Russell Watson, born in Salford, Lancashire, England, November 24, 1966 is … Read Full Bio ↴Russell Watson, born in Salford, Lancashire, England, November 24, 1966 is an English tenor who has released popular albums of operatic-style songs. In his 9 year career he has released four singles, five albums and another was planned for November 2006, delayed now until 2007 due to removal of a benign brain tumour.

His debut album entitled The Voice followed in May 2001, a mixture of operatic arias and covers of pop songs, topping the UK classical music charts and eventually reaching number five in the UK album charts. Later when released in the United States the album took the number one spot and made history as the first time a British artist has held both the US and UK classical number one. The album featured a duet with Cleo of girlgroup Cleopatra (band) on the song 'Someone like You'. Cleo also did a duet with Russell on his third album 'Reprise' on the song 'The Best That Love Can Be' Cleo.

Prior to the formation of Velvet Revolver, Russell Watson was asked by Slash (former guitarist of Guns n' Roses and currently in Velvet Revolver) whether he would be their singer, however he rejected; on grounds of continuing his solo career, at least for the time being.

Also in 2001, Watson sang the opening theme of Star Trek: Enterprise, "Where My Heart Will Take Me" (written by Diane Warren), originally sung by Rod Stewart for Patch Adams. The song was remixed to be more upbeat in 2003. Watson also sang it live at the Commonwealth games opening ceremony in England in 2002.

In late 2002, he released the single "Nothing Sacred - A Song For Kirsty" to raise money for the Francis House children's hospice in Didsbury, Manchester. Their campaign to raise £5 million was fronted by Kirsty Howard, a seven-year-old girl with a serious heart defect. The song reached number 17 in the UK singles chart. [2]

Watson won the Album of the Year at the Classical Brit Awards in both 2001[3] and 2002[4], also collecting Best-Selling Debut Album (2001) and Best-Selling Album (2002). He recently played Parson Nathaniel in the stage adaptation of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds which toured the UK in early 2006.

Perhaps Watson’s most unusual collaboration to date is with former Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder on Watson’s first album The Voice. Ryder lends his vocals to the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song "Barcelona".

Vienna
Russell Watson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jammo, jammo,
'ncoppa jammo ja'...
Jammo, jammo,
'ncoppa jammo ja'...
Funiculi - funicula,
funiculi - funicula...
'Ncoppa jammo ja',
funiculi - funicula.

Aissera, Nannine', mme nesagliette,
tu saje addo...
(Tu saje addo.)

Addo, sto core 'ngrato, cchiu dispiette
farme nun po...
(Farme nun po!)

Addo lo ffuoco coce, ma si fuje,
te lassa sta...
(Te lassa sta.)

E nun te corre appriesso e nun te struje
sulo a guarda...
(Sulo a guarda.)

Jammo, jammo, ecc.

Se n'e sagliuta, oje ne', se n' e' sagliuta,
la capa gia...

E' ghiuta po' e' tornata, po' e venuta...
sta sempe cca...

La capa vota vota attuorno, attuorno,
attuorno a te...
(Attuorno a te.)

Lo core canta sempe no taluorno:
sposammo, oje ne'...
(Sposammo, oje ne'.)

Jammo, jammo, ecc.

Translation:
Let's go, let's go
let's go up to the top...
Let's go, let's go,
let's go up to the top...
Funiculi - funicula,
funiculi - funicula...
Let's go up to the top,
funiculi - funicula.

Last night, Nanninella, I went up
you know where... (You know where.)
Where your thankless heart can do me no more harm...
(No more harm!)

Where a fire is burning, but if you run,
it leaves you alone...
(Leaves you alone.)

It doesn't chase after you and destroy you
just by looking...
(Just by looking.)

Let's go, let's go, etc.

It's climed, today, it's climed
right to the top...
(Right to the top.)

It came, then went back, then came again,
it's still there...
(It's still there.)

The top spins round and round,
round about you...
(Round about you.)

My heart sings the same old complaint:
let's get married today...
(Let's get married today.)

Let's go, let's go, etc.

Overall Meaning

Russell Watson's song "Vienna" features a mixture of Italian and English lyrics. The song begins with the Italian chorus "Jammo, jammo, 'ncoppa jammo ja' / Funiculi - funicula, funiculi - funicula / 'Ncoppa jammo ja', funiculi - funicula," which translates to "Let's go, let's go, let's go up to the top / Funiculì, Funiculà / Let's go up to the top, funiculì, funiculà." The song then goes on to tell the story of unrequited love and a desire for escape, with the Italian verses describing a woman named Nanninella who has a "thankless heart" and a hopeless romantic hoping to find a place where his love can be reciprocated without pain.

Line by Line Meaning

Let's go, let's go
Encouraging to Go

let's go up to the top...
Let's aim for higher things in life

Funiculi - funicula
Enjoy the Ride of Life

Where your thankless heart can do me no more harm...
I don't want to be hurt anymore

Where a fire is burning, but if you run, it leaves you alone...
You can't run away from yourself

It doesn't chase after you and destroy you, just by looking...
Self Reflection

It's climbed, today, it's climbed right to the top...
Success

It came, then went back, then came again, it's still there...
Sometimes things just come and go

My heart sings the same old complaint: let's get married today...
Expressing Love

Jammo, jammo, ecc...
Let's Go Again

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, MIDGE URE, WARREN REGINALD CANN, WILLIAM CURRIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS