It’s December 26^th and I am sitting at my desk putting together my last story for 2022! So much has happened this last year that it is so hard to decide where to start!

They let us loose from our houses and we all moved forward quite quickly. No one more so than our guys! They were everywhere!  And, as the year comes to a close, they already have the South America concerts in place for 2023!

As New Year’s Eve approaches, we think about the past. What do we do on New Year’s Eve? We always made resolutions but, now we’ve forgotten about resolutions! Our world has changed over the last two or so years! We look at life differently now! What was good about these past few years? We had the perfect opportunity to spend time with our families and find out who they really are and, I must say it left us all the better for it. Many of us got closer to the ones we love. Family! It’s so important! God had a good plan! Stay home and love your family!

I guess it wouldn’t be New Year’s if I didn’t start by saying what I say every year, “This is my least favorite holiday!” To me it’s a sad day because we remember all those who we lost over the years, and we think of them in a different way than we do on other days. We think that they left us too soon and over the last few years too quickly!

So, Another Year is Over but let’s stop for a moment and take a step back before we move on to 2023….

2022 ~ A year in review! What have we gained and what have we lost?

Let’s begin with the great loss for Piero.

When I wrote about this great loss, I started by saying, “Pietro Ognibene…. was a great discoverer! No, he didn’t discover lands or the cure for anything, he discovered something even better; he discovered Piero Barone!”

When we heard the news that Mr. Ognibene had died, we immediately felt the loss because he is a man we are all familiar with and he played an important role in Piero’s life. In fact, Piero would probably not be a singer today if it had not been for this man. 

Piero recalled the story of how he was discovered in the guys’ book, “Un’avventure straordinaria, la nostra storia”….

Picture this, in front of the terrace there was a typical swing from the past hanging from a mulberry tree.  One morning, my grandfather sat in a cool place on the terrace with his faithful stereo next to him. He enjoyed the peace of the countryside. And, then he sang a song that I believe, he had made up: ‘E lu suli talia, talia, talia. Sopra ‘sta petra luci ci duna,’ that is ‘And the sun, look, look, look, to this stone gives the light.’

I was swinging on the swing, I was about four or five years old, I was really, very, small. I listened to him a little and at a certain point, when he stops singing, I started: “E lu suli, talia, talia, talia. Sopra ‘sta pedra luci ci duna”.  

What can I tell you? It just came out like that.  My grandfather turned off the recorder and stood there on the balcony: imagine the terrace and the swing right there in front of you and he says loudly to my grandmother:

‘Rina, veni ca’ (Rina come here)

‘Chi è Pitri?’ (What do you want Pietro?)

 ‘Unni è Piero?’ (Where is Piero?)

‘In altalena’ (On the swing)

‘Ma cu cantava? Iddru?’ (But who was singing? He?)

‘Eh, sì.’ (Yes)

‘Chiamalo’ (Call him)

So, this is where Piero’s musical journey began! He grew up breathing the musical environment that has surrounded him since the age of 5. We are all grateful to Mr. Ognibene for his great love of his grandson. Because of him, we have the great pleasure of listening to this amazing tenor who grows more and more amazing each day!

These were Piero’s final words to his grandfather….

Hi Grandfather, 

This is for all the times I turned, and you were close to me.

For all the stages I went up hoping to find you underneath listening to me.

For all the days when I couldn’t, and you made me find the strength to continue.

For all the joys we have shared and the hardships we have shared.

Because even if it seems incredible, it was you who showed me that all of this really could come true!

So, we all bid you “Farewell Mr. Ognibene.”

Let’s move on to what made this year different. Certainly, some amazing achievements by our guys.

In June, the guys and their families had the great honor of being invited to the World Meeting of Families.

The Festival of Families was held in Rome on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The 10^th edition of the World Meeting was an event that was entitled “The Beauty of the Family.” The guys performed for the event and along with their families, gave witness to the beautiful events that made their families who they are. Their lives show that even when you find yourself in difficult situations, you can work through anything with love and understanding.

This is what the guys had to say about being invited to the event….

Gianluca: We are excited to come to Papa Francesco’s house. Hello everyone! We are very happy and excited to come to Pope Francis’ house and celebrate together with the families of Rome, families of the world and our families.

Piero: On that day we will witness to the importance of the strength and support of our families in our lives.

Ignazio: I come personally with my mother and my sister.

Piero: I will bring, Mom, Dad, my sister Mariagrazia my brother Francesco and I can’t wait to be able to hug Papa Francesco.

Gianluca: I will come with my family, we are numerous, but the best thing is that I will be able to bring my grandfather Ernesto who, at the age of 88, will be able to shake hands with Pope Francis. These are the most important things, the most beautiful emotions in life, like a mother who is a refuge, a father who is a guide, and this is really the importance of the family.

Ignazio: In all these years we have always reiterated how important our family is and they will always be important for us and for our careers, like a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean, a meeting point at this moment with them. We are really happy to be able to share this moment with them.

Piero: In addition to our families, we will also bring our music.

After the event, I wrote…. Where do you begin to tell the story of three child prodigies who have brought so much joy to people around the world with their wonderful voices. It’s simple you start with the families! And this week the families have received their reward for all they have done for their families and especially for their three incredible sons!

