Tiziano International

An English-language blog dedicated to Tiziano Ferro.

“Sere Nere” from the album Centoundici

One of Tiziano’s biggest hits. Reading his main diary entry about it, I think he already sensed that he was sitting on something huge. Here is that translation, along with the song.

April 12th 2003

I return to Italy enriched by this umpteenth crazy experience. Imbranato is at #4 on the Latin Songs chart in the US, and Mexico has been a big surprise, a really beautiful discovery. I’d like to return there, but not to work. I don’t know what will happen in my life, but in any case I hope that this airplane brings me good luck.

I’ve had an amazing time both in Mexico and the US and Puerto Rico, but I really want to go back to Rome, most of all to see my friends again.

Mara, to tease me, said the next album will have to be called Timido Xverso, ahahahah!!! She may have a point!

Meanwhile, we finished arranging my favorite song of the coming album.

I have a funny feeling and when I listen to it I feel a mix of fear and desperation. The desperation is evident, and the fear is that the honesty of the lyrics shows too much of myself.

I’m not able to listen to it often, and I’m thinking of who I could possibly submit it to for an objective opinion.

It controls me, and I’d gamble my future on it, even though I still don’t really know when and how it will come out.

I have the impression that by now it’s created a rift. Nothing will be the same anymore after the release of this song, and it’s a sentiment that pervades me in an almost violent way.

There’s a Tiziano “before” and there will be a Tiziano “after”, it’s a sensation I can’t distance myself from, it’s strange, and the title of this song is also vaguely strange: Sere nere.

English translation of “Sere Nere”:

“Black Nights”

You’ll think again about the angels
And the hot coffee waking you up
While the news of us two absent-mindedly passes by
They say it’ll help me
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
While your voice on the TV absent-mindedly passes by
Between the radio and the telephone
Your goodbye will resound

Of black nights
Cause there’s no time
There’s no space
And no one will ever understand
Can you stay
Because it hurts, hurts
Hurts me to death
Without you, without you, without you

I’d think again about you not being here
But the commercials distract me
Between the schedules and the traffic
I work and you’re just there
Between the balcony and the intercom
I dedicate my woes to you

Of black nights
Cause there’s no time
There’s no space
And no one will ever understand
Can you stay
Because it hurts, hurts
Hurts me to death
Without you

I’ve battled the silence by deafening it with words
And smoothed your absence only with my arms
And the more you’ll want me the less you’ll see me
And the less you’ll want me the more I’ll be with you
And the more you’ll want me the less you’ll see me
And the less you’ll want me the more I’ll be with you
The more I’ll be with you, with you, with you
I swear it

Of black nights
Cause there’s no time
There’s no space
And no one will ever understand
Can you stay
Because it hurts, hurts
Hurts me to death
Without you, without you, without you

Without you

Note:

“Passing by” in the first verse can also mean to “broadcast” (on TV). Basically he is trying to distract himself with TV, radio, phone calls and work to forget about this breakup. The “black nights” are those horrible, sleepless nights where all you feel is misery.

I often wonder about how the song relates to Tiziano personally. It’s intriguing that he wrote about the honesty of the lyrics, as I always viewed this song as a quite typical (even if extremely good and poetic) breakup song.

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