Naples is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Sure, recently it has had lots of socio-economic problems but that is a different issue. In particular Naples is known for the near perfect climate, for the clear blue sky and the gorgeous gulf. But the single most striking things are the light (as in brightness) and the lightness (as in levity) of the air.
Neapolitans have a say: "Vedi Napoli e poi muori," literally "See Naples then die," but better rendered as "After one sees Naples one can die happy."
Neapolitans also have a reputation for being cheerful and philosophical about life, but also melancholic and very, very nostalgic.
You can see these traits in the two songs.
In a brief paragraph write your comment about the songs. Also: how do you think the people in your tribe would react BOTH TO THE MUSICAL QUALITY and THE MESSAGE of these songs?
I preferred “Lacreme Napuletane” over “Santa Lucia Luntana” because of the melody of the song. Both songs were really depressing, lyrically, and I generally listen to upbeat, happy music. It is for this reason that I prefer “Lacreme Napuletane.” In this song, although the lyrics are somber, the actually melody is fairly upbeat (as upbeat as a song with its lyrics can get). It is a much easier song to listen to; if there was no translation, it seems like a song that I would like to listen to just for the melody. “Santa Lucia Luntana” is just way too depressing for me to handle. There is a slow, downbeat melody and these lyrics are more somber than the other song’s. But as a whole, I do enjoy Neapolitan music, I just prefer it to be upbeat, happy, and dare I say, funny. The members of my tribe (ItAms), in my own experience, all enjoy listening to all kinds of Italian music, even if the songs aren’t translated.
ReplyDeleteLacime Napuletane is definitely my favorite of the two songs. Santa Maria Luntana is also quite good, but the richer instrumentation and the singer's voice make Lacrime something special. Without understanding the Neapolitan dialect, the overall feeling that the singer brings to the tune makes it universally understandable. That quality would probably cause members of my tribe to react favorably to the music- and to also try to understand the message.
ReplyDeleteI found Lacime Napuletane to be my favorite as well. It was just filled with so much emotion that made it relatable to anyone who listened to it. The lyrics had such a deep meaning that made me really sympathize with Italian Americans. I also felt that the music that accompanied it matched the feeling of sadness and longing that the artist was trying to play. The background music that accompanied Santa Maria Luntana was not as good to me.
DeletePersonally I enjoyed both songs, even though they do have some sad undertones. It is obvious through lacrime napuletane that the neapolitan immigrants were home-sick, and missed their home town. From Santa Lucia Luntana, we get the same understanding of the homesickness of the immigrants, but we also get a glimpse of the difficulties of travelling the world for fortune only to realize the real fortune is not monetary, but the beauty and simple life of the "home town." My tribe would definitely relate to these songs, especially my father. He immigrated from Sicily at the age of 7 and hasn't returned since. He too wishes he can return someday, to see what has become of the place he knew over 40 years ago. I wouldn't call him homesick, but he still has many family members still in Italy that he hasn't met yet.
ReplyDeleteI, too, thought that both songs were good. I understand what you are saying about older relatives being homesick for Italy. In my family, a lot of Italian music is played. After songs like these are played, where everyone is kind of a little sad, then something happy is played. We listen to a lot of ItAm novelty songs to lighten our spirits. There’s an old Lou Monte best of record that’s so funny. Most of his songs mix Italian (Calabrese/Sicilian), English, and some Brooklyneese mix of the two (like “Dominick the Donkey,” “Lazy Mary,” and “Pepino, the Italian Mouse,” to name a few). All in all, I think that you need songs like these to lighten the mood after more homesick/slightly depressing songs.
