Learning Italian in Rome - Video of the Week - Stardust (Parodia) by Mattes

As you can probably tell, my concept of a week is a little loose. My only excuse is that I made the mistake of writing and submitting several manuscripts at once, so I've been buried in edits and promotion of late. 

To make up for the significant gap since my last post, I'll be breaking down an entire video, which I haven't done in a while. Ever since Rome's weather turned abysmal, watching X Factor Italia has become a guilty pleasure, which is how I came to google Mika, one of the judges (giudice/i) on the show. His duet with Chiara, Stardust, is apparently still very popular, and you can watch a performance of the original on the X Factor website (or the mini-version at the bottom of this post). 

However, since the song is more English than it is Italian, I've decided to break down Mattes' parody of Stardust instead (by the way, you should consider subscribing to his YouTube channel–it's hilarious). Listening to this song was surprisingly useful since cars and driving-related words are a major gap in my study of Italian. 

Without further ado, here's the Parodia. 

Let's see how much of it I managed to figure out, shall we? (Note, these aren't the literal translations. It's how I would actually say these phrases in English.)

Oggi facciamo una lezione al volante
Metti la prima e caos costante. (<--Not 100% sure about this one)
Prima devi spinge(re) un po la frizione
Lascia con calma o parta un pistone

Today we're doing a driving lesson
Put it in first gear, and now constant chaos. (I believe this is a play on the saying Una al donna volante, pericolo costante: A woman at the wheel, constant danger.)
First you must push the clutch a bit,
Lift slowly or you'll lose a part. (literal version, for laughs: Leave it with calm or a piston departs)  

Adesso ci provo, non ti arrabbiare
Neanche tu prima sapevi guidare
Poi devo dirti ancora una cosa 
Io ho preso solo un foglio rosa 

Now I'll try it, don't get angry. 
Even you didn't know how to drive once. (literal: Not even you first knew to drive)
And first I must tell you something:
I only have a learner's permit. (literal: I took only a pink paper <-- these phrases are why relying on Google Translate can be dangerous.)

Il Ritornello 
Povero me ....
Povero te ....
Io resterò, a folle finché
Tu non vorrai fare guidare me

Chorus
Poor me!
Poor you!
I will stay, in neutral until
You will not want to let me drive. (<-- not sure about this one...)

Ora devi guadare la mia bravura
E io sto più tranquillo con la cintura  

Now you'll have to watch my skill
And I'd be calmer with the seat belt on. (literal: I will stay more tranquil with the belt.) 

So che non faremmo mai il botto.
Speriamo di non perché l'airbag è un po rotto.

You know that I will never be in a crash.
We'll hope not because the airbag is a bit broken. 

Facciamo così, impara da me
Esci da l'auto e fare guidare me

Let's do this, learn from me
Get out of the car and let me drive.

Ma scuola guida, me hanno insegnato
È meglio che guidi con viso truccato.
Ritornello

But the driving school, they taught me this
It's better to drive with make-up on. (literal: It's better to drive with a made-up face)
Chorus

Adesso invece parto come una pilota
Se prende il marciapiedi, stacchi una ruota!

Now instead I'll go like a pilot
If you go on the sidewalk, you'll tear a wheel!

Ma io mi sento come una Formula Uno
Ma questa però, è una Fiat Uno

But it feels like a Formula One
But this car, however, is a Fiat One. 

Ora parte in prima e non gratto
O Dio mio, attenta quel povero gatto

Now I got in first gear without scratching.
Oh my God, careful, that poor cat!

Ma tu volevi stare un po più sicuro!
Se dici così, schiantiamo contro quel muro

But you wanted to stay safer!
If you're talking like this, we'll crash against that wall!

Faremmo il botto io e te. x 4

We'll crash, you and I. x4 

Ora devi guadare la mia bravura
E io sto più tranquillo con la cintura
So che non faremmo mai il botto.
Speriamo di non perché l'airbag è un po rotto. 

Now you'll have to watch my skill
And I'd be calmer with the seat belt on.  
You know that I will never be in a crash.
We'll hope not because the airbag is a bit broken. 

Ciao, tutti! Ci vediamo presto. (Good-bye all! We'll see each other again soon.)

[Written with significant help from WordReference]