I’m on the early morning train to the Cinque Terre and I’m thinking, how do I wrap up the last fifteen years? How do I summarize how these amazing men who came together as teenagers on the Ariston stage, rose to stardom in a short time and remained the success they are today? Maybe the best way to think about it is to think as they think and that would be to summarize it as they did. Their new album says it all. They’re Sitting on the Edge of the Universe.

Just think what they’ve done over the last two years. They’ve changed their style! They’ve changed their music! They introduced their individuality; they’ve shared the songs that are closest to their heart, yet they didn’t leave bel canto behind. They brought it along because, that’s who they are ~ Il Volo.

That’s who they were in the beginning, and that’s who they’ll always be until the end. But it’s important to recognize where they are now. They have all new never been heard before songs, new ideas. A whole new style, that I absolutely love! Let’s take a look at how they took this leap forward. You might call it a leap of fate!

Songs come and songs go but some never leave. Classics! Songs that are and always will be in the repertoire! O Sole Mio, Granada, Nessun Dorma, Il Mundo; these are the songs that they will always bring to the concerts, but the new songs are the ones that tell the truth. The truth about how they got to the edge of the universe where we find them in 2024.

Let’s begin with Frammenti di universo (Fragments of the Universe). To me, this song talks about three teenage boys who set out on a journey for life. What they saw and how they perceived their future!  Along the journey they find strength, love and fragments of the universe and the experiences of life.

Now let’s look at how I see the lyrics….

This song evokes a sense of wonder and reflection on the interconnectedness of the universe and human experience. It begins by describing the beauty of the night sky, portraying celestial bodies as “suspended miracles” visible through the eyes of a child. The imagery of waiting in a courtyard hoping for something yet to come.

It explores optimism, likening the individuals to dreams carried by the wind and clouds drifting above. There’s a sense of empowerment in the “signs of the vast expanse.”

The car headlights on the road point to life’s journey where one must trust oneself amidst uncertainty.

It also touches on the enduring nature of love and the significance of fleeting moments in the vastness of time and space.

Let’s talk about Chiara di Luna (Moonlight)….

This song talks about miracles that come about whether by fate of luck. In the case of Il Volo, we know it’s fate. The moonlight is a metaphor for illumination, the guidance that will help them through the dark times. The hope that dispels the fears.

The soul is depicted by a feather which though delicate is very resilient. These guys certainly are resilient. The miracle of fate is certainly God’s hand in their creation and their coming together on the Ariston stage. As they grew, they learned, out there on their own, how to deal with life’s uncertainties and challenges.

In Moonlight, the lyrics seem to express a contemplation on life, love, and the mysterious nature of existence. The speaker reflects on his thoughts while looking at the sea, longing for someone, and pondering the unpredictability of life’s course.

The imagery of waves coming and going reflects the transient nature of life and relationships. Despite uncertainties and challenges, there’s a sense of resilience and hope portrayed, symbolized by the clouds parting and the night becoming a spectacle, dispelling fear.

The moonlight serves as a metaphor for illumination and guidance in dark times, with the soul depicted as a feather, suggesting a delicate yet resilient essence. The idea of being pieces of a miracle, whether by fate or luck, underscores the interconnectedness and wonder of existence.

It also talks about learning and growth through living, with the acknowledgment that sometimes choices are limited, yet there’s still a glimmer of light and possibility. Love is portrayed as a healing force, capable of saving and restoring.

There’s a sense of wonder, resilience, and the enduring power of love and connection, even amidst life’s uncertainties and challenges.

In Saturno & Venere (Saturn & Venus) we get to the heart of what the guys went through every time they left home and the loved ones they left behind. Especially the girls they left behind. As their career grew so did their desire to find love and, in many cases they did, but the difficulty of leaving a loved one behind goes to the heart of this song!

These lyrics seem to express feelings of longing, frustration, and heartbreak in a relationship. The speaker reflects on the inability to fully connect with the other person, despite their efforts to do so.

There’s a sense of distance and separation portrayed, with the speaker on one side and the other person on the other side, unable to bridge the gap between them. Words are held back, promises are made but not kept, and there’s a feeling of being left hanging by the other person.

