"Released long before Paul Simon introduced world music into the mainstream, Fabrizio De Andre' released Crueza De Mar, an album which draws heavily from sounds far beyond the reach of western rock music. The album breaks new ground on many levels, not only in terms of musical direction, but also in terms of language. The album is recorded in the Genoese dialect -incomprehensible to most Italian speakers. Co-produced and co-written with former PFM violinist, Mauro Pagani, the album is often cited as De Andre's best work. Stand out tracks includes the wonderfully erotic Jamin-a, the evocative Sidun and the tongue in cheek A Dumenga, recounting life in Genova's red light district. My only criticism of this album is its length, 33 minutes of genius never seems enough."
One of the best de André albums
fvs | 04/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fabrizio de André was born in Genoa on February 18, 1940. His career as a songwriter and performer began in the late fifties, under the strong influence of the French chansonniers, especially Georges Brassens (1921-1981). In the late summer of 1998, Fabrizio de André was forced to stop his concert tour at the first symptoms of a serious disease which was later diagnosed as cancer. Fabrizio de André died in Milan, Italy on January 11, 1999, at 2:30 am. Two days later, he was buried in his native town of Genoa, Italy. The funeral was attended by an immense crowd of more than 10,000 people. My favorite song in this album is Creuza De Ma.
Creuza De Ma
Umbre de muri muri de mainé
dunde ne vegnì duve l'è ch'ané
da 'n scitu duve a l'ûn-a a se mustra nûa
e a neutte a n'à puntou u cutellu ä gua
e a muntä l'àse gh'é restou Diu
u Diàu l'é in çë e u s'è gh'è faetu u nìu
ne sciurtìmmu da u mä pe sciugà e osse da u Dria
e a funtan-a di cumbi 'nta cä de pria
E 'nt'a cä de pria chi ghe saià
int'à cä du Dria che u nu l'è mainà
gente de Lûgan facce de mandillä
qui che du luassu preferiscian l'ä
figge de famiggia udù de bun
che ti peu ammiàle senza u gundun
E a 'ste panse veue cose che daià
cose da beive, cose da mangiä
frittûa de pigneu giancu de Purtufin
çervelle de bae 'nt'u meximu vin
lasagne da fiddià ai quattru tucchi
paciûgu in aegruduse de lévre de cuppi
E 'nt'a barca du vin ghe naveghiemu 'nsc'i scheuggi
emigranti du rìe cu'i cioi 'nt'i euggi
finché u matin crescià da puéilu rechéugge
frè di ganeuffeni e dè figge
bacan d'a corda marsa d'aegua e de sä
che a ne liga e a ne porta 'nte 'na creuza de mä"
Ethnical music
fvs | 12/07/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a one of most important album of Fabrizio De Andre'. It's in genuense language and mediterranean music, it won the "premio tenco" (tenco awards) for the best album in the year. If I remember right, the songs are translate in italian. Perhaps you don't understand the words, but how many people listen english songs and they don't speak english?"
Talking Heads mixed in North Africa
Mr. J. Rinaldi | 12/10/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A very well known Italian Singer/Songwriter - Singing in his own Genovese dialect - With strong influences from across the Mediterr. David B of Talking Heads would like this one!"