Moto Guzzi and music
From recreational associations of music enthusiasts to visits from famous singers passing through’ the “factory orchestra” and the songs dedicated to Moto Guzzi. The long relationship between the Mandello-based company and music.
Music is one of the comforts accompanying the motorcyclist at all times, also thanks to modern technology. However, the relationship between music and Moto Guzzi has its roots even further back in time. During the 40’s, the Guzzi factory dredged up spaces for after-work musical activities. Music became a way of escape from the dark moments of the war, to try and culminate in something more substantial after the war. In the heart of the factory, a real and proper “factory orchestra” was formed with even its own emblem: a musical note in the centre of the Moto Guzzi logo.
Moreover, numerous singers visited the factory over the years. Among them, Claudio Villa and Nicola di Bari, both photographed with a V7 Guzzi, and more recently Davide Van de Sfroos, to shoot a part of the musical video “Terra e acqua” (land and water). Moto Guzzi thus becomes the protagonist of songs sung in dialect, light-hearted, easy-going and poetic at the same time. The memory of the idiom and local folklore is kept alive with the Moto Guzzi symbol and words are put to music. Here are some examples.
S. Macacu e S. Nissoen
Author: Davide Van de Sfroos
Album: E semm partii... (and we left….)
Original lyrics dedicated to three-wheeled Ercole (Hercules) van produced by Moto Guzzi
L'è una sira storta cumè un cerott in soel genocc, It’s a bad night like a band-aid on my knee,
in giir a cràpa volta cun scià un desmila in di sacocc going around the place with 10,000 lire in my pocket
e tira un'aria stramba , uduu de fogna e de limòn, there’s something in the air, smelling of gutter and lemons,
e l'angelo custode l'è turnaa indree a cambia i culzòn and the guardian angel has gone back home to change his pants
Ogni menutt el spuung cumè l'urtiga in di culzètt Every minute itches like a nettle in my socks
c'è chi fa testamento in soel muur del gabinett some people write their will on the toilet wall
el Grignolino el ruzza, gh'è de sbutunà el vestii the light wine is pushing me to unbutton the dress
il cielo ha l'orticaria e me ho appèna digerii the sky is a-buzzing and I have just digested
E cumè un sac de la rudera, speci quaivoen che me tò so My stomach feels like the rubbish,waiting for someone to pull me up
gh'è una madona in canuttiera che de miracuij ne fa pio there’s a Madonna in her vest who no longer performs miracles
e ogni umbria l'è una pantèra, ogni suspir el par un pìtt and every shadow is a panther, every sigh seems like a fart
e questa loena de grovièra la sa pio gnanca lee se ditt and this Gruyere moon no longer knows what to tell you
L'è el dè de San Macacu, la nocc de San Nissoen It’s St. Macaco day, the night of St. Nobody
se tirum via el cuveerc e se impienissum de canzòn. We’ll take the lid off and fill up on songs
L'è el dè de San Macacu, la nocc de San Nissoen It’s St. Macaco day, the night of St. Nobody
vurevi smurzà tutt ma ho pio truvaa el butòn I wanted to turn out all the lighs but could not find the switch
Ogni purtiera verta veed mea l'ura de saràss Every open door can’t wait to be shut
la sigaretta stracca veed mea l'ura de smurzass the tired cigarette can’t wait to be put out
se borla giò una stèla la fa mea frecass if a star falls there is no sound
esprimi un desiderio , ma gh'è mea de fidass make a wish but you cannot trust it
De fo de la stazion gh'è Belzebù cun scia i valiis Outside the station there is Beelzebub with his suitcases
le corna senza punta e urami g'ha i cavej griis his horns have no point, his hair is now grey
cerca un treno per l'inferno se lo troverà he is looking for a train, a freight to hell
ma in una notte come questa ghe paar de vèss a cà on a night like this he feels like he is at home
e cumè Batman in gàlera ciapi la mira cuntra i sbarr and like Batman in jail I’m aiming at the bars
e spèci l'alba o la curiera o un taxista in mutucarr, awaiting dawn or the bus or a taxi driver in a three-wheeled van,
e cumè un gatt so la tastiera soni la canzòn di matt like a cat on the keyboard, playing the song of the insane
questa mannaia primavera la pica giò senza ciamàtt this cleaver spring hurts without calling you
L'è el dè de San Macacu... It’s St. Macaco Day....
Soundtrack from the video “Itinerari Terra e Acqua” (land and water journeys) filmed partly at the Moto Guzzi factory.
