My Italian Soundtrack

While the jasmine is still in full bloom, intoxicating the streets and squares of Rome with its magical scent, I give you a life- and love-affirming list of some of my favorite Italian composers, singers and songs:

The Top Two:

Gino Paoli - Una lunga storia d’amore

Bruno Lauzi - Almeno tu nell’universo, sung by Mia Martini

In roughly descending order:

Jimmy Fontana – Il mondo

Gino Paoli – Il cielo in una stanza

Vasco Rossi -  Sally; Vita spericolata

Lucio Battisti - La canzone del sole; Una donna per amico

Franco Battiato – Centro di gravità permanente; La canzone dell’amore perduto (by Fabrizio De André)

Mango – Lei verrà; Mediterraneo; Fare l’amore

Zucchero – Menta e rosmarino; Va’, Pensiero (by Giuseppe Verdi)

Renato Zero – I migliori anni della nostra vita; I giardini che nessuno sa

Giorgia – Come saprei

Eros Ramazzotti – Adesso tu; Aurora; Stella gemella

The Very Special Prize goes to:

Emilio Pericoli – Al di là

This classic, from the soundtrack of “Rome Adventure” (1962), is still performed at weddings and anniversaries. The film starred Troy Donahue and Suzanne Pleshette, and her character was named Prudence! The Hays Code was abolished in 1967, coinciding with my first trip to Europe. When I arrived in Italy I didn’t fly on a plane but on the wings of that melody and that golden voice, with lyrics I could not yet appreciate. Then came 1968.

Everything in life has come to me late, and I have no adventures from the world youth revolution of the late Sixties to relate here. I yearned for it all, deeply, but in action I erred on the side of prudence when I should have thrown prudence to the winds. Easier said than done, especially in hindsight.

Like my musical choices, I am, I admit, a “romanticona,” but I have always felt that love was indefinable and marriage could entrap a woman and limit her potential. Therein lies a good part of my story.

In an interview a long time ago my favorite Italian director, Michelangelo Antonioni, stated he always had a problem declaring his love. If you have seen any of his classic films, you will understand. I was young and green at the time and thought, “what’s bothering him”? With the years, I have come to comprehend.