Edoardo Bennato is an Italian singer songwriter who was born in Naples in 1946. He began his music career in the sixties and has since been known for being an innovative blues, rock and roll, and folk singer. He performed many of his songs as a literal one man band; singing, strumming guitar, and playing harmonica, kazoo and foot-drum.
Bennato released Viva La Mamma in 1989. I think it sounds like an alternative version of a rock/pop song. He has a kind of nasally voice that contributes to the songs uniqueness. My favorite part of the song is when catchy guitar strums and a trumpet introduce the first chorus. The first verse builds up to this moment and when the chorus begins it undoubtedly invokes dancing along.
I think the lyrics are about how Italy has changed since the 1950s and 60s, especially for the mothers. He seems to suggest that rock n roll culture is either proof of the changes or their cause. One verse reads
Angeli ballano il rock ora
Angels dance rock now
non è un juke-box è un orchestra vera
Its is not a juke-box, it is a live orchestra
viva la mamma perché se ti parlo di lei
Live momma because if i talk to you about her/it
non sei gelosa!…
You are not jealous
The song goes on to allude to the fact that mothers may have a harder time connecting to their kids in the 1980s because they did not grow up in the same time or with the same music. Rock n roll had a huge impact on youth culture and it is difficult to unite generations when there has been such a distinct shift in contemporary culture.
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Bettina's Music 