The metaphor of the other person being like the universe, a big question mark, underscores the mystery and complexity of their relationship. Despite the pain caused by their absence, the speaker still feels a deep longing for them, symbolized by the need for the sun to start again, implying a desire for renewal and hope.

The lyrics depict the tumultuous emotions experienced in the aftermath of a failed relationship, with a mix of resignation, longing, and a reluctant acceptance of the other person’s significance in their life.

To me, Opera talks about their career. Their fifteen years together. You can liken the song to a woman but for me the drama and the multifaceted experiences speaks of their career. The song says, even with all the problems they stood together. In the end the challenges, the ups and downs, are still beautiful, like an opera. Yes, they are saying there is beauty in the music. Well, we all know that. Life is beautiful because of Il Volo!

These lyrics celebrate the beauty and complexity of life, likening it to an opera—a grand, dramatic, and multifaceted experience. The repetition of “opera” emphasizes the significance of life’s unfolding drama.

The speaker reflects on the passage of time, noting that despite the challenges and ups and downs, they have never lost their partner. They attribute this to their ability to make the best of difficult situations and to recognize what truly matters, even with their eyes closed.

The imagery of dodging rain and lightning together, like two boxers, suggests the resilience and unity of facing life’s adversities. I acknowledge that life can be scary at times, but they find comfort in the understanding that it is as beautiful as an opera—a metaphor for the richness and depth of human experience.

The speaker recalls moments of strength and resilience, laughing in the face of fear and surviving despite hardships. They find beauty and meaning in the wrinkles of their mother’s face and in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

Despite the challenges and occasional pain, the speaker concludes that life is still beautiful, like an opera, with its extraordinary songs and moments of illumination. The repetition of the phrase “It’s like poetry, like music” emphasizes the artistic and profound nature of life’s experiences.

It celebrates the richness and complexity of life, acknowledging its challenges while finding beauty, resilience, and meaning in the midst of it all.

Capolavoro, Masterpiece, is truly a masterpiece! When I first heard this song I said, “If I didn’t know better, I would think this song was about Ignazio and Michelle, But, of course, we know the song was written before Ignazio started dating Michelle. I think of Ignazio singing All By Myself, and then there is Michelle.  But you have to wonder, how is it these things keep happening to these guys. It’s like a story that plays out every day of their lives. A plan; God’s plan!

This song expresses deep emotions and experiences related to love and connection. The imagery suggests a profound sense of discovery and transformation upon meeting someone special, symbolized by the metaphor of falling from the sky like a masterpiece.

It conveys a sense of awe and gratitude for the presence of this person, describing them as the only light that makes sense and portraying life with them as a masterpiece. There’s a contrast between feelings of being lost and the sudden appearance of this person, bringing clarity and meaning to the speaker’s life.

It celebrates the idea of finding love unexpectedly and the profound impact it has on one’s existence, turning life into a masterpiece of shared experiences and emotions.

So this is how I see some of the new songs. It’s the summation of fifteen years and the prelude to the future. It shows the force that was leading them. The force that led three teenagers to the Ariston stage. The force that took Michele Torpedine to the end of his career only to find himself sitting on a couch looking at a silent TV and finding truth before his eyes. Knowing at once this was what he was looking for his whole life.

Even though the guys did not write the songs, they certainly had some input perhaps this is why these songs can be likened to their lives.

When the forces of fate came together, there was no stopping the wheel!

When we’re born, we step on the wheel of life, and we move forward to our fate!

If you spin the wheel of fortune, where would it land? Would it follow your path in life? It should because that wheel is spun by the hand of God. In the case of our guys, God was always the force behind the guys and obviously behind Michele! On the Ariston stage? On a living room couch? On the edge of the universe? 

So, it seems the universe they created is their step into the future!  A future that will be as totally amazing as their last fifteen years! The music may be new, and the style may be new, but their hearts remain as always, old hearts that love their fans who have followed them for fifteen years and will follow them into this new universe!

So, let’s take our place Sitting on the Edge of the Universe, and follow the guys to the future!

Happy 15th Anniversary!

For you listening pleasure….

Radio Italia Live Speciale Sanremo su Radio Italia Tv il 14-02-2023

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

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