My first encounter with Italian music was a fairly unlikely one, it came from the stereo playing in one of the souvenir shops in Venice. It was the first time I heard music of that sort, but I really liked what I heard. It sounded pop, but it was at the same time sweet sounding yet not over-the-top. The vocals were melodious conveyed in a heartfelt manner that only a latin language like Spanish or Italian was able to. Needless to say, their songs would come across as soppy ballads(especially after I did a Google on the lyrics of the songs). However, tired of the music I have been fed with lately, pop music from the Mediterranean seemed fresh to the ears. I would assume that songs by the Italian artists I am listening to now are considered commonplace pop over there, but for someone who originates from a different continent, it makes for a pretty good listen. As is seems, overplayed and overused pop styles in one part of the world could seem interesting for someone who is tired of the overplayed overused pop styles in his own backyard.

Rather impressed with what I am hearing, I got to experience more of this sort of music from the stuff I hear on the streets or on the radio stations. Somehow song were able to capture the mood of the quaint, ‘la dolce vita’(the sweet life) surroundings of the Mediterranean world. I reckon that these songs may well be a mental depiction of my memories of the place, so much so that it left an impression on me. But I digress. Anyway, I got on witchhunt of the virtual sort, looking for the closest thing possible that could provoke the same reaction as the one I had the time I heard the music in that souvenir shop. I know, I could have just asked the greying shopkeeper who the singer of the songs were. Oh well. And I don’t speak Italian(not yet).

My search for the music wasn’t a fruitless task, as Youtube and Last.fm did point me to the direction of artists such as Gigi D’alessio and Eros Ramazzotti. Gigi D’alessio’s songs were as close that I could get that particular sound I was looking for, something that would be a good reminder of my one and only summer holiday. So anyone who’s looking for easy listening music, then do give these two a listen. Gigi D’alessio has very good vocals (click here if you don’t believe me), and he writes his own songs. Eros Ramazzotti veers more towards the slow rock ballads (something apparently characteristic of Italian pop). Both of them do great melodies.

Gigi D’alessio in Quanti Amori (2004) Eros Ramazzotti

During my search I also found this fella called Vittorio Grigolo, a new kid on the pop-opera block. Apparently this guy was handpicked by Simon Cowell to be a member of the opera boyband, Il Divo, but he declined the offer and went solo. After listening to Vittorio’s debut album, In the Hands of Love, and comparing it to Il Divo, I am pretty certain Vittorio Grigolo made the right choice as I felt his album deserved more plays than Il Divo’s (’Mama’, Il Divo? I mean, seriously?). He sings in Italian, English and Spanish, and most tracks in the album are pretty good. Being an opera crossover album, the songs aren’t full-blown opera, which makes the songs rather accessible to my opera-sensitive ears. Some critics have christened him as Il Pavarrottino (”Little Pavarrotti”) due to being invited to sing with the opera giant. Some have also likened him to Andrea Bocelli, but I’d think his songs have more appeal than Andrea Bocelli’s, whose concert I once watched seemed slightly dull.

Vittorio Grigolo’s In the Hands of Love (2006)

The songs on the album do grow on the listener as I have learnt, which is the reason why this album would demand repeated listens. Two songs come to mind which fit this description, “Listen to the Bell” and “Roma Sogna”. They might unravel a different facet every time people listen to them. The first single of this album is a cover of Keane’s “Bedshaped”, done a la classical. Another track on this album is ‘Il Mio Miracolo’. Nothing too noteworthy in my opinion, but he also did a duet of the same song bi-lingually with Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. Yup, a duet between an opera singer and a leader of a burlesque girl group. However, after listening to the duet, which showcased the vocal prowess of this lead Pussycat, you’d be wondering what in the name of music she is doing singing songs about loose buttons and people looking at her *beep*. Oh well, it’s most definitely the money. Plus she’s hot so who cares. But the said song would be able to expose her talents and get people to take her more seriously (unless she doesn’t take herself seriously and continue to sing frivolous songs about her booty).

Lately I have also been checking out this really pretty singer who sings just as well as she looks. It is Anna Tatangelo, an angel with a really sensuous voice. And so bellissimo! Just take a look at the pic above. Heard her in a few duets with Gigi D’alessio whom I was talking about earlier. See her here in action. Like Gigi, she is a winner of the San Remo Music festival, an annual Italian song festival. She sounded really good in the duets, haven’t got hold of her solo album yet, but hope it doesn’t disappoint.