jeudi, décembre 20, 2007

the real story of "gloria"

What comes to mind when I mention the 1980s smash hit "Gloria"? Odds are, if you're Italian, she's the object of a masturbatory fantasy. If you're a Spanish speaker, she's also sexual (but in a non-specific way). If you're American/Australian/someone who speaks English, she's someone with issues. Here's how we reached that conclusion ...

Leo procured some of my favorite Spanish-language Christmas carols (Villancicos) yesterday. They are sung by Parchís, a child supergroup formed in Spain in the late 70s. (Think Menudo or New Kids on the Block -- but male and female, like Kids Incorporated.)

Then, out of nowhere, I sang the refrain "Parchís, chis, chis" from another song (that I don't remember at all) and it got stuck in his head (because he remembers it). We hopped onto YouTube and found several Parchís videos, including one for "Gloria" -- sung in Spanish. I realized that the Parchís version was released in 1979, a few years before Laura Branigan's Grammy-award winning (and career-making) version. Game on -- we had to know if Laura Branigan ripped off her megahit from a bunch of cheesy Spanish kids whose signature look involved monochromatic leisure suits.

That led us to Wikipedia. "Gloria" is by an Italian, Umberto Tozzi, and the original lyrics are racy (we think they're really about masturbation) and nothing like Laura Branigan's version. What puzzles us is why Parchís (kids, really) sang the same sexy song (less masturbatory, and seemingly more directly sexual) and how that got past the censors. Our only explanation was that it was four years post-Franco, during Spain's "let's go completely crazy because we just outlived our fascist dictator" period.

For your viewing pleasure, the videos and the lyrics are posted below.

By the way, Umberto Tozzi remains one of the most popular Italian singers abroad, and in the course of his career has sold more than 45 million records, including the mega-hit "Ti Amo," which Leo also recognized from his childhood. I've included it here in Italian, and in Italian with a studio audience, followed by a duet of "Tu" with Celene in French.

"Gloria," the original, but translated into Spanish. Umberto Tozzi, 1979. (Check out the video's chromakey special effects!)


"Gloria," the original, in the original Italian. Umberto Tozzi, 1979. (A live action performance in front of the Italian video. Bravo, Umberto. Brav-o.)


"Gloria," in Spanish. Parchís, 1979. (You know the lead singer wanted the song to himself and that the kids in the background are dancing in a goofy way to distract everyone from the sexual lyrics.)



"Gloria," in English (cleaned up lyrics). Laura Branigan, 1982. (This time, the song's lyrics have been sanitized, but Laura's choreography is sexy.)


Original lyrics
Italian lyrics
Gloria
manchi tu nell'aria
manchi ad una mano
che lavora piano
manchi a questa bocca
che cibo piu non tocca
e sempre questa storia
che lei la chiamo Gloria.

Gloria sui tuoi fianchi
la mattina nasce il sole
entra odio ed esce amore
dal nome Gloria.

Gloria manchi tu nell'aria
manchi come il sale
mi manchi piu del sole
sciogli questa neve
che soffoca il mio petto
t'aspetto Gloria.

Gloria chiesa di campagna
acqua nel deserto
lascio aperto il cuore
scappa senza far rumore
dal lavore dal tuo letto
dai gradini di un altare
ti aspetto Gloria.

Gloria per chi attende il giorno
e invece di dormire
con la memoria torna
a un tuffo nei papaveri
in una terra libera
per chi respira nebbia
per chi respira rabbia

per me che senza Gloria
con te nuda sul divano
faccio stelle di cartone
pensando a Gloria.

Spanish lyrics
Gloria,
faltas en el aire
falta tu presencia,
cálida inocencia
faltas en mi boca que sin querer te nombra
y escribiré mi historia con la palabra Gloria

Porque aquí a tu lado la mañana se ilumina
la verdad
y la mentira
se llaman Gloria

Gloria,
Faltas en el aire
faltas en el cielo,
quémame en tu fuego
fúndeme la nieve
que congela mi pecho
te espero Gloria

Gloria,
Campo de sonrisas
agua en el desierto,
corazón abierto
aventura de mi mente
de mi mesa y de mi lecho
del jardín de mi presente
te espero Gloria.

Gloria,
por quien espera el día
y mientras todos duermen,
con la memoria inventa
aroma entre los árboles,
en una tierra mágica
por quien respira niebla,
Por quien respira rabia

Te fundes en sus besos,
te desnudas provocando
y hago sombras en el techo,
pensando en Gloria

Gloria,
Faltas en el aire
faltas en el cielo,
quémame en tu fuego
fúndeme en la nieve
que congela mi pecho
te espero Gloria

Gloria,
(Gloria) campo de sonrisas (Gloria)
agua en el desierto
(Gloria) corazón abierto (Gloria)
aventura de mi mente
de mi mesa
y de mi lecho
del jardín de mi presente
te espero Gloria
English lyrics
Gloria,
you're always on the run now
Running after somebody, you gotta get him somehow
I think you've got to slow down before you start to blow it
I think you're headed for a breakdown, so be careful not to show it

You really don't remember, was it something that he said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?
Gloria, don't you think you're fallin'?
If everybody wants you, why isn't anybody callin'?
You don't have to answer
Leave them hangin' on the line, oh-oh-oh, calling Gloria

Gloria (Gloria), I think they got your number (Gloria)
I think they got the alias (Gloria) that you've been living under (Gloria)
But you really don't remember, was it something that they said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?