DeleteBoth songs are so beautiful despite how bittersweet the lyrics are. "Santa Lucia Luntana," however really struck me and made me feel homesick from Naples even though I've never been. The description makes Santa Lucia seem mythical with the bright moon and the Sirens. If I was a tribesmen during that time, I'm sure it would be embraced whole heartedly. I feel such pride, this song has to pull on the natives heart strings. The lyrics sing about the true essence of a neapolitan, wealth isn't the main concern, it's happiness.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way! I'm not from Naples, nor have I ever been to Italy (even though I am Italian American) and listening to these songs made me wish I was there! There is definitely a heavy sense of nostalgia and longing contained within the melodic and lyrical compositions of the songs.
DeleteThat is an excellent way to view this song. I went back and listened to it again after reading what you wrote and I can see where you are coming from. However, I would say Lacrime napuletane made me feel more homesick talking about Christmas and set a place for me at the table. I can really relate to that; missing that special time with family and being home. I still liked Lacrime napuletane better, but I appreciate your perspective.
DeleteMusically, I enjoyed the sounds of Santa Lucia Luntana. I felt like the acoustic guitar coupled with the soft singer's voice gave a feeling of nostalgia, longing, and an appreciation of the past. Lyrically, I believe that Lacrime Napuletane had stronger vocals to bring about a feeling of despair and hopelessness. The lyrics that struck me the most were, "I have a few dollars in my pocket, but I have never felt so miserable." I feel that the hopelessness conveyed by Pascal D'Angelo in Son of Italy is also conveyed through Lacrime Napuletane and its sad vocals.
ReplyDeleteI think that others in my tribe of Italian Americans would feel a sense of nostalgia and longing for the home country, Italy. I know that many of the members of my family wish to see Italy again, but they never find time to go. I do believe that they won't agree with the message of the songs as many of the members of my family are well off and doing okay in America. On the other hand, they definitely miss their country of nationality.
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DeleteI agree with you Joseph, I really liked the first song and it definitely carries a mellow nostalgic feeling and the longing to be home. The second was more downbeat and almost a cry of hopelessness, despair and regret and it reminded me of the Son of Italy characters
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DeleteI agree. What comes to mind in particular is when at the beginning of the book, when his mother tells him that his father his departing for America, Pascal is filled with tears because he has heard so much about this place called strange place called America where people vanish to and never return. Before he became curious, Pascal said he became very angry with America for stealing his father from him. When Pascal decides to go with his father to America, the same thoughts of sadness and despair fill his mother's mind knowing her son won't return. I think what hope and happiness she did get is when he makes it at the end and his name becomes known in Europe.
DeleteMaybe my brain likes to believe what it wants to or I am left only with a vision of the book's end, but somehow because I found "Son of Italy" a tale of hope / inspirational I see the songs as portraying the immigrant that was stuck in the past and couldn't move on and make something for himself. Pascal leaves me with a feeling of triumph even though his story is full of trials & tribulations. The lesson I took away from the book was to not look back and dwell on the past, to savor the beauty of the present and to strive for a better tomorrow.
DeleteThe songs felt familiar to me because Spanish language slow pop or ballads songs (which is still considered popular music in Latin America and Spanish stations in the U.S.) tend to be melancholic and like these songs carry out a love message or struggle of life. When I listened to both songs I was instinctively connected to the readings we've done so far and made me think about the characters and their conflict worlds of hope and dispair. The Santa Lucia Lontana song reminded me more of the Move L'Emigrante where the character was more likely to write a love song for the country while the Lacrime Napolitana made me think of the laborers which was more of a cry and longing to be there but unable and wondering if it was all worth it.
ReplyDeleteI think my tribe will be able to relate to these songs because as I mentioned above we have very similar songs, to the point where I think I have listned to them before this class. In my tribe some people still feel that home is still in the Dominican Replic (usually those that came as adults) and they go back often. Even though some of them go a couple of times per year or every year to visit I'm sure they will relate to these songs easily. I'm not sure about the younger generation though. I liked the songs and would listen to them but it doesn't have the same effect on me as say my mother.
I preferred "Santa Lucia Luntana" over "Lacreme Napuletane". Lacreme Napuletane sound is too sad for me, it made me feel as if i was in a dark room and confined. Santa Lucia Luntana was a little bit more uplifting, due to the tone.