Author: Davide Van de Sfroos
The song recalls Manzoni's favourite places, and reinterprets the known story of Renzo and Lucia:
Go back Lucia
From these mountains rising from water
Which one day, in tears,
Greet you
That branch of Lake Como
Wants the leaf back
That once left
Your leaf, Lucia
As it’s time forto go back home
Go back Lucia
You are the love of his life
Renzo is always the same
He didn’t change
He works in Mandello.
He will look for you
On his Guzzi motorbike
At the jetty or at the train station
Until he finds his Lucia.
They are only passing through, leaving, coming back
waves, waves
like pillows and knives
of time going by
turning, moving the lake
gripping to the banks
brining it all back to the shore
the reflection of who will return
of who will return
Go back Lucia
Let things be as they will be
Don Rodrigo is not acting cool anymore
They saw him in Ballabio
He was making cheese.
The Castle of the Unnamed
Has been rented out
Because he is out on his Grigna
Talking to the crows.
They pass, jump, leave, come back
waves, waves
like pillows and knives
of time going by
turning, moving the lake
gripping to the banks
bringing back to the shore
the reflection of who will return
of who will return
Go back Lucia
It’s time to go back to your home
Go back Lucia...
Moto Gussi R&R
Author: Il Bepi & the Prismas
Album: Strinù (special salami)
Left from my usual way Left from my usual way
Drive an iron eagle day by day Drive an iron eagle day by day
Supermotor's singin' in my ears Supermotor's singin' in my ears
Dreaming a muff licking to Britney Spears Dreaming a muff licking to Britney Spears
Love me California and that's all Love me California and that's all
This is Moto Gussi rock'n'roll!! This is Moto Guzzi rock'n'roll!!
Motocarro Ercole dol sesantu Three-wheeled Ercole van from 1961
Gnàc a sircàl in giro ghe n'è pio gna u you can look around for another one you’ll never find
L'an pasàt i na menàt u fin al Pas last year they took one to Passo
Quase dumèla meter, roba de copàs! Nearly 2,000 metres, enough to kill yourself
Però so'n sima a Stelvio sota 'l solet sgròl but on top of the Stelvio under the usual shower
I ha tacàt ol Gussi rock'n'roll! They stuck on the Moto Guzzi rock and roll
Motorbikin' soldiers, motorbikin' soul Motorbikin' soldiers, motorbikin' soul
Sound of 2 cylinders in the summer/fall Sound of 2 cylinders in the summer/fall
Chi oter I sa sèta fò col gìr del làc The others are satisfied with a trip round the lake
Mé guide di dès ure e ma niscorse gnàc I drive for 10 hours and don’t even notice
La jap la ma surpàsa so la provinciàl the Jap drives past me along the provincial route
Ol tipo co' la goba al troerò sol giornàl the hunchback guy will be on the papers
A go 'mpo de problemi per metìla 'n fòl I’m struggling to put it in neutral
Ma piche zo li stès ol Gussi rock'n'roll!! Still playing Guzzi rock and roll anyway though
So come Clint Eastwood sura la V7 I am like Clint Eastwood on the V7
Lu co' la so Magnum e mè col sguret him and his Magnum and me with the little dark one
Solo Solo
A Mandèl gh'è nebiulina In Mandello there’s a light mist,
U culp de gàs per fa ona proa opening the throttle just to try it
On olandès so la trentina a Duchman in his thirties
Al turna co' la Griso noa arriving with a brand new Griso
A Mandèl gh'è nebbiulina In Mandello there’s a light mist,
U culp de gàs per far on proa opening the throttle just to try it
U tedèsc che 'l fa bensina a German tanking up
L'è sa co' la Breva noa arriving on a new Breva
A woman, need a woman for the back seat A woman, need a woman for the back seat
A drum, need a drum for my heart's beat A drum, need a drum for my heart's beat
Walking on my back with her spike heels Walking on my back with her spike heels
Babe, sexy babe sexy blond Pils! Babe, sexy babe sexy blond Pils!
Walking for the next one and that's all Walking for the next one and that's all
This is Moto Gussi rock'n'roll!! This is Moto Guzzi rock'n'roll!!
La Gussi to la catet fò dal so rumùr The Guzzi can be made out by its sound
La musica e la furma a V del so mutur the music and the V-shape of its engine
La Gussi l'è la Gussi e ghe mìa u perchè Guzzi is Guzzi and there’s no reason why
Te cumpra ona Yamaha e tires fò di pé You go and buy a Yamaha and get out of the way
Certe robe de spiegà so gnàc sa s'pol some things I know may never be explained
Mèi ca sune 'l Gussi rock'n'roll! Better just to play the Moto Guzzi rock and roll!
Motorbikin' soldier, motorbikin' soul Motorbikin' soldier, motorbikin' soul
A ca cambie I gome e po' parte amò! I’ll change her tyres and leave with my love!