the first rehearsal of the Carosone trio, which becomes famous all over the world in a very short time.
A very famous song by Carosone says: “Napoli paese d’ò sole, paese d’ò mare, paese addo’ tutt’è so’ddoce e so’ amare, so’ sempre parole d’ammore”, and it is due to this spirit that the “Trio Carosone” manage to have success wherever they appear, thanks also to their personality of each member.
When Van Wood leaves the group and finds fortune, Renato becomes unstoppable.
He forms other groups with Gegè (always by his side) and they make their first appearances in the business. “Maruzzella” paved the street for the new composer with excellent lyrics by Enzo Bonagura.
His rapid ascent began after the LP featured: Maruzzella, Torero, O Sarracino, Pianofortissimo, T’aspetto e nove, Pigliate n’a pastiglia, Caravan Petrol, O russo e a rossa, Tu vò fa l’americano, O mafiuso.
His lyrics are by a giant of light Italian music Nisa (Nicola Salerno).
“Torero” remained in the charts at number one for 14 weeks in the North American Hit Parade. It was translated in 12 languages. This enormous success opened the doors for Carosone and helped him conquer the North American market and Paris, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Munich, Frankfurt, Hanover, Berlin, Nuremberg, Dusseldorf, Zurich, Lossana, Nice, Monte Carlo, Athens, Lisbon, Behiruth, Palma de Majorca, Rio de Janeiro, San Paolo. The group then receives the most ambitious award of all and that is to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York.
The American tour begins in Cuba and then moves to Caracas and finally on January 5, 1957 the Carnegie Hall debut.
The show is an absolute success, they are no longer the “immigrants” from Naples. The group of six is dressed up and wearing Pucci ties and above all they have their wonderful smiles.
His songs begin to appear in films with Anna Magnani who sings “Maruzzella” “Nella città l’inferno”. Sofia Loren sings “Tu vò fa l’americano” with Clark Gable in “La baia di Napoli”. As well as in films with Totò and in “Main Street” by Martin Scorzese, where the soundtrack was entirely by Carosone.
In 1960 at the age of 40, Renato Carosone feels that something is changing, he starts seeing screaming girls and the Beatles and he decides to retire and take leave of the spotlight with one last television show organized for the occasion.
The announcer was Emma Danieli. Carosone told the public: “I’d rather leave while I’m on top of the wave, rather than later. These new armies in blue jeans can ruin the treasure that has been accumulated in so many years of work.”
Carosone was right even then. He stepped aside. And he wasn’t the only one. The piano his faithful and inseparable companion, for his openly reasons for living. Bach, Clementi, Chopin, Beethoven were the only light which illuminated the moment of isolation. “This was a very important moment”, says Carosone “in the past 15 years I was able to take a good look at my life as a man and musician and to put every thing in its right place, as well as to take complete possession of my piano”.
At the end of the fifteenth year a telephone call broke the silence. Sergio Bernardini who was very persuasive organized a live television show from the “Bussola” of Foretti.
The date was August 9, 1975. The reaction from the press was unanimous. An absolute success! Carosone was wearing his same Pucci tie and his smile from fifteen years before, the same songs, the same bands, the same modesty in front of his public and piano.
The only one thing that was different: the knowledge of the public, the knowledge of having found a friend if only for one night. Renato Carosone says, “I’m positive of the fact that every artist should remain faithful to only one cause until the very end, without being tempted by trends, which unfortunately are quite popular nowadays”.
Renato always remembered what Eduardo de Filippo once told him “You must do as I do! You must continue as you are, always perfecting what the public wants, and appreciates.”
After his 1975 comeback at Viareggio’s “Bussola”, Renato is tempted to return; “That same temptation one has after giving up smoking” says he “and who again tries the pleasure of smoking a cigarette.”
Song is not only art and poetry, it is also an industry and Renato doesn’t want to feel smothered or better yet conditioned by the needs and financial interests of those around him.
Therefore he resists temptation and becomes a discreet presence. Another seven years go by before entering a recording studio: this comes about through the very close co-operation he has with Sandrino Aquilani. So after 22 years of silence the “Renato Carosone ‘82” LP finally comes out. It is picked up everywhere with great enthusiasm and Renato returns in the studio with his dear friend Aquilani and finishes recording all his greatest hits, by using modern recording instruments, which by then have moved on a great deal.
“I had a great desire to perfect my repertoire, which was really run down.” This incarnates a career which sees him as a great protagonist.
Renato! What is this: music or joy of life? “Both”
'O Suspiro
Renato Carosone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Si mammeta t'ha fatto c' abbundanza
sti suttanelle strette
tu che te mmiette a fa?
Sarà l'effetto della tua presenza
ca, doce doce, me fa suspirà!
Ritornello:
me fai venì na mossa!
Oi vocca rossa
che sfizio a te vasà!
Tu nunn' o ssaie
ma chisto core mio
suspira e fa: Aaaah!.
Sei una bontà!
Pe' st'uocchie nire
mpazzisce o gelatiere,
o raggiuniere
nu' riesce a raggiunà.
O canteniere,
sciacquanno nu' bicchiere,
suspira e fa: Aaaah!.
