………..and now Europe awaits a more personal connection to these three very talented, personable young men that we have watched, and supported and loved through nigh on six years of dedication and sacrifice, simply doing what they love, and being who they have always been. Their willingness to show caring and kindness without reservation, is as beautiful as the music they bring. These last six months, have been a whirlwind of activity, non-stop, eventful, exciting, emotional and rewarding, as well as demanding and extremely tiring. Not just for them, but for every single person involved in any way, directly or indirectly. Things could not progress towards the goal without them. Of course, hats off to their wonderful families whose unconditional love for them continues to be the catalyst behind them, keeping watch, boosting their spirits, and telling them it’s okay to sometimes hurt. God has already blessed those families with these wonderful children, and I know he will continue to do so. The boys of Il Volo, I believe, are absolutely aware in their hearts, that any gift that has been, or will be given to them, is not just happenstance; but rather bestowed to them for a particular reason. A mission if you will. That mission appears to continually reveal itself in the faces of those whose hearts are stirred by, not just the music, but by the honesty, integrity, and ease with which it is presented.
Sanremo and Eurovision both, in different ways, have definitely provided them a springboard towards success. People, who before, were not familiar with Il Volo, their music, their style, their unique ability to persuade emotion and invite tears of joy, are now anxious to experience love in it’s authenticity. It has been reported that nearly 200 million people watch the Eurovision, a reported 8% increase in viewers over last year. I have to think, that in my opinion and that of many others, Il Volos announced involvement in the contest this year had much to do with that increase of viewers! You have to give credit, where credit is due!
Life has changed drastically for them in the last 6 months, many many wonderful things have come forth; but with them, there are perhaps some things they wish were the same. All in all, they will adjust and still find a way to make it work: appreciating their life, and the expectation of a dream coming true. And as things develop, the young girls will watch, and wait, hoping just for a glance or maybe a hug; and we, we will remain being like mother hens, starting the day with our cup of coffee in hand and off to the computer to check on our chicks. I’m sure they will love me for saying that, but it’s true! Hey, we will take any Il Volo love we can get! One day, not so far away, they will be beyond the day that we can get by with saying things like that. Soooo, we just won’t tell them, okay? We do things like that all the time. It’s part of a grandma’s charm! Do you think that in 2009 as we watched 3 timid (except for Ignazio) young boys, that they could ever imagine that they would be where they are today, in such a short time, and causing such a commotion? I doubt it! Maybe someone told them, “wishes CAN come true, but it has to start with YOU!”.
Another great singer had this to say: Aretha Franklin – “Being a singer is a natural 
gift. It means I’m using, to the highest degree possible, the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that.” and……..
Reba Mcentire – “When on stage, I always try to take my audience through as many emotions as I possibly can. I want them to go from laughter to tears, be shocked and surprised, and walk out the door with a renewed sense of themselves — and maybe a smile.”
So, we toast to you, Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio, for your determination, your sacrifices, your kindness, and for the beauty that you bring to our world. God bless you, always.
What better way than with,…………….
SICILY SUNSETS:
2 cups Ice Cubes
1 cup Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine)
1 cup Orange juice
1 cup Cranberry juice
2 lemons – zested
Makes 4
Place ice in glass pitcher. Pour in the Prosecco, orange juice, cranberry juice; Stir.
Pour into champagne flutes, sprinkle with lemon zest to serve.
Lemon-Lime soda can be substituted for the Prosecco for a non-alcoholic version.
