All posts by Jane

~ LIFE FROM FAN ~ by Daniela

In the newspaper, SOCIETY AND CULTURE, this amusing article written by Mariafrancesca Mary Troisi has been published.

Read it, it’s really funny.

LIFE FROM FAN: leave all hope, you who become!

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Concerts, radio, signature – copies, TV show, the life of the fan is very hard.

Yeah, because the real fan (the certified DOC to be clear), is not there to comb the dolls.

Leave all hope you become (fan). And what is it? Dante’s hell? Worse, much worse!

The true fan, to begin with, has in fact qualities that you can not even imagine. First of all: patience!

Yeah, it seems easy to wait weeks, months, or even years, to get news of their “idol”?  (Term I do not like to use, but I do mine to simplify).

And when the news does not come, it’s a constant anxiety. Will the single come out? Will there be a concert? Will it go on TV? He will eat? He will sleep? (And other vital functions that I leave out).

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When then,  finally have the news (hallelujah hallelujah), immediately takes over the other dowry of the fan DOC, ie the “fast race” to get the news in pole position, and put it immediately on its FB status with lots of little hearts to beautify all, doing envy to those who know the news a few hours later. The amateurs in short.

Finally the life of the DOC fan starts to make sense. The idol is coming back.

The true fan DOC then, is almost always also written to the fc (Fan club) of the artist who follows, and for the fc of an artist, often there are events reserved only for members, such as the meeting, where the songs are presented preview. And even if the meet happened on the moon, the real fan will buy his spaceship and … greetings to all! Nobody stops him!

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Then follow the signature – copies (for those who do) or interviews on the radio, to promote the new album.

You must know, in fact, that at these events you have the opportunity to meet the artist you are following. And what do you do? Are not you going?  But let’s not joke!

And here they are there in the morning, perfumed and combed with great care (so to speak, there are those who arrive, for example on the radio, always not exactly “polished”), to challenge any weather conditions, make kilometers, and wait for hours, hoping for a selfie and / or an autograph.

During these hours they start throwing malicious glances at those around you, because, especially for radio interviews, the more people there are, the less chance you have of getting to your favorite artist. And they think, “Did that person even come here?”… mentally hoping that she will get an attack of … dysentery, and leave the camp.

Oh this is a war, you do not look at anyone!

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But if all goes well, and you can embrace your idol for a few minutes, and in the lucky cases, when there are very few people to chat, the hours that have passed under the sun or in the rain, make sense. It makes your day!

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The true fan obviously knows by heart every detail of the artist, his songs (he suggests them to the singer if he were to forget), even the less famous, that even the artist remembers to have written or sung. The true fan never misses an interview with him, TV intervention.  It is not possible.

Finally the concert dates come out, and here too the DOC fan, trained to  throw himself on ticketone and … away, to get the best seats for the dates he prefers. Sometimes, however, the tickets end too quickly even for the DOC fan; then comes hope – another talent of the fan, mixed with despair – to find the “savior” who sells the ticket.

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Concert time.

What does the fan do?  But obviously, he sleeps outside the stadium / building, or goes there at dawn.  AT LEAST.  The first row should be conquered with the nails and teeth (then do not say that it is almost not a job that of the fan). Rain, heat, cold, wind. He does not move from there. The front row must be defended at the cost of living.

So you will think … then there is no solidarity between fans?

Of course there is. When there are no signature – copies, radios, concerts, TV … in short, when the artist “hibernates”, they are all friends.

For the true fan the friend is the one who holds you the place in the hurdle next to him: who finds a friend in hurdle, finds a treasure.

But you … what do you know !?

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Tell us about the crazy things you did for the guys from IL VOLO.

I begin, I have NEVER been to a concert, NEVER been to a signature-copy, I have NEVER had any friendships on the other side of the world, and who do not speak my language ……. all this before IL VOLO!! 

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Credit to all owners of photos.

~ CHICCA ~ by Daniela

The group “Torino Aspetta il Volo e poi” shared a nice post that published a beautiful question:

WHAT SONG
 
HAS CHANGED
 
YOUR LIFE ???

In the various answers, one has attracted me a lot, this one.

L’AMORE SI MUOVE has changed my daughter’s life, and consequently, also mine.  With this piece she won the gold medal at the Italian Fisdir Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.

 She is a girl with Down Syndrome.

 

In 2017, however, in Rimini, a bronze medal with PER TE CI SARO’.

So her mother has attached the video of the bronze medal.

 

Here she is:

I found some news on this girl. Her name is Francesca Giovelli (for friends, Chicca).  She is from Salerno and is a fan of IL VOLO, especially Piero.

Here she is in her gymnastic dress.

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Watch the video of happiness when, at Christmas, she received the book as a gift: IL VOLO UN’AVVENUTA STRAORDINARIA.

Really moving, and now here she is with the pass for the concert.

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…… and with her beloved Piero !!!

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Here is a beautiful image of the guys taken from her Facebook page.

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Really good Chicca!  We wish her much happiness and we send her much love!

And you, what is the song that changed your life?

 

Credit to all owners of videos and photos.

Personally Speaking~Though you are grown…

Though You Are Grown

I remember years ago,
you were so young then.
Sometimes,
I can’t help but wish,
that you were small again.
I’ve ached when you’ve faced heartaches,
and saw, that as you grew,
nothing broke your Spirit,
instead it strengthened you.
I’m filled with mixed emotions,
as I hold back all the tears
and, with much pride remember,
back so many years.
When I first saw you
if only I’d have known,
the years would feel like moments,
after you had grown.
You aren’t a child,
though in my eyes,
I guess you’ll always be,
that young boy who changed my life,
and means the world to me.

