Borderline to RPI

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There are some Italian artists, mainly singer-songwrites, coming from the 60s who never turned into prog artists but remained "borderline". Some of them ended to be featured on progarchives, like Lucio Battisti, Fabrizio de Andre' and Angelo Branduardi.

One of them is Francesco Guccini. I have recently posted a youtube song in another thread (a bit of b&w RPI) but here I want to share one of his masterpieces.
On antiwarsongs.org somebody has made an incredible work by translating Francesco's poetry keeping the metric and the rhymes. I haven't found a subtitled video so I'm posting the translation.
From antiwarsongs.org I haven't found any copyright statement and the translations are posted by volunteers so I hope I'm not infringing any right. 

In case, I'll be happy to delete this post.

The song is "Don Chisciotte", inspired to the famous novel by the Spanish Miguel Cervantes "Dom Quixote" written in the 16th Century.

Here the youtube video:

Here the English translation:

[Don Quixote]

I have read too many stories about brave wandering knights
overcoming hordes of scoundrels both with wisdom and in fights:
I can’t hole up in my study with these thoughts under my nose,
like I were a lazy coward, unconcerned with others’ woes.
Every day more than the previous is corrupted by misdeeds,
though it lacks the daring heroes it so desperately needs;
for this reason, what this planet’s waiting for is to be spurred
by an altruistic impulse, doesn’t matter how absurd.
Hurry up and fetch my saddle, we must wait no more and go, so
I can quest for what I promised Dulcinea del Toboso,
and I pledge, for this adventure, to reward you with a castle,
but I won’t accept objections; put the saddle on, my vassal!
You’ll be my comforting shadow, and my squire when on the field,
and, supplied with Rocinante, this pure-hearted and my shield,
I shall skewer every villain who will pass under my goatee,
just as sure that here in Mancha I am known as Don Quixote…

[Sancho Panza]

Something’s wrong with this lunatic, he should really see a shrink;
I don’t argue when he’s moody, he turns feral in a blink.
He’s the most pathetic figure that this world ever displayed,
a decrepit, fearless champion of an exclusive crusade
that began out of affection for a woman he had bought
in a questionable tavern where she worked as a cocotte,
but, confusing for a princess who was just a common whore,
he departed to accomplish all those crazy things he swore.
And since then, we’ve only gotten a few kicks in the derrière,
with no bread, nor drink, we wander in the middle of nowhere,
and this candid, childish madman, looking for outlandish thrills,
has recently fought a duel, but the blades belonged to mills...
He’s idealist and stubborn, full of dreams not worth the hassle:
as for me, I’m more pragmatic, I’ll be happy with a castle.
I will rule over an island even larger than this stanza,
as sure as my heart is beating, and my name is Sancho Panza...

[Don Quixote]

Sancho, rouse yourself, time presses, I don’t want to hear a yawn;
only cynics and weak people slumber through the crack of dawn:
for the former it’s aloofness or contempt for what is just,
for the latter it’s reluctance to start doing the good they must.
See, injustice doesn’t ravage humankind all on its own,
it’s these men with their inaction who’ve been casting the first stone.
But we really have to hasten, since our foe, at every dusk,
aims to let the shadows deepen, covered by a thicker husk.

[Sancho Panza]

Yeah, regarding what is hidden by a shadow turned too deep,
when last day he stumbled into a defenseless flock of sheep
he attacked, like a Moor army were in place of rams and hoggs:
we were bitten by the shepherds even more than by their dogs!
It was a foregone conclusion... Despite that, I’m still on board:
I’m a coward and I’m lazy, but I won’t betray Milord.
Still, my senses speak the only tongue I’ve ever understood,
and right now, matter-of-factly, they suggest that I need food!

[Don Quixote]

Please, I beg you, Sancho, listen, I once was pragmatic, too,
but I’ve chosen to care nothing for the matters in plain view,
their appearance is no longer ousted out of my control,
since I’ve chosen the surprises brought by this despotic soul
that supplants the so-called “normal” with all kinds of subtle tricks,
but it gifts you a new vision which adds feelings to the mix.
I was bored, then, and I often thought of death like of a gain,
now instead I’m a new person, and I’m not afraid of pain...

[Sancho Panza]

I’m afraid, my liege, you’re talking to a poor unlettered fool,
and to comprehend this abstract speech I’d need to go to school.
And besides, even if courage were to cancel out my sloth,
would the two of us be able to fulfill your lofty oath?
In a world where Evil leashes everybody by their purse,
as the many without money lead a life that’s even worse,
can you really restore justice with this squire and this old horse,
and, triumphing over Power, steer this sad world back on course?

[Don Quixote]

You suggest, my dearest Sancho, I’ve no choice but to bail out
just because Power and Evil feature such a creepy snout?
Should I also, then, relinquish my last shred of dignity,
get compliant and acknowledge this is how the world must be?

[Together]

Power is a noose that humans have tied up around their necks,
and, despite being just a couple of romantic creaky wrecks,
we will yell until our voices reach all ears or get too throaty,
we’re los bravos de la Mancha, Sancho Panza… And Don Quixote!

