Luca was gay
Luca was gay (Luca Era Gay in Italian) is an ex-gay song by Italian singer Giuseppe Povia who launched it in 2009 at the famous Sanremo music festival, sort of an Italian Eurovision Song Contest that is broadcast on state public TV channel RAI. The lyrics tell the story of a young man called Luca Tolve looking back on his past. When he realizes multiple childhood influential factors causing him to identify as a "gay", he decides to turn away from homosexuality. The clip of nominated song caused outrage in Italy among pro-homosexual pressure groups such as Arcigay, because in their view it apparently tells the story of a reparative therapy being successful. The Arcigay president Mancuso threatened to disrupt Italyâs biggest musical five-day event of the year and warned state broadcaster RAI that protests would be âextremely strong, noisy and organisedâ if the song was not withdrawn from the festival. But politician Luca Volonteâ of the Catholic UDC party described Arcigayâs efforts as âa clear attempt at discrimination and censorshipâ.
Povia was previously quoted in an interview saying "you're not born gay, you become gay through your social surroundings".[1][2]
The lyrics in English[3]
INTRO:
Luca once was gay but heâs with her today
When Luca speaks, he holds his heart in his hands.
Luca says: Today I am a different man.
1st VERSE:
Luca says: before I talk about my change in sexuality, let me make one thing clear:
If I believe in God, I canât depend on human beings for my answers, human thought on this is so divided
so I didn't go to psychologists, psychiatrists, priests or scientists;
I went to my past, dug deep, and found out a lot about myself.
My mother loved me - too much, a love that became too obsessive, full of her convictions,
I couldn't breathe for her need of my attention.
My father was a man who didn't make decisions, I could never talk to him,
he was at work all day long, though I suspected the truth was a little different.
In fact, when I was twelve, my mom told him she wanted a separation.
I didn't understand, but my father said, Yeah, that's the right decision,
and after that he started drinking.
My Mom never had a good word to say about my Dad
She used to tell me: âWhatever you do, never get married.
She was sick jealous of my girlfriends - so unhealthy - and my identity was growing confused.
Chorus:
Luca once was gay but heâs with her today
When Luca speaks, he holds his heart in his hands.
Luca says: Today I am a different man.
2nd VERSE:
Iâm another man now, but at that time I was looking for answers, I was ashamed so looked for my answers in hiding, some used to say âitâs natural.â
I studied Freud and he didnât think the same, then high school finished but I didnât know what happiness was,
a big man made my heart shake and thatâs when I knew I was a homosexual.
I had no inhibitions with him, he courted me and I thought that was love, yes with him I could feel myself,
but then it became like a competition on who made the best sex.
I felt guilty, sooner or later theyâll catch him, but if evidence disappears heâll be acquitted.
I was looking for who my father was in men, and I used to go with men not to betray my mother.
2nd Chorus:
Luca once was gay but heâs with her today
When Luca speaks, he holds his heart in his hands.
Luca says: Today I am a different man.
SPECIAL:
Luca says: For 4 years Iâd been with a man through love and deceptions, we often betrayed each other.
I was still looking for my truth, that big eternal love, then I met her at a party, among a lot of people,
she had nothing to do with it all, she listened to me, undressed me, understood me. I only remember that I missed her the day after.
This is my story, only my story, no illness, no recovery.
Dear Dad, Iâve forgiven you even though youâve never come back here.
Mum, I often think of you and I love you, and sometimes still see your reflection.
But now Iâve become a father and Iâm in love with the only woman Iâve ever loved.
Final Chorus:
uca once was gay but heâs with her today
When Luca speaks, he holds his heart in his hands.
Luca says: Today I am a different man.
References
- â Alberto Celani (20 Feb 2009). 'Luca was gay', and then he realised his mistake. France 24: The Observers. Retrieved on 8 Oct 2018.
- â Warren Throckmorton (18 Feb 2009). Luca was gay: The lyrics in English. WordPress. Retrieved on 8 Oct 2018.
- â Luca era gay by Povia & Monia Russo (with English subtitles) Official music video (2 May 2009). Retrieved on 8 Oct 2018.