Piero Umiliani (17 July 1926 – 14 February 2001) was an Italian composer of film scores, and is most famous for his song "Mah Nà Mah Nà" and orchestra score "Arrivano I Marines".
Umiliani was born in Florence, Tuscany. Like many of his Italian colleagues at that time, he composed the scores for many exploitation films in the 1960s and 1970s, covering genres such as spaghetti western, Eurospy, Giallo, and soft sex films.
Although not as widely regarded as, for example, Ennio Morricone or Riz Ortolani, he helped form the style of the typical European 1960s and 1970s jazz influenced film soundtrack, that later experienced a revival in films such as Kill Bill , and "Crepuscolo Sul Mare" in Ocean's Twelve.
"Mah Nà Mah Nà" (1968) was originally used in Sweden: Heaven and Hell, a 1968 Mondo documentary about Sweden, but was popularized by The Muppets, who covered the song several times; starting on episode 0014 of Sesame Street on November 27, 1969, then The Ed Sullivan Show three days later, and again on the syndicated series The Muppet Show in 1977. The track was also a hit in the UK, reaching number 8 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1977.
Gioacchino Rossini
Già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, si salterà !
L'ora è bella per danzare,
chi è in amor non mancherà .
Già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, si salterà !
L'ora è bella per danzare,
chi è in amor non mancherà .
Già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, si salterà !
Presto in danza a tondo, a tondo,
donne mie venite quà ,
un garzon bello e giocondo
a ciascuna toccherà ,
finchè in ciel brilla una stella
e la luna splenderà .
Il più bel con la più bella
tutta notte danzerà .
Mamma mia, mamma mia,
già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, mamma mia,
mamma mia, si salterà .
Frinche, frinche, frinche,
frinche, frinche, frinche,
mamma mia, se salterà .
Frinche, frinche, frinche,
frinche, frinche, frinche,
mamma mia, se salterà .
La la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
au la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la la la la ra la!
Salta, salta, gira, gira,
ogni coppia a cerchiova,
già s'avvanza, si ritira
e all' assalto tornerà .
Salta, salta, gira, gira,
ogni coppia a cerchiova,
già s'avvanza, si ritira
e all' assalto tornerà .
Già s'avvanza, si ritira
e all' assalto tornerà !
Sera, sera, colla bionda,
colla bruna và quà e lÃ
colla rosa và a seconda,
colla smorta fermo stà .
Viva il ballo a tondo a tondo,
sono un Re, sono un Bascià ,
e il più bel piacer del mondo
la più cara voluttà .
Mamma mia, mamma mia,
già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, mamma mia,
mamma mia, si salterà .
Frinche, frinche, frinche,
frinche, frinche, frinche,
mamma mia, se salterà .
Frinche, frinche, frinche,
frinche, frinche, frinche,
mamma mia, se salterà .
La la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
au la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la la la la ra la!
The Dance
Now the moonlight floods the water;
Mother dear, skipping itself!
The hour is beautiful for dancing,
Anyone in love will not miss it.
Now the moonlight floods the water;
Mother dear, skipping itself!
The hour is beautiful for dancing,
Anyone in love will not miss it.
Now the moonlight floods the water;
Mother dear, skipping itself!
Soon we'll be dancing, round and round,
my ladies, come here,
A beautiful and playful lad
will have a turn with everyone.
Until in heaven sparkles a star,
And the moonbeams will shine
The most beautiful boy and girl
will dance all night.
Mother dear, Mother dear,
Now the moonlight floods the water;
Mother dear, Mother dear,
Mother dear, skipping itself!
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster,
Mother dear, skipping itself!
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster,
Mother dear, skipping itself!
La la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
au la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la la la la ra la!
Hopping, jumping, turning, spinning,
every couple have a turn,
now advancing, now receding,
and returns to the excitement.
Hopping, jumping, turning, spinning,
every couple have a turn,
now advancing, now receding,
and returns to the excitement.
Now advancing, now receding,
and returns to the excitement.
Dance, dance with the blonde,
with the brunette of here and there,
with the redhead go to second.
with the pale one, she still remains.
Long live dancing, round and round!
I am a king, I am a lord,
It is the world's greatest pleasure
The most beautiful thing!
Mother dear, Mother dear,
Now the moonlight floods the water;
Mother dear, Mother dear,
Mother dear, skipping itself!
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster,
Mother dear, skipping itself!
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster,
Mother dear, skipping itself!
La la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
au la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la