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”
Io Mammeta E Tu
Renato Carosone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dal primo appuntamento,
'e nun purta' nisciuno appriesso a te...
Invece mo nu frato,
Na sora, na nepote...
Sola nun staje na vota
Ascimmo sempre a tre!
E mi hai promesso
Vengo io soltanto...
Soltanto con mamma'!"
Io, mammeta e tu...
Passiammo pe' Tuledo,
Nuje annanze e mammeta arreto...
Io mammeta e tu...
Sempre appriesso,
Cose 'e pazze
Chesta vene pure 'o viaggio 'e nozze...
Jamm'o cinema, o abballa'...
Si cercammo 'e ce 'a squaglia',
Comm'a nu carabbiniere
Chella vene a ce afferra'... Ah... Ah...
Ma, 'nnammurato,
So' rassignato
Non reagisco più...
Io, mammeta e tu!...
Io, mammeta e tu!...
Ma San Gennaro m'aveva fatto 'a grazia
Ll'ata matina
Nun ll'ha fatta aiza'
Teneva ll'uocchie 'e freve,
Pareva ca schiattava,
Io quase mme credevo
D'asci' sulo cu te...
Nu filo 'e voce,
Pero', truvaje mamma'
"Da 'a piccerella
Ve faccio accumpagna'..."
Io, soreta e tu...
Jamm'o bar 'o Chiatamone
"Vuo' 'o cuppetto o vuo' 'o spumone?"
"Chello ca costa 'e cchiu'!"
Pe' ricordo 'e 'sta jurnata,
Dint'a villa, ce hanno fatt'a foto...
Vuo' 'o pallone, vuo' 'o babba'
Nun se fida 'e cammena'...
Guardo a essa, guardo 'o mare...
Sto' penzanno 'e ce 'a mena'... Ah... Ah...
Ma, 'nnammurato,
Só rassignato
Nun ve veco cchiu'...
Mammeta, soreta e tu...
Mammeta, soreta e tu..
Jamm'o cinema, o abballa'...
Si cercammo 'e ce 'a squaglia',
Comm'a nu carabbiniere
Chella vène a ce afferrá... Ah... Ah...
Tu mm'e 'nguajato...
Me sposo a n'ata,
Nun ve veco cchiù...
Mammeta, soreta e tu...
Pateto, frateto e tu...
Nonneta, zieta,
Pateto, frateto,
Nonneta, soreta, e tu
The song "Io mammeta e tu" by Renato Carosone talks about a man who is in love with a woman, but she comes with her mother, sister, and niece. He had asked her to come alone but instead, there is always a family member with her. Despite this, they spend time together and do crazy things, like going to the cinema and dancing. They even take a memorable photo together. The man is resigned to being in love with the woman, but nothing will come of it since she has made it clear that her family is important to her.
The lyrics reveal a kind of frustration in the man's voice as he wishes to spend more alone time with his love interest but is always accompanied by her family members. At the same time, he acknowledges that her family is important to her, and he is willing to go along with it. The song showcases the importance of family in Italian culture and how it can affect romantic relationships. The chorus "io mammeta e tu" (me, your mother, and you) highlights this theme.
Overall, the song has a lively and upbeat tempo that is characteristic of traditional Italian music. It also features the accordion prominently, which is a common instrument in Italian folk music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ti avevo detto,
I had told you,
Dal primo appuntamento,
From the first date,
'e nun purta' nisciuno appriesso a te...
Don't let anyone come between us...
Invece mo nu frato,
But now a brother,
Na sora, na nepote...
A sister, a niece...
Sola nun staje na vota
You're never alone,
Ascimmo sempre a tre!
We always go around as three!
E mi hai promesso
And you promised me,
"Domani chi lo sa...
"Who knows what tomorrow holds...
Vengo io soltanto...
I'll come alone...
Soltanto con mamma'!"
Only with mother!"
Io, mammeta e tu...
Me, mother, and you...
Passiammo pe' Tuledo,
We stroll through Toledo,
Nuje annanze e mammeta arreto...
We walk ahead with mother behind...
Sempre appriesso,
Always together,
Cose 'e pazze
Crazy things,
Chesta vene pure 'o viaggio 'e nozze...
This might as well be our honeymoon...
Jamm'o cinema, o abballa'...
Let's go to the movies, or dance...
Si cercammo 'e ce 'a squaglia',
We look for company,
Comm'a nu carabbiniere
Like policemen,
Chella vene a ce afferra'... Ah... Ah...
Until we find someone to grab onto... Ah... Ah...
Ma, 'nnammurato,
But in love,
So' rassignato
I'm resigned,
Non reagisco più...
I can't react anymore...
Io, mammeta e tu!...
Me, mother, and you!...
Ma San Gennaro m'aveva fatto 'a grazia
But San Gennaro had blessed me,
Ll'ata matina
The next morning,
Nun ll'ha fatta aiza'
He didn't do it for her...
Teneva ll'uocchie 'e freve,
She had feverish eyes,
Pareva ca schiattava,
It looked like she was about to die,
Io quase mme credevo
I almost believed
D'asci' sulo cu te...
That she was only after you...
Nu filo 'e voce,
A whisper,
Pero', truvaje mamma'
But mother found me,
"Da 'a piccerella
"As a little girl,
Ve faccio accumpagna'..."
I'll make her accompany you..."
Io, soreta e tu...
Me, sister, and you...
Jamm'o bar 'o Chiatamone
Let's go to the Chiatamone bar,
"Vuo' 'o cuppetto o vuo' 'o spumone?"
"Do you want a cup or a flute?"
Chello ca costa 'e cchiu'!"
"The more expensive one!"
Pe' ricordo 'e 'sta jurnata,
For the memory of this day,
Dint'a villa, ce hanno fatt'a foto...
At the villa, they took a photo of us...
Vuo' 'o pallone, vuo' 'o babba'
I want a ball, I want a lollipop,
Nun se fida 'e cammena'...
She doesn't trust her legs to walk...
Guardo a essa, guardo 'o mare...
I look at her, I look at the sea...
Sto' penzanno 'e ce 'a mena'... Ah... Ah...
I'm thinking of how to take her down... Ah... Ah...
Ma, 'nnammurato,
But in love,
Só rassignato
I'm resigned,
Nun ve veco cchiu'...
I can't see you anymore...
Mammeta, soreta e tu...
Mother, sister, and you...
Mammeta, soreta e tu..
Mother, sister, and you..
Pateto, frateto e tu...
Father, brother, and you...
Nonneta, zieta,
Grandmother, granddaughter,
Pateto, frateto,
Father, brother,
Nonneta, soreta, e tu
Grandmother, sister, and you
Contributed by Cameron K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.