You might not realise that you know at least a few famous Italian songs. Some, like O sole mio and Funiculì, funiculà often feature on advertisement soundtracks, particularly for Italian food. Other Italian songs become popular because other artists record them, often with English lyrics. For example, Nel blu, dipinto di blu (Volare)was covered by both Dean Martin and David Bowie,in fact, it's one of the most-covered songs in music history.
Who are the singers that make these songs so popular? In this article, Superprof examines famous Italian singers. We study their musical journey, and the 'signature' songs that made them renowned Italian vocalists.
Luciano Pavarotti
Of all the renowned Italian vocalists, Luciano Pavarotti may be the most famous. Indeed, he seemed destined to be one of Italy's great historical figures. After a brief flirtation with a future as a footballer as a child, he dedicated himself to music.
His father, Fernando, often entertained the family with his fine tenor voice. However, he was too stage-shy to sing as a career. Instead, he supported his son's singing goals. His faith in his son's talent paid off.
Pavarotti's 1966 role as Tonio in Gaetano Donizetti's satirical opera, La fille du régiment, earned him the nickname King of the High C's.
Mina
Mina Anna Mazzini - Mina, is the world's best-selling musical artist from Italy. At the height of her fame, she dominated Italian music charts. Her musical versatility and emancipated views drove her popularity.
Mina scored many firsts for women in Italian music. She was Italy's first female rock singer. International audiences loved Mina, but Italian music circles didn't fully embrace her until her ballad phase.
From the start of her career, the music world struggled to define Mina's style. They called her The Queen of Screamers for her loud, brash vocals. Later they added The Tigress of Cremona for her wild dancing and movements.
Andrea Bocelli
This singer is legendary, both as a solo artist and a duet partner, with the greatest female voices. Over his nearly 30-year musical career, he's partnered with Ariana Grande, Christina Aguilera, and Sarah Brightman. The Prayer, his duet with Céline Dion, is a perennial fan favourite.
Andrea is always considerate of his singing partners, often holding back his powerful baritone to give them room to shine. When he sings solo, he has no such restraint. Canto della terra is not his signature song - Con te partirò is. However, it is the perfect showcase for his depth and range, and fully demonstrates his vocal power.
Andrea Bocelli has always been musical. Despite that, he trained as a lawyer. After graduating from the University of Pisa, he spent one year working as a court-appointed attorney.
Andrea's catalogue is a great reason to study the Italian language because his song themes are so diverse. Dissecting Bocelli's lyrics can help you learn Italian grammar, all while you build appreciation for his elegant phrasing.
Laura Pausini
Laura is the type of singer that plays with music just for fun. Her father, once a session pianist for ABBA's Frida Lyngstad, nurtured this budding talent. Safe within her dad's musical orbit, Laura experimented until ready to claim the stage.
Laura entered a series of singing contests. She attracted a lot of attention but never snagged a prize. All of that changed in 1993, when she won the Sanremo Music Festival Newcomer award. Her Sanremo selection, La solitudine, became her signature song.
Måneskin
This band puts paid to any thoughts of Italian music being only opera and ballads. Måneskin combines glam, punk and pop to generate their brand of alternative rock.
This quartet further delivers lessons in Italian culture and pushing boundaries. Far gone are the days of Mina, when women rockers defied explanation. These four friends and collaborators, who met in high school, give each member equal time in the spotlight.
Italian music acts have made 48 Eurovision appearances, and won the competition three times. Måneskin claimed the 2021 Eurovision trophy with Zitti e buoni.
Patty Pravo
Patty Pravo (real name: Nicoletta Strambelli) was Italy's most commercially successful singer. From the mid-60s until the late 70s, Patty dominated the Italian music charts.
Patty made waves at the Piper Club in Rome, while still a teenager. This exposure led to her first recording contract, and the string of top hits that followed. Her debut album song, Ragazzo triste, was the first pop song the Vatican Radio broadcast. She released her signature song, La bambola, two years later.
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Eros Ramazzotti
Setbacks mark Eros' early musical journey. He entered a competition and earned favourable reviews, but lost to Zucchero - another popular Italian singer. Still, this early acclaim netted him a recording contract. His first single, 1982's Ad un amico, bombed.
Eros finally hit gold in 1986, with Una storia importante. From then on, he was music chart royalty. His most recent album, Vita ce n'è debuted at #1 on the Italian music charts.
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Marracash
Fabio Bartolo Rizzo, better known as Marracash, began his career in music when he was 25 years old. He didn't grow up in a musical household, nor did he have much security as a child.
This perhaps explains his raw presentation style and thought-provoking raps. Marracash songs often revolve around social issues and personal experiences.
Today, we count Marracash among the most influential Italian artists and writers. His lyrical prowess has earned him many awards, including platinum certifications for his last five studio albums. He cites Metallica as a source of inspiration, along with many American rappers, including Drake and DJ Khaled.
Umberto Tozzi
Few singers can boast that one of their songs stayed in the #1 spot for seven months. Even fewer can claim dominance over other countries' music charts. Umberto Tozzi has achieved both feats.
One of his early ballads, Ti amo, debuted at # 1 across Europe and in his native country. Lovely and popular as it is, it is not his signature song. That honour goes to Gloria, a song about a fantasy woman.
Umberto Tozzi's original lyrics described a man's obsession with a woman who lived only in his imagination. Laura Branigan's 1982 version describes a woman obsessing over her fading looks and lack of a romantic partner.
Fedez
Fedez is one of Italy's top rappers. He's perhaps not as renowned outside his country as some other famous Italian singers. Still, he earns his place on our list for his activism, as well as his steady stream of musical output.
Born Federico Leonardo Lucia, Fedez took the unconventional path to music stardom. He self-produced his first album and released it as a free digital download. The record label Tanta Roba signed him for his second album, which saw wider distribution. Si scrive was his first major-label release.
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Adriano Celentano
This famous Italian singer is the second best-selling Italian music artist, behind Mina. Like his Lombardi-born counterpart, Adriano pushed the boundaries of acceptable stage presence. His live-music antics earned him the nickname Il molleggiato - 'The spring-loaded one'.
Adriano had a knack for intuiting changes in musical tastes. He gets credit for bringing American-style music to Italy. His wife, Claudia Mori, often collaborated with him to write and perform his hits.
From the mid-50s to the mid-70s, American culture permeated life in Italy. So much so that Italian singer Renato Carosone's 1956 song, Tu vuò fà l'americano, became his biggest hit.
Despite his love for American-style music and culture, Adriano never learned to speak English. He confesses that not knowing this language is a barrier to his international dealings and global renown. His signature song, Prisencolinensinainciusol, is nonsense masquerading as English.
After fifty years in the entertainment business as a musician and actor, Adriano's popularity hasn't dimmed. His films, music, and television appearances still captivate audiences of all ages.
Alessandra Amoroso
This Italian pop and soul singer does her genre justice. Her powerful vocals are perfect for singing numbers à la Alicia Keyes. In fact, the Alicia Keys' song, If I Ain't Got You, helped Alessandra make a name for herself in Italian music.
That was her selection for the Amici di Maria De Filippi song contest, in 2008. She won that competition, earning enough prize money to continue her voice lessons.
Alessandra debuted her signature song, Stupida, during that song contest. It garnered as many rave reviews as a single as it did during competition. After topping the Singles' chart, Alessandra embarked on an Italy-wide tour, always performing to packed venues.
Besides philanthropy and her musical efforts, Alessandra dabbles in acting. You might catch her in Lo te amo solo te, her breakout film role. If romantic comedies like Lo te amo aren't your favourite genre, the Italian film catalogue has more to offer, even music-rich selections.
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