The song was featured in the 1960 Melville Shavelson film It Started in Naples, in which it was sung by Sophia Loren. Commissioned by Ricordi director Rapetti for a radio contest, the music was composed by Carosone in a very short time after reading Nisa’s lyrics he immediately believed the song would become a great success.Ĭarosone’s original version of the song was performed by him in the film Totò, Peppino e le fanatiche (directed by Mario Mattoli, 1958). Combining swing and jazz, it became one of his best-known songs. In the following years, this song reached great popularity outside Italy, bringing a Neapolitan voice to the world.“ “Tu vuò fà l’americano” “You Want to Be American”) is a Neapolitan language song by Italian singer Renato Carosone.Ĭarosone wrote the song in collaboration with Nicola “Nisa” Salerno in 1956. He seems to argue that Americanization brings with it alienation and the loss of communication, past customs, and traditions. At the end, Carosone asks, “Comme te po’ capi chi te vò bene/ si tu le parle ‘mmiezzo Americano?/ Quando se fa l’ammore sotto ‘a luna/ come te vene ‘capa e di: ‘I love you!?’” (How can you understand who loves you/ if you speak half-American?/ And when you make love under the moon/ how can you say “I love you!”). Maybe this accounts for this song’s hostility towards foreign influences supposedly contaminating Neapolitan culture. "Renato Carosone seems to argue that Americanization brings with it alienation and the loss of communication, past customs, and traditions."Ĭulturally, as can be seen in Totò’s movies or in De Filippo’s theater, “Neapolitanity” is quite proud and has well-defined codes. The chorus, the most famous part of the lyrics, explains the theme of the song: “Tu vuò fa l’americano! Mmericano! Mmericano/ siente a me, chi t’ ho fa fa?/ Tu vuoi vivere alla moda/ ma se bevi whisky and soda/ po’ te sente ‘e disturbà,” followed by, “Tu abballe ‘o rock’en rol/ tu giochi al basebal/ ma ‘e solde pe’ Camel/ chi te li da?./ La borsetta di mammà!” The meaning is obvious: “(You guys) want to do the American,” “drink whisky and soda,” “dance rock ‘n roll,” “play baseball,” but the “money for your Camels still comes from your mom’s bag!” The word “scampanellando” literally means “tinkling” but actually refers to “making noise to draw attention.” As we can see, Neapolitan is very melodic, and we can hear the musicality of such words as “cuppulella” and “scampanianno,” as well as a melodramatic inflection that renders comprehension difficult for non-Italians, although it is also very evocative and picturesque.
The lyrics are quite simple, describing young guys in Napoli imitating American styles and poses: “Puorte o cazone cu ‘nu stemma arreto/ ‘na cuppulella cu ‘a visiera alzata./ Passe scampanianno pe’ Tuleto/ came a ‘nu guappo pe’ te fa guarda!” (In standard Italian, “ Porti dei calzone con uno stemma sul retro/ un cappellino con la visiera alzata/ Passi scampanellando per via Toledo come uno sbruffone per farti guardae”). "Since being released, it has brought Neapolitan music (and language) to the attention of Italy." The song is a critique of American culture’s penetration into Italian traditions and customs during the 50s, even though, paradoxically, it is built on the American rhythms of jazz swing! It became a classic and, since being released, has brought Neapolitan music (and language) to the attention of Italy. “ Tu vuò fa l’americano” is a song written by famous Neapolitan artist Renato Carosone in 1956.
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