This was a great honor for our guys and their families! So well deserved! Congratulations to all the Families!

I said the guys were everywhere and they certainly were….

The concerts were in Italy, Europe, Japan, Canada, the United States and Australia! All the concerts were phenomenal!

They started the concerts by showing up in white tuxedos! My first reaction, SHOCK! But then I must say when the shock wore off and I saw them in person, they were drop dead gorgeous!

So, they started by shocking us in white tuxedos and ended by shocking us in their dazzling tuxedos. Talk about gorgeous!!!

And what’s a concert without one of Ignazio’s special performances. “Ignazio the Disco Ball.”

The guys returned to Disney World after 8 years for Disney’s Magical Holiday Celebration 2022

What have we gained in 2022….

Now it was time to give us something we’ve been waiting for, for a long time, a new book….

Il Volo “Quello Che Porta Nel Cuore” ~ “What I Carry in My Heart”

This beautiful book brings us up to date on all that’s happened since they wrote “Un’avventure straordinaria, la nostra storia” ~ “An Extraordinary Adventure, Our Story.” Sorry the book is not in English, but we can hope that someday they will translate it!

And if that wasn’t enough, they surprised us with a new Christmas song, “Happy Xmas.” (War is over). Written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The song was launched as a Christmas gift for the fans. Thank you, guys!

So how do you end such an amazing year? By doing another concert, of course! But not just any concert, a concert in the Holy Land to honor the Birth of the Christ Child. A Christmas Eve concert that had people in Italy glued to their TV’s for 2 ½ hours. I know I was glued to my TV! 

To see the entire concert with English subtitles, go to Danielas’ post here in Flight Crew “Natale a Gerusalemme” by Danilea, 

This is what “AllMusic Italia,” had to say about it:

THE NIGHT OF THE TELEVISED CHRISTMAS EVE MARKS THE TRIUMPH OF IL VOLO WITH THE CONCERT FROM JERUSALEM

Il Volo in concert in Jerusalem for the night of Christmas, an event broadcast on TV in the early evening of Canale 5, has conquered the public and made excellent numbers in TV ratings.

Piero Barone, Gianluca Ginoble and Ignazio Boschetto performed under the Tower of David in the Holy Land going to interpret beautiful Italian and international songs, including Happy Xmas (War is over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, a song launched as a Christmas gift for fans in recent weeks.

The concert broadcast on Canale 5 was produced by the manager of Il Volo, Michele Torpedine. Let’s find out the numbers of the television success of the event. “The Christmas Flight in Jerusalem.”

The three artists glued on TV, from 21:31 to 23:59, as many as 3,169,000 viewers with an average share of 23.6%.

And, in truth, it was a very beautiful, very emotional concert! Thank you, guys!

And so, we come to the Picture of the Year 2022.

Every year I say this year will be different. This year it will be someone else’s picture but, who am I kidding! We know who it is, who it always is? But before I tell you which picture won; I have to tell you that I had a different picture in mind for quite some time. It was a picture of one of the fans who nearly knocked Ignazio over. I actually think he was overwhelmed. I was so sure this was the one then…. BOOM! It was knocked out of the box! Why, because you never know when one of Ignazio’s friends is going to show up!

                                    Picture of the Year 2022

They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words” and I could certainly write a 1,000-word essay on this picture, but I can sum up this picture of Ignazio and his friend Nicola in five! That’s what friends are for!

So, now I leave you now with the words I left you with last year!

Every morning when I get up, I sing. What do I sing? “Smile!” Is it because of the guys? Well, I certainly love when the guys sing “Smile,” but no, I’ve been singing this song since I was a child because….

I believe no matter what happened yesterday, today has the possibility to be better, so, “Smile, just Smile.”

This year, I’m dedicating this final column to the fans. “I’m thinking about the smile on everyone’s face the day they unlocked their doors and set their lives in motion again!  That day we took a step back and leaped forward into the new world! And now “Another Year (Is) Over, and (soon) A New One Just Begun!”

To all the fans let me say, never stop smiling! I recently said to a friend, “Always be happy! Happiness is the one thing that never goes out of style and never goes away if you keep it in your heart!” Keep happiness in your heart today and always!

                     A Happy New Year to All the Fans!

And from myself, all the staff at Flight Crew and all the Fans we wish you guys a very Happy New Year filled with many new Adventures!

We also wish all the Il Volo Family including Michele Torpedine, Barbara Vitali and all the crew that work so hard to bring us the best productions a very Happy New Year!

And I wish my personal crew in Italy. Alessandra Torma and Stefi Bonometti (the ladies who prepare the pictures for my stories) a Happy New Year full of love and joy!

See you in 2023!

I thought you might like all the lyrics to the song….

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The war is so long

And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let’s stop all the fight

A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas (war is over)
And what have we done (if you want it)
Another year over (war is over)
And a new one just begun (now)

And so happy Christmas (war is over)
We hope you have fun (if you want it)
The near and the dear ones (war is over)
The old and the young (now)

A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
It’ a good, it’s a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas (war is over)
And what have we done (if you want it)
Another year over (war is over)
And a new one just begun (now)

Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!

If you would like to share a story with me, please email:  susan.flightcrew@yahoo.com

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Credit to the owners of videos and photos