How do we define what is ‘normal’, or decide who is sane and who crazy? We live in a world full of stark contradictions, of atrocities committed in the name of lofty ideals. We try to dig at the truth but find our judgement obfuscated by the smoke and mirrors of “alternative facts”.

Caparezza is an Italian Rap musician well known for his witty criticism of society’s hypocritical values and dual standards. Here’s a songs of his that really nails it. A lot gets lost in translation, especially Caparezza’s skilful play on words and double meanings, but hopefully my translation will help you to get there.

Prima di dare del pazzo a Van Gogh sappi che lui è terrazzo
tu ground floor
Prima di dire che era fuori di senno, fammi un disegno con
fogli di carta e crayon
Van Gogh, mica quel tizio là, ma uno che alla tua età
libri di Emile Zola
Shakespeare nelle corde
Dickens nelle corde
Tu, leggi manuali di DVD Recorder
Lui, trecento lettere, letteratura fine
Tu, centosessanta caratteri, due faccine, fine
Lui, London, Paris, Anvers
Tu, megastore, iper, multiplex
Lui, distante ma sa tutto del fratello Teo
Tu, convivi e non sai nulla del fratello Tuo
Lui, a piedi per i campi, lo stimola
Tu, rinchiuso con i crampi sul Tapis Roulant
Beh, da una prima stima mio caro ragazzo
Dovresti convenire che
Tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu-tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu-tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu sei pazzo, Mica Van Gogh
Tu sei pazzo, Mica Van Gogh
Van Gogh

Before calling Van Gogh crazy you should know that he’s the terrace
you’re the ground floor
Before saying that he was out of his mind, draw me a picture
with sheets of paper and crayons
Van Gogh, hardly just anyone, but someone who at your age
books by Emile Zola
Shakespeare in his veins
Dickens in his veins
You, read the DVD recorder manual
He, (wrote) three hundred letters, fine writing
You, one hundred and sixty characters, two emoji, that’s it.
Him, London, Paris, Anvers
You, megastore, hyper, multiplex
Him, far away but knows everything about his brother Theo
You live with but know nothing about your brother
Him, walking in the fields which inspire him
You, shut indoors with cramps on the walking machine
Well, from an initial estimate my dear lad
You have to agree that
You are crazy
not Van Gogh
… etc.

A sedici anni girò tra collezioni d’arte
Tu a sedici anni Yu-gi-oh, collezioni carte
A vent’anni nel salon del Louvre
E tu nell’autosalon del SUV, rimani in mutande
Lui olio su tela, e creò dipinti
Tu olio su muscoli, e gare di body building
Lui paesane, modelle, prostitute
Tu passi le notti nel letto con il computer
Lui ha talento lo sai
Tu è un po’ che non l’hai
Lui scommette su di sè
Tu poker online
Lui esaltato per aver incontrato Gauguin
Tu esaltato per aver pippato cocaine
Lui assenzio e poesia
Tu senza poesia
Lui ha fede
Tu ti senti il messia
Van Gogh, una lama e si taglia l’orecchio
Io ti sento parlare, sto per fare lo stesso
Ho il rasoio tra le dita ma non ti ammazzo
Avrò pietà di te perché
Tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu-tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu-tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu sei pazzo, mica Van Gogh
Spacchi tutto quando fan gol
Fai la coda per lo smartphone
Tu sei pazzo, mica Van Gogh
Tu sei pazzo, mica Van Gogh

At the age of sixteen he travelled around art collections
You at the age of sixteen Yu-gi-oh, trading card collection
At the age of twenty in the Salon of the Louvre
And you in the SUV car showroom, penniless (with only your underpants left)
Him, oil on canvas and created paintings
You, oil on your muscles, and bodybuilding competitions
Him, peasants, models, prostitutes
you spend the night in bed with your computer
He’s talent you know
you, it’s been a while since you had it
He bets on himself
You, online poker
Him, feeling high because he’s met Gauguin
You, feeling high because you’ve snorted cocaine
Him, Absinthe and poetry
You, absence of poetry
He has faith
You think you’re the messiah
Van Gogh, a blade and he cuts his ear off
I hear you talking, I’m about to do the same
I’ve got the razor between my fingers but I won’t kill you
I’ll have mercy on you because
You are crazy
not Van Gogh … etc.
… you smash everything when they score a goal
you cue up for a smartphone …

OK, Van Gogh mangiava tubi di colore ed altre cose assurde
Probabilmente meno tossiche del tuo cheeseburger
Allucinazioni che alterano la vista
Tu ti fai di funghi ad Amsterdam
Ma ciò non fa di te un artista
Tu in fissa con i cellulari
Lui coi girasoli
Girare con te è un po’ come quando si gira soli
Colpo di mano cambia il vento come a rubamazzo
C’è una novità, ragazzo
Tu non sei più sano
Tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu-tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu-tu sei pazzo
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Mica Van Gogh
Tu sei pazzo, mica Van Gogh
Tu sei pazzo, mica Van Gogh

OK, Van Gogh ate tubes of paint and other strange things
Probably less toxic than your cheeseburger
Mind distorting hallucinations
You do mushrooms in Amsterdam
But that doesn’t make you an artist
You, obsessed with your cell phone
Him, obsessed with sunflowers
Going around with you is a bit like going around on your own
A surprise coup, the situation changes like in a game of cards
Breaking news boy
You’re no longer sane
You are crazy
Not Van Gogh … etc.

If you’re unable to view the original video at the beginning of this article then try this alternative link:

You can find more posts about Caparezza here:

Non Me Lo Posso Permettere

Three Young Italians And A Black & Decker Drill