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”
Lazzarella
Renato Carosone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E a camicetta a fiore blu
Vuo' fa a signurinella
'Nnanze a scola pure tu
Te piglie 'a sigaretta
Quann'accatte pe papà
Te miette gia' o russetto
Comme vire fa a mammà
Lazzare'
Ma lazzarella comme si'
A 'me me piace sempe 'e cchiu'
E vengo apposta pe' t'o ddi'
Vicino a scola r'o Gesu'
Tu invece me rispunne "e ggià
Io deve proprio retta a 'tte
Pe 'mme l'amore po' apsettà
Che nn'aggia fa' nun fa pe 'mme"
Ah, lazzarella, ventata e primmavera
Quanno passe tutt'e mmatine
Gia' te spiecchie rint'e 'vvetrine
Solo nu cumplimento te fa' avvampa'
Ma lazzarella comme si'
Tu nun me pienze proprio a 'mme
E rire pe m'offa' capi
Ca perdo o tiempo appresso a'tte
E lazzarella comme si'
Ce si' caduta pure tu
L'ammore nun te fa mangia'
Te fa suffri', te fa' pensa'
'Na sera tu 'lle rice no
'Na sera tu 'lle rice ma
Ma si nu vaso te vo' da
Fai segno 'e si senza parla'
Ah, lazzarella, o tiempo comme vola
Mo te truove tutte 'e matine
Chine 'e llacrime 'stu cuscine
Manco 'na cumpagnella te po' aiuta'
E chianu chian mo accussì
Te si cagnata pure tu
E te prepari a di' stu sì
Ma rint'a chiesa ro Gesù
Lazzarella, lazzarè
The lyrics of Renato Carosone's song Lazzarella can be interpreted as a playful depiction of young love, with the singer attempting to woo a girl named Lazzarella. From the first verse, we see that Lazzarella has a sense of independence, with books under her arm and a blue floral blouse. The singer seems to be infatuated with her and wants to impress her by smoking a cigarette he bought for his father and wearing red lipstick like his mother. He compliments Lazzarella, but she is not interested in him, responding with a curt dismissal. The second verse sees the singer continuing to pursue Lazzarella, noting her beauty and how easily she catches the attention of others. However, she still rebuffs his advances and seems to prioritize her own independence over his affections.
The third verse sees a shift in the singer's perspective, as he empathizes with Lazzarella's struggles with love and heartache. She may have even cried herself to sleep at night. Despite her resistance, the singer still longs for Lazzarella and seeks to win her over. The final lines see him preparing to make a commitment to her, even going as far as contemplating marriage in front of the church of Gesù. Overall, the song paints a lighthearted but bittersweet picture of young love and infatuation.
Line by Line Meaning
Ch'e libbre sotto o braccio
You carry books under your arm
E a camicetta a fiore blu
Your blouse has blue flowers
Vuo' fa a signurinella
You want to act like a lady
'Nnanze a scola pure tu
Even in front of school
Te piglie 'a sigaretta
You light up a cigarette
Quann'accatte pe papà
When you buy them for your dad
Te miette gia' o russetto
You already apply some lipstick
Comme vire fa a mammà
Just like your mother did
Lazzare'
Lazzarelle
Ma lazzarella comme si'
But you're like a little lazzarella
A 'me me piace sempe 'e cchiu'
I like you more and more
E vengo apposta pe' t'o ddi'
And I come just to tell you
Vicino a scola r'o Gesu'
Near the school of Jesus
Tu invece me rispunne "e ggià
You answer me "yes, I know"
Io deve proprio retta a 'tte
I really have to listen to you
Pe 'mme l'amore po' apsettà
For me, love can wait
Che nn'aggia fa' nun fa pe 'mme"
What I don't have yet doesn't matter to me
Ah, lazzarella, ventata e primmavera
Ah, little lazzarella, a breath of spring
Quanno passe tutt'e mmatine
When all the mornings pass by
Gia' te spiecchie rint'e 'vvetrine
You already look at yourself in the windows
Solo nu cumplimento te fa' avvampa'
Just a compliment makes you blush
Ma lazzarella comme si'
But you're like a little lazzarella
Tu nun me pienze proprio a 'mme
You don't really think about me
E rire pe m'offa' capi
And you laugh to mock me
Ca perdo o tiempo appresso a'tte
Because I waste my time chasing you
Ce si' caduta pure tu
You have also fallen
L'ammore nun te fa mangia'
Love doesn't make you eat
Te fa suffri', te fa' pensa'
It makes you suffer, it makes you think
'Na sera tu 'lle rice no
One evening, you didn't answer
'Na sera tu 'lle rice ma
But one evening, you did answer
Ma si nu vaso te vo' da
But if I offer you a glass
Fai segno 'e si senza parla'
You nod without saying anything
Ah, lazzarella, o tiempo comme vola
Ah, little lazzarella, time flies
Mo te truove tutte 'e matine
Now you can be found every morning
Chine 'e llacrime 'stu cuscine
With tears on this pillow
Manco 'na cumpagnella te po' aiuta'
Not even a friend can help you
E chianu chian mo accussì
And slowly, it happens to me too
Te si cagnata pure tu
You have also fallen
E te prepari a di' stu sì
And you get ready to say "yes"
Ma rint'a chiesa ro Gesù
But in front of the church of Jesus
Lazzarella, lazzarè
Lazzarelle, Lazzarè
Writer(s): Domenico Modugno, Riccardo Pazzaglia
Contributed by Eli S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.