A-ha-ha, a-ha-ha, Gloria, how's it gonna go down?
Will you meet him on the main line, or will you catch him on the rebound?
Will you marry for the money, take a lover in the afternoon?
Feel your innocence slipping away, don't believe it's comin' back soon

And you really don't remember, was it something that he said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?
Gloria, don't you think you're fallin'?
If everybody wants you, why isn't anybody callin'?
You don't have to answer
Leave them hangin' on the line, oh-oh-oh, calling Gloria
Gloria (Gloria), I think they got your number (Gloria)
I think they got the alias (Gloria) that you've been living under (Gloria)
But you really don't remember, was it something that they said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?
Translated lyrics
Spanish translation of Italian lyrics
GLORIA,
FALTAS EN EL AIRE
FALTAS EN ESTA MANO
QUE TRABAJA DESPACIO.
FALTAS EN ESTA BOCA
QUE YA NO COME,
POR ESTA HISTORIA,
QUE SE LLAMA GLORIA.

GLORIA A TU LADO,
POR LA MAÑANA NACE EL SOL,
ENTRA ODIO Y SALE AMOR
DEL NOMBRE GLORIA.

GLORIA,
FALTAS EN EL AIRE,
FALTAS COMO LA SAL,
FALTAS MÁS QUE EL SOL.
DERRITE ESTA NIEVE,
QUE SOFOCA MI PECHO,
TE ESPERO GLORIA.

GLORIA,
IGLESIA DE CAMPO,
AGUA EN EL DESIERTO,
EL CORAZÓN ABIERTO.
ESCAPA SIN HACER RUIDO,
DE LA CAMA,
DE LAS ESCALERAS DEL ALTAR,
TE ESPERO GLORIA.

GLORIA,
PARA QUIEN ESPERA EL DÍA,
EN VEZ DE DORMIR,
TENGO LA MENTE OFUSCADA.
SUMERGIRSE EN LAS AMAPOLAS,
EN UNA TIERRA LIBRE,
PARA EL QUE RESPIRA NIEBLA,
PARA EL QUE RESPIRA RABIA.

PARA MI, SIN GLORIA
DESNUDO SOBRE EL DIVÁN,
HAGO ESTRELLAS DE CARTÓN
PENSANDO EN GLORIA.

English translation of Spanish translation
GLORIA,
YOU’RE MISSING IN THE AIR
YOU’RE MISSING IN THIS HAND
THAT WORKS SLOWLY.
YOU’RE MISSING IN THIS MOUTH
THAT NO LONGER EATS,
BECAUSE THIS STORY,
IS CALLED GLORIA.

GLORIA, AT YOUR SIDE,
IN THE MORNING, THE SUN IS BORN
HATE ENTERS AND LOVE LEAVES
IN THE NAME OF GLORIA.

GLORIA,
YOU’RE MISSING IN THE AIR
YOU’RE MISSING LIKE SALT
YOU’RE MISSING MORE THAN THE SUN.
MELT THIS SNOW
THAT SUFFOCATES MY CHEST
I AWAIT YOU GLORIA.

GLORIA,
CHURCH OF THE COUNTRYSIDE,
WATER IN THE DESERT,
THE OPEN HEART.
ESCAPE WITHOUT MAKING NOISE,
FROM THE BED,
FROM THE ALTAR’S STAIRS,
I AWAIT YOU GLORIA.

GLORIA,
FOR WHOM THE DAY WAITS,
INSTEAD OF SLEEPING
I HAVE AN OBFUSCATED MIND.
SUBMERGE YOURSELF IN POPPIES,
IN A FREE LAND,
FOR HIM THAT BREATHES FOG,
FOR HIM THAT BREATHES RAGE.

FOR ME, WITHOUT GLORIA
NAKED ON THE DIVÁN,
I MAKE CARDBOARD STARS
THINKING OF GLORIA.
English translation of original Spanish lyrics
Gloria,
You’re missing in the air
Your presence is missing
Warm innocence
You’re missing in my mouth that without wanting to names you
And I will write my story with the word

Gloria
Because here next to you the morning lights up
the truth and the lie are called Gloria

Gloria,
You’re missing in the air
You’re missing in the sky,
Burn me in your fire
Melt the snow
That freezes my chest
I await you Gloria.

Gloria,
Field of smiles
Water in the desert,
Open heart
Adventure of my mind,
My table, and my bed
Of the garden of my present
I await you Gloria

Gloria,
For whom the day waits
And while everyone sleeps,
With the memory invents
Aroma amongst the trees
In a magical land
For whom fog breathes
For whom rage breathes

You melting in her(?) kisses
You disrobe provocatively
And I make shadows on the ceiling
Thinking of Gloria

Gloria,
You’re missing in the air
You’re missing in the sky,
Burn me in your fire
Melt the snow
That freezes my chest
I await you Gloria.

Gloria,
(Gloria) smiles (Gloria)
Water in the desert
(Gloria) open heart (Gloria)
Adventure of my mind my table
And my bed in my garden this you hope Glory

Gloria, (Gloria)
Field of smiles (Gloria)
Water in the desert, (Gloria)
Open heart (Gloria)
Adventure of my mind,
My table, and my bed
Of the garden of my present
I await you Gloria.

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