ReplyDeleteIf my tribe looked at these videos and heard the songs, I'm sure they would respond with sympatheic emotions and recognize the hardship that the Italians endure. I showed the videos to three individuals from my tribe, to allow me to see these expressions of sadness.The pictures were definitely powerful on its own, however the music once added conveyed more of a exact story line about what exactly those Neopolitians are feeling.
I agree, I also preferred Santa Lucia Luntana as well. Both songs are essentially ode's to Napoli, and its natural beauty. I think any immigrant, or tribe can relate with sympathy to this song, since most tribes have very similar folk songs.
DeleteI preferred Santa Lucia Luntana. I think that it was the more nostalgic, romantic, and emotional of the two. It is true that both songs are sad and somber, but with lyrics like "we circle the whole world, / we go to seek our fortunes, / but when the moon rises / far from Naples, / you cannot stay away" is is far more hopeful than Lacrime Napuletane (which has lyrics more along the lines of "I am meat for the slaughterhouse"). Because of this, I think the reaction to Santa Lucia Luntana would be positive and inspiring, encouraging the immigrants to remember where they came from and what their goals were in coming to the new world. Their reaction to Lacrime Napuletane would be more pessimistic and cynical, in that it bemoans the lifestyle they cannot escape from.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Lacrime Napuletane as it reminded me of my youth. I left my family at the age of 12 and moved to Chicago for High School (thankfully it was not because of poverty) and there were many holidays that I could not be together with my family. I used to wonder sometimes if they would set a place at the table for me on such occasions (it was probably a silly thought but I was homesick then) and if it was worth it for me the whole bother of being so far away in order to get this prized education that my parents were so obsessed with. I also feel that it is a song that reflects the despair that the immigrants had and Santa Lucia Luntana doesn't accurately portray their pain or describe their real plight in full. The melody in Lacrime Napuletane was catchy to me (possibly it's repetitive sound) and the tune popped into my head randomly a few hours after I listened to it. My tribe would definitely empathize with both songs.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed Lacrime Napuletane more than the other song. The melody is very catchy. I know what you mean when you say that it can remind you of your youth. There is another Neapolitan song that my father and my grandfather always listen to. It is basically a happy, upbeat love song called "Piccolissima Serenata" by Renato Carosone. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb998U3q83c) They used to play it on a 33 rpm record player. Whenever I listen to this song, it reminds me of them.
DeleteIt's funny because I like Neapolitan music but for example one of my favorite singers of this genre, Gianni Fiorellino is around my age and he sounds nothing like the 2 songs we listened to. Thank you for sharing as I thought all of the older songs were the depressing dragging types. Sergio Bruni comes to mind and although he has a powerful voice, he puts me to sleep. I was happy to hear Renato Carosone with an upbeat and catchy tune back in the '50's that made me smile!
DeleteI really liked "Santa Lucia Luntana". It sounds so light hearted to me, the melody is so beautiful and pleasant to hear, but the meaning behind the song is what struck me most. It possesses strong lyrical content. I liked little details in the song, when the artist is sort of painting the image of Lucia in form of the moon, paining a picture of what he remembers. But both songs reveal the singer's love to Italy. I heard the song many times, but never paid much attention to it. I believe unless you understand the true meaning of the song you cant fully appreciate it. The song is loved by my tribe for being popular and pleasant to hear, one of the reasons is that Italian is a beautiful language. They also assume because of the sad melody, the song carries sad meaning.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard the song before, but was struck by the beautiful sad melody to it, and the beautiful picture it paints of Naples. I have been to Italy before but never Naples. On my next trip there i will definitely go and stay for a few days and look at the bay in the moonlight because of this song, and the new details i can try to appreciate about the city.
DeleteGreat description! I too enjoyed this song.
DeleteI agree, it had a very hopeful longing to it that was unparalleled.
