Marco Mengoni knows how to keep his fans guessing. He seems moody and disinterested one minute. He shows up for an interview all excited the next. He smartens up in a Ferragamo suit one day. He throws down an H&M number the next day. His latest video is a testament to his versatility and unpredictabe nature.
In the video for “La Valle Dei Re” (Valley of the Kings), Marco Mengoni gets intimate. It begins with him as a baby, enjoying his birthday celebration. Vignettes from his childhood are then interwoven with studio images of the adult Marco. Viviana Barone, an Italian music expert, suggests their is meaning in the juxtaposition. As she says: “Everbody lives in a kingdom as a baby, surrounded by tenderness and love, until life pushes us out into a world where pain, disloyalty and disillusion outstrip joy.”
In this video and with this song, Mengoni suggests it is possible to cling onto our passions.
This entry is very much geared for the Italian music market. There is no refrain that English speakers can latch onto. Yet the advanced sales of the single are impressive and the video has recorded moe than 40,000 views on YouTube in less than 24 hours.
As the fifth single on Mengoni’s second studio album, Prontoacoerre, “La Valle Dei Re” seems destined to follow in the footsteps of the three singles that have come before it. Each of them cracked the Top 10 in Italy. The lyrics, penned by Cesare Cremonini, seem apt: “I apologise but I’m still a king.”
Rating: 3/5
La Valle Dei Re English translation / lyrics
In this valley there is already
A king that sings and his queen
Betrayed by his own half
That which remains is not life
Outside of my own property
And this time I don’t want it, an excuse
Outside of my city
You will see the gold of the crown disappear
Falling rolling ’till the walls
And so you will ask me if
You are outside of the valley of the kings
And it doesn’t matter to me if
You are outside of the valley of the kings
And it doesn’t matter to me if
You’re not there
You’re not there
I said outside of my property
And this time I don’t want it, but sorry
Outside of my city
You will see the gold of the crown disappear
Falling rolling ’till the walls
And so you will ask me if
You are outside of the valley of the kings
And it doesn’t matter to me if
You are outside of the valley of the kings
And it doesn’t matter to me if
You’re not there
You’re not there
Little words that don’t mean anything anymore
And the usual thoughts that fill the room
The usual lies that nail my head
I ask forgiveness
I am still a king
You’re outside of the valley of the kings
And it doesn’t matter to me if
You are outside of the valley of the kings
You are outside of the valley of the kings
La Valle Dei Re / Italian Lyrics:
In questa valle c’è già
un re che canta e la sua regina
Tradito dalla propria metà
Ciò che rimane non è la vita
Fuori dalla mia proprietà
E questa volta non la voglio una scusa
Fuori dalla mia città
Vedrai scomparire l’oro della corona
Cadere rotolandosi fino le mura
E allora mi chiederai se
Sei fuori dalla valle dei re
E non mi importa se
Sei fuori dalla valle dei re
E non mi importa se
Non ci sei
Non ci sei
Ho detto fuori dalla mia proprietà
E questa volta non la voglio ma scusa
Fuori dalla mia città
Vedrai scomparire l’oro della corona
Cadere rotolandosi fino le mura
E allora mi chiederai se
Sei fuori dalla valle dei re
E non mi importa se
Sei fuori dalla valle dei re
E non mi importa se
Non ci sei
Tu non ci sei
Piccole parole che non hanno più importanza
E soliti pensieri che mi riempiono la stanza
Le solite bugie che mi inchiodano la testa
Chiedo scusa
Sono ancora un re
Se fuori dalla valle dei re
È non mi importa se
Sei fuori dalla valle dei re
Sei fuori dalla valle dei re
Deban Aderemi contributed this report from London. Follow him on Twitter @debanaderemi. Then follow Team Wiwi on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.
The correct title is “La valle dei re”