Monday, October 4, 2010

We No Speak Americano

I found this video on Youtube and was instantly mesmerized by the complicated routine of the drumming duo as well as the old sounding Italian music:



I was so intrigued by the music and the beat that I looked further to find out more about it.  It is an outtake from a 1950's Italian song, performed by the original band below, as well as a version of it performed by Sofia Loren in "It Started in Naples"





Here's an article about the male and female drumming performers - Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding.  Evidently, they call themselves, "hand dancers" and have performed on stage in Irish style dance productions.

This is their background - evidently they can dance for real, not just with their hands - she is beautiful and she looks Italian.


Here's a charming video of the modern version of the song made to appear like a silent film:



My favorite? Really? The original - it's more melodic, less repetitive and techno. My 2nd favorite? The one with the woman and man drumming on the table - their beat is better than the techno beat.

Whatever - I LOVE LOVE this song!! It's so up! It is an example of how American pop music, specifically rock 'n roll, was imitated in post WWII Europe. The war was over! Let's be HAPPY!! Rock and roll, baby - American cars, cigarettes, music and movies.

I think I'll scroll up and listen again. I'm definitely going to look more into the European (the modern version of the song is by Yoland Be Cool - a male duo in Australia) pop.

A couple of years ago I was crazy about this song, and I consequently bought the CD, which is GREAT to clean house to - you cannot HELP but move:

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What is the name of the group at the bottom of your post?! I have been trying to find them and I never knew who they were or where they were from...

Susan Humeston said...

The band is Romanian and is called O-Zone. The song I posted was a huge hit in Europe a few years back.

debter said...

this song was also in the movie "the talented mr ripley"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT-fOr29OfA

debter said...

this was in the movie "the talented mr ripley"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT-fOr29OfA