One good thing about music: when it hits you, you feel no pain.
Bob Marley
The world's most renowned reggae musician struck gold with this observation. Music has the power to transport us, to express our deepest feelings, and soothe us when we are hurt. Music is a great teacher, too.
Particularly when it comes to Italian songs. People who study the Italian language and culture gain valuable insights into both when they listen to these tunes. To help you build your Italian music playlist, Superprof presents a selection of the best Italian songs
| Song Title | Artist | Year | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Con te partirò (With You I Shall Leave) | Andrea Bocelli | 1995 | Operatic pop |
| Vivo per lei (I live for her) | Andrea Bocelli | 1995 | Ballad |
| Piu bella cosa che c’è (The Most Beautiful Thing) | Eros Ramazzotti | 1996 | Ballad |
| La solitudine (The Loneliness) | Laura Pausini | 1993 | lite rock |
| Senza una donna (Without a Woman) | Zucchero Fornaciaria | 1987 | rock ballad |
| L'italiano (The Italian) | Toto Cutugno | 1982 | pop |
| Felicità (Happiness) | Al Bano / Romina Power | 1982 | lite rock - duet |
| Gloria | Umberto Tozzi | 1979 | rock |
| Parole, parole (Words, Words) | Mina and Alberto Lupo | 1972 | lite rock - duet |
| Azzurro (Blue) | Adriano Celentano | 1968 | pop |
| Quando, quando, quando (When, When, When) | Alberto Testa, Tony Renis | 1962 | bossa nova |
| Volare/Nel blu di pinto diblu (In the blue that is painted blue) | Domenico Modugno | 1958 | pop |
| tu vuò fa’ l’americano (You Want to be American) | Nicola Salerno | 1956 | jazz, swing |
| O sole mio (My Own Sunshine) | Luciano Pavarotti | 1898 | classical |
| Funiculì funiculà (Funicular Up, Funicular Down) | Luigi Denza | 1880 | opera |
Con Te Partirò- With You I Shall Leave
In 1995, an as-yet unknown vocal artist was troubled. His debut at the Sanremo Music Festival was imminent, but the song the festival organisers assigned him troubled him. Little did he know, at the time, that it would become his signature.
This song is not good because the festival is a competition. And this is not a song for a competition. It’s a deep song. A timeless song. But it’s not for a competition.
Andrea Bocelli
He was right; the song flopped at the festival. However, when he sang it with Sarah Brightman, it became an international hit. Even at the start of his career, Mr Bocelli had a sense of music and all its flavours. Andrea Bocelli must rank among the best Italian artists and writers, for his talent in the vocal arts.
Vivo Per Lei - I live for her
Two Andrea Bocelli songs in a row might suggest we're rabid fans of his. Or, it points to the fact that He delivers popular Italian songs with remarkable consistency. Mr Bocelli released this ballad in 1995, following his success with Con te partirò, and it cemented his place as one of Italy's most famous singers.
Recorded solo, this song found mild success in Italy. However, recorded as a duet - and multiple versions in different languages, Vivo took its place among the most popular Italian songs.
The lyrics suggest the singer lives for a woman. However, Andrea Bocelli defines 'her' as music. Thus, he sings about living for music.
Piu Bella Cosa - The Most Beautiful Thing
The 90s were a great decade for music, and Italian songs, in particular. In the mid-80s, Eros Ramazzotti met a lukewarm reception in his native Italy, during his Sanremo debut. However, he found fame elsewhere in Europe, particularly in Germany.
Returning to his homeland in 1990, the press followed him so they could hype his next album. The Italian media grew curious about international reporters following him around, so they began to do so, too. When he released Piu Bella in 1996, the world's presses were ready to sing its praises. Quite fitting, as the song sings the praises of his (then-) girlfriend.
La Solitudine- The Loneliness
The history of romance is filled with stories about lovers jilted for family reasons. La solitudine mourns such a lost love; a broken bond because his family thought she wasn't good enough. They sent him far away and, now, she sees him everywhere in her world.
Laura Pausini won the 1993 Sanremo Music Festival Newcomer Award with this heartbreaking tune. Later that year, she released it as a single; it became an instant hit. When you listen to it, you'll hear why. The desperation in her voice runs over every note, making the singer's devastation believable.
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Senza Una Donna- Without a Woman
Keeping with the heartbreak trend, imagine for a second that your partner has left you. You sit in your small space, not knowing where to direct your thoughts. For Zucchero, the only place to turn was music. He wrote this tune to cope with his wife's divorce request.
