Watercolor by Walter Sanders
I search google.it for la canzone d’amore più bella (the most beautiful love song) and get 741,000 entries.
The first is a YouTube post of “Adagio,” sung by Lara Fabian. With more than 3 million viewings, it merited a listen from me. I found the song a tad overwrought—more longing than loving–but seems as if I may be in the minority.
The second link is a blog called clo&demk that couldn’t limit itself to just one melody. Its Le 200 Canzoni D’Amore Più Belle di Tutti i Tempo (The 200 Most Beautiful Love Songs of All Time) leads with “I Say a Little Prayer” by Aretha Franklin. Sorry, it’s a sweet song but not Italian.
The third link is a forum discussion on alfeminile.com that starts when Buffy, with her smiley face emoticon, posts the query. I try to wade through the responses but the flotilla of attached smileys starts to give me agita.
Next up: Yahoo Answers. Surely, this search engine’s miglior risposta (best answer) will be the one. “Scelta dal Richiedente.” Problem is, I can’t find the song on Google or YouTube. Does anyone know it?
At number five, the pourfemme.it, offers Le 100 canzoni d’amore più belle di sempre (The 100 Most Beautiful Love Songs for Always) with a crisp visual of a tiny red heart atop black-and-white sheet music. In the introduction, the writer calls out “La Cura,” by Franco Battiato as her selection, even though it isn’t first on the list.
I play “La Cura” and find it arty and edgy. . .like this line . . .Ti solleverò dai dolori e dai tuoi sbalzi d’umore dalle ossessioni delle tue manie. (I will relieve you of the pains and of your mood swings of the obsessions of your mania.)
Una canzone bella? Non sono sicura.
Guess I’m looking for a simpler kind of love song.
I google the phrase “ti amo” (I love you) and find Umberto Tozzi’s song “Ti Amo,” which is strong and emotional but, again, I don’t know if it qualifies as beautiful.
So, for this La Festa di San Valentino, I’ll go with an Italian song that I love: “La Prima Cosa Bella” performed in this video by Nicola di Bari, who also composed the music, at the 1970 San Remo Music Festival.
I partially recall an Italian song from my childhood with some lyrics like this: . . shining above us, you fill our hearts with . . happiness like a message (letter?) from those who love us. Aye yea ya ya da da etc. etc. . .Any ideas what it’s called? Greg Hogan
I do not know whether it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing issues with your blog.
It seems like some of the written text on your content are running off the screen.
Can somebody else please provide feedback and let me know if this is
happening to them too? This may be a issue with my web browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Kudos
Ciao, It seems as if your computer setting must have the Zoom feature enable. Try to downsize it for better viewing.
Solid article. I’m studying something like this here at Virginia Tech. It’s truly exciting to understand material
from other people and see a little bit from their source.
Romantico! Walter’s beautiful watercolor is the perfect illustration for this sweet post. I too love “La Prima Cosa Bella,” perhaps because it was a San Remo hit when I was in Firenze for my art studies. My all-time favorite Italian love song is “Cade L’uliva.” This sweet, sad song refers to the olive harvest. Its form is called “rispetto”, an ancient poetic folk tradition. Rispetto was born in Sicily in the 13th century, then spread to Italy, especially to Tuscany. Here is a lovely rendition of “Cade L’uliva”by Caterina Bueno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2J-3jplQj4
very nice post… being an Italian, I can say that the most beautiful italian love songs are too many to be classified here. To understand and love a very good italian love song one should also known the artist (performer). So, as an example, I like very much the song “storia d’amore” of Adriano Celentano. By the way, 99% of the italians like the great Lucio Battisti (me too). He is an istitution in the Italian light music panorama. Some of his songs are so so so full of pathos, love and romance that once you listen (and understand the meaning) you can never forget (look for “Emozioni” and listen to all of the related songs.. ). Another monster of the italian music is Mina. She is still alive and recently performed with Adriano Celentano. Here again you cant love only one song …because there are many Mina’s song to love. Finally, a more recent author and singer who is loved by 95% of the italians: no, its not Eros Ramazzotti and not Laura Pausini who are well appreciated outside Italy… here everyone loves Vasco Rossi.. again too many beautiful song (rock style) to say which one is the most beautiful ….I think it is “la nostra relazione” …others are “senza
parole”, “una canzone d’amore”, “ti voglio bene”… but you can love his music completely only if you know him s little…
Ed,
Thank you for sharing so many wonderful singers. I will look up these artists. Some I know but others not.
My friend Daniele from Siena says that songs are “the” best way to learn Italian. I think he is right.
I so enjoyed this post. Happy St. Valentine’s Day, sweet Sharon.