Reginella

Te sî fatta 'na vesta scullata 'Nu cappiello cu 'e nastre e cu 'e rrose Stive 'mmiez'a tre o quatto sciantose E parlave francese. È accussì? Fuje ll'autriere ca t'aggio 'ncuntrata Fuje ll'autriere a Tuleto, 'gnorsì T'aggio vuluto bene a te Tu mm'hê vuluto bene a me Mo' nun ce amammo cchiù Ma ê vvote tu Distrattamente Pienze a me Reginè, quanno stive cu mico Nun magnave ca pane e cerase Nuje campàvamo 'e vase, e che vase Tu cantave e chiagnive pe' mme E 'o cardillo cantava cu tico: "Reginella 'o vo' bene a 'stu rre" T'aggio vuluto bene a te Tu mm'hê vuluto bene a me Mo' nun ce amammo cchiù Ma ê vvote tu Distrattamente Pienze a me Oje cardillo, a chi aspiette stasera? Nun 'o vvide? Aggio aperta 'a cajóla Reginella è vulata? E tu vola Vola e canta, nun chiagnere cca T'hê 'a truvà 'na padrona sincera Ch'è cchiù degna 'e sentirte 'e cantà T'aggio vuluto bene a te Tu mm'hê vuluto bene a me Mo' nun ce amammo cchiù Ma ê vvote tu Distrattamente Chiamme a me 1917 - Gaetano Lama (music), Libero Bovio (lyrics)

You made yourself a low-cut dress, a hat with ribbons and with roses. You were among the three or four chanteuses and you spoke French. Is it like that? ‘Twas the other day I met you, ‘twas the other day on Toledo Way, yessir. I loved you, you loved me, now we don’t love each other anymore. But sometimes, you distractedly think about me. Reginella, when you were with me you ate but bread and cherries. We lived on kisses, and what kisses! You sang and cried for me and the finch sang with you: “Reginella loves her king.” I loved you, you loved me, now we don’t love each other anymore. But sometimes, you distractedly think about me. Oh, finch, for whom do you wait this evening? You don’t see him? I opened the cage, Reginella has flown, and you, fly! Fly and sing, don’t weep here! You must find a sincere mistress more worthy to hear you sing. I loved you, you loved me, now we don’t love each other anymore. But sometimes, you distractedly think about me. 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 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.