O Sarracino, Renato Carosone

A great song and still greater performance by Renato Carosone and Gegè Di Giacomo. Written in 1958 by Carosone and Nisa, the "Sarracino" - etymologically "Saracen" is a nickname for a handsome, dark-haired guy, a rogue every woman dreams of, with curly hair and a suntanned face.

At first Carosone wanted this figure to be an oriental character, but Nicola Salerno (Nisa) convinced him to make the Sarracino e Neapolitan character. 'O Sarracino appeared as a 45rpm recoderd by the sestet Renato Carosone (vocal, piano) Gegè Di Giacomo (drums, percussion, voice), Piero Giorgetti (bass, voice), Raf Montrasio (guitar), Riccardo Rauchi (percussion), Gianni Tozzi Rambaldi (saxophone), Tonino Grottola (clarinet) and a special appearance of Aldo Pagani (percussion).

Among the many interpreters over the years, Gigi D'Alessio won with his performance the "Viva Napoli" variety show in 1999. Other versions were performed by Renzo Arbore and the Orchestra Italiana for the album "At Carnegie Hall New York", and other artists as Franco Ricciardi, Claudio Villa, Mario Trevi, Edoardo Bennato, Fiorello and Mina.

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Grazie! Concludiamo questa breve chiacchieratina con un saluto a tutti quanti, nessuno escluso. Un saluto particolare voglio mandarlo alla mia cara e bella città di Napoli, che mi ha dato il via a questa carriera, e un profondo riconoscimento, una profonda riconoscenza alla grande città di Milano che mi ha dato la laurea di artista internazionale. Grazie!
Ed ora, signore e signori, voglio dedicare una delle mie canzoni, che mi è tanto simpatica, e mi piace molto, ai miei amici napoletani, dal titolo 'O Sarracino.

Thank you! We are closing this brief little chat with a greeting to everyone, without exception. I want to send a special greeting to my dear and beautiful city of Naples, which has given me the start in this career, and a deep recognition, a deep gratitude to the great city of Milan, which gave me a degree as international artist. Thank you!
And now, ladies and gentlemen, I want to dedicate one of my songs, which is so nice, and I really like, to my Neapolitan friends, entitled 'O Sarracino.

'O Sarracino, 'o Sarracino,
bello guaglione!
'O sarracino, 'o sarracino,
tutte 'e femmene fa nnammura'

The Sarracino, the Sarracino,
handsome guy!
The Sarracino, the Sarracino,
all women he makes fall in love!

Tene 'i capille ricce ricce,
'll uocchie 'e brigante
e 'o sole 'nfaccia,
ogne figliola s'appiccia
si 'o vede 'e passà.

He has curly hair
the eyes of the robber
and the sun in his face
every girl is on fire
if she sees him passing

'Na sigaretta 'mmocca,
'na mano dint' 'a sacca
e se ne va smargiasso
pe' tutt' 'a città.

a cigarette in his mouth
with one hand in pocket
and goes walking, a bully,
throughout the city.

'O sarracino, 'o sarracino,
bello guaglione!
'O sarracino, 'o sarracino,
tutte 'e femmene fa suspirà...
È bello 'e faccia
è bello 'e core,
sape fa' 'mmore!
È malandrino,
è tentatore,
si 'o guardate
ve fa' nnammurà.

The Sarracino, the Sarracino,
handsome guy!
The Sarracino, the Sarracino,
all women he makes sigh ...
Handsome in his face,
Handsome in his heart,
he knows how to make love
He is a scoundrel
He is tempting,
if you look at him
he makes you fall in love.

E 'na bionda s'avvelena,
e 'na bruna se ne more.
è veleno o calamita?
chisto 'e femmene che ll' fa?
'O sarracino, 'o sarracino,
bello guaglione!
È bello 'e faccia
è bello 'e core,
si 'o guardate ve fa' nnammurà.

And a blonde takes poison,
and a brunette dies for him.
Is it poison or a magnet?
what does this guy make to women?
Sarracino, Sarracino,
handsome guy!
Handsome in his face,
Handsome in his heart,
if you look at him
he makes you fall in love.

Sarracino, sarracino,
bello 'e faccia
bello 'e core,
sarracino, sarracino!

Sarracino, Sarracino,
Handsome in his face,
Handsome in his heart,
sarracino, sarracino!

Ma 'na rossa, 'll ata sera,
cu 'nu vaso e cu 'na scusa,
t'ha arrubbato anema e core!
Sarracino, nun si cchiù tu!

But a redhead, the other night,
with a kiss and an excuse,
stole your soul and heart!
Sarracino, you are not yourself any more!

Sarracino, sarracino,
bello 'e faccia
bello 'e core,
sarracino, sarracino!

Sarracino, Sarracino,
Handsome in his face,
Handsome in his heart
sarracino, sarracino!

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