Welcome to left field, where this song comes from. This brilliant parody song jumps at the speed of light and was written and recorded in 1956! Rock and roll was in it's infancy and here is a guy in Italy already incorporating the term into his lyrics.
Renato Carosone was born in Naples in 1920 and left Italy to play in North Africa during World War II. He was a popular act but on returning to Italy, was an unknown and had to start all over again. He formed a band that grew and shrank before it gelled. By that time he teamed up with lyricist Nicola Salerno to try to win a radio contest, and the rest was history.
As the story goes, Salerno brought Carosone three sets of words. Carosone looked ant them and grabbed one. He immediately decided to create a Boogie-woogie song out of it, and 15 minutes later it was done. "Tu Vuo Fa L'Americano" would be a huge hit.
You'd like to be an American,
'merican, 'merican
listen to me, is it worth?
you want to be trendy
but if you drink "whiskey and soda"
and then you have a long hangover
You dance rock 'n' roll
you play baseball
but who gives you the money to buy Camels?
your mother's bag!
The video rocks! The drummer mugs the whole time, Carosone plays the piano like butter, there is a Boogie- woogie mandolin lead with a ocarina, and the sax player adds a clarinet at the same time!
The song would be covered by Sophia Loren in the movies and countless covers have been performed since. Perhaps the most recent was with Jude law singing it in "The Talented Mr. Ripley."
A notable cover was by Brian Setzer and his orchestra from the album Dirty Boogie , which several staff members saw live.
We are including the Carosone original and Setzer's version for your enjoyment.
Carosone would abruptly retire in 1960, shocking his fans. He would go back on tour in the 1970's and toured another 20 years. He would pass away in 2001.
Mi piacerebbe visitare l'Italia un giorno di questi!
