Maruzella

Ohè! Chi sente? E chi mo canta appriesso a me? Ohè, pe' tramente S'affaccia 'a luna pe vedè! Pe tutta sta marina 'a Procida a Resina Se dice: guarda llà 'na femmena che fa! Maruzzella Maruzzè T'he miso dint'a lluocchie 'o mare e m'he miso 'npietto a me 'nu dispiacere 'Stu core me fai sbattere Chiu forte 'e ll'onne Quanno 'o cielo è scuro: Primma me dice si Po' doce doce me fai muri Coro: Maruzzella Maruzzè Ohè! Chi m'aiuta? Si tu nun viene a m'aiutà? Ohè, m'è venuta 'na voglia Ardente 'e te vasà E vienetenne oj bella E damme sta vucchella Ca pe' m'avvelenà 'e zucchero Se fa! Maruzella © 1955 Renato Carosone (music), Enzo Bonagura (lyrics)

Hey! Who’s listening? And who’s now singing with me? Hey, in the meantime they face the moon to see! All along this shoreline from Procida to Resina, it is said, “Look there, a woman who can do!” Maruzzella, Maruzzè, you put inside your eyes the sea and you placed in my breast a disappointment. You make this heart of mine beat stronger than the waves when the sky is dark: first you tell me yes, then ever so sweetly you make me die. Maruzzella, Maruzzè... Hey! Who’s helping me? If you don’t come to help me? Hey, it came to me, a desire so ardent to kiss you. And come here beautiful, and give me this little mouth that for poisoning me with sugar you do! 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.