Junior Rasmussen
The wedding scene in The Godfather features several iconic pieces of music, including a southern Italian folk song called 'C’è la luna' (There’s the moon). The song is performed by Carmella Corleone and Gennaro Amato, an actor and singer on the Italian stage. 'C’è la luna' is usually played in the tarantella musical style and features sexually euphemistic verses. Johnny Fontaine also performs 'I Have But One Heart' by Vic Damone. In The Godfather Part II, Anthony sings 'Brucia La Terra', a Sicilian ballad from the town of Corleone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Movie | The Godfather |
| Wedding | Connie Corleone's |
| Singers | Carmella Corleone, Gennaro Amato (an Italian actor and singer), Mama Corleone, and a few guests |
| Songs | "C'è la luna" (There's the moon), "Che la Luna", "Eh Cumpari", "Pop Goes the Weasel", "I Have But One Heart", "Brucia La Terra" ("The Earth Burns" or "The Land Burns"), "Ce La Luna Mezzo Mare" |
| Songwriters | Nino Rota, Vic Damone, Giuseppe Rinaldi, Paolo Citorello |
| Singer's Acting Credit | The older gentleman who sang with Carmella Corleone was played by Gennaro Amato |
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What You'll Learn
- Carmella Corleone sings a Sicilian folk song, C’è la luna (There’s the moon)
- Gennaro Amato, an Italian singer and actor, joins Carmella
- Johnny Fontaine sings I Have But One Heart by Vic Damone
- Anthony sings Brucia La Terra (The Earth Burns or The Land Burns), a Sicilian ballad
- Connie Corleone's wedding features a spicy Sicilian song
Carmella Corleone sings a Sicilian folk song, C’è la luna (There’s the moon)
In the iconic wedding scene from The Godfather, Carmella Corleone sings a Sicilian folk song, "Cè la luna" ("There's the moon"). The song is a traditional part of Italian-American wedding receptions and other festive occasions. It is a comic song that portrays a mother-daughter "coming of age" exchange, with various comic and sometimes sexual innuendos. The song's structure is flexible, allowing for numerous verses, each with its own humorous take on the advantages of different potential suitors for the daughter.
The scene in The Godfather captures this dynamic beautifully. Carmella Corleone sings the opening chorus for her daughter but declines to sing the sexually euphemistic verses that follow. Instead, an older gentleman happily sings the first of these verses, drawing much laughter from the crowd. His verse conveys a lighthearted message to the daughter: "If you marry the shoemaker (lu scapparu), he will come and go, but he will always hold his hammer in his hands."
"Cè la luna" has a rich history that belies its simplistic label as a "folk song." It is based on music and lyrics from Gioachino Rossini's 1835 "La Danza (Tarantella Napoletana)." In the late 1920s, Sicilian sailor Paolo Citorello (or Citarella) claimed authorship, and the Italian Book Company of New York City copyrighted and recorded his version in 1927. This version was involved in a lawsuit the following year.
The song has since become an ethnic pop classic, with numerous popular versions, including Lou Monte's 1958 "Lazy Mary" and Morgana King's (as Mama Corleone) rendition in The Godfather. It has also been known by various titles, including "Luna mezz'o mare" and "Oh! Ma-Ma! (The Butcher Boy)."
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Gennaro Amato, an Italian singer and actor, joins Carmella
The wedding scene in The Godfather features several iconic pieces of music, including a performance by Gennaro Amato, an Italian singer and actor. Amato, who arrived in the US from Naples in 1906 at the age of 15, joins Carmella Corleone in singing a southern Italian folk song called "C'è la luna" ("There's the Moon"). Carmella sings the opening chorus for her daughter but declines to sing the following verses, which are sexually euphemistic. Amato then happily sings the first of these verses, drawing laughter from the crowd. The song tells the story of a young woman asking her mother who she should marry, with the mother highlighting the various advantages of each suitor, often in relation to phallic objects.
Another song featured in the wedding scene is "I Have But One Heart", performed by Johnny Fontaine. Additionally, a version of the famous "Godfather Waltz" is played when Connie dances with Vito. The movie's scorer, Nino Rota, also created a piece of music for the film titled "Connie's Wedding".
In The Godfather Part II, Anthony sings "Brucia La Terra", a Sicilian ballad from the town of Corleone with lyrics written by Giuseppe Rinaldi. This song is not the same as any song played at Connie's wedding in the first film.
