Shu-bi-duas formation was as a tongue-in-cheek act, rewriting beat and in particular rock´n´roll classics with danish lyrics using college humour and satire. Already on the first album - they combined this with original material - often writing in pastiche. Their sound developed from rock in the early 70s - to pop in the 80s and into entertainment (or dansktop) in later years - but often using and intermixing styles from bossanova and reggae over rockabilly to synthpop to underline their humour. Their lyrics have kept up the satirical tone throughout the years and although they have shied away from the direct political blurbs and kept up a fun and games attitude - they have nevertheless described danish middle class society, its beliefs and desires - often to devastating effects. As such they have been a noteworthy inspiration for danish lyrics in pop rock and also for the wit and satire of later bands like MC Einar, Ibens and Det Brune Punktum.
To date Shubidua's discography is getting close to 30 albums (18 studioalbums). They have had many hits in Denmark like Vuffeli-vov, Hvalborg, Står på en Alpetop, Stærk Tobak (to the music from The Beatles song Twist and Shout), Familien kom til Kaffe, Sex Chikane, We wanna be free, and many more -all of whom have classical status as golden oldies. They reached maximum sales and accolade with the albums between 1978-1982.
The group formed in 1973 in Copenhagen by vocalist Bundesen, Jens Tage Nielsen and members of the rock group Passport : (guitarists Michael Hardinger and Poul Meyendorff, the drummer Bosse Hall Christensen, and bass guitarist Niels Grønbech). Passport, released the single Tomorrow/Everything's Wrong in early 1973. Shu-bi-dua released the single Fed Rock/Tynd Blues which became a hit single. After the release of one more Passport single with new members Bundesen and Nielsen, called Change of the Guard/Highway of Living, the serious english project was dropped, and the band continued as Shu-bi-dua,
In 1974 they released their first self-titled album Shu-bi-dua. After the first album, Poul Meyendorf left the group and was replaced by Claus Asmussen, who was technician on the first.
Since then the group has had numerous changes in its lineup. Kim Daugaard replaced Niels Grønbech in 1977, Willy Pedersen replaced Jens Tage Nielsen, and Kasper Winding replaced Bosse Hall Christensen in 1981. In 1984 Michael Bundesen left the group to lead the Copenhagen TV network "Kanal 2", and simultaneously Kasper Winding left to be replaced by Paul Callaby. In 1987 Jørgen Thorup was made a permanent member in the group when Willy Pedersen left. Thorup had been singing backup vocals since Shu-bi-dua 11 in 1985. In 1987 Michael Bundesen returned as lead singer, while Søren Jacobsen also joined the band. In 1988 Peter Andersen replaced Paul Callaby as drummer, and shortly thereafter Søren Jacobsen left the band again. After having made the film Den røde tråd in 1989, they went on a sabbatical until their return in 1992 with the hit single Sexchikane. In the intervening years their back catalog was rereleased on CD in 1990, and in 1991 a Best Of album by the name Stærk Tobak was released. In connection to this they played live in front of 50,000 people on Bellevue Strand. In 1997 Michael Hardinger left the band after 24 years. He was replaced by Ole Kibsgaard, and in 2001 Jørgen Thorup left the band to be replaced by Jacob Christoffersen. In 2003 their 30th anniversary was celebrated with a 10-CD set called Shu-bi-dua 200 (each CD had 20 songs). In 2005 Claus Asmussen left Shu-bi-dua having been the only original continuous member in the group's 30-year history.
Parliamo Italiano
Shu-bi-dua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Una Fernet Branca più? No, no, no!
Amore - che cosa è?
Una bella donna? No, no, tutt'Italia!
Olio olivo, Olivetti
Osso bucco e spaghetti
Lago Garda e Napoli
Grandioso babsenutti e gelatti tutti frutti
Bella - che cosa è
Il canzone di tenore? No, no, no!
