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Lyrics and English translations for the music of Andrea Bocelli |
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Miserere Launches a Phenomenon |
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| The song, Miserere, written by Italian rock star Zucchero Fornaciari with English lyrics by U2’s Bono, was critical to Andrea Bocelli’s rise from piano bar singer to international phenomenon. This unique song is a duet between a "bluesman" and an operatic tenor. In 1992, Zucchero hoped to persuade Luciano Pavarotti to record it with him and needed a demo to play for the maestro. The recording studio remembered Andrea from work he had produced for himself at the studio, and they called him to perform the demo with Zucchero. | |
When Michele Torpedine
(who later became Andrea's manager) played the demo for Pavarotti, the maestro
reportedly made extremely positive comments about Andrea’s voice,
refusing to believe that he was an unknown musician and singer in a piano
bar. He is reported to have said, "Thank you for writing such a wonderful song. Yet you do not
need me to sing it - let Andrea sing Miserere with you, for there is no
one finer." In the end, Pavarotti did indeed record the duet with
Zucchero, and it became a big hit in Europe.
Listen to a clip from the English version |
Listen
to Zucchero and the maestro Pavarotti |
| Meanwhile, Andrea was desperately hoping to be given the chance to sing the song in Zucchero's live performances which Pavarotti most certainly would not do. Finally, Zucchero invited Andrea to go on tour with him to perform the Miserere duet in 1993. | |
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The success of his
performances in this tour led to a recording contract with Sugar Records,
who entered Andrea in the new acts category of the prestigious San Remo
Music Festival in November 1993. A surprising solo performance of the duet with Andrea
singing both the "bluesman" part as well as that of the tenor
led to a win in the preliminary competition with the highest marks ever
recorded in the category.
Listen to a clip from
San Remo Andrea included his "solo duet"
of Miserere on his first album, Il Mare Calmo Della Sera in 1994. |
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In 1995, Andrea toured Europe
with John Miles, Bryan Ferry, Roger Hodgson, and Al Jarreau in the Night of the
Proms concert series - a unique mix of pop and classical music. The
Proms own web site, http://www.notp.com
calls Andrea its "greatest revelation." He performed Miserere in duet with John Miles,
and a live recording of one of these performances is featured on
the album, Romanza.
Listen
to a clip from Romanza |
 Photo courtesy of The Bocelli Network |
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Then in 1997, Andrea and Zucchero teamed up again to sing Miserere in Andrea’s own showcase,
A Night in Tuscany, a concert that is now known and loved by millions
worldwide.
Listen
to a clip from A Night in Tuscany |
| Zucchero
Fornaciari Miserere, miserere, miserere, misero me, però brindo alla vita! Ma che mistero, è la mia vita, che mistero! Sono un peccatore dell'anno ottantamila, un menzognero! Ma dove sono e cosa faccio, come vivo? Vivo nell'anima del mondo perso nel vivere profondo! Miserere, misero me, però brindo alla vita! Io sono il santo che ti ha tradito quando eri solo e vivo altrove e osservo il mondo dal cielo, e vedo il mare e le foreste, vedo me che... Vivo nell'anima del mondo perso nel vivere profondo! Miserere, misero me, però brindo alla vita! Se c'è una notte buia abbastanza da nascondermi, nascondermi, se c'è una luce, una speranza, sole magnifico che splendi dentro me dammi la gioia di vivere che ancora non c'è! Miserere, miserere, quella gioia di vivere che forse ancora non c'è. © 1992 PolyGram Italia Srl / Zucchero & Fornaciari Music Srl |
English
translation Miserere, miserere, miserere, miserable me, but I toast life! But what a mystery my life is, what a mystery! I am a sinner from the year eighty thousand, a liar! But where am I and what am I doing, how do I live? I live in the soul of the world lost in the depths of life! Miserere, miserable me, but I toast life! I am the saint who betrayed you when you were alone. I live elsewhere and observe the world from the sky and I see the sea and the forests, I see myself… I live in the soul of the world lost in the depths of life! Miserere, miserable me, but I toast life! If there is a night dark enough to hide me, hide me, if there is a light, a hope, magnificent sun that shines inside me, give me the joy to live that is not yet there. Miserere, miserere, that joy to live that perhaps is not yet there. |
English version Lyrics by Bono Miserere, miserere, miserere, misero me, però brindo alla vita! Who is the child sleeping here in my bed Where are the words to say What's left unsaid Yeah I've been lying, I've been hiding Here beside you I was the saint who disowned you Now I'm the beggar who owes you Miserere, misero me, però brindo alla vita! Is there a night dark enough for us to hide There is the light bright enough to make us blind Yeah I'm a straying man Lord I got no plan Drinking from another well Vivo nell'anima del mondo perso nel vivere profondo! Miserere, misero me, però brindo alla vita! Another road, another place tomorrow Running from you, running from love You give me so much to hold on. Sole magnifico che splendi dentro me dammi la gioia di vivere Oh help me now, help me now! Miserere, miserere, Like a bird with a broken wing In your arms, I'm afraid to sing. |
