Arrese means "surrenders" or "giving in." It's an interesting word because it can carry a sense of defeat or resignation, but in the context of the song, it's presented as a part of life's tapestry.
The lyrics mention "Di colpi bassi e di arrese" (Of low blows and surrenders) and later "Di vincitore e di arrese" (Of winner and surrenders), suggesting that giving in is a natural, perhaps even necessary, part of the human experience, alongside victories and struggles. It's a less common word in everyday conversation, making it stand out.
Italian pop star Marco Mengoni paints a cinematic collage of modern life in In Tempo: dimly lit apartments, crowded train stations, whispered promises, binge-worthy TV shows and sudden urges to wander “old streets with new shoes”. The lyrics roll past like quick snapshots, showing how we survive on a patchwork of words, silences, courage and excuses. Wrapped in smooth vocals and steady rhythm, the song captures that restless moment when ordinary days feel both safe and suffocating.
Halfway through, reality bends. The singer meets a mirror-image “prisoner who is free” and realizes his own voice is missing. This vivid dream shakes him awake just in time, sparking a secret plan to slip away at night, leave no note and purposely lose the road. In Tempo is a call to break routine, reclaim identity and change your rhythm while the clock is still kind, inviting listeners to escape the familiar and rediscover themselves in motion.
Marco Mengoni is an Italian singer-songwriter born on December 25, 1988, in Ronciglione, Italy. He rose to fame in 2009 after winning the third season of "X Factor Italy," and became one of Italy's most celebrated pop and soul artists in the years that followed.
Mengoni has won the Sanremo Music Festival twice, in 2013 with "L'Essenziale" and again in 2023 with "Due Vite," which also represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest. Known for his powerful, soulful voice and emotionally direct lyrics, he has released multiple platinum-certified albums and remains one of the most streamed Italian artists both at home and internationally.