His real name is Antonio de la Cuesta and he started playing music in the 80's, when he participated in three different punk bands: Cagando Duro (The Hard Shit), Tijuana in Blue and Kojon Prieto y Los Huajolotes. The last one quickly became famous all over Spain, as they were playing covers of artists such as Al Bano and Raffaella Carra. Through one of their fantastic live appearances they drew the attention of Manu Chao, former leader of Mano Negra.
A few years later, in 2000, he would be the producer in Carotone's first solo album: “E Un Mondo Difficile”. The name that he now uses is a paraphrase of the Italian Carosone, in honour of an eminent Italian singer of the 50's, Renato Carosone (his big hit is “Tu Vuò Fà L'americano”).
His music combines punk with elements from Spanish, Italian, French, even Mexican popular music. It resembles the band Negresses Vertes and the solo works of Manu Chao, while a lot of critics are placing his music somewhere between Adriano Celentano and Tom Waits. The lyrics of his songs are often amusing, ironic or even surreal.
Bahia
Tonino Carotone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
New breed of wonder on the vine
Among the living
There is new promise in this night
New arms to hold back the revolution
New eyes to recognize what you've become
New blood to recover
All things are new again
Within and without
All things are new again
New shepherd roaming through the tall grass
A new temple rising through the falling ash
That buries the tracks
Of millions of boots marching in packs
Clearwater rolling through the dam's collapse
Out to the harbor where they're sailing back
New flag on the mast
Without any secrets, without any past
All things are new again
Within and without
Sooner or later the ending begins
Just then it can be said that all things are new again
New ghost returning to the earth beneath the haze
New poets burning through the lines of every page
I'm an unpainted portrait
I am staring at a new sunset
Without any memories yet
All things are new again
Within and without
Sooner or later the ending begins
Just then it can be said that all things are new again
Within and without
Sooner or later every season ends
Then forever it can be said that all things are new again
The lyrics of Tonino Carotone's Bahía evoke the idea of rebirth and renewal. A new heaven and a new sky symbolize a fresh start, a new beginning. The reference to a new breed of wonder on the vine, and new blood to recover, implies an air of hope and the promise of a better future. The revision of identity is alluded to through the image of new eyes to recognize what you've become, and new arms to hold back the revolution, suggesting change from within.
The song also touches on themes of destruction, the past, and memories. A new temple rising through the falling ash, where ash is a metaphor for a place ruined by war, and the idea of a new flag on the mast, without any secrets, without any past, illustrate the desire for renewal and the possibility of a brighter future untarnished by the scars of the past. The verse about an unpainted portrait and staring at a new sunset without any memories yet, further illustrates an almost tabula rasa sentiment, a clean slate where any experiences will be artificially new, unprejudiced by the past.
In Tonino Carotone's Bahía, the lyrics evoke the feeling of rebirth, renewal, and a sense of hope. The song encourages the listener to embrace change and let go of past memories, welcoming all things that are new again.
Line by Line Meaning
New heaven over a brand new sky
A fresh, new world has been created
New breed of wonder on the vine
An exciting, new generation has come
Among the living
In the midst of life
There is new promise in this night
Hope for a better future comes with the dawn
New arms to hold back the revolution
New solutions to prevent conflict and chaos
New eyes to recognize what you've become
A fresh perspective to understand yourself and others
New blood to recover
New energy to restore what has been lost
A new will to honor all God's creations
A renewed commitment to treating all of creation with respect
All things are new again
A rebirth has occurred
Within and without
Both internally and externally
New shepherd roaming through the tall grass
A new leader has emerged
A new temple rising through the falling ash
A new spiritual foundation is being established
That buries the tracks
Erasing the scars of the past
Of millions of boots marching in packs
Of countless people who followed blindly
Clearwater rolling through the dam's collapse
A fresh start after disaster strikes
Out to the harbor where they're sailing back
Heading towards a brighter future
New flag on the mast
A new symbol of hope and unity
Without any secrets, without any past
Starting with a clean slate
Sooner or later the ending begins
All good things must come to an end
Just then it can be said that all things are new again
Only after closure can a new beginning be possible
New ghost returning to the earth beneath the haze
A new spirit rising out of darkness
New poets burning through the lines of every page
New voices sharing their stories
I'm an unpainted portrait
An open canvas, waiting to be filled
I am staring at a new sunset
Looking towards a new horizon
Without any memories yet
With a fresh start and a new outlook
Sooner or later every season ends
Change is the only constant in life
Then forever it can be said that all things are new again
From every ending comes a new beginning
Contributed by Jeremiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.