Edoardo Bennato’s 1977 Hit That Exposed the Dark Side of Talent Scouting
This song is a musical piece composed and performed by Edoardo Bennato, released by the record label Ricordi as a track on the album Burattino senza fili in 1977.
The lyrics of the song, like the album from which it comes, are inspired by The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. In particular, the song focuses on Pinocchio’s first encounter with the Fox and the Cat, sung from the perspective of the latter. Similar to the original book, with Collodi’s two characters representing those who try to exploit others, taking advantage of naivety and misplaced trust; with a clear reference to the world of show business, the cat and the fox resemble talent scouts trying to win the sympathy and trust of a novice artist in order to cheat him.
In 2012, the Modenese band Controtempo recorded the first rock cover, 35 years after the original track’s release. A remake of the song was used in an advertisement for Cebion vitamin C supplements in 2014. The music was used in the Disney film Luca in 2021.
Lyrics
Quanta fretta, ma dove corri?
Dove vai?
Se ci ascolti per un momento, capirai
Lui è il gatto ed io la volpe, stiamo in società
Di noi ti puoi fidar
Puoi parlarci dei tuoi problemi, dei tuoi guai
I migliori, in questo campo siamo noi
È una ditta specializzata, fa un contratto e vedrai
Che non ti pentirai
Noi scopriamo talenti e non sbagliamo mai
Noi sapremo sfruttare le tue qualità
Dacci solo quattro monete e ti iscriviamo al concorso
Per la celebrità
Non vedi che è un vero affare
Non perdere l’occasione
Se no poi te ne pentirai
Non capita tutti i giorni
Di avere due consulenti
Due impresari
Che si fanno in quattro per te
Avanti, non perder tempo, firma qua
È un normale contratto, è una formalità
Tu ci cedi tutti i diritti e noi faremo di te
Un divo da hit parade
Non vedi che è un vero affare
Non perdere l’occasione
Se no poi te ne pentirai
Non capita tutti i giorni
Di avere due consulenti
Due impresari
Che si fanno in quattro per te
Quanta fretta, ma dove corri?
Dove vai?
Che fortuna che hai avuto ad incontrare noi
Lui è il gatto ed io la volpe, stiamo in società
Di noi ti puoi fidar
Di noi ti puoi fidar
Di noi ti puoi fidar
Lyrics
Such a hurry, but where are you running?
Where are you going?
If you listen to us for a moment, you’ll understand
He is the cat and I am the fox, we are in business together
You can trust us
You can tell us about your problems, your troubles
We are the best in this field
It’s a specialized company, sign a contract and you’ll see
You won’t regret it
We discover talents and we never fail
We’ll know how to exploit your qualities
Just give us four coins and we’ll register you for the contest
For fame
Don’t you see it’s a real deal?
Don’t miss the opportunity
Or else you’ll regret it later
It doesn’t happen every day
To have two consultants
Two managers
Who go all out for you
Come on, don’t waste time, sign here
It’s a normal contract, it’s a formality
You give us all the rights and we’ll make of you
A hit parade star
Don’t you see it’s a real deal?
Don’t miss the opportunity
Or else you’ll regret it later
It doesn’t happen every day
To have two consultants
Two managers
Who go all out for you
Such a hurry, but where are you running?
Where are you going?
How lucky you were to meet us
He is the cat and I am the fox, we are in business together
You can trust us
You can trust us
You can trust us
Source: Wikipedia, Bennato.net
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