Crooner Culture

Okay, so I’m not 100% Italian (though I do look it). I’m not even really 50% and maybe not even 25%.

But I’ve been to Italy, and I can speak a little, and I love anything and everything Italian, from food and family to mafia flicks to the obsession with Sinatra (Ever meet an old Italian woman who had a picture of Sinatra on the wall, right next to the Virgin Mary? I have!). I have a large extended family that’s more Italian in blood than I am, but still not 100% or anything. But we all refer to ourselves as one big happy Italian family. You know that movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”? Yeah, we have those all the time, and it’s funny how much our family has related to the one from the movie over the years!

So anyway, when my Michael Buble (yes, I call him “my Michael”) put the song Meglio Stasera (1963, The Pink Panther) on his Call Me Irresponsible album, I was thoroughly excited (if not turned on). He’s put a twist on it of course, but in only the way he knows how – which is fantastic.

I can’t tell you how many times Michael and I have danced to this song in my head… *swoon*

Here’s the tune:

And the lyrics (Michael’s version (Mancini/Mercer) – I’ll post the Italian ones after):

Meglio stasera
Baby go go go
Or as we natives say
“Fa subito!”

If you’re ever gonna kiss me
It had better be tonight
While the mandolins are playing
And stars are bright

If you’ve anything to tell me
It had better be tonight
Or somebody else may tell me
And whisper the words just right

Meglio stasera
Baby go go go
Or as we natives say
“Fa subito!”

If you’re ever gonna hold me
It had better be tonight
Or somebody else is gonna hold me
They might make me feel just right

Meglio stasera
Baby go go go
Or as we natives say
“Fa subito!”

For this poor Americano
Who knows little of your speech
Be a nice Italiana
And start to teach

Mmm go ahead!

Show me how in old Milano
Lovers hold each other tight
But I want you sweet paesana
That it had better be tonight

Meglio stasera
Baby go go go
Or as we natives say
“Fa subito!”

Damn I love that song… Okay, here are the original, Italian lyrics (by Franco Migliacci) with a literal translation (cleaned up by me). I can’t find an MP3 of it, so if anyone can point me to one, that would rock!

Meglio stasera, che domani o mai,
Domani chi lo sa, quel che sarà?

Better this evening, than tomorrow or never,
Tomorrow who knows, what she will be?

Non mi dire d’aspettare
Il domani che verrà.
È una porta che tu chiudi
Fra me e te.

Don’t tell me to wait for
Tomorrow that he will come.
It’s a door that you’re closing
Between me and you.

Se stasera ti decidi
A rispondermi di sì,
I domani che verranno
Li dedico solo a te.

If this evening you decide
To answer me yes,
Tomorrows that will come
I’ll dedicate them to only you.

Meglio stasera, che domani o mai,
Domani chi lo sa, quel che sarà?

Better this evening, than tomorrow or never,
Tomorrow who knows, what she will be?

Nasce il giorno ed il giorno muore
E la notte porterà
L’incertezza del domani
Chi sa, chi sa?

The day is born and the day dies
and the night will carry
The uncertainties of tomorrow
Who knows, who knows?

Basta un desiderio solo,
A non farti riposar’,
Ed una pulce sul lenzuolo,
Che dormire non ti fa.

One desire is enough
Not to let you sleep
It’s a flea on the sheet
That keeps you awake

Meglio stasera, che domani o mai,
Domani chi lo sa, quel che sarà?

Better this evening, than tomorrow or never,
Tomorrow who knows, what she will be?

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