Cartomante translates to "fortune teller" or "card reader". It's a captivating and somewhat mystical word that isn't heard in everyday conversation or every song, making it unique and memorable.
In the song, Dente consults various entities – a mirror, a crystal ball, the stars, and a cartomante – seeking guidance on life's dilemmas. This word perfectly encapsulates the song's theme of searching for answers and direction, adding a touch of intrigue that will make learners curious to explore the lyrics.
Cosa Devo Fare paints the humorous yet relatable picture of someone who is desperate for instructions. The singer quizzes everything magical in sight: a talking mirror, fortune-teller cards, a crystal ball, even the night sky. “Should I get up or stay in bed? Can I trust my friends? Will the sun shine on Saturday so I can go to the beach?” Each object is begged for a roadmap, but answers never come. The constant refrain, dimmi cosa devo fare (tell me what I must do), turns everyday doubts into a playful quest that feels almost like a game of “Magic 8-Ball” taken to poetic extremes.
In the end, the narrator drops all the mystical props and turns to the only source that might truly matter: the person he loves. All the questions collapse into one: che cosa devo fare con te (what should I do with you). The song suggests that guidance we hunt for in stars and symbols often lives in human connection instead. It is a charming blend of lighthearted anxiety and romantic longing, reminding us that when life’s manual is missing, love might just be the best compass we have.
Dente is the stage name of Giuseppe Peveri, an Italian singer-songwriter born in Fidenza, near Parma, in 1976. Before going solo he played guitar in the bands Quic and La Spina, and he released his first album, Anice in bocca, in 2006.
His songs are short and wry, full of wordplay about love going sideways, and critics have compared him to Lucio Battisti, Luigi Tenco and Rino Gaetano. His fourth album, Io tra di noi (2011), produced by Tommaso Colliva, entered the Italian album chart at number 15 in its first week. He has made eight albums and also published a book of short stories, Favole per bambini molto stanchi (2015).