The Greek Tenor: Mario Frangoulis
For those of you who enjoy listening to tenors, I have a CD for you.
My father, who has always been supportive of my creative adventures, knows my love of music. Ironically, he was the one who introduced me to the voices of the incredible Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban. This past weekend, he returned home from a business trip with two new CD's. The one I want to discuss is "Sometimes I Dream," by Mario Frangoulis. The CD was actually released in 2002. I listened to it first, even though my father had insisted on me listening to the other CD, Duetto. I was so enraptured in the very first song "Vinchero" (written by Luisa Zappa Branduardi; music by Steve Wood) that I listened to it over and again (probably 25 times).
Frangoulis has a voice quite comparable to Bocelli and Grobin, whose voices are smooth, enveloping, rich, and strong. By strong, I mean that they approach their inflections and crescendos not like a gladiator butchering his way to victory but like a matador who guides the bull's movements with colorful and elegant pageantry.
I was so enthralled with "Vinchero" because of its beautiful melody and lyrics--they seem to describe my sentiments on life. I've always believed that I am the captain of my ship. Success, for example, is not going to drop into my lap. I have to make it happen. Life is replete with extraordinary victories and bitter defeats. Rising time and again on our path, persevering toward our goals, is not easy but we are better people for it.
Nonetheless, I've been learning it to add it to my repertoire. (No, I'm not as good as any of the tenors I've mentioned. I simply like to sing.) I'm including in this post the lyrics in both Italian and English. (Of course, I'll be learning the Italian; it's far more impressionable and intriguing.)
Nei sogni che facevo da bambino
vivevo la mia vita come un re,
avevo giorni pieni di sole,
non c'era mai dolore.
Vincero, perdero
la mia vita vivro
io da solo dovro camminare.
Vincero, perdero
la mia strada faro
giochero la partita della vita.
Ho avuto brevi attimi di gioia
momenti interminabili di noia
ho avuto giorni pieni di sole,
io so cos'e il dolore
Vincero, perdero
la mia vita vivro
io da solo sapra continuare
Vincero, perdero
la mia strada ora so,
ma da solo giochero la partita della mia vita.
Un re, io certo non saro.
eppure io vivro...
Vincero, perdero
luci ed ombre io avro,
ma da solo dovro continuare
Vincero, perdero
la mia vita sara,
come un viaggio lontano da fare
Vincero, perdero
la mia vita vivro,
io da solo dovro camminare.
Vincero, perdero
la mia strada ora so...
Vincero, perdero
la partita giochero...
Vincero, perdero
ma da solo
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In the dreams I dreamed as a child
I lived my life as a king
My days were filled with sunshine
And there was never any pain.
I will win, I will lose
I will live my life
I will have to make my own way on my own.
I will win, I will lose
I will create my own path,
I will play the game of life.
I've had brief moments of joy,
Endless moments of boredom,
I've had days full of sunshine
I know what pain is....
I will win, I will lose
I will live my life
I will know how to continue on my own.
I will win, I will lose
Now I know my path,
But I'll play the game of life on my own.
I will certainly not be a king.
And yet, I'll live...
I will win, I will lose
I will have light and shadow
I will have to go on on my own.
I will win, I will lose
My life will be
A very long journey.
I will win, I will lose
I will live my life
I will have to make my own way on my own.
I will win, I will lose
Now I know my path...
I will win, I will lose,
I will play the game....
I will win, I will lose
But on my own.
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