Bella - che cosa è
Prosciutto con melone - versaci collezione
Ih, du milde millione
Berlusconi, corrupzione
Un problema classico
Un trompete, man kan bått' i
Como Eros Ramazzotti
Questo è Italia per me
Stuzzicadente
Mazerati, Alfa Romeo
Lamborghini ed un Fiat Uno
Mi amore automobile
Parliamo italiano
Mamma mia, oregano
Questo è Italia per me
Questo è Italia per me!
The lyrics to Shu-bi-dua's song "Parliamo Italiano" are an ode to Italy, its culture, and its people. The song starts with the question, "Amore - che cosa è?" which translates to "Love - what is it?" The song then dismisses the idea that love is a Fernet Branca (an Italian liquor) or a beautiful woman, saying that love is in fact, all of Italy.
The lyrics then jump to various Italian references such as "Olio Olivo" (olive oil), "Osso Bucco" (a classic Italian dish), and "Lago Garda e Napoli" (Lake Garda and Naples). The song also mentions Italian celebrities such as Eros Ramazzotti and Berlusconi, the latter of which is criticized for corruption.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Questo è Italia per me" which means "This is Italy for me." The song continues with references to Italian inventions such as the Olivetti typewriter, Italian sports cars like the Maserati and Lamborghini, and even the Italian tradition of using a toothpick (or "Stuzzicadente").
Overall, "Parliamo Italiano" celebrates Italy and its influence on the world, from its food to its music to its inventions.
Line by Line Meaning
Amore - che cosa è?
Love – what is it?
Una Fernet Branca più? No, no, no!
Is it a Fernet Branca? No, no, no!
Una bella donna? No, no, tutt'Italia!
Is it a beautiful woman? No, no, it's all of Italy!
Olio olivo, Olivetti
Olive oil, Olivetti (a typewriter brand)
Osso bucco e spaghetti
Osso bucco and spaghetti (Italian dishes)
Lago Garda e Napoli
Lake Garda and Naples (places in Italy)
Grandioso babsenutti e gelatti tutti frutti
Great babsenutti (unknown) and tutti frutti ice cream
Questo è Italia per me
This is Italy for me
Bella - che cosa è
Beauty – what is it?
Il canzone di tenore? No, no, no!
Is it a tenor song? No, no, no!
Prosciutto con melone - versaci collezione
Prosciutto with melon – pour a collection
Ih, du milde millione
Oh, you sweet million
Berlusconi, corruzione
Berlusconi, corruption (referring to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi)
Un problema classico
A classic problem
Un trompete, man kan bått' i
A trumpet, you can boat (not Italian language)
Como Eros Ramazzotti
As Eros Ramazzotti (an Italian singer)
Questo è Italia per me
This is Italy for me
Stuzzicadente
Toothpick (Italian word)
Mazerati, Alfa Romeo
Maserati, Alfa Romeo (Italian car brands)
Lamborghini ed un Fiat Uno
Lamborghini and a Fiat Uno (Italian car brands)
Mi amore automobile
My love, cars
Parliamo italiano
Let's speak Italian
Mamma mia, oregano
Oh my, oregano
Questo è Italia per me
This is Italy for me
Questo è Italia per me!
This is Italy for me!
Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@janetteklier589
Meraviglioso,.! 💗
@KristofferDK
Bundesens geniale tekster og stemme for fuld udblæsning. Hvordan han kan holde masken er ubegribeligt... RIP - Il più grande!
@keesvanderwerf5462
De har måske spillet den mange gange
@CrazyIvanist
Som man siger ...
@kimpetersen2438
i en video her på youtube hvor de fortæller om de forskellige plader fortøler de også om denne her da de skulle lave den så tog de alt hvad der var italienske og det er det du kan høre her 🤣
@AxelRnnvocalguitar
Bellissimo performance : D
@MrRingedingdongful
Alle danskere i aften til EM finalen 🇮🇹 Grandioso babsenutti 🇮🇹
@BoynamedMagnus183
Danskane heve den beste humoren i verda,iadlefall i Norden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Sir_HD_2
masaratti Alfaromeo ;)
@LucaBersano
Quasi