The anthem for Vespa riders!

Is there really such a thing? A tune that embodies and perfectly captures the joy of riding a Vespa?

The now defunct band known as LùnaPop (link auto-translated to English) released the song “50 Special” back in 1999.

The tune proved to be so popular that the band recorded a Spanish version called “Vespa Special.” An English version was slated for release at the time the group disbanded in 2001. But personally, nothing capures the carefree sentiment of the song than the original (Italian) version (even if I didn’t understand the words in most parts).

Despite the upbeat, uptempo and ‘happy-happy, joy-joy’ sound of the song; it is actually quite depressing if you understand the words. Cesare Cremonini, (again, link auto-translated to English) the former band’s frontman, say he wrote the song in November ’98 — during one of the more ugly periods in his life. What he finds very sad are the lines that he had to run to his Vespa to escape. Could it really be that bad?

Let’s take some lines…
“La scuola non va / ma ho una Vespa / una donna non ho / ma ho una Vespa”

and translate ‘em:
“School’s not going well / but I’ve got my Vespa / I don’t have a girl / but I’ve got my Vespa!”

Oh, it’s pathetic a’right!

There were two music videos released for the song. The version below is heavy on crude CGI effects (well, it’s 1999!), so I don’t think it’s really all that great. In fact, I’ve seen this video before but only appreciated the tune when I heard it elsewhere. If you’re like me, then I suggest you play the video but don’t watch just yet. Instead, head on to the lyrics below to appreciate the music.

5o Special
music & words: Cesare Cremonini

I
Vespe truccate, anni ’60
girano in centro sfiorando i 90
rosse di fuoco, comincia la danza
di frecce con dietro attaccata una targa

II
Dammi una Special, l’estate che avanza
dammi una Vespa e ti porto in vacanza!

Refrain I
Ma quanto è bello andare in giro con le ali sotto ai piedi
se hai una Vespa Special che ti toglie i problemi
Ma quanto è bello andare in giro per i colli Bolognesi
se hai una Vespa Special che ti toglie i problemi

Refrain II
La scuola non va, ma ho una Vespa
una donna non ho, ma ho una Vespa
domenica è già, e una Vespa mi porterà
fuori città!

III
Esco di fretta, dalla mia stanza
a marce ingranate dalla prima alla quarta
devo fare in fretta, devo andare a una festa
fammi fare un giro prima sulla mia Vespa

(repeat II, then Refrain I & II)

Coda
fuori città!

Check out their Discography and see how many of their many album covers have Vespa on it. Get to know more about the band in this article/interview dated May 2001.

skootnrocknroll!

-o-
{▫}
J0HNRANA

john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com