Sunday Song–Yolanda Be Cool

 

image courtesy of shareseeking.com

 

This week I am featuring an Australian duo that this summer was a terrific hit here in Italy Yolanda Be Cool. The band consists of Sylvester Martinez and Johnson Peterson. They collaborated with an Australian producer Duncan MacLennan, known as DCUP to release an international recording of 'We No Speak Americano'. I was very interested to read that this is not a new song at all but a remix (I think that is the term) of a 1956 Neapolitan hit Tu Vu Fa L'Americano performed and written by Renato Carosone. It was basically telling Italians to be themselves as after the Second world War with so many American troops in the country, many young Italians were  impressed with everything American and imitated their behaviour and style of dress.

Since that song the phrase 'fare l'americano.' or 'doing the American' has become associated with describing  a person who tries to impress foreign friends by imitating them and abandoning his roots.

I got the idea to use this song from a blog I came across recently that had written a post mentioning that it was impossible to avoid this song in Italy this summer. How right they are I thought and with their kind permission and a link to the original post, Students In Rome Blog I am copying them in using this somewhat addictive if annoying song as my Sunday Song feature this week.  It somehow seems appropriate not just because it was one of the most popular songs in the Italian pop music charts this summer reaching number two, but also because they are currently on tour in Australia, the home of this regular Sunday Song feature that I participate in.

"We No Speak Americano" topped the German, Austrian, Irish, UK, Danish, Dutch, Swedish and Belgian charts so far, and reached the Top 5 in Australia, France, Spain and Norway. It was also a chart hit in Italy, New Zealand, Argentina and several other countries. 

 

Courtesy of SpinninRec

Comme te po'
Comme te po'
Comme te po' capì chi te vò bene
Si tu le parle 'mmiezzo americano?
Quando se fa l'ammore sotto 'a luna
Come te vene 'capa e di: "I love you!?"
Pa pa l' americano
Pa pa l' americano
Pa pa l' americano
Fa l' americano!
Pa pa l' americano
Fa fa l' americano
Whisky soda e rockenroll
Whisky soda e rockenroll
Whisky soda e rockenroll

I also discovered that this duos name  is a reference to the film "Pulp Fiction", where the character Jules (played by Samuel L. Jackson) shouts "Yolanda be cool" to a female armed robber named Yolanda (played by Amanda Plummer).

Still want to find out more about Yolanda Be Cool then try this website link My Space

I thought it might also be fun to include the original by Renato Carosone here as well.

Video and lyrics courtesy of TarAntXon

Puorte o' calzone cu 'nu stemma arreto
'na cuppulella cu 'a visiera alzata.
Passe scampanianno pe' Tuleto
camme a 'nu guappo pe' te fa guardà!
Tu vuò fa l' americano!
mmericano! mmericano
siente a me, chi t' ho fa fa?
tu vuoi vivere alla moda
ma se bevi whisky and soda
po' te sente 'e disturbà.
Tu abballe 'o roccorol
tu giochi al basebal '
ma 'e solde pe' Camel
chi te li dà? ...
La borsetta di mammà!
Tu vuò fa l' americano
mmericano! mmericano!
ma si nato in Italy!
siente a mme
non ce sta' niente a ffa
o kay, napolitan!
Tu vuò fa l' american!
Tu vuò fa l' american!
Comme te po' capì chi te vò bene
si tu le parle 'mmiezzo americano?
Quando se fa l 'ammore sotto 'a luna
come te vene 'capa e di:"I love you!?"
Tu vuò fa l' americano
mmericano! mmericano
siente a me, chi t'ho fa fa?
tu vuoi vivere alla moda...
-------------------------------------------------------------
You're wearing trousers with a tag on the back
and a cap with the visor turned up,
parading around Tuleto
like a bully trying to show off
You're acting all american,
american, american,
listen here: who's asking you to?
You want to be all trendy,
but if you drink "whisky and soda"
you always end up sick!
You're dancing rock and roll,
and playing baseball,
but where'd you get the money
for the Camel cigarettes?
Mummy's handbag!
You're acting all american,
american, american,
but you're born in Italy, listen here:
there's nothing you can do,
ok napoletano?!
You're acting all american,
american, american,
How can your loved one understand
if you're speaking half american?
When you're out loving uder the moon,
where do you get a phrase like "I love you"?
You're acting all american,
american, american,
but you're born in Italy, listen here:
there's nothing you can do,
ok napoletano?!
You're acting all american,
american, american,
...whisky soda e rock and roll
-------------------------------------------------------------
Llevas pantalones con marca en el trasero
Una gorra con la visera hacia arriba
Andas campaneando por Toledo
como un chulo, para hacerte notar
Quieres hacerte el americano
óyeme, ¿quién te pide que lo hagas?
Tú quieres vivir a la moda,
pero si bebes "whisky and soda"
luego te sientes mareado
Tú bailas rock and roll
tú juegas al béisbol
pero el dinero para el Camel
¿quién te lo da? ¿El monedero de mamá?
Quieres hacerte el americano
pero naciste en Italy
óyeme: no hay nada que hacer
¿ok, napolitano?
-------------------------------------------------------------
Porti i calzoni con l'etichetta dietro
e il berrettino con la visiera alzata
passi dandoti arie per la strada [Via Toledo, a Napoli]
come un bullo che si vuol far guardare!
Tu Vuoi far l'Americano, Americano, Americano
Sentimi, chi te lo fa fare?
Tu vuoi vivere alla moda
ma se bevi whisky & soda
poi finisci per star male.
Tu balli il rock & roll
e giochi a baseball
ma i soldi per le sigarette [Camel]
dove li vai a prendere?
Dalla borsetta di tua mamma!
Tu Vuoi far l'Americano, Americano, Americano!
Ma sei nato in Italy
Senti qui non c'e' niente da fare
OK, Napoletano?
Come ti puo' capire chi ti vuol bene
se tu le parli mezzo Americano?
Quando si fa l'amore sotto la luna
come ti viene in testa di dire "I love you"?

 

More Sunday Songs can be found by visiting 5 Minutes Just for Me

 

Buono Domenica Tutti and thanks to Students In Rome Blog for permission to use their idea.

All the text, videos and photos used here have come from my own research on the internet and as always I have given credit where credit is due.