Sei una bontà!
Nun' o vide c' o barbiere
nu' nzapone, guarda a te?
Mentre o cliente a coppa a seggia
zompa e dice: Ma chi è?.
Tu quanno passe
me fai venì na mossa!
Oi vocca rossa
ceh sfizio a te vasà!
Si' na pupata
e tutto o vicinato
suspira e fa: Aaaah!.
Sei una bontà!
The lyrics of Renato Carosone's song 'O suspiro talk about a woman who, due to her appearance and presence, makes all the men around her sigh and lose their minds. The first stanza talks about how the woman's mother has endowed her with abundance, which is causing the men around her to become restless and anxious. The lyrics ask what the woman is doing to these men who are struggling to cope with her beauty and presence. The second part of the first stanza acknowledges the effect of the woman's presence, which makes the singer sigh with delight.
The chorus of the song expresses how the woman's mere passing by can make men lose control of themselves. The lyrics talk about the woman's beautiful red lips and how they entice men to kiss her. The singer claims that the woman is unaware of the power she holds over men, but her mere presence makes them sigh with longing. The chorus also mentions how everyone in the surrounding vicinity can't help but sigh with desire towards the woman.
Overall, the song talks about the intense effect the beautiful woman has on everyone around her, causing them to unravel and sigh with longing. It is a light-hearted and playful song that celebrates the attraction and passion of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Si mammeta t'ha fatto c' abbundanza sti suttanelle strette tu che te mmiette a fa?
If your mother made you wear tight undershirts due to her abundance and you feel uncomfortable, what are you going to do?
Sarà l'effetto della tua presenza ca, doce doce, me fa suspirà!
It must be the effect of your presence that makes me sigh so sweetly!
Tu quanno passe me fai venì na mossa!
Whenever you walk by, you make me feel a certain way!
Oi vocca rossa che sfizio a te vasà!
Oh, your red lips, how irresistible they are!
Tu nunn' o ssaie ma chisto core mio suspira e fa: Aaaah!.
You don't know it, but my heart sighs and says 'Aaaah!' when you're around.
Sei una bontà!
You're a delight!
Pe' st'uocchie nire mpazzisce o gelatiere, o raggiuniere nu' riesce a raggiunà.
When he sees your dark eyes, the ice cream vendor goes crazy, and the postman can't reach his destination.
O canteniere, sciacquanno nu' bicchiere, suspira e fa: Aaaah!.
Even the bartender, while rinsing a glass, sighs and says 'Aaaah!' because of you.
Nun' o vide c' o barbiere nu' nzapone, guarda a te? Mentre o cliente a coppa a seggia zompa e dice: Ma chi è?.
Doesn't even the barber forget to put shaving cream on his client's face while watching you? The customer jumps up and asks 'Who is she?'
Si' na pupata e tutto o vicinato suspira e fa: Aaaah!.
You're a treat and the whole neighborhood sighs and says 'Aaaah!' because of you.
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Grumbol
Ssshh, Canta Napoli, Napoli a sospiro eh eh...
Si mammeta t'ha fatto cu abbundanza
Sti suttanelle strette
Tu che te mmiette a fa'?
Sarà l'effetto della tua presenza
Ca, doce doce, me fa suspirà!
Tu quanno passe
Me fai venì na mossa!
Oi vocca rossa
Che sfizio a te vasà!
Tu nunn' o ssaie
Ma chisto core mio
Suspira e fa: Aaaah!.
Sei una bontà!
Pe' st'uocchie nire
Mpazzisce o gelatiere,
O raggiuniere
Nu' riesce a raggiunà.
O canteniere,
Sciacquanno nu' bicchiere,
Suspira e fa: Aaaah!
Sei una bontà!
Nun' o vide c' o barbiere
Nu' nzapone, guarda a te?
Mentre o cliente a coppa a seggia
Zompa e dice: Ma chi è?
Tu quanno passe
Me fai venì na mossa!
Oi vocca rossa
Che sfizio a te vasà!
Si' na pupata
E tutto 'o vicinato
Suspira e fa: Aaaah!
Sei una bontà!
Antonietta Ausiello
3 Gennaio 1920 nascevi tu, ma non sapevi che per molti saresti rimasto un pilastro della nostra musica. Auguri grandissimo maestro ovunque tu sia♥️♥️♥️
Tiziano Neola
Intramontabile!!!! 🎹🎼🔝 Made in Naples 🇮🇹
vito gigliano
grande artista...grande persona umile...ma e un genio hacportato la musica napoletana in tutto il mondo grande pianista....ciao maestro
malborino
sono cresciuto consumando un vecchio LP dei miei genitori.... sono le note della mia infanzia!!
Antonietta Ausiello
Adoro tutte le sue canzoni!
Maria Rosa
L
Ermanno Tara
E stato il più grande di tutti i tempi
Anna Laudiero
Mitico
Marcelo Calabró
especial para mi hijo
Markino Markino
Avevo il 78 giri e il giradischi geloso a palla che litigate ha fatto mio padre con i vicini di casa - ciao a chi l'ascolta oggi 11.10.2018 -