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”
Torero
Renato Carosone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met him on a bus in Barcelona
We kinda got to talkin'
But he did all the talkin'
I asked him what he did in Barcelona
In sunny Barcelona
And this is what he said
You are fortunate my friend
Of this there is no doubt
For everywhere I go the people shout
Hey torero make way for Don Jose the great torero
In Spain I am a famous Caballero
I fight the bravest bull in all the land
With the flip of the hip of the music of the band
I cha cha, the bull is so confused because I cha cha
I never kill him, only if he gets in my way
Torero, torero play
He bragged about the many senoritas
Who showered him with flowers
With big bouquets of flowers
He told me that in Holly wood
They want him to be like Marlon Brando
The great big movie star
But as he left the bus he met two men in white
He shouted as they took him out of sight
Hey torero
The song "Torero" by Renato Carosone tells the story of a man named Don Jose, who is a famous torero or bullfighter in Spain. The lyrics describe how Don Jose travels from place to place, and wherever he goes, people recognize and greet him as the great torero. He boasts about his skills in fighting the bravest bulls in the land, and how he confuses them with his cha cha moves. He also speaks of the many senoritas who admire him and shower him with flowers. However, the song ends on a somber note as Don Jose is taken away by two men in white, and he shouts out "Hey torero" one last time.
The lyrics of "Torero" convey the pride and arrogance of the torero culture, as well as the tragic end that often accompanies it. Don Jose's boasting about his skills and popularity are contrasted with the ominous reference to the two men in white, who are likely the bullfighting officials responsible for checking the toreros for injuries after a fight. The line "I never kill him, only if he gets in my way" also hints at the violence and bloodshed that is inherent in bullfighting, as the toreros seek to display their dominance over the animal.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Chico, one more time
The singer is addressing someone familiarly as Chico, and asking for something to be repeated again.
I met him on a bus in Barcelona
The singer is sharing how he encountered someone while traveling on a bus in the city of Barcelona.
We kinda got to talkin'
The singer is expressing that he and the person he met on the bus started to have a conversation.
But he did all the talkin'
The artist is indicating that the other person did most of the talking during their conversation.
I asked him what he did in Barcelona
The artist is saying that he inquired about the other person's activities or occupation in Barcelona.
In sunny Barcelona
The singer is describing Barcelona as a sunny place.
And this is what he said
The singer implies that he will now relay what the other person told him about his life and work in Barcelona.
You are fortunate my friend
The other person is saying that the artist is lucky or fortunate to have met him.
Of this there is no doubt
The other person is emphasizing that there is no question about the artist's good fortune in meeting him.
For everywhere I go the people shout
The other person claims that he is well-known and celebrated everywhere he travels to.
Hey torero make way for Don Jose the great torero
The other person is saying that people hail him as an esteemed torero named Don Jose.
In Spain I am a famous Caballero
The other person is asserting that he is a celebrated gentleman in Spain, a country where toreros are prominent.
I fight the bravest bull in all the land
The other person is boasting that he battles the most courageous bull in the region.
With the flip of the hip of the music of the band
The other person is suggesting that he moves his waist to the rhythm of the musical ensemble while facing the bull.
I cha cha, the bull is so confused because I cha cha
The other person is claiming that he dances the cha cha, which confuses or disorients the bull.
I never kill him, only if he gets in my way
The other person is saying that he doesn't slay the bull unless it poses a threat to him.
Torero, torero play
The other person seems to be repeating or paraphrasing a chant or command directed at him while performing as a torero.
He bragged about the many senoritas
The singer is relating that the other person boasted about having many ladies, referred to as senoritas, in his life.
Who showered him with flowers
The other person is saying that these women would give him flowers as a sign of their affection.
With big bouquets of flowers
The other person describes how these women would offer large arrangements of flowers to him.
He told me that in Hollywood
The artist relates how the other person said he had been approached to work in Hollywood.
They want him to be like Marlon Brando
The other person claims that the people in Hollywood wish to mold him into another Marlon Brando-like actor.
The great big movie star
The other person describes Marlon Brando as a great and notable movie star.
But as he left the bus he met two men in white
The artist states that as the other person was departing from the bus, he encountered two individuals dressed in white.
He shouted as they took him out of sight
The singer tells how the other person yelled out as the two individuals took him away from view.
Hey torero
The other person is once again being addressed as the torero, perhaps as a farewell or parting phrase.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICOLA SALERNO, RENATO CAROSONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind