Apparenze

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a world where superficiality reigns supreme, masked by "farse e maschere" (fakes and masks). The opening lines immediately establish a sense of decay and deception, with "cenere, smog, polvere" (ash, smog, dust) and souls "più zozze del Tevere" (dirtier than the Tiber). The narrator observes a pervasive falseness, noting that people seem to start out decent but become "scemi" (stupid) as they age, driven by a lack of control on a road with "freni per 'sta strada non ce stanno" (no brakes for this road). This environment is not seen as real life, but rather "il più grande schermo" (the biggest screen), where appearances are easily deceiving, especially at night. The core tension lies in the struggle to find authenticity in a society that prioritizes outward presentation, where even a bar offering solace can't extinguish the internal "inferno" (hell). The repeated call to "guàrdate intorno" (look around) and question how many people truly reflect their outward "facce" (faces) highlights this central conflict between being and merely appearing. The chorus drives home the central theme: "Le apparenze ingannano e influenzano il prezzo" (Appearances deceive and influence the price). This suggests that what you project dictates your value and how you're perceived, especially in the "piani alti" (upper echelons) where things are not as they seem. However, the stark contrast, "Ma da 'ste parti è proprio tutto come sembra" (But around here, it's exactly as it seems), implies a different kind of deception: a raw, unvarnished reality where the ugliness is visible, not hidden behind a polished facade. This duality creates a compelling tension between the hidden manipulations of the elite and the overt decay of the streets. Il Turco's verse introduces a rebellious spirit, urging listeners to "Sfonna le transenne e và oltre le apparenze" (Break down the barriers and go beyond appearances). He acknowledges carrying "storie non diverse da quello che vedi" (stories not different from what you see) and seeking remedies on this path, even if it seems like "follia" (madness). He admits his own outward appearance of being alive is "solo un'illusione" (just an illusion), a coping mechanism to escape depression. The imagery of "gelo di gennaio" (January frost) in his blood and facing "muro d'acciaio" (steel walls) underscores the harshness of this perceived reality, where truth is often "stroncata da un dettaglio" (cut short by a detail). Simo (GDB) further emphasizes the struggle against external pressures that distort one's true self. He feels "impicciato" (tied up) and spits on the surrounding "contorno" (outline/surroundings) because it "trucca ciò che sono io" (fakes who I am). The lyrics lament how the world "magna ogni capoccia" (eats every head), plagiarizing and imposing external validation: "E questo è bello se l'ha confermato quello" (And this is good if that one confirmed it). The ultimate disillusionment comes with the realization that "Conta poco ciò che sono conta quello che appare" (What I am matters little, what appears matters). This cynical conclusion, driven by the dominance of wealth – "Conta solo il portafoglio in mano" (Only the wallet in hand matters) – encapsulates the profound emptiness at the heart of a society fixated on superficiality.