Arranca comes from the verb arrancare, which can mean to pull out, tear off, or start (like an engine). However, in this context, it takes on a more nuanced meaning of struggling or faltering.
Arisa sings, "Senti come arranca, senti come manca," referring to her voice. Here, arranca vividly describes the voice struggling, perhaps weakening or breaking, conveying a sense of emotional strain and vulnerability. It's a powerful word that captures the fragility of the voice and the pain behind it.
Have you ever felt like you've lost a part of yourself after a breakup? In her powerful song "Voce," which simply means "Voice," Italian singer Arisa explores this exact feeling. She sings from the perspective of someone who has "lost her identity" and feels that life now only has "half a meaning." The entire song is a desperate plea for a former lover to listen to her.
Notice how she describes her voice: it's suffering, as if it's been crucified ("in croce"), and it struggles ("arranca") because it knows "you are no longer mine." She begs, "Open this door, it's me," feeling that even freedom is useless when her soul is in so much pain. It's a raw and emotional look at how heartbreak can make you feel like you've lost your own voice.
Arisa, whose real name is Rosalba Pippa, is one of Italy's most beloved contemporary singers. She was born on August 20, 1982, in Genoa and grew up in Pignola, a small town in the southern region of Basilicata. Her stage name is a playful acronym made from the first initials of her family members' names.
She first won the country over in 2009, taking the newcomers' section of the Sanremo Music Festival with her song "Sincerità ". In 2014 she returned to win the festival outright with "Controvento", cementing her place among Italy's leading pop voices. Known for her warm, expressive voice and heartfelt ballads, she has also worked as a songwriter, actress, and television personality. "La Notte", released in 2012, is one of her most moving songs about heartache and the hope that love endures.