Cazzate is a colloquial and somewhat vulgar Italian word that translates to "bullshit" or "nonsense." It's used to describe lies, exaggerations, or things that are utterly meaningless.
In Caparezza's song, he uses it to critique the empty promises and rhetoric of politicians and society, saying "Diciamo diciamo diciamo diciamo diciamo un sacco di cazzate" (We say, we say, we say, we say, we say a lot of bullshit). This word is memorable because of its strong, direct nature and its critical commentary on societal falsehoods.
“Il Secondo Secondo Me” is Caparezza’s witty self-portrait of an artist facing sequel anxiety while taking aim at every cliché he can find. The looping chorus – “Il secondo album è sempre più difficile” (“The second album is always harder”) – is more than a gripe about the music business. It becomes a springboard for a rapid-fire tour of social stereotypes, political hypocrisy, and cultural contradictions. Italians are “brava gente,” yet riddled with corruption; the English cling to their habits; racist myths about Black athletes and Arab writing are exposed and flipped. Between the jokes Caparezza reminds us that slogans, campaign promises, and media sound-bites can be as empty – and as catchy – as a pop hook.
Under the playful wordplay (“secondo” means both “second” and “according to”), the song hides a serious message: staying authentic is tough when everyone judges you by what came before. Caparezza parallels an artist’s fear of the sophomore slump with a country stuck in recycled rhetoric. Whether he mocks billion-euro footballers, nostalgic fascists, or ringtone politics, the takeaway is clear: repeating yourself is easy, evolving is hard. His advice? Question every ready-made label, keep creating, and never let the second time define you.