My Compare (My Godfather) - Mino Reitano - Mandolin lesson

Описание: My Compare (My Godfather) is the B-side to Mino Reitano's 1975 single L'Amore Ha Detto Addio (Love Said Goodbye) - Tema Dal Film Il Padrino Parte II. The Italian version of Larry Kusik's adaptation from Nino Rota's The Godfather Part II score piece The Immigrant.

A compare is a godfather, indeed, but also could be the best man or bridegroom, or just a friend in various Italic languages. In Neapolitan, as cumpà: Which you cats in America know as goomba! In Sicilian and Calabrian, as mbare, cumpare or cumpari: As heard in Julius La Rosa's very popular rendition of Eh, Cumpari! The song is in standard Italian, though. The Reitani, an extreme South Calabrese family, did squeeze this a lot through the title alone when Mino penned the lyrics and his brother Franco arranged the music, both of them having produced it together.

I found the record because Carmine Coppola has writing credits on it. Having it on my turntable immediately showed why: He was credited for having composed a melody titled Antico Canto Siciliano (translating to Ancient Sicilian Song) when The Godfather was released. It is heard in the Trilogy in various instrumentals, as well as popping up on The Godfather's Family Wedding Album in another version with lyrics and vocals.

I have gone over this a few times already in the past, but this is simply false. The song happens to be the oldest one documented in Sicilian: Mi Votu E Mi Rivotu and goes back to the 1800s at minimum. Considering their cultural and geographical proximity to Sicily, it is very unlikely that the Calabrian Reitani were not aware of this. Carmine still gets the credit, as the intro this otherwise original composition is using did come from the intros of his particular arrangements of the Antico Canto Siciliano adaptation. From fans for fans, I would say!

At least two mandolins are present at all times - And at one point even three. At times they are playing in unison, but also harmonizing in thirds and later splitting up into a high and low octave as well. The celesta and piano are playing within the same range too.

Tab: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/...

Lyrics:
My compare, questo è un giorno di festa
My compare, resta ancora con me
My compare, come gira la testa
My compare, questo vino è per te

Un bicchiere poi insieme a noi, la vita è bella
Non mi dire no, ma bevi, canta e balla come sai

My compare, guarda quanta allegria
Mamma mia, tutti vogliono te, solo te e con te
Oggi è festa per me

La la lai lai
Lai lai lai lai lai lai lai
La la la la
La la la la la la
My compare, lai lai lai lai lai lai la
My compare, la la la la la la

Un bicchiere poi insieme a noi, la vita è bella
Non mi dire no, ma bevi, canta e balla come sai

My compare, guarda quanta allegria
Mamma mia, tutti vogliono te, solo te e con te

Oggi è festa per me

Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey he-hey