Except for Gabbani. I just could not help my curiosity at seeing how his performance would go and which I re-watch with the utmost pleasure. I suggest you listen to this before reading on ⤵︎
I’m also including a translation of the lyrics which this charming, guitar-piano-bass-drums player co-authored:
Occidentalis Karma
To be or to have to be
Hamlet’s doubt
Contemporary like the Neolithic man
In your 2×3 cage, make yourself comfortable
Intellectuals in cafes
Internetology
Honorary members to the group of anonymous selfists
Intelligence is out of fashion
Easy answers
Useless dilemmas
Ah Ah Ah wanted (search yes)
Stories from grand final night
Hope (hope yes)
Whatever happens panta rhei
And singing in the rain
Nirvana lessons
There is the Buddha in single file
For everyone an hour of air, of glory
The crowd shouts a mantra
Evolution stumbles
The naked monkey dances
Westerners’ Karma
Westerners’ Karma
The naked monkey dances
Westerners’ Karma
Chanel drops are raining
On aseptic bodies
Save yourself from the smell of your fellowmen
All web scientists
People’s Coca
Opium of the poor
Ah Ah Ah wanted (search yes)
Virtual humanity
Sex appeal (sex appeal)
Whatever happens panta rhei
And singing in the rain
Nirvana lessons
There is the Buddha in single file
For everyone an hour of air, of glory
The crowd shouts a mantra
Evolution stumbles
The naked monkey dances
Westerners’ Karma
Westerners’ Karma
The naked monkey dances
Westerners’ Karma
When life is distracted, men fall
Westerners’ Karma
Westerners’ Karma
The monkey gets up
Namasté (alé)
Nirvana lessons
There is the Buddha in single file
For everyone an hour of air, of glory
The crowd shouts a mantra
Evolution stumbles
The naked monkey dances
Westerners’ Karma
Westerners’ Karma
The naked monkey dances
Westerners’ Karma
Om
In a nutshell, Gabbani slams the superficiality of our instant-click of a button knowledge which we do not bother to source or question; our obsession with image, with self and with self-orbiting; our seeking an hour of westernized, watered-down version of Eastern philosophies to soothe our weariness but which fails to do so; the anonymity in having rendered ourselves uncritical clones of each other; our disdain for who does not fit the bill of sameness; our so-called sophistication which exposes us as naked as the naked ape who dances alongside him.
That Gabbani says all this while giving more than a nod to Desmond Morris’s The Naked Ape, morphing Hamlet’s ‘to be or not to be’ into ‘to be or to have to be’, mocking the adoring crowd he works up to enthusiastically dance along with him is an ironic peak that I feel is difficult to equal. The allusions together with the reflective opening and closing notes sandwiching one of the most instantly-make-you-feel-good songs ever dished out tickle me pink. I even love the slight details of having the dancing ape wear a bright bowtie to emphasise his nakedness and the deliberate grammatical mistake in the song’s title. Although his lyrics and gestures more than poke fun at all of us, Gabbani refrains from stinging sneers. Nor does he seem upset that the message of his song cannot register with a non-Italian speaking throng.
Why comment on the lyrics now you may ask? Well, the song’s message is as relevant as when it first hit the airwaves.
Don’t agree? Namasté. I am sure that you will still sway along with the naked ape.
#Superficial
#Superficiality
#Virtual humanity
#Irony
#Song as social comment
#Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
#Occindentalis Karma – Francesco Gabbani
#Gabbani Francesco
Noemi, you have an incredible vocabulary thal allows you to write in a very unique style. You have a passion it seems for reading as you have exposed yourself to work of various authors I never knew existed. You are incredible when it comes to interpretation. Not everybody (certainly not me) can this. Each article you write challenges readers to read each sentence thoroughly to properly absorb what you wrote. This is my mind is a good thing. Thank you, Noemi, for writing and sharing your literacy with all of us. Please consider writing more.
Thank you, Joel, for your fulsome praise, far too kind. I am truly overwhelmed by your comments.
Wonderful article, Noemi! I love how you weave together so many marvelous references: literature, lyrics and your own special perceptions! Please keep writing; I greatly anticipate all from your pen! My best, Ellen Fisch
Thank you ever so much, Ellen. Somehow Jane Austen and Francesco Gabbani gelled magically. Hope you danced with the naked ape!
This is deep my friend. It will require several reads and a bit of pondering.
As with all truly great artists, Austen and Gabbani prod us into pondering mood -always an enriching experience. No rush Larry. The best things in life are to be savoured not gulped.
Many thanks, Larry, for your time and appreciation.