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Yesterday, I learned a new word, (at least new to me.) The word was MURMURATION: A collective noun, it comes from the word murmur; a low continuous, indistinct sound. A whispering or swooshing sound made by thousands, or perhaps even millions of beating wings–ie. a flock of Starlings. It’s considered to be one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles. The action of each member directly influences the dynamic of the flock. Each movement is linked to the protection of the entire group. The goal is simple: survival and/or the success of the goal. Being curious, I found a video (several in fact), and I sat in awe watching this aerial display of Starlings in flight. I had lost all sense of time, and found myself completely detached from every outside place or concern, and was transported into the beauty and majesty of freeing calmness. The perfectness (my word), and precision was hard to fathom. Grouped together making one solid unit, they soared through the endless sky with ease and grace, creating hints of discernible creatures amid the feathery mist. They flew as a single being, possessing one soul, one consciousness with one goal; yet each playing a part for the whole. Smaller groups sometimes separated from the rest, to dance in a space of their own, yet always returning to the oneness.. Occasionally, they would swoop down in waves across the land below, picking up others invited to join their flight. Their numbers swelled, and the intensity grew. It was like living poetry to my soul. You know, much of the time we tend to take our world and it’s wonders for granted, but sometimes, it’s mysteries just have a way of leaving us humbled and breathless. My heart says, that’s the way it should stay……..! WAIT, have I still been talking about the murmuration, or am I now talking about Il Volo? No matter, either way, the description, in essence, would be the same. Star-lings in flight. BEAUTIFUL! Here’s the video for you to watch. What do you see? Il Volo in motion? I’d like to know. Enjoy!
~~Kitty
Kitty and all, I love Il Volo! No surprise to any of you. But always when I see perfection, like our Guys, the Doubting Thomas in me waits for the other shoe to drop. I have watched the Murmuration video several times now. It has helped me to realize that some things, Our Boys and the Starlings, are just meant to be. The Boys, like the Starlings, are God’s gifts to us. I think the birds fly without a “murmur” because he saved so much sound for Il Volo.
Kitty, I have actually witnessed the starlings, but never knew it had a name! Your post is beautiful, like the birds, and the comparison to “the Flight” is perfect! They truly are “Star-lings”! May God continue to bless them….can’t wait for what’s in store for them next!!♡♡♡Dot in Texas…PS…thanks , Marie….
The flight has been fantastic! GRANDE AMORE!!
Kitty I have never seen that video before it was like watching a dance in the sky, thank you
Kitty this was simply beautiful from from the beginning to the end. Our precious guys deserve every bit of success and adoration that has come their way. They were born to bring kindness, peace and love to this otherwise haphassard world we live in and we in return love them without reserve. They together as a bonded unit are flying beautifully up,up and away just like the Starlings and will continue to soar into our hearts for many years to come.
The Wonders of the Il Volo Effect never cease to astound me!!! And the eloquence of our fantastic FC ladies posting their articles leaves me with much anticipation for future stories!!! This Starling Murmuration is magical & gogereous to observe!!! Thank you, so much! The magnifience of our Italian Trio with Families & friends will continue to soar to new heights with each future triumph!!! Il Volo GRANDE AMORE
What a wonderful video. We should all in this world bond together like the starlings for a common good. Bless Il Volo for showing us the way it should be done. Joanie G
Kitty, beautifully written!
Very sensitive and beautiful, honestly written post,Kitty. 🙂 With the success and fame also comes envy and negativity an I think boys now met with these bad things.. Ignazio on social network speaking of the quarrel between the volovers and the journalist Mariano Sabatini, who criticized Il Volo and their fan on the program Effetto Estate and Piero wrote : ” Worried when people smile at you forever .There is a big difference between spontaneous compliments and flattery with ulterior motives. Unfortunately with growing success and fame, not everyone with whom they meet is honest. They must deal with it. Such is the world today, there are good and also bad people.If a person is famous, many people see only the “golden tinsel”, it is difficult to find new real friends, people who truly appreciate the famous man for his own personality, regardless of his glory. Find in this case a selfless sincere person is difficult. Therefore, it is important to recognize when a person is honest with heart on his hand or when he is smiling man who has poison in his heart. It is necessary to be able to identify people who want to feed upon your glory.I believe that Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca handle it,they are smart young men,have loving families and friends who support them, great fans who love their music and appreciate their personalities sincere ! They are young and must also deal with lessons that will bring them life, but will make them stronger and just better, life is varied and also includes sadder moments. People today are unfortunately often cruel, heartless, but no one is allowed to insult the dignity of another person, especially if he has not enough information. Winston Churchill reminds us, “Success is moving from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” There is no success without failure.Just because today is painful doesn’t mean tomorrow won’t be great. The best things usually happen when you least expect it.Your mistakes and failures should be your motivation, not your excuse. