Napulitanita

Uocchie de suonno nire appassiunate ca de lu mmele la ducezza avite pecché cu sti guardate ca facite vuje nu vrasiero mpietto m'appicciate Ve manca la parola e mme parlate pare ca senza lacreme chiagnite de sta faccella ianca anema site uocchie belle uocchie doce, uocchie affatate Vuje ca nziemmo a li sciuri v'arapite e nziemmo cu li sciuri ve nzerrate sciuri de passione mme parite cu li sentimento de li nnammurate mm'avite fatto male, e lu ssapite uocchie de suonno, nire appassiunate Mm'avite fatto male, e lu ssapite uocchie de suonno, nir appassiunate 1884 - Pasquale Mario Costa (music), 1882 - Salvatore Di Giacomo (lyric)

Dreamy eyes, black and passionate, that have the sweetness of honey, why, with these looks you give, do you light a cauldron in my breast? You lack for words and speak to me, it seems that you cry with no tears. You’re the spirit of this white face, beautiful eyes, sweet eyes, enchanted eyes. You, who along with the flowers open and along with the flowers close, flowers of passion you seem to me with the sentiment of lovers. You did me wrong, and you know it, dreamy eyes, black and passionate. You did me wrong, and you know it, dreamy eyes, black and passionate. English translation © 2023 Dennis Criteser oggi o dimane ("today or tomorrow"), published in 2001, is the first of a trilogy of albums Massimo Ranieri singing traditional Neapolitan songs, produced by Mauro Pagani. The arrangements are fresh with a contemporary appeal and Ranieri's voice is, as always, passionate and full of life. Pagani is a multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of the influential progressive rock band PFM, and is also well-known for producing Creuza de mä, Fabrizio De André's 1983 world music fusion masterpiece. The Neapolitan Song tradition dates back centuries, but the classic period began in the 1830s. Ranieri and Pagani later produced a 6-CD box set Canzone napoletana piccola enciclopedia, published in 2015. Ranieri's live performances of these songs are a pleasure to see, showing off his dancing and theatrical skills.