The use of local dialect is an integral part of Sud Sound System's music. Such a use is not a choice: you can choose to sing in English, considering it to be an appropriate language for music, but you can't choose something which is part of your character, part of your daily vocabulary. The local dialect is not the only linguistic expression used in Salento reggae, but it is however the most natural choice because it is part of the artists themselves.
In June 1991, the 12" "Fuecu/T'a sciuta bona" was released and its impact on the Italian music scene was certainly noticeable; this record, like few others in that period, had something new to say. It was a unique record for its musical freshness due to its use of the Salento dialect combined with reggae rhythms. It consequently met with great success.
1992 saw the release of two 12" records: one with the tracks "Reggae Internazionale" and "Punnu Ieu," the other with "Turcinieddhri" and "Chiappalu." These new tracks immediately became popular and were constantly requested at the numerous concerts which followed. A long series of appearances began with foreign exponents of the roots, reggae and raggamuffin scene: Macka B and Mad Professor, Little Owie, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Asher D, Chunny Rankin, Daddy Freddy, Thriller Jenna, Sweete Irie. In 1993 and 1994, various tours took S.S.S. to different European countries, including France, Germany, Switzerland and Britain.
In the first few months of 1994 they christened their label Ritmo Vitale (Vital Rhythm) with a production called Salento Showcase '94,a compilation CD comprising many of the singers who were constantly appearing on the Salento reggae scene at that time. The album was successful and brought along a certain consolidation of the reggae and raggamuffin movement in that region.
In 1995 and the first few months of 1996 Sud Sound System was absorbed by the intense production of the album "Comu na petra," a fine piece of work that uses the Salentine tambourine players to lay down the basis for the type of raggamuffin they are known for; a raggamuffin with a certain sting which has always been an important part of the nature of the group. The tracks which most feel that 'sting' are: "Afro ragga mtaranta jazz" and "Crisce."
"Comu na petra" was preceded by a compilation entitled "Tradizione" which complied the group's recordings during the 1991-1996 period. Both records were produced in conjunction with the newspaper "Il Manifesto."
No Per Onore
Sud Sound System Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pe certe storie ca nu tenenu valore
Nun b'è per amore ne mancu per onore
Ma è sta società ca muti face mpaccire
Troppi osce vivenu stu dolore
Ci stae ntra lu rancore e nu riesce a perdonare
Ci te la follia se face piiare
E de lu rimorsu nu se sape liberare.]
La violenza la vita cumanna, l'arroganza la strada guadagna, ete l'odiu ca la gente condanna ,intra li ghetti quistu te segna,st'ambiente quistu te insegna,ca ci è chiu forte poi regna, nunc'ete ceddhri ca sogna aura strada migliore cu piia
Lu valore de la vita muti sta perdenu,pe cose ca nu cuntanu su capaci cu se scannanu,ca se ncurteddrhanu se sparanu e se ccittenu,perchè la capu perdenu senza sapenu c'è cumbinanu,la loro vita distruggenu comu quiddrha de ci combattenu, ca li problemi se risolvenu ma muti a casa nu tornanu,Troppe mamme sta chiangenu pe li troppi fiii ca mancanu,perchè sulu amarezze e dolori ste cose sai ca te lassanu.
[Troppa ete la gente ca sta more
Pe certe....]
To much shotta beatWay ther pon the streetGhetto youth dem ungry dem want food fi eatNah take the fitTha same thing repeatYou step pon a man ca you know the clock we fe beat We dem a stress we for The weed police arrest we for We do the hard work ca dem want connect yaSystem oppression mek me wondeer how dem tek it yaSome time mi affi wonder how the ghetto people make it ya
Suntu tanti gli amici ca osce nu ci suntu chiu , ci pe sempre lassati o ci nu po turnare aquai,m'ene a mente lu pensiero de quannu eramu piccicchi, quannu cu te diverti te bastava propiu picchi,ma la vita la sai ca te cangia,s'ete fiacca la gente se raggia ,Muta gente cussine a cresciuta ,aura storia nu ha canusciuta, te la strada quista è la legge, ci è debole sai can u regge,ntra sta giungla quistu è lu mottu o ntesti oppure si muertu..
Look back inna life wonda wath cause te painmi tired fe see me fredda whaiste splash out pon the main too much gelosy well know fight fe faininnocent youth life a go down the dreaminna evil dem in......nah go rise the eaglebig up the italian and jamaican people want be the moovie star lihe stephens siagalbad mind dem think smallthe side of a needle.
(Grazie a Mirko per questo testo)
The lyrics of Sud Sound System's No Per Onore touch upon the struggles of people living in impoverished areas, where violence, arrogance and hatred dominate the social landscape. The song talks about how society can cause people to lose sight of what is truly valuable, leading them to engage in destructive behavior. The verse "Troppa ete la gente ca sta more, Pe certe storie ca nu tenenu valore, Nun b'è per amore ne mancu per onore, Ma è sta società ca muti face mpaccire" roughly translates to "Too many people are dying for certain things that are worthless. It's not for love, nor for honor. It's society that changes us and makes us suffer."
The lyrics also touch upon themes of forgiveness, anger and obsession. The line "Ci te la follia se face piiare, E de lu rimorsu nu se sape liberare" roughly translates to "Madness takes over and makes things worse, And you can't free yourself from remorse." The song suggests that people living in poverty are often driven to acts of violence and desperation because of the difficult circumstances they face. The chorus suggests that too many people are dying for things that hold no real value.
Line by Line Meaning
Troppa ete la gente ca sta more
Too many people are dying because of the violence caused by this society.
Pe certe storie ca nu tenenu valore
People are dying for stories that hold no value or importance.
Nun b'è per amore ne mancu per onore
People are not dying for love or honor, but because of the way society operates.
Ma è sta società ca muti face mpaccire
It is this society that changes people and makes them suffer.
Troppi osce vivenu stu dolore
Too many people are living in pain and misery.
Ci stae ntra lu rancore e nu riesce a perdonare
People are filled with anger and cannot forgive.
Ci te la follia se face piiare
Madness is taking over and causing harm.
E de lu rimorsu nu se sape liberare.
People cannot let go of their guilt and regrets.
Contributed by Gavin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.