Adamo is one of the most commercially successful singers in Europe. Adamo has sold over 80 million copies of his albums worldwide. He is currently living in Belgium though he has lived in France with his family. His hits include "Tombe la Neige", "Vous permettez, Monsieur?" and "Inch'Allah", all from the sixties.
Adamo's early influences were the poetry of Victor Hugo, the music of French crooners such as Jacques Prévert or Georges Brassens, and the Italian canzonette. He started singing and composing his own songs from an early age. His debut was in a Radio Luxembourg competition, where he participated as singer and composer of the song "Si j'osais" ("If I dared") winning the competition's final held in Paris, in 14 February 1960.
Adamo's first hit was "Sans toi, ma mie", in 1963, from his debut album 63/64. He followed this with a series of hits, "Tombe la neige" ("The snow falls"), "Vous permettez, Monsieur?" ("May I, Sir"), "La Nuit" ("The Night") (1964), "Dolce Paola" ("Sweet Paola"), "Les Filles du bord de mer" ("The girls at the beach"), "Mes mains sur tes hanches" ("My hands on your hips") (1965), "Ton Nom" ("Your Name"), "Une meche de cheveux" ("Lock of golden hair") (1966), "Une larme aux nuages" ("A tear to the clouds"), "Inch'Allah" (1967), "L'amour te ressemble" ("Love resembles you"), "F... comme femme" ("F... like woman") (1968), "A demain sur la lune" ("See you tomorrow on the moon"), "Petit bonheur" ("Small happiness") (1969), "Va mon bateau" ("My boat goes"), "Les belles dames" ("Beautiful ladies") (1970), "J'avais oublié que les roses sont roses" ("I had forgotten that the roses are pink") (1971), "C'est ma vie" ("It's my life") (1975). Other notable songs included "Manuel", "Si Tu Etais", "Les Collines De Rabiah", "J'Te Lache Plus", "Mourir Dans Tes Bras", and "Ce George(s)".
The self-penned "Petit bonheur" sold over one million copies by April 1970, and was awarded a gold disc.
Amália Rodrigues recorded "Inch'Allah" in French. Adamo briefly attempted movie acting when he was cast in the film Les Arnaud (1967), which starred Bourvil.
He has recorded in many languages and, besides France and Belgium, had hits in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and also in Japan, where he toured repeatedly. Adamo has had hits and toured also in Latin America. In Chile, the audience awarded him an appreciation prize known as the "Antorcha" (Gold and Silver Torch) at the "Festival de Viña del Mar" held yearly in the "Quinta Vergara", at the seaside resort of Viña del Mar, where he once had to sing in three different, sold-out venues in the same night.
In the 1980s, Adamo's career faltered, as the style of his music was no longer fashionable. Since the 1990s, however, and on the crest of a nostalgia wave, Adamo has successfully resumed composing, issuing records and touring, starting with a full season at the Casino de Paris venue in April 1990. Adamo has sold over 100 million copies of recordings worldwide.
Albums
* 1992 Rêveur de fond
* 1994 C’est ma vie (compilation Live)
* 1995 La vie comme elle passe
* 1998 Regards
* 2001 Par les temps qui courent
* 2002 Les mots de l’âme (compilation)
* 2003 Zanzibar
* 2004 Un soir au Zanzibar (CD/DVD compilation Live)
* 2007 La part de l'ange
Mare
Salvatore Adamo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sdraiato da millenni sotto il sole,
Chissà gli amori che hai fatto sbocciare
E, come il mio, ne avrai visti finire.
Mare,
Ti bacia il vento come fossi un fiore
E qualche volta ti fa anche arrabbiare
Mare,
Che dai da vivere anche al pescatore
Coi tuoi riflessi e luci di lampare
Chissà quanti occhi avrai fatto sognare.
Mare,
Se Dio ti desse il modo di parlare
Ne avresti storie tu da raccontare
Di naufraghi, corsari e di avventure
Finiti in fondo al mare.