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as stepping stones. Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal. The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake. Failure is not falling down; failure is staying down when you have the choice to get back up.Mistakes and setbacks are rarely as bad as they seem, and even when they are, they give us an opportunity to grow stronger. You should never let one dark cloud cover the entire sky. The sun is always shining. My advice for Piero, Ignazio, Gianluca: “Your mindset is at the heart of your success. You have to take the good with the bad, smile with the sad, love what you have and be thankful for what you had. Forgive yourself and others, but don’t forget. Learn from your mistakes, but don’t regret. Life is change, things go wrong, and life goes on.Tomorrow comes a beautiful day with a new challenge..Believe that it will be better. Mainly stay still modest, kind, humble and gentle people with a heart in the right place.Go for your dreams and desires,be careful, but still stay open to other people, use your intuition-remember that the eyes are the windows to the soul, invest your time into positive things that fill you with happiness and joy, help those who deserve it and believe, in spite of bad experiences, in the goodness and love in the world.! I believe that a good man can pull together with good people around him and successfully can face against the envious and evil people. Always keep in the soul and heart faith, love, hope,goodness, optimism,enthusiasm, joy, good energy, sincerity and serenity.”
I am not on social networks, but if I was, so I would have written them these words- 100 percent honest. 🙂 Like our guys sang :Smile though your heart is aching. If you smile through your fear and sorrow. Smile and maybe tomorrow. You’ll see the sun come shining through for you. 🙂 You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, If you just smile. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you Lydka for your beautiful post. I truly appreciate your words of wisdom that toyched my soul. I pray Gianluca, Piero & Ignazio read your message because it says what we who love them wish for them. May God bless you always.
Stephanie Cassidy
Pittsburgh PA, USA
Dear Stephanie Cassidy,
I wholeheartedly thank you for your words and I appreciate it ! 🙂 I always write what I feel. I write honestly and always try to express my ideas in the best possible way,although in English it is difficult for me. I love writing since childhood. My written works were always best at school and they were read in front of the whole class (I did not like it ,I was ashamed and my classmates envied me ). I was thinking that I would be a journalist, but I do not like the style of today’s paper work. I think that journalists often write lies, produce artificial negative cases and cause hysteria, do not write objectively, they lack morals and ethical principles are not respected, unfortunately… This was reflected also in the case of Il Volo, I feel that many of the journalists, do not know why, don’t like them… I would also be glad, if Piero, Ignazio, Gianluca will read my lines :-). Who knows, maybe yes?? :-)) Friends tried to convince me to go on social networks,but I love my privacy and I am introvert, I don’t think I’m interesting for the world. :-))) I believe that God guides us through our way and what has to happen. will happen. If my lines have to get to them , so they reach them. 🙂 Although I know that if I would be on Facebook, it would be easier, but I also know that the easy way is not always the best. 🙂
I sincerely greet you, wish you all the best, God bless you.
Lydka K.
Košice, Slovakia
P.S. The boys know that I exist :-). Memorable day for me was May 18 2015, so wonderful,I’ll never forget, but don’t know if guys will remember it, because they have so many, many, many fans… 🙂 If you haven’t seen it, so here’s a link to video : #AskEurovision: Question for Il Volo (Italy) https://youtu.be/QvzN44lEIpA
I would add to my post, where is love there is also hate, where are the lovers, there are also haters. one can not satisfy everyone, not everyone is sympathetic to the others ,this is normal, so concentrate on those who sincerely love us and we should go away from energy and thoughts from the bad people, they do not deserve our tears and sadness -we just would make them happy,if they knew that they broke us , but we have to show our strength and move on in all circumstances. Our angels, God and our loved ones will not abandon us (never) and we always find solace, support and love by them !
Amazing Lydka! Thank you for those wonderfully sensitive words.
