Tiziano International

An English-language blog dedicated to Tiziano Ferro.

“Imbranato” from the album Rosso Relativo

Today we go all the way back to 1999 when our dear Tiziano was just a 19-year-old struggling artist, ready to give up on his dream. “Imbranato” is one of the oldest songs in his current discography, and may even be the oldest, as it’s the first he mentions writing in his diaries. I don’t think there’s any hidden meaning in the words, it’s just a good song.

All of 1999 fits on only one page in the book, so I’ve translated those entries for you, along with 2000’s first entry where he looks back on 1999. Back then he was not a man of many words. These are followed by the translation of “Imbranato”.

May 9th 1999

I’m on the train to Rome, Sottotono’s tour is over, I have to lose weight, work hard on my songs. Perhaps there’s hope: it seems that they’ve found an arranger interested in recording my music. I look forward to it.

I’d like to release a single, at least to try it.

November 12th 1999

I’ve just been to mass with grandma in Cori.

I feel incredibly alone, and at the same time I don’t want to see anyone.

I’ve written a song that’s called Imbranato.

I don’t understand who I am and what I want.

Mass has something “inspiring”.

November 28th 1999

Another week is starting and I’ve lost 7.5 kilos, I don’t have any money and with the music nothing happens.

My songs don’t interest anyone, nothing’s going on and I don’t know anymore where to find the strength to go forward.

December 15th 1999

And I’ve reached the minus 10 mark. Minus 10 kilos.

Alberto says about the lyrics that I still have a lot to learn, same with the singing.

I saw Sara again and we weren’t able to be quiet.

I’ve had to remove the piercing out of despair.

January 1st 2000

I’m officially a slave to my cell phone! Who would have ever thought that they would become so manipulative, these devices?
Last night I sang at the Aeronautica New Year’s celebration.
I need money, I can’t go on like this.
How nice to be in a bar in the winter, warming my hands with a cappuccino.
I’m reflecting on the past year.

January: University is really boring me, but fortunately there’s an opportunity to tour with Sottotono.
February: Rehearsals in Milan with Sottotono and signed the contract with Mara and Alberto.
March: Sottotono’s tour begins, I only have music on my mind, with Sara things go sour.
April: Sara says that we don’t have to see each other anymore right in the middle of tour rehearsals, I write a lot.
May: My first experience as a vocalist on a professional tour ends and I go back to my own music.
June: I start seeing Sara again and I begin working on my songs in Florence.
July: I get my eyebrow pierced.
August: I go back to Musica Radio and continue working on my songs in Florence.
September: As above!
October: Again in crisis with myself… and I lose a lot of weight.
November: I lose even more weight and go to live with my grandma in Cori for a while.
December: The kilos fly off and I hope for the best.

English translation of “Imbranato”:

Note: The word “imbranato” does not have a good English equivalent so I settled for “awkward and clumsy”.

“Awkward and Clumsy”

It all began on a whim of yours
I didn’t trust you… it was only sex
But sex is a natural ability
Like art in general
And maybe I’ve understood it, and I’m here
 
Sorry, you know, if I try to persevere
I become unbearable, I know
But I love you… I love you… I love you…
Here we go again, sure, it’s ancient, but I love you
 
And sorry if I love you, and if we know each other
For two months or so
And sorry if I don’t talk quietly
But if I don’t scream, I die
I don’t know if you know that I love you
 
And excuse me if I laugh, give in to the embarrassment
I stare at you and tremble
At the idea of having you beside me
And feeling like I’m yours alone
And I’m here talking excitedly
…and I’m awkward and clumsy
…and I’m awkward and clumsy 
 
Hi… how are you?
Useless question!
But I think love makes me predictable
I talk little… I know it’s strange, I drive slowly
Maybe it’s the wind, maybe the weather, maybe it’s… fire
 
And sorry if I love you, and if we know each other
For two months or so
And sorry if I don’t talk quietly
But if I don’t scream, I die
I don’t know if you know that I love you
 
And excuse me if I laugh, give in to the embarrassment
I stare at you and tremble
At the idea of having you beside me
And feeling like I’m yours alone 
And I’m here talking excitedly, yeah
…and I’m awkward and clumsy 
…and I’m awkward and clumsy 
But I love you

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