"I am grateful to MTV for the collaboration, and ultimately a new concert is better than old tracks already well known and flattened with remastering."
Fortunately I still have the common sense
to question myself
I’d gladly do without your handbooks
on self-esteem
Fortunately the agonizing procession of flowers from you
ended several days ago
I’m still throwing up our last romantic
meal together...
sad, bored and dried out
I would be your tainted Venus
sad, bored and dried out
I would be no use as prey
(A) you’ll see you’ll see in the end
you’ll get a sordid thank you, you will
the appropriate smile just right for the occasion, you’ll see…
Fortunately I always make the mistake
of not taking myself too seriously
and I can gladly do without
your practical sex and success …
sad, bored and dried out
I would be your tainted Venus
sad, bored and dried out
I would be your tainted Venus
I would be no use as prey…
(A)(x2)………
I can still smell your fuming words
your words on me
that’s the only thing
you left me....
sad, bored and dried out I would be
your tainted Venus (x5)
Narcissist, butter me up with words
That melt under the hot breath of passion
Narcissist, transparency and mystery
Cover me with oil, almonds and vanity
Shape me…
Tell me the stories you like to invent
Frighten me
Tell me about new exciting victories
Win me over, invent me, give me a new identity
Stun me, leave me defenceless and then strike
Embrace me and intoxicate me with irony and sensuality
Narcissist, butter me up with words
That hide the proverbial selfishness of your intentions
Narcissist, what a sublime façade
Shower me with elegant lavish attentions
Inspire me
Tell me the stories you like to invent
Frighten me
Tell me about new exciting victories
Win me over, invent me, give me a new identity
Stun me, leave me defenceless and then strike
Embrace me and intoxicate me with irony and sensuality
Embrace me and intoxicate me with irony and sensuality
Win me over
Win me over
Win me over
Christmas Eve,
A day like any other ,
A cup of hot milk and
No gifts to unwrap.
Greetings Professor and
Happy New Year,
all of a sudden his eyes were filled with
an indecipherable expression of embarrassment.
Christmas Eve
And the sound of multi-voice choirs
carried on the wind,
blessed be the Lord.
Street decorations,
live nativity scenes ,
all of a sudden his eyes were filled with
a sense of dejection mixed with frustration.
And he would have liked
to have had a caring,
loving partner
By his side.
And he would have liked
to feel the warmth
of another body
beneath the sheets.
Christmas Eve,
a bare tree,
a fleeting glance at
old philosophy texts.
Greetings professor and
Happy New Year
All of a sudden his eyes were filled with a fierce
Sense of dissatisfaction.
And he would have liked
to have had a caring,
loving partner
By his side.
And he would have liked
to feel the warmth
of another body
beneath the sheets.
I suffer seeing you
break the principles
which were the firm basis
of an exemplary dignity.
The questionable urgency
that makes it essential for people
to conform to the norm
is inadmissible.
They say that the return
on any sacrifice is considerable,
but the exception to the rule
undermines the norm.
If it is true that the return
on any sacrifice is considerable,
then giving up your soul
would bring a handsome reward
I suffer seeing you
making bizarre movements
controlled by a shrewd,
string-pulling puppeteer .
Do you think
escaping the stern
and watchful gaze
of your own conscience
can be an admirable choice ?
They say that the return
on any sacrifice is considerable,
but the exception to the rule
undermines the norm.
If it is true that the return
on any sacrifice is considerable,
then giving up your soul
would bring a handsome reward
When the April showers blur the horizon disconsolately fishermen bring their boats sowly back to the shore.
When April showers send housewives hurrying outdoors to salvage rows of white washing hanging on the line.
I know that summer's just round the corner playing hide and seek as it keeps us all waiting.
And through those meloncholy winters, how cold the nights coul be, my imitation of contentment was a parody.
All through those chilled and cheerless winters, col comfort came slowly to an end, every cloud lost its silver-lining, having fun was playing a game of pretend.
The April showers release the sweet scent of blossolming trees to ride the wind and go down to mingle with the salt-sea air.
I know that summer's just round the corner playing hide and seek as it keeps us all waiting.
And through those meloncholy winters, how cold the nights coul be, my imitation of contentment was a parody.
All through those chilled and cheerless winters, col comfort came slowly to an end.
What we missed then, most of all, was our indisputable right to laughter.
And through those meloncholy winters, how cold the nights coul be, my imitation of contentment was a parody.
And through those meloncholy winters, how cold the nights coul be, my imitation of contentment was a parody.
