Vittore Baroni, ITALIA

Don’t You Rock Me Dada-O

a new artist book by

Vittore Baroni

for Redfoxpress - “C’Est Mon Dada” collection

July 2008 - 40 pages in colour - size A6

hardcover - thread and quarter cloth binding - laser printing on ivory paper
for more pages and details see http://www.redfoxpress.com/dada-baroni.html

This book is the product of a deranged mix-up of details from collages, photos and mixed-media works (ca. 1975-2008) handpicked from my archive, then scanned and multi-layered on the pc with a primitive graphic programme.

Combining my lifelong obsessions for the history of r’n’r and Dada, Don’t You Rock Me Dada-O is respectfully dedicated to the CabVolt Contingent with thanks to Lonnie D. & The Vipers.

V.B.

Questo libro è il risultato di un folle frullato di dettagli da collage, foto e lavori mixed-media (ca. 1975-2008) selezionati dal mio archivio, scannerizzati e stratificati utilizzando un primitivo programma di computergrafica. Combinando la mia perdurante ossessione per la storia del r'n'r e del movimento Dada, Don’t You Rock Me Dada-O è rispettosamente dedicato al Contingente del Cabaret Voltaire con tante grazie a Lonnie Donegan & The Vipers.

V.B.

DON’T YOU ROCK ME DADA-O

(traditional, arr. Vittore Baroni)

Now me and Tristan went to town

(sing along Man Ray, sing along)

We went to buy Max Ernst a gown

(sing along Man Ray, sing along)

But charmed we were by a sound so unreal

(sing away Man Ray, sing away)

Weirder than Hugo Ball’s Krippenspiel

(sing away Man Ray, sing away)

Oh, don’t you rock me

Dada-O

Well, don’t you rock me

Dada-O

Now...

John and Raoul also came to town

(sing away Man Ray, sing away)

Elsa Von Freytag was leadin’ a hound

(sing away Man Ray, sing away)

Hound dog bark, the Baroness got drink

(swoon away Man Ray, swoon away)

When I first saw her, my heart sunk

(swoon away Man Ray, swoon away)

Now, don’t you rock me

Dada-O...

She yelled “Piffle piffle, where’s Marcel?

(get along lady, get along)

I play a mean skiffle and I love you like hell”

(get along lady, get along)

She tried the green corn, she tried the red

(sail away lady, sail away)

I’ll have it Grosz, that’s what she said

(sail away lady, sail away)

Oh, don’t you rock me

Dada-O...

I was burning inside, yes I was sizzling hot

(sing away ladies)

Dada turned that fire into a Merz knot

(sing away ladies)

Marcel pissed inside a fountain

(shy away ladies)

Then he disappeared on top of a mountain

(shy away ladies)

Arthur got himself into another fight

(sail away ladies)

I think we won’t be home soon tonight

(sail away ladies)

Oh, don’t you rock me

Dada-O...

(middle eight)

I tried pop, I tried conceptual and land art

I tried street art preaching on a stump

- But my mind is fixed on Hans Arp

I tried to date a woman, I tried to kiss her

I tried so hard to dig Net.art

- But my heart is bound to Schwitters

I played on mandoline a mellow serenata

I tried to fall in love with someone else

- But my heart belongs to Dada

Oh, don’t you rock me

Dada-O

Well, don’t you rock me

Dada-O

So I gathered all my uncherished memories

I took all my photos, threw ‘em in the mix

(sail away Vittore, sail away)

I scribbled these lyrics on a banknote

Pray I won’t miss the last train to Marcel Janco

(sail away Vittore, sail away)

Anna was in bloom, Francis Peeked-a-boo

Lonnie and the Vipers are runnin’ after you!

(sing away Vittore)

Beatrice and Sophie refuse to hear my call

Mina is a perfect walking talking living doll

(sing away Vittore)

Jean and Theodor showered Yvonne in gold

Down on a corner, I’m left totally cold

Well, don’t you rock me

Dada-O...

I tried to write, I tried to sing this song

(sail away Man Ray, sail away)

But it looks like everything went Rongwrong

(sail away Man Ray, sail away)

I’ll lock myself up in room 291

(sing away Man Ray, sing away)

And spend the night talking with the Blind Man

(sing away Man Ray, sing away)

Oh, don’t you rock me,

Dada-O

Well, won’t you rock me

Dada-O

Vittore Baroni (Forte dei Marmi, 1956)

is an Italian music critic, visual poet and explorer of the counter-cultures. Since the mid-1970’s he is also one of the most active frequenters of the planetary circuits of Mail Art. He has published several books on aspects of the “networking cultures” that anticipated Internet, on electronic music and on various forms of fringe art. Contact: vittorebaroni@alice.it