After a period of absence from the music scene, the idea came together for a collaboration and in 1987 won the Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Si può dare di più" ("More can be given"), sung with Gianni Morandi and Enrico Ruggeri. 1987 was also the year of "Gente Di Mare'"("People of the sea"), performed with Raf at Eurovision which saw them take third place. 1988 saw the release of his second live album, The Royal Albert Hall.
In the 1990s, Tozzi continued to record, resulting in songs such as "Gli altri siamo noi" ("We are the others"), the album Equivocando, Il grido ("The outcry") and Aria e cielo ("Air and sky"). He also released a greatest hits compilation, Le mie canzoni ("My songs").
In 2000 and 2005, he performed at the Sanremo Music Festival with "Un'altra vita" ("A different life") and "Le Parole" ("The words"). Between the two participations, he released a duet with French singer Lena Ka of his classic "Ti amo" as "Ti amo (Rien que des mots)". Tozzi also released another greatest hits compilation, a 2-disc set entitled The best of, and another single, "E non volo".
Umberto Tozzi remains one of the most popular Italian singers abroad, and in the course of his career has sold more than 32 million records.
Calma
Umberto Tozzi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fango per poco non piango devo darmi daffare
Camminare ancora il mondo con indifferenza e dignità
E sto pensando a chi te lo dirà.
Vento e odio la gente domani mi arrendo e odio anche te s'è
Spento qualcosa qui dentro ai progetti d'amore tanto meglio rinunciare
E lasciarsi andare alla deri…va vada come vada anche con te.
Entro oppure non entro canto si vede che ho pianto
Tento non parlo di niente tanto… capirà lei sente
Anche muoversi un fiore quando fa l'amore
T'amo tutto il resto non conta
Conta questo amore
Questo amore.
Conta il denaro contante e tu mi racconti i sogni che fai
Balle con la vita alle stelle per il tuo parrucchiere
Devo vendermi la pelle e tu tutto il giorno fuori che fai ah
Meglio che stai zitta o sono guai.
Scusa qui nessuno ti accusa chiuso ti ho portato una rosa
Vedi che non sono poi tanto orso… e ti penso sempre
E poi tu mi compri solo sorridendo
Bando ai discorsi che ho fame anche dei tuoi baci
Taci che il silenzio mi piace prima devo fare in cucina
Dici e sai molto bambina sogni… e la luce spegni
Perché un po' ti vergogni fiore dell'amore.
T'amo tutto il resto non conta
Conta questo amore
T'amo t'amo t'amo t'amo
The lyrics of Umberto Tozzi's song "Calma" are full of poignant emotions ranging from sadness to love to hope. The first verse speaks of the singer's worries about finding another job and having to work hard. They feel like crying but can't because they need to keep themselves busy. They speak of walking through the world with indifference and dignity while thinking of someone who will hear their problems. The second verse is about the singer's hatred for the world and themselves, feeling like something inside them has died. They talk about giving up on love and letting themselves drift away, with or without the person they love. The chorus is where they proclaim their love for the person, saying that it's the only thing that matters and asking the person to keep quiet so they can focus on cooking.
The third verse talks about how the singer wants to be understood without having to talk too much, and they compare themselves to a flower that moves when it makes love. They declare their love again, saying that it's the only thing that counts, not money. The fourth verse speaks of the singer's jealousy towards the person they love, as they hear about their dreams and their day out with their hairdresser, while they have to work hard to make ends meet. They tell their lover to be quiet or else they might get into trouble. The song ends with the singer declaring their love once more and asking the person to turn off the light and dream, while they themselves want to enjoy the silence.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of desperation and longing for love and understanding, mixed with bitterness and jealousy towards the world and the person they love. The lyrics are rich in imagery and metaphors, and Tozzi's voice infuses them with just the right amount of pathos and emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Tenga domani non venga un altro lavoro chi me lo darà
Worried about the future, I wonder who will offer me a job tomorrow
Fango per poco non piango devo darmi daffare
Despite the difficulties, I must keep myself busy to avoid tears
Camminare ancora il mondo con indifferenza e dignità
I walk the world with indifference and dignity
E sto pensando a chi te lo dirà
And I think about who will tell you
Vento e odio la gente domani mi arrendo e odio anche te s'è
With wind and hatred towards people, tomorrow I will give up and hate you too if something breaks down
Spento qualcosa qui dentro ai progetti d'amore tanto meglio rinunciare
Something inside me for love projects has faded, it may be better to give up
E lasciarsi andare alla deri…va vada come vada anche con te
And let us drift away, wherever we go, even with you
Entro oppure non entro canto si vede che ho pianto
Whether I come in or not, you can tell that I have cried
Tento non parlo di niente tanto… capirà lei sente
I try not to talk about anything, but maybe she will understand what I feel
Anche muoversi un fiore quando fa l'amore
Even a flower moves when making love
T'amo tutto il resto non conta
I love you, nothing else matters
Conta questo amore
This love is all that counts
Conta il denaro contante e tu mi racconti i sogni che fai
Money counts and you tell me about your dreams
Balle con la vita alle stelle per il tuo parrucchiere
Life is full of lies, you spend too much money on hairdressers
Devo vendermi la pelle e tu tutto il giorno fuori che fai ah
I have to work hard to survive, and you are out all day doing what?!
Meglio che stai zitta o sono guai
You better be quiet, or there will be trouble
Scusa qui nessuno ti accusa chiuso ti ho portato una rosa
I'm sorry, no one is accusing you, here's a rose to make up for it
Vedi che non sono poi tanto orso… e ti penso sempre
See, I'm not that grumpy after all, and I always think about you
E poi tu mi compri solo sorridendo
And then you buy me something with just a smile
Bando ai discorsi che ho fame anche dei tuoi baci
I'm hungry for your kisses, forget about talking
Taci che il silenzio mi piace prima devo fare in cucina
Be quiet, I like the silence, I need to cook first
Dici e sai molto bambina sogni… e la luce spegni
You speak, but you're still naive, dreaming...and turning off the light
Perché un po' ti vergogni fiore dell'amore
Because you're a little shy, my love flower
T'amo t'amo t'amo t'amo
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.