Funiculì Funiculà - Mario Lanza

Funiculì Funiculà was a popular hit song performed in the 1950s by Mario Lanza (31 January 1921 -- 7 October 1959), an American tenor and Hollywood movie star. This is his English version.

Little needs to be said about the famous melody other than it being as sun-drenched and vivacious as a Napoli carnival. The content of the original lyrics by Turco, however, may enhance appreciation by the listener not familiar with Italian. Composed as a tie-in to the 1880 opening of the Mount Vesuvius funicular railway, the young hero of the song exasperatedly decries his volatile girlfriend's disposition. He takes the train to the top of the volcano, its fiery terrain recalling his beloved's "charms." Smitten afresh, he returns to ask her hand in marriage. The wry lyrics and familiar melody are buoyed by an infectious tarantella rhythm.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Funiculì
• Funiculà
• Mario
• Lanza

[AntonioChiesa]

What a stupid English version of a great song. I was brought up on Lanza, my mother loved him and I still think he had talent. Please don't judge him on this nonsense.

[ieoc6013]

And who is judging? Who is saying it is a "stupid" version? :-)

[badpdx]

Okay, I feel like the little boy in the Emperor's New Clothes.

I love Mario Lanza. I own almost everything commercially released on CD that he's ever done. I even have the rare Hollywood Bowl/Coke show CD.

I have to say, this is the most atrocious arrangement I've ever heard of any song, ever. Lanza sounds great, but the lyrics are horrible.

[ieoc6013]

Atrocious or not, it is him all right.  :-)

[ieoc6013]

People have commented about the "translation".

This is NOT an English translation. It is simply a song sung to the tune of the original.

[canegrace]

è una versione geniale, e ve lo dice una fanatica della canzone napoletana.

[ieoc6013]

对不起，我不明白你说什么。

sorry, i do not understand the language you have posted your comments. :-)

[dimare3]

The magnificent voice of Mario Lanza could belt out anything. I'm so glad he included fun songs like this. God bless you, Mario.

[Itaussieflyer]

The Original Song was "funiculi funicula" as the author said dedicate to the sky train who used to carry people from the city to the upper hills of the most beautiful city of the World.

I am from Naples and I'm so glad that someone from a foreigen country appriced an important piece of my culture.

This is something cheerful as our town is facing a terrible time

Thank you from Italy!

[goldwingman1500]

HOW TIME,S CHANG use the word GAY now it,s bring,s it a new light ????

[ThaToymaker]

its ok in english but sounds good in original language

[OzzieJohnFerguson]

Mario was FANTASTIC!

[kaledutu]

we should be gay.lmao=)))

[invaderem117]

Hahaha woww. Apparently most people don't know the true and first definition of gay.

[Richard40171]

Why are some complaining about this English version? Take it on its own terms. Art is not scholarship, otherwise every Hollywood film would be condemned, including THE SEARCHERS, VERTIGO, and CASABLANCA. Wright-Forrest made a career adapting classical composers for the stage; then there's Lilac (aka Blossom) Time based on Schubert's lieder. Why not condemn the funeral march based on Frere Jacques from Mahler's First Symphony? As a French folk song it's ridiculous; as music it's SUBLIME.

[neSium1337]

@ieoc6013

im also saying its a stupid version...

[minestrone3]

now that's a man ahead of his time! 'we should be GAY'! too f*&%ing right we should! be out and be proud!

and he lived in the 50s when being gay was illegal!!! think of that! f*&^% homophobes!

[Uruguruh]

Yes. We should be gay.

[thesickleone]

@stracka08 and when he sang it, it ONLY meant happy, hahaha. (I was expecting the italian version and that line to start made me LOL, hahahaha)