This will the sixth and final video from the song by Toto Cutugno where we can learn Italian with Music by looking at L’Italiano. We will go over the phrase “piano piano” and the use of the word “ne” in Italian.
SIXTH VIDEO – L’Italiano by Toto Cutugno
Lydia: Very good point, yes.
Larry: Alright. Then we’ve got Lydia, you’re doing it.
Lydia: “Lasciatemi cantare, Con la chitarra in mano, Lasciatemi cantare, Una canzona…canzone piano piano”.
Larry: Yeah, let’s hear it!
(video plays)
Larry: Alright, so that was: “Lasciatemi cantare”?
Lydia: “Let me sing”.
Larry: “Con la chitarra in mano”.
Lydia: “With my guitar in hand, Let me sing, A song slowly slowly”.
Larry: Yes, perfect.
Tony: Actually, let me ask you a question. “Piano piano”, doesn’t mean “slowly slowly”, it means “slowly”, right?
Larry: Right.
Tony: So it’s not that he’s repeating words slowly, it becomes “slowly” when it’s “piano piano”.
Kathleen: Correct.
Larry: Yeah, it’s just like an emphasis word. This word actually comes from the word “pianoforte”, the instrument, so it’s an instrument that goes from those soft scales all the way to loud, strong, you know? It’s an instrument that’s got a wide range, so that’s where that words comes from, “pianoforte”. “Piano piano” is like “slow”…you know, like “slowly”.
Tony: Let me ask you another question. So, if I just said “una canzone piano” what would that mean?
Larry: It’s not really used that much. “Piano piano” is like a customary expression.
Tony: That’s what I thought.
Larry: They would still understand what you meant, but it’s not…you know. The common way is “piano piano”.
Tony: To me, if you just say “piano” it just means “floor”, like the first floor, or something?
Lydia: “Primo piano, secondo piano”.
Larry: “Primo piano” …yeah, there would be confusion, so that’s why they say “piano piano”, to emphasize the slowly aspect of the song. “It’s an easy song, I want to play a nice, easy, slow song”, you know? Not a too difficult, too loud, too strong, so…
Alright. So, who’s up now? I forgot. Ann, you are?
Ann: Yes. Ok. “Lasciatemi cantare, Perché ne sono fiero, Sono un italiano, Un italiano vero”.
Larry: Ok. You want to try to take this Ann and make it feminine? You want to give that a try?
Ann: Ok. “Lasciatemi cantare”, that’s fine. “Perché non sono fiera”?
Larry: “Ne sono fiera”.
Ann: “Ne sono fiera, Sono un…” wait a minute now. “Un” with an apostrophe “italiana”.
Larry: Yes.
Ann: “Un” apostrophe “italiana vera”.
Larry: That’s right, yes. So, let’s hear what he says.
(video plays)
Ann: I’ve got to say the Italian songs crack me up! They’re just so macho!
Larry: Yeah…
Tony: That’s a great song.
Larry: That is a great song.
Ann: Ok, yeah. Ok: “Let me sing, Because I’m not proud” …no, “Because I’m proud”.
Larry: “I am proud”.
Ann: I am proud.
Larry: This is an emphasis word.
Ann: I keep forgetting that it’s an emphasis. Ok. “I am an Italian, A true Italian”.
Larry: That’s right, that’s right.