Marie,really thank you very much. 🙂
Kitty, for as many times as I have seen this video I have never truly appreciated it as much as I do now, having read your beautiful words. I am speechless when I see something of such great beauty that certainly only a higher power was able to create. This probably explains why at times I become speechless while listening to these three amazing young men with voices from heaven and hearts so pure.
Thank you for putting your thoughts into words here that bring added beauty to the day!
Lydka, your words are so touching and heart felt. Thank you for sharing them here.
Maryjane56,
thanks if you liked my posts.I have my own bad experiences with the false friends who have “used me” and after some time left me…
Lydka,
I have always felt that we learn the most through the hardest of times. This applies whether or not you are famous. Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio will undoubtedly have to learn lessons we will never encounter in our lives just because of who they are and their now famous profile. False friends will come and go, but true friends will always stay.
Thank you all for the kind words regarding this posting. I sometimes find it hard to explain how I feel about the guys, I just seem to see them in so many aspects of everyday things now. Things we see in them, things that have endeared them to us, I have now found in the world around me more so than before. I think that maybe the beauty they bring, has somehow awakened us to more of the beauty around us. Maybe, that’s part of their mission? Refreshing our souls to recognize that beauty is still, and forever, present regardless of the challenges that life can sometimes bring. Being able to see that beauty has to come from the heart, and the guys of Il Volo, certainly know how to affect our hearts to see it.
“The most precious gifts are those that can’t be touched by hands; but those that are being felt by the soul” (Ceso Peta Quotes)
The three young men give their all and heal a lot of hurting souls.
Those that do not have that capacity criticize.
Well said, Gina!
The flight of the swallows was one of the most beautiful videos I have seen and put to one of my favorite pieces of Music, Pachobel’s Canon. I kept imagining Il Volo singing the music as I watched. It would be marvelous to hear them sing this, no words just vocalizations, oh, ah, hmm, oooh, la…
Kitty, this was such a beautifully written article, one I will re-read many times; I have not yet looked at the video. I am taking my time to digest your beautiful writing. when someone writes something like this, it gives you hope for the world. thank you Kitty, the world is a better place because of you
I cannot add anything to what has already been said above… I am speechless! Thank you Kitty for such a wonderful, beautiful post.
I cannot see the Starling video and I don’t have sound on my computer. Need to get finances to get these problems fixed. But I wish I could write and express myself as you did. You made me feel that I was floating on a cloud while listening to your description of “OUR MEN”. You gave me a great ending to an irritable day. You have a great talent of expression, which like I said, took me to a better place. Thank You so Much, Kitty. And also thanks to Marie.
Wow! Once again ladies, I thank you so much for your wonderful comments. The very odd thing is, and I mentioned this to Marie when I was approached to become a contributor, that I have always had an inability to express myself verbaly, but find it much easier to write. Even as I begin to assemble these postings, they never quite to turn out exactly the way I intended. Words change as I’m typing. It is very strange, but at the same time, exciting! I always, after a couple of days, go back and read over what was posted, and almost don’t recognize it. I hope to keep writing things that touch you, or are meaningful to you in some way because after all thats why we’re here. We share what is in our hearts, just as our guys share what’s in theirs. Didn’t mean to sound spooky or anything, just honest.
Kitty, your post was amazing! Always you and always deeply from the heart!
I know exactly what you mean by your writing “never quite turn out exactly as intended”. I also look back at a poem or article and wonder if I really wrote that. I think there is more at play here than we realize. I think my writing is sometimes guided by a hand that isn’t mine alone. I am often brought back to the ancient muses and the definition: a source of inspiration; especially : a guiding genius. Yep, it must be God and those three muses that write that stuff!
Hi, Kitty. I have to say that I, also, have a hard time expressing myself verbally, even to my Sister. I seem to be able to express myself better in writing. I have always been quite shy, but I seem to be more articulate, as you are, in writing to people or especially sending e-mails or making comments, like we do here. So, again, thank you for your beautiful post. It was very special!! Take Care, Victoria
Kitty I only wish that I could express my feelings as beautifully as you do. Everything you post comes straight from your heart. Keep writing. I am looking forward to all your future posts