Aida

Lei sfogliava i suoi ricordi Le sue istantanee, i suoi tabù Le sue madonne, i suoi rosari E mille mari e alalà I suoi vestiti di lino e seta Le calze a rete, Marlene e Charlot E dopo giugno il gran conflitto E poi l'Egitto e un'altra età Marce, svastiche e federali Sotto i fanali, l'oscurità E poi il ritorno in un paese diviso Più nero nel viso, più rosso d'amor Aida, come sei bella Aida le tue battaglie I compromessi, la povertà I salari bassi, la fame bussa Il terrore russo, Cristo e Stalìn Aida, la costituente La democrazia, e chi ce l'ha? E poi trent'anni di safari Fra antilopi e giaguari Sciacalli e lapin Aida, come sei bella Aida © 1977 Rino Gaetano "Aida" is a collage of 70 years of Italian history. The mention of Christ and Stalin refers to the two strongest political parties of the time - the dominant Christian Democracy party and the surging Communist Party. Thirty years of safari refers to the sometimes life-and-death power struggles that played out amongst the powers-that-be in post-war Italy. The musical inspiration was Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry."

She browsed through her memories, her snapshots, her taboos, her Madonnas, her rosaries, and a thousand seas and alalas. Her gowns of linen and silk, her fishnet stockings, Marlene and the Tramp, and after June, the Great Conflict (WWII), and then Egypt and another age. Marches, swastikas and Federals under the spotlights, the darkness, and then the return to a divided country, blacker in the face, redder in love. Aida, how beautiful you are. Aida, your battles, the compromises, the poverty, the low wages, hunger is knocking, the Russian terror, Christ and Stalin. Aida, the Constitutional Assembly, democracy, and who has it? And then thirty years of safaris between antelopes and jaguars, jackals, and rabbits. Aida, how beautiful you are. English translation © 2023 Dennis Criteser Aida was Gaetano's third album, released in 1977. The title, which brings immediately to mind Verdi's opera of the same name, was intended by Gaetano to be an incarnation of all the women of Italy and of Italy itself. Gaetano was beginning to receive some recognition in 1977, which saw his first television appearances, performing songs from Aida.