Louie Prima: C'e la luna mezz'o mare

Since I was a little boy, this song has played on hi fidelity monaural, as well as stereo record players at Italian or Sicilian gatherings. Especially, as you will soon see why, at weddings.

The song is C'e La Luna Mezz'o Mare and there is no doubt you have heard several renditions by as many artists. But when my grandfather told me what the lyrics mean, I was a bit embarrassed. Be sure to check out the running translation in the right hand column.

Our favorite artist, hands down, was Louis Prima. I have two collections of his songs on CD. If you think you don't know who Louis Prima was, then just think back to Disney's "The Jungle Book." Mr. Prima played King Louie Of The Apes.

When David Lee Roth did "Just A Gigolo," I was delighted and astounded by how loyal the band stayed to the original. They done Louis real proud. Even the Sicilian "filler" words toward the end of the song were true to form in one version, but I can't find that on You Tube. Oh, well.

This You Tube video doesn't do Louis justice. But I love how his then wife, Keely Smith just stands there, nearly motionless and looking quite bored as all the other cools cats jumped and bounced.




In this short example of Keely Smith, you will notice the wedding ring. What a voice. What a pure and beautiful voice.