L'italiano - The Italian
Toto Cutugno had already made a name for himself on the Italian music scene, and around the world. He was touring Canada when he met with the large Italian community in Toronto. These compatriots, so far from home, inspired him to write a song promoting Italian identity.
The Italian might not sound like it at first, but it is an anthem to all Italian figures, historical and modern. The Italian expat community in Canada might have been Toto's inspiration, but the song speaks for Everyman Italia.
Felicità- Happiness
This song lives up to its title. One might say it is a musical expression of joy bubbling up and spilling over. Singers Ali Bano and Romina Power took second place with it at the 1982 Sanremo Festival. It went on to become one of the most popular Italian songs in Europe.
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Gloria
Most English speakers incorrectly credit Laura Branigan as this song's author. Umberto Tozzi is its rightful composer. However, she does get credit for the song's global reach.
This 1979 song describes a fantasy woman the singer doesn't want to be free of, even though his mates think she's driving him mad. He protests that, far from madness, the fantastic Gloria has set him free - from reality. The original lyrics differ from the ones Ms Branigan sang.
Parole, parole - Words, Words
By all accounts, the dating scene are anything but satisfactory, these days. Still, today's lovelorn can take heart that 50 years ago, the situation was much the same. This 1972 tune expresses the distrust and frustration over empty words of love.
If you need help learning Italian dialogue, this song gives you a musical example of such. Granted, you won't get much variety in the conversation. however, you will discover the rhythm of Italian back-and-forth.
Azzurro -Blue
If you've ever felt like lazing a day away under a blue sky, this is the Italian song for you. If you've ever felt like executing a military march under a blue sky, play this song.
Songwriters Paolo Conte and Vito Pallavicini penned this tune in 1968, specifically for Adriano Celentano. Celentano made it famous that year. Conte embarked on a singing career in the mid-80s, and recorded a version of this Italian song, too.
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Quando, quando, quando - When, When, When
This 1962 tune may be one of the most popular Italian songs ever. You might have heard it in various films and television shows, or during an advert, playing in the background. Various artists have translated it into a number of languages, including English. It even received the instrumental treatment, courtesy of Edgardo Cintron.
This song was featured most recently as the melody signalling possible romance in the 2022 K-Drama series Our Blues.
Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu - In the blue that is painted blue
Modernist painter Marc Chagall was the inspiration for this song. Better said: two Chagall paintings and a bit of wine made this Italian song what it is. Franco Migliacci, the songwriter, had begun penning the lyrics ahead of a day at the beach with his friend, singer Domenico Modugno.
The wine he drank as he waited for his friend went to his head; he fell asleep. His vivid dreams helped magnify elements of the Chagall paintings. Upon waking, he wrote a song about a man whose dreams see him painting himself blue and flying away.
Domenico Modugno won third place Eurovision Song Contest (1958) with this song. With more than 100 interpretations, Volare is one of the most-covered songs in music history.
Tu vuò fa’ l’americano- You Want to be American
The 50s was another great decade for music. In the United States (US), music lovers were moving on from jazz and swing. But in Europe, this genre was the latest rage.
This Italian penchant for all things American must be confusing for anyone taking Italian culture lessons. As rich and storied as it is, why would any Italian favour brash American mannerisms?
In 1972, Italian singer Adriano Celentano released a hit song titled Prisencolinensinainciusol. Its lyrics and title make no sense. He meant for the song to sound like hard-to-understand American English. The song's original video shows Adriano gyrating, Elvis Presley-style.
O Sole Mio - My Own Sunshine
Speaking of American culture, did you know that Elvis borrowed heavily from one of the best Italian songs? His It's Now or Never is O sole mio, note for note, save for the slightly faster tempo. Still, nothing can reduce Pavarotti's rendition of this 1898 melody.
Funiculì funiculà- Funicular Up, Funicular Down
Not many Italian songs celebrate little railcars that climb mountains. However, this song does precisely that, and with flair and charm. Luigi Denza and Peppino Turco wrote it in 1880 to mark Mount Vesuvius' first funicular. Today, you might hear it while playing a video game or in an advert for Italian food.
Your language teacher might encourage you to study Italian by watching films - a sound recommendation. We contend that you could also learn Italian by listening to music. Particularly songs with a cultural twist, like many of our list features.
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