Verdena rehearse every day (when they're not on tour) in their garage, where they have built a recording studio called the Henhouse. The hen-house is their sound laboratory--full many different instruments, like guitars, amplifiers, rhodes, mellotrons, and Korg synths. No digital stuff is allowed to get in!
They view the song like a painter would a picture: to work on by carefully adding more and more layers, yet keeping the big picture in mind. The result is much more than a simple song.
Verdena’s songs, which are stellar in and of themselves, have a new added value since the lyrics are written uniquely. They are not penned in a narrative, logical way. Rather, they follow a stream-of-unconscious style that is closer to the Anglo-American rock language than to the syncope traditions of the Italian language, which are so far from the aesthetics of pure rock. Alberto’s lyrics have always been one of the main characteristics of Verdena that stand out from the usual and reiterated formula of the Italian rock music.
Debut album:
Verdena
The debut album came out on September, 30th, 1999.
The first single went in heavy rotation on MTV.
The album sold 40.000 copies
EPs:
Two EPs were published after the album release: Valvonauta and Viba ep.
In the first one there were two new tracks. In the second one two new tracks and a cover of Sunshine of your love by Cream.
On tour:
The band played in the most important festivals (Imola Heineken Music Festival with Hole and Marylin Manson, Independent Day Festival with Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Arezzo Wave Love Festival with Henry Rollins). Between September 1999 and the summer of 2000 Verdena played more than 100 gigs.
July 2001; Verdena play in Turin before U2 exclusive show in Italy.
Second Album:
Solo un Grande Sasso
Released in September of 2001
The first single, Spaceman, went immediately in the top ten. Same as for the album (sixth in the top ten for three weeks and on the top forty for other four weeks). The record sold 35.000 copies.
Other EPs:
After the release of the second album Verdena published two more EPs in which they made cover of Thirteen Floor Elevator’s Reverberation and Melvins Creepy Smell.
Third Album:
Il Suicidio dei Samurai
Came out on January 31, 2004, two weeks before they played in Groningen, at Eurosonic. At the same time Verdena released the EP Luna. Suddenly it got number two for two weeks on the top ten. Then the album came out and it got to the seventh in the top ten. Made a club tour (30 gigs) most of the times got sold out. On summer 2004 they’ve made 40 gigs all over Italy. Then, once again, a club tour of 20 gigs. Once again sold out everywhere.
Fourth album:
Requiem
Released in 2007.
Balanite
Verdena Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ora commentami un giorno come non lo hai fatto mai
Io lo spero ancora, ancora
Spesso dormo su un cielo-fan
Qui le cose sfuggono e non mi spiego perché
Se puoi condensa il giorno, con me non lo hai fatto mai
E fa male ancora
Eppure non stai per piangere
Lo spero per te finta comodità
Torna la libidine prima o poi
Ho sonno e dormo un po' di più
Perdo la lucidità ma la ritrovo sempre
L'orrore scenico perde tutta le comicità
Ed io mi chiedo perché
Davvero non stai per piangere
Torna la libidine prima o poi
Lo spero per te finta comodità
Torna la libidine prima o poi
Ho sonno e dormo
The song "Balanite" by Verdena speaks of a state of emotional numbness and emotional fatigue, expressed through surreal and cryptic images. The first verse describes the singer lying on a "sky-bed" that he has conveniently laid out for himself. He then addresses someone, asking them to comment on a day like they've never done before, in hopes of sparking some sort of emotional reaction within himself. The repetition of the phrase "ancora" (still/yet) emphasizes the singer's longing for a renewed emotional response.
The second verse continues with the theme of emotional detachment as the singer expresses confusion and frustration over things that slip away from him in this dreamlike state. He then turns to the person he addressed in the first verse, and implores them to return to a sense of desire and passion ("libidine"), ultimately expressing the hope that this person will experience "pretend comfort" once again. The repetition of the phrase "torna la libidine prima o poi" (desire will return sooner or later) suggests a sense of resignation, as if the singer knows that these intense feelings are fleeting, but still longs for them regardless.
Overall, "Balanite" is a heady and introspective track that highlights Verdena's ability to convey complex emotions through cryptic and surrealistic lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Sono steso su un cielo-fan che opportunamente ho disteso per me
I am lying on a makeshift bed that I have made for myself
Ora commentami un giorno come non lo hai fatto mai
Now talk to me about a day like never before
Io lo spero ancora, ancora
I hope for it still, still
Spesso dormo su un cielo-fan
I often sleep on a makeshift bed
Qui le cose sfuggono e non mi spiego perché
Things slip away here and I don't know why
Se puoi condensa il giorno, con me non lo hai fatto mai
If you can condense the day, you haven't done it with me
E fa male ancora
It still hurts
Eppure non stai per piangere
Yet you're not about to cry
Torna la libidine prima o poi
Lust will return sooner or later
Lo spero per te finta comodità
I hope it's just a false sense of comfort for you
Ho sonno e dormo un po' di più
I'm tired and I sleep a little more
Perdo la lucidità ma la ritrovo sempre
I lose my clarity but always find it again
L'orrore scenico perde tutta le comicità
Stage fright loses all its humor
Ed io mi chiedo perché
And I wonder why
Davvero non stai per piangere
You really aren't about to cry
Torna la libidine prima o poi
Lust will return sooner or later
Lo spero per te finta comodità
I hope it's just a false sense of comfort for you
Torna la libidine prima o poi
Lust will return sooner or later
Ho sonno e dormo
I'm sleepy and I sleep
Contributed by Lily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Giaculatorie
Questo non è un album , ma una bellissima ferita che non farei mai cicatrizzare
ninjaCORE90
stupenda...non ci sono parole.
motorpima
Che pezzo,ascolto questo album da quando e'uscito...e non ne sono ancora stanco,anzi mi innamoro di piu'
Carlotta D'Amico
La voce di Alberto , patrimonio dell umanità
nausycaaa
Cazzo che roba, amo questo testo e la canzone mi manda letteralmente su un altro pianeta
gioggiaa85
mi fa venire i brividi questo pezzo...divini..
ANDREA DE PALMA
Mamma miaaaaa! che pezzo!
Pasquale Ninni
Prima o POOOOOOI brividi cazzo 🖤
malvinstar
Come non l' hai fatto mai io lo spero ancoraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !! <3 !
camporosso
strepitosa.....