Depending on how this thread will go, I'm thinking to write some bio and post more songs, possibly in chronological order

Edited by octopus-4 - February 03 2025 at 14:16

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octopus-4 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo & Post/Math Teams Joined: October 31 2006 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 14547	Post Options Post Reply Quote octopus-4 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Borderline to RPI Posted: February 03 2025 at 14:14
	There are some Italian artists, mainly singer-songwrites, coming from the 60s who never turned into prog artists but remained "borderline". Some of them ended to be featured on progarchives, like Lucio Battisti, Fabrizio de Andre' and Angelo Branduardi. One of them is Francesco Guccini. I have recently posted a youtube song in another thread (a bit of b&w RPI) but here I want to share one of his masterpieces. On antiwarsongs.org somebody has made an incredible work by translating Francesco's poetry keeping the metric and the rhymes. I haven't found a subtitled video so I'm posting the translation. From antiwarsongs.org I haven't found any copyright statement and the translations are posted by volunteers so I hope I'm not infringing any right. In case, I'll be happy to delete this post. The song is "Don Chisciotte", inspired to the famous novel by the Spanish Miguel Cervantes "Dom Quixote" written in the 16th Century. Here the youtube video: Here the English translation: [Don Quixote] I have read too many stories about brave wandering knights overcoming hordes of scoundrels both with wisdom and in fights: I can’t hole up in my study with these thoughts under my nose, like I were a lazy coward, unconcerned with others’ woes. Every day more than the previous is corrupted by misdeeds, though it lacks the daring heroes it so desperately needs; for this reason, what this planet’s waiting for is to be spurred by an altruistic impulse, doesn’t matter how absurd. Hurry up and fetch my saddle, we must wait no more and go, so I can quest for what I promised Dulcinea del Toboso, and I pledge, for this adventure, to reward you with a castle, but I won’t accept objections; put the saddle on, my vassal! You’ll be my comforting shadow, and my squire when on the field, and, supplied with Rocinante, this pure-hearted and my shield, I shall skewer every villain who will pass under my goatee, just as sure that here in Mancha I am known as Don Quixote… [Sancho Panza] Something’s wrong with this lunatic, he should really see a shrink; I don’t argue when he’s moody, he turns feral in a blink. He’s the most pathetic figure that this world ever displayed, a decrepit, fearless champion of an exclusive crusade that began out of affection for a woman he had bought in a questionable tavern where she worked as a cocotte, but, confusing for a princess who was just a common whore, he departed to accomplish all those crazy things he swore. And since then, we’ve only gotten a few kicks in the derrière, with no bread, nor drink, we wander in the middle of nowhere, and this candid, childish madman, looking for outlandish thrills, has recently fought a duel, but the blades belonged to mills... He’s idealist and stubborn, full of dreams not worth the hassle: as for me, I’m more pragmatic, I’ll be happy with a castle. I will rule over an island even larger than this stanza, as sure as my heart is beating, and my name is Sancho Panza... [Don Quixote] Sancho, rouse yourself, time presses, I don’t want to hear a yawn; only cynics and weak people slumber through the crack of dawn: for the former it’s aloofness or contempt for what is just, for the latter it’s reluctance to start doing the good they must. See, injustice doesn’t ravage humankind all on its own, it’s these men with their inaction who’ve been casting the first stone. But we really have to hasten, since our foe, at every dusk, aims to let the shadows deepen, covered by a thicker husk. [Sancho Panza] Yeah, regarding what is hidden by a shadow turned too deep, when last day he stumbled into a defenseless flock of sheep he attacked, like a Moor army were in place of rams and hoggs: we were bitten by the shepherds even more than by their dogs! It was a foregone conclusion... Despite that, I’m still on board: I’m a coward and I’m lazy, but I won’t betray Milord. Still, my senses speak the only tongue I’ve ever understood, and right now, matter-of-factly, they suggest that I need food! [Don Quixote] Please, I beg you, Sancho, listen, I once was pragmatic, too, but I’ve chosen to care nothing for the matters in plain view, their appearance is no longer ousted out of my control, since I’ve chosen the surprises brought by this despotic soul that supplants the so-called “normal” with all kinds of subtle tricks, but it gifts you a new vision which adds feelings to the mix. I was bored, then, and I often thought of death like of a gain, now instead I’m a new person, and I’m not afraid of pain... [Sancho Panza] I’m afraid, my liege, you’re talking to a poor unlettered fool, and to comprehend this abstract speech I’d need to go to school. And besides, even if courage were to cancel out my sloth, would the two of us be able to fulfill your lofty oath? In a world where Evil leashes everybody by their purse, as the many without money lead a life that’s even worse, can you really restore justice with this squire and this old horse, and, triumphing over Power, steer this sad world back on course? [Don Quixote] You suggest, my dearest Sancho, I’ve no choice but to bail out just because Power and Evil feature such a creepy snout? Should I also, then, relinquish my last shred of dignity, get compliant and acknowledge this is how the world must be? [Together] Power is a noose that humans have tied up around their necks, and, despite being just a couple of romantic creaky wrecks, we will yell until our voices reach all ears or get too throaty, we’re los bravos de la Mancha, Sancho Panza… And Don Quixote! Depending on how this thread will go, I'm thinking to write some bio and post more songs, possibly in chronological order Edited by octopus-4 - February 03 2025 at 14:16
	I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

octopus-4 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo & Post/Math Teams Joined: October 31 2006 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 14547	Post Options Post Reply Quote octopus-4 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 07 2025 at 10:24
	No replies...thread dead.
	I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

Logan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Status: Offline Points: 37228	Post Options Post Reply Quote Logan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 07 2025 at 10:51
	It’s only a few days and I don’t know how active the RPI team members are now. One convenient thing about being a collab is that you can directly mention the topic in the team thread. That’s what I would have done if you have not done so already. EDIT: Was posting on my Phone and had not noticed that this topic was made in General Music Discussions and not in Suggest New Bands.. I misunderstood and had not read the OP. Mea culpa. So I now get that you are not suggesting this Borderline for RPI. Edited by Logan - February 07 2025 at 11:08

Logan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Status: Offline Points: 37228	Post Options Post Reply Quote Logan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 07 2025 at 11:27
	By the way, I listened to that song and would not have considered Francesco Guccini based on that, but yeah, there are a few borderline Italians in. Roberto Picci is one 70s Italian singer-songwriter not in PA that might be considered borderline? Includable by my standards for RPI.