DeleteBoth songs for me conveyed the mood of sadness. For a while I really did get lost in the songs, especially when I translated Lacrime Napuletane to English ( that was the song I preferred lyrically and musically). Lucio Dalla was the first Italian artist that I listened to, and the intense emotion that came through his his songs. Lacrime Napulatene expresses what I think I have ome to learn about Italians, their patriotism, their and commitment to family.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs are beautiful and also display a deep feeling of sadness about the breakup of families when some have to leave to find work because of hardships in their home countries. Some of them never return to their family/country.I think my family (and tribe) can relate to the message of these songs as they came here to America looking for opportunity and to make it here but they also had to leave some family members behind. Some of them have said they can't wait to go back but stay here as it's difficult to make enough to be financially secured to the point where they can just leave.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs are filled with such longing. Just by reading the words, we can see how much each individual longs to return to the country that they love, but cannot because they have to make a better life for themselves in America. They probably felt like America is not what they thought it would be, which made me pity them more because I doubt any of them expected to live or work in such dreadful conditions. In my opinion, I found Lacrime Nepuletane to be so much emotional and heart wrenching because you can almost see how hopeless the singer feels. At the 4:23 mark, he sings, "I am meat good only for the slaughterhouse. I am an emigrant." What a pitiful line. It's so sad to know that that's how immigrants felt.
ReplyDeleteMy tribe may have mixed feelings to these songs. While I found the quality of the music and the message to be brilliant, my tribe is usually associated with music such as rap and hip-hop. So because the music isn't usually what they listen to, they may not like it. However, I'm sure they will be able to understand it and relate to it once they read the words.
Alethia, I assume that by referencing rap and hip-hop you are talking about African Americans. Yet in African American tradition there is the incredibly deep influence of the Blues and Gospel music. It is absolutely true that the musicality is different but, as you said, the lyrics would convey the same sense of longing and yearning for liberation.
DeleteSanta Lucia sounds like a folk song and seems to be more up beat. The lyrics are sad but the quality of the music doesn't seem to match. Lacrime Napuletane is more of an art song, and definitely conveys more feeling both in the singer voice and the minor key the song is written in. I prefer Lacrime napuletane, I really enjoyed the singers voice and it stirred my emotions, which is very important to me when it come to music.
ReplyDeleteYou said it, the singers voice in Lacrime Napuletane really reverberates inside. I was really impressed by the rhyme scheme as well, even in a different language, all the words flowed beautifully together. Both songs really resonated, I was very impressed. It's rare nowadays that we actually get treated to musicians with true voices.
DeleteI personally enjoyed Santa Lucia more than Lacrime Napuletane. I felt Lacrime to be unorganized and all over the place, whereas i found Santa Lucia to flow and evoked an emotional response within me. Within my tribe, i believe they would appreciate both the music of Santa Lucia and the message greatly, as Jews are constantly longing for their homeland that they are unable to occupy for geopolitical and socioeconomic reasons. The emotions evoked by Santa Lucia is something that Jews feel everyday in regard to the State of Israel, and we long for the day when all Jews can live there in peace and happiness, something one can feel in regards to Neoploitans from the song.
ReplyDeleteDavid, in part it is my fault. This is the first time I teach online and I cannot convey all the information I give in regular course (or I would overwhelm you with details.)
DeleteLacrime Napuletane is part of a musical, a genre of theater show called "sceneggiata", in the same vein of opera, but much cheaper and cornier.
Anyway, the song is the letter of an emigrant who writes to his mother around Xmas time. The 'signora' he mentions is his former wife who left him for a richer man, abandoning her children.
I actually really liked both songs, the message that they convey has a way of reaching out and it maked you want to listen to the story behind it. A story of love, struggle and depeneding on who is listening to them and what is going on it can somehow reflect on you and just make you think.
ReplyDeleteJust like Leslie I am Dominican and I feel that my tribe can relate. In fact we have songs very similar to this in the melody as well as what the song is conveying.