Mare,
Cristalli di rugiada sotto sale,
Solleticato da leggere vele
Che, come un bimbo, fermo non sai stare.
Mare,
Vorrei aver più tempo per restare
Perché anche se non parli sai ascoltare,
Ti lascio i miei problemi in fondo al mare.
Mare,
Un ultimo saluto, devo andare,
Ci rivedremo ancora, ci puoi giurare
E un nuovo amore nascerà, vedra!
No no no no no….
The song "Mare" by Salvatore Adamo captures the essence of the sea, expressing gratitude and reverence towards its beauty and the sustenance it provides to humans. The opening line, "Mare, Sdraiato da millenni sotto il sole," acknowledges the sea as an ancient force that has been present for thousands of years under the sun. The singer wonders about the many love stories that have bloomed and faded over the years in the vicinity of the sea. Just like his own love stories, the sea has witnessed many, some of which might have ended tragically.
The song praises the sea for its versatility, which is highlighted in the line, "Che dai da vivere anche al pescatore." The sea gives life to fishermen by providing them an opportunity to earn a livelihood. The image of the sea sparkling with lampare lights at night is a beautiful depiction of this. The sea is personified in many ways, as if it has its own emotional life. It can be touched by the wind's gentle kiss and sometimes angered by it, and sometimes it is just tired of its tumultuous existence and chooses to rest.
The song "Mare" is a testimony to the love and respect people have for the sea. It recognizes the immense role that it has played in the existence of life and longevity of civilizations. It is a tribute to its beauty, mystery, and all the stories that lie hidden beyond the waves.
Line by Line Meaning
Mare,
The sea or the ocean, personified as a character
Sdraiato da millenni sotto il sole,
The sea has existed for thousands of years, always basking under the sun
Chissà gli amori che hai fatto sbocciare
The sea has seen and inspired countless romances to blossom
E, come il mio, ne avrai visti finire.
The sea has also witnessed the end of many of those relationships, including the singer's own
Ti bacia il vento come fossi un fiore
The sea is caressed by the wind like a flower
E qualche volta ti fa anche arrabbiare
Occasionally, the sea is angered by the wind
Poi, forse stanco, torni a risposare.
But then, perhaps tired, it returns to rest
Che dai da vivere anche al pescatore
The sea provides livelihoods to fishermen
Coi tuoi riflessi e luci di lampare
Through its reflections and the lights of fishing boats
Chissà quanti occhi avrai fatto sognare.
The sea has likely inspired countless dreams and aspirations
Se Dio ti desse il modo di parlare
If God gave the sea the ability to speak
Ne avresti storie tu da raccontare
It would have countless stories of shipwrecks, pirates, and adventures at the bottom of the sea
Di naufraghi, corsari e di avventure
The sea has witnessed the journeys of sailors, pirates, and explorers
Finiti in fondo al mare.
Many of these stories have come to an end at the bottom of the sea
Cristalli di rugiada sotto sale,
The sea is compared to dew crystals that have been salted
Solleticato da leggere vele
The sea is tickled by the sails of boats gently blowing in the wind
Che, come un bimbo, fermo non sai stare.
The sea, like a restless child, cannot stay still
Vorrei aver più tempo per restare
The singer wishes they had more time to spend with the sea
Perché anche se non parli sai ascoltare,
Even though the sea cannot speak, it is always listening
Ti lascio i miei problemi in fondo al mare.
The singer leaves their problems at the bottom of the sea, knowing that the sea is a great listener
Un ultimo saluto, devo andare,
The singer must bid goodbye to the sea
Ci rivedremo ancora, ci puoi giurare
They promise to meet it again
E un nuovo amore nascerà, vedra!
And a new love affair with the sea will begin!
No no no no no….
This line is a repetition of 'no', and it is unclear what its meaning is in the context of the song's lyrics.
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.