DESCRIPTION:
Sergio Franchi (1926-1990) was one of the most popular acts in show business, and a most successful headliner in Las Vegas and in top night clubs around the world. He was extremely handsome and had a fine legitimate tenor voice that could have done very well in opera, but I'm sure he made much more money in show business. He did Neapolitan music very well, and here is a first-rate "Malafemmena." There are lots of heartbreak songs in Neapolitan music, of course, such as the kind Francesco Albanese did so well, and then there are songs like this, where the tone has gone from heartbreak to something much harsher, and decidedly dangerous. The language is suddenly rough and threatening. "Malafemmena" is a strong word in Neapolitan, and other words in this song, like "vipera" reinforce this tone, which has echoes of "Pagliacci" about it. In some parts of the world, women who hear talk like this coming their way would be well advised to disappear, and keep going!

Si avisse fatto a n'ato/If you had done to somebody else
chello ch'hê fatto a me,/what you did to me
st'ommo t'avesse acciso/he would have killed you.
e vuó' sapé pecché?And you know why?
Pecché 'ncopp'a 'sta terra,Because in this world
femmene comm'a te,lwomen like you
nun ce hann' 'a stá pe' n'ommo/don't even belong in the same company
onesto comm'a me./as decent men like myself!

Femmena, Woman!
tu si' na malafemmena,/You're an evil woman!
a st'uocchie hê fatto chiagnere,/You made these eyes cry
lacreme 'e 'nfamitá./bitter tears of infamy!

etc.