Masino was picking cherries,
"Be careful or you’ll fall",
shouted his mother-in-law.
he thought ‘I’d best be quick
or she’ll bring me bad luck. ‘
"you’re too high and the ladder won’t stand the weight,
Masino come down from that tree slowly "
"you’re too high and the ladder won’t stand the weight,
Masino come down from there slowly"
Dressed in black, in the sweltering heat,
the mother-in-law shouted :
"Masino be careful because if you fall
you’ll hurt yourself”. He thought:
“great way to put a jinx on someone"
"You’re too high and the ladder won’t stand the weight,
Masino come down from that tree slowly "
"you’re too high and the ladder won’t stand the weight,
Masino come down from there slowly"
"You’re too high and the ladder won’t stand the weight,
Masino come down from that tree slowly "
"you’re too high and the ladder won’t stand the weight,
Masino come down from there slowly"
What with his mother-in-law putting a jinx on things
and the fact that he was too high up,
the ladder broke,
and he was left hanging
from the tree and the lovely
cherries all fell down to the ground.
... those lovely, sweet, red cherries
... those lovely, sweet, red cherries.
One look from him and i fell under his spell,
His manicured fingers moved like a magician's.
His lips in proportion to the pearly-white,
Dazzling perfection of his irresistible smile.
With great expertise, never wasting a word,
I gave in to his charm and persuasion as he
Sweet talked me.
We started to meet and date fast and furiously,
In all the unusual places we could think of.
My artful young man had endless resources,
Pulling the strings that seduced me.
No hesitation when he asked me sincerely:
"come on let's get married". He was a master of self-assured ease.
Wedding day memories come back to remind me,
A veil of white lace trailing softly behind me,
Something borrowed 'n' blue, something old 'n' new,
As i waited devoutly for the groom to appear.
Crammed in their pews the guests growing restless
Restraining their pent-up hysteria.
The minutes ticked by with relentless precision,
So where on earth was my husband to be ?
No hesitation when he asked me sincerely:
"come on let's get married". He was a master of self-assured ease.
Wedding day memories come back to remind me,
A veil of white lace trailing softly behind me,
No nervous bridegroom in manly composure,
Only the priest in conspicuous embarassment.
Wedding day memories come back to remind me,
A veil of white lace trailing softly behind me,
No nervous bridegroom in manly composure,
Only the priest in conspicuous embarassment.
Wedding day memories come back to remind me,
A veil of white lace flowing softly behind me,
No wedding march to walk down the
Aisle with, just the dull dirge of
My inconsolable grieving.
I would put up with what offends me the most
I witness those gestures driven by your stupidity
I would put up with what kills me the most
I would still know how to be faithful to myself
(A) slimy smiles spread no warmth
I’ve already made my choice between good and bad
after all you know that appearances don’t fool me
you only managed to get a bit of silence out of me....
easy to say that you can take everything you want
you only managed to get a bit of silence out of me
only a bit of silence
you just wasted your superior breath………
I would put up with what offends me the most
I would still know how to be faithful to myself
(A)………
you only managed to get a bit of silence out of me
a bit of silence out of me
a bit of silence out of me
a bit of silence out of me
you only managed to get a bit of silence out of me
a bit of silence out of me
a bit of silence out of me
a bit of silence out of me...
I survived this last ordeal
so after all I can be proud
of being a woman with a capital W
I certainly treasure
what you’ve taught me
and I can definitely say
that I am a woman with a capital W
that I am a woman who’s got what it takes
W as in wilful dupe
How long did I put up with your scheming ways
W as in wilful dupe
How long had you been plotting behind my back
It was a bitter pill to swallow
and nobody knows
your despicable methods
better than I do
I buried my foolish infantile idealism
and can now declare
that I am a woman with a capital W
that I am a woman who’s got what it takes
W as in wilful dupe
How long did I put up with your scheming ways
W as in wilful dupe
How long had you been plotting behind my back
W as in wilful dupe
how long did you slip and slide beneath my sheets
Kiss me again Judas
Until I have breath in my body
until I get my reward
until I have breath in my body
until I get my reward
until I have breath in my body
until I get my reward
Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me
W as in wilful dupe
W as in wilful dupe
W as in wilful dupe
You look for shelter and brotherly love
You hold your arms out towards the mirror
you stumble and with a stern look on your face
you mumble a sad Modugno song
about violins played by the wind
the last kiss my sweet child
burns on your face like drops of lemon juice
the courageous bravery of a ferocious farewell
but those are tears and it’s raining
and it’s raining
it’s raining …
Magical quiet, veiled indulgence
After a relentless storm
You catch your breath and with intense ardour
Celebrate a meek, unusual awakening
A thousand violins played by the wind
The last embrace my beloved child
In the tenuous memory of a silver rainfall
A remorseless sense of no return
In those violins played by the wind
The last kiss my sweet child
burns on your face like drops of lemon juice
the courageous bravery of a ferocious farewell
but those are tears and it’s raining
and it’s raining
and it’s raining
it’s raining …
I’m looking at a photo of my mother
She was happy she must have been about three
She was clutching a doll close to her chest
A most coveted gift.
It was her birthday party
In faded black and white .