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Johnny Fontaine sings I Have But One Heart by Vic Damone
The wedding scene in The Godfather features several iconic pieces of music, including a southern Italian folk song called C’è la luna (There’s the moon). During Connie's wedding, Johnny Fontaine, played by Al Martino, sings "I Have But One Heart", a popular song composed by Johnny Farrow with lyrics by Marty Symes. The song was adapted from the traditional Neapolitan song "'O Marenariello" and was Vic Damone's breakout hit, reaching #7 on the Billboard chart in 1947. The recording by Frank Sinatra also charted, reaching #13. The song has been covered by numerous other artists, including Dean Martin, Jerry Vale, and Joni James.
"I Have But One Heart" is a romantic ballad that expresses the singer's devotion to their beloved. The lyrics declare that the singer has only one heart to give and that it belongs to their love. The song captures the sentiment of a passionate and exclusive love, making it a fitting choice for a wedding celebration.
In the context of The Godfather, the song takes on additional layers of meaning. Connie's wedding is a pivotal moment in the film, as it brings the Corleone family together and sets the stage for the events that follow. Johnny Fontaine's performance of "I Have But One Heart" adds a touch of romance and emotion to the celebration, providing a contrast to the underlying tensions and power dynamics within the family.
The choice of this particular song for the wedding scene was intentional and symbolic. On the one hand, it reflects the traditional and cultural aspects of an Italian-American wedding, with its roots in Neapolitan music. On the other hand, the song's theme of devotion and loyalty resonates with the values and dynamics of the Corleone family. The performance by Johnny Fontaine, a character modelled after real-life singer Frank Sinatra, adds a layer of authenticity and depth to the scene.
Vic Damone, the original singer of "I Have But One Heart", had a significant impact on the song's popularity and enduring legacy. His smooth and charismatic vocals, showcased in his breakout hit, helped establish him as a prominent entertainer. Damone's version of the song set the standard for subsequent interpretations and contributed to its lasting appeal in popular culture, including its memorable inclusion in The Godfather.
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Anthony sings Brucia La Terra (The Earth Burns or The Land Burns), a Sicilian ballad
The wedding scene in The Godfather features several iconic pieces of music, including the southern Italian folk song C’è la luna (There’s the moon), sung by Carmella Corleone and an older gentleman. In The Godfather Part III, another memorable wedding scene takes place, in which Anthony Corleone sings "Brucia La Terra", a Sicilian ballad from the town of Corleone.
"Brucia La Terra", which translates to "The Earth Burns" or "The Land Burns", is a song with lyrics written by Giuseppe Rinaldi. It is a favourite of Michael Corleone, reminding him of his first wife, Apollonia. In the film, Anthony sings the song as a tribute to his father. The song begins with a man who is awake in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep because he wants his lover back.
The first half of the Sicilian lyrics, with English translations, are as follows:
> Brucia la luna n'cielu
> E ju bruciu d'amuri
> [...]
> The moon is burning in the sky
> And I am burning with love
The song is also recorded by Gian Campione on the 2009 album Calura.
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Connie Corleone's wedding features a spicy Sicilian song
Connie Corleone's wedding in The Godfather features a performance of a traditional Sicilian song, C’è la luna (There’s the moon), by Gennaro Amato, an Italian singer and actor. Amato's character sings the song with Carmella Corleone, the mother of the bride. Carmella sings the opening chorus for her daughter, Connie, but declines to sing the following sexually euphemistic verses. Instead, Amato's character happily sings the first of these verses, to the amusement of the crowd. The song is a southern Italian folk song, usually played in the "tarantella" musical style. It tells the story of a young woman asking her mother who she should marry, with the mother relaying the various advantages of each suitor. For example, in one verse, the mother suggests the daughter marry a shoemaker, saying: "he will come and he will go but he will always hold his hammer in his hands".
Another Sicilian song, "Brucia La Terra" ("The Earth Burns" or "The Land Burns"), is also featured in The Godfather Part 3. This song is played by Anthony Corleone and reminds Michael Corleone of Apollonia. However, it is unclear whether this song is played during Connie's wedding.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding scene in The Godfather features several iconic pieces of music, including a southern Italian folk song called 'C’è la luna' (meaning 'There’s the moon'), and 'Connie’s Wedding' by Nino Rota.
In the film, Carmella Corleone and Gennaro Amato sing 'C’è la luna'. Amato was an actor and singer on the Italian stage.
'C’è la luna' is a sexually euphemistic song about a young woman asking her mother who she should marry. The mother relays the various advantages of each suitor, many of which relate to phallic objects.
In The Godfather Part II, Anthony sings 'Brucia La Terra', a Sicilian ballad from the town of Corleone. In the first film, Johnny Fontaine sings 'I Have But One Heart' by Vic Damone.
