First, belated Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.

Yesterday, after stuffing ourselves (me hubby, my 3 kids, their spouses and my 13 grandkids) one of my teenaged granddaughters took out her notebook computer. It was around dessert time, so I wasnt paying much attention, with trying to dish out goodies..but she kept playing this catchy little song over and over again. I knew it wasnt English..but really wasnt paying attention, until my other daughter asked if I could download the song for her.

So..I went over to the little computer and asked my granddaughter to give me the name and artist of this song. She said, its "We no speak Americano". I wrote it down.

I came home, found and downloaded the song. Clicked to listen..and now with my full attention and my good speakers and subwoofer..with the first line of the song..I said..heyyyy..this is NOT Spanish..its Italian.

I did a quick search for info on the song and this is what I found:

"We No Speak Americano" is a song by Australian duo Yolanda Be Cool and producer DCUP. It was released on the independent Australian label Sweat It Out on 27 February 2010. The song samples the 1956 song "Tu vuò fà l'americano" by Renato Carosone, written by Carosone and Nicola Salerno. "We No Speak Americano" became a hit in Europe, Australia, and Latin America[1] as well as a top 40 hit in the U.S. and Canada.[2] It also won the 2010 ARIA award for "Best Dance Release."

Apparently, this just found its way to the radio station the kids listen to..but its on youtube here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3S4dBk4E1g

I believe this is the orginal from the 1950s:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zAO3f0c1XY

Ok, so I clicked on the link to watch the video when my son came upstairs. After saying good morning I asked him if he knew this song and he replied "Yea, who doesn't know this song? It's about a guy who came to America and speaks no English so that's why it's called We No Speak Americano". I replied, "me - that's who and some of my friends because I never heard of it before now!" So, no, you did not miss the party at all!

And belated Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

I have to say..this song is catchy. I also looked up the lyrics. I am not fluent in Italian, but I am willing to bet these lyrics, that appear all over the place (these sites copy from each other) are not correct. My mother spoke Napolitano dialect and thats what this song is..I can pick out some words..that dont even show up in their lyrics.

I am glad its not only me that never heard it before..but, I mostly listen to the radio in the car, where hubby thinks its still 1950. He found this am radio station from Connecticut (we live in NY) that plays 50s music and unless I have the grandkids with me..this is what I am stuck listening to.

Anyway..I am glad the Italians are back in the game..lol There was a time when you turned the radio on and half the songs were in Italian.

Well, this song was on the radio all summer and became a real obsession. Actually it's not Italian! It's Neapolitan! And I just understand a part of it. The original song is "Tu vuo' fa l'americano" which means "You want to be American" so "We no speak Americano" is not the exact translation. The song it's not about a guy who went to America and didn't speak English but about a guy living in Naples who wanted to act as he was American. Yes, the song comes from the original one written by Carosone. I only understand part of the song (the original). It's in dialect but I found the version in Neapolitan with the translation in Italian.

Tu vuò fà ll'americano

and this should be the translation:

You’re wearing trousers with a tag on the back
and a cap with the visor turned up,
parading around Toledo *
like a lady’s man trying to be seen

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

* I think Toledo could be a quarter in Naples


Ada

Thanks for the translation. I guess it was Italian to me..because my mother spoke the Napolitano dialect. I would also guess that most Americans who learned Italian as children (from their parents)..are still speaking diialects here.