I look at my mother in those days and I see
The same smile on her face as mine.
And to think of all the times I felt she was distant
And to think of all the times…
I would have liked to talk to her about me at least ask her to explain
Those long hostile moments of silence and indifference
Invariably
I would appear inflexible, beyond reach and proud
Deeply resolute fearing foolish rivalry
I’m looking at a photo of my mother
She was happy she must have been about twenty
Hair tied up in a silk scarf
A vacant look upon her face.
A clear view of a radiant Catania
In the sixties
I scrutinize her closely and thoroughly and find
The same look on her face as mine.
And to think of all the times I felt she was distant
And to think of all the times…
I would have liked to talk to her about me at least ask her to explain
Those long hostile moments of silence and arbitrary indolence
Invariably
I would appear inflexible, beyond reach and proud
Deeply resolute fearing an innate rivalry.
I would have liked to talk to her about me at least ask her to explain...
I would have liked to talk to her about me at least ask her to explain...
You know full well that a drop in the sky is a deluge
so small is the world that observes us
You know full well that I’m not asking for much now
so clear is the sea that listens to us and sends us to sleep
(A) I’d like to try
I’d like to offer you my hands
I’d like to try
I’d like to protect this moment
(B) and I think I feel confused and happy
and I think I feel confused and happy
and I think I feel...
Ah… ah… ah… ah…
You know full well that I’m trembling and it’s not cold
and I’m a victim of this immense joy
you know full well that nothing can affect us now
so fragile is the world that awaits us, that scares us
(A)………
I’d like to try again
I’d like to protect this moment
(B)………
confused and happy
confused and happy
confused and happy
you know full well that a drop in the sky is a deluge
so small is the world that observes us
I could speak, discuss, grit my teeth, smile
lie endlessly saying useless things again and again
Showing false hypocritical serenity
when words rebel
story tales, rivers, seas of perplexity
there is no reason not to feel
what I feel inside
an immense sky inside
what I feel
I need to be with you
give you the wings of my thoughts as a gift
beyond the closed paths within me
I want to open my heart to truth
I could speak, discuss, grit my teeth, smile
suffer endlessly find meaning in uselessness
Showing false hypocritical serenity
when words rebel
story tales, rivers, seas of perplexity
there is no reason not to feel
what I feel inside
an immense sky inside
what I feel
I need to be with you
give you the wings of my thoughts as a gift
beyond the closed paths within me
I want to open my heart to truth
I need to be with you
give you the wings of my thoughts as a gift
beyond the closed paths within me
I want to open my heart to truth
You are not obliged to understand me
I almost don’t feel the need to insist
you offered me a love made of plastic
but did you ever ask yourself if deceiving me was the honest thing to do
Remember you’re the one that’s not there when I cry
You’re the one that doesn’t know when my birthday is
When I’m floundering in the dark
But how can I give my heart and soul and be able to believe
that everything is more or less easy when it’s impossible
I wanted to be stronger than all your uncertainties
but I can’t make do
with a love made of plastic if that’s all you can give me
You are the fire that’s difficult to light
There’s no excuse but yet you know how to confuse me
Remember you’re the one that’s not there when I cry
You’re the one that doesn’t know when my birthday is
When I’m floundering in the dark
But how can I give my heart and soul and be able to believe
that everything is more or less easy when it’s impossible
I wanted to be stronger than all your uncertainties
but I can’t make do
with a love made of plastic if that’s all you can give me
I wanted to be stronger than all your uncertainties
but I can’t make do
with a love made of plastic if that’s all you can give me
but I can’t make do
with a love made of plastic if that’s all you can give me
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy your loving is all I think about
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy it's more than I dare to think about
Every night
Every day
Just to be there in your arms
Won't you stay
Won't you lay
Stay forever and ever and ever and ever
La la la
La la la la la
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy your loving is all I think about
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy it's more than I dare to think about.
There's a dark secret in me
Don't leave me locked in your heart
Set me free
Feel the need in me
Set me free
Stay forever and ever and ever and ever
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy your loving is all I think about.
Produced by Francesco Barbaro and Maurizio Nicotra
Artistic production: Carmen Consoli and Massimo Roccaforte
Arrangements: Carmen Consoli, Massimo Roccaforte, Santi Pulvirenti, Leandro Misuriello, Puccio Panettieri and Maurizio Nicotra
Band:
Carmen Consoli: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, voice
Massimo Roccaforte: electric guitar, mandolin, choirs
Santi Pulvirenti: electric guitar, choirs
Leandro Misuriello: bass guitar
Puccio Panettieri: drums and percussions
Arches:
Elena Majoni: violin
Giannina Guazzaroni: violin
Eszter Nagypal: cello
Rita Turriti: viola
Recorded by Maurizio Nicotra 22 and 23 October 2002
Mastered by Antonio Baglio, Nautilus Mastering Milano