 

I stumbled across this touching poem that made me think of watching Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca growing up before our very eyes, and of us, their devoted fans.  So many of us have said how finding Il Volo has changed our lives for the better.  Deepening our love of  bel canto,  discovering new friendships, traveling adventures to concerts and for some, to their beautiful Italy, and being witness to three genuine young men who are making the world a better place just by being themselves, have been but a few of the joys these boys have given us.

I wish someone had documented on film little Gianluca standing in the town square singing at the age of 3.  Or the first time Piero’s Nonno heard him sing and asked who that was?  Or  Ignazio banging away on his drums in his bedroom at a tender young age.

I love going back and looking at footage of our boys at young ages as their talents were beginning to be recognized.  Daniela sent me this first video of Ignazio , back in 2007, performing at Marsala Impero Theater in a re-adaptation of Gen Rosso’s musical, STREETLIGHT.  I found the second video filmed during the same performance.  Ignazio knew his way around the spot light way back then.  This boy was meant to be on a stage!

 

 

 

The next video is of Piero singing with Nonno Pietro in what looks like the town piazza.  Note how Piero is directing the children’s choir right behind him.  How adorable!

 

 

And finally we have Gianluca with his younger version of Il Mare Calmo Della Sera.  His voice was so strong and powerful way back then.  Note the sweet quick smile he breaks into when the audience applauds.  I remember in an interview with his parents they stated he was so shy when he was young, he would look upwards the entire song or turn and face the wall, so as not to have to look at people while he sang.  Here he actually sneaks a few glances at the camera.

 

 

Yes, Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio…you will always be…the young boys who changed our lives and mean the world to us.

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Credit to all owners of videos.

Poem author: Cynthia A. Sieving

~Personally Speaking ~ Perfect…Perfetto!

Gianluca and two of his friends singing Ed Sheeran’s mesmerizing song,  “Perfect.”  Mr. Sheeran sure has an all time gem of a song here.

 

I know a lot of you have probably seen this as it was posted on FB, but it’s worth repeating here.

These three sound very good together, but I can only IMAGINE how divine this song would be coming from the hearts of IL VOLO!  It is the grace of the lyrics and gentle melody that make it so beautiful.  I saw Ed Sheeran singing this with Andrea Bocelli also.  Another gorgeous version.  Yet hearing Gianluca’s amazing baritone voice in this song makes me long to hear our beloved three sing this song on their own.

I can’t stop listening to this.  It keeps me coming back over and over.  So beautiful…Perfetto for Il Volo!

 

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Credit to owner of video.

After Sanremo, by Daniela

This post was actually written just before the Sanremo performance.  I apologize for it being out of order here, but I think you will enjoy it regardless! 

This beautiful article that I translate has just come out. Published on IL GIORNALE and written by Paolo Giordano.

 

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NOT ONLY BEL CANTO, AFTER SANREMO STARTS A NEW ROUTE

On the stage the trio (winner in 2015) sings Endrigo and duets with Baglioni. «Not easy»

 

Tonight they will sing in their own way: full  lungs and with drops of tradition.

 

Il Volo won the 2015 Festival with a song (GRANDE AMORE) that is already a classic of their concerts all over the world. And this time these three golden boys return on the stage of the Ariston with one more reason: to confirm that I’m not a meteor. Gianluca Ginoble, the Latin lover.  Ignazio Boschetto, the tallest. Piero Barone, the one with glasses. They are among the most famous Italians in the world, they make colossal tours and hosted in the most decisive televisions in the world. They were born on TV, they come from TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE and have made their way because they intercept a widespread need in the world (that of bel canto) but underestimated in Italy. After all, Italians find it hard to please what is Italian. In any case, Il Volo has now a recognizable identity at all latitudes. And tonight they come back to the Ariston. “After three years, it’s another sensation,” confirms Piero. Every time they go on stage, they beat the prejudice of those who do not accept that they can sing well in the old way. “But we’re used to it,” they always say. And in any case they do not stop. Like this time.

 

Sorry, Il Volo, what effect does being super guests?

(Piero) “It was Claudio Baglioni who immediately made us feel better. During the tests of last week, he put us at ease.”

 

As?

 

(Piero) “When we spoke to him, he answered clearly: “You are the guests, do what you want. So does a great artist. Chapeau.”

 

But in the meantime, where did you end up?

 

(Piero) “Let’s say we were on a break.”

 

Impossible.

 

(Piero) “In fact, we recorded a record with one of the most important producers in the world, Emilio Estefan. It will come out in two or three months. And it will be a surprise.”

 

Then explain why.

 

(Always Piero) “We opened the door to Latin sounds. Il Volo sings Latin. It is a tribute to a Latin American tradition that few expected from a group like ours. And there will also be duets that nobody expects.”

Eg?

 

(Piero) “With Gloria Estefan, wife of Emilio and super mega pop star in South America. Is it true that he did not expect it? “

 

In fact.

 

(Gianluca) “With this record we do not have only one goal, which is to improve ourselves. We also want to surprise and face an unexpected repertoire.”

 

The target?

 

(Gianluca) “Prove that we are not just beautiful singing.”

Will you do it at the Festival tonight?

 

(Gianluca) “In the meantime we will face a great story like Sergio Endrigo, playing CANZONE PER TE that won the Festival fifty years ago, in 1968.”

 

And then?

 

(Gianluca) “And then we will duet with Claudio Baglioni in a piece that is part of his repertoire as LA VITA E’ ADESSDO, from the disc of Baglioni in 1985. Not easy, you know?”

 

And then?

(Gianluca) “After the Sanremo Festival a new cycle begins for us.“

But you can not be too different from before.

(Gianluca) “We have the opportunity to interpret many different repertoires without losing our identity. And we still have something that will never leave us: adrenaline. Maybe someone does not care or do not think about it, but who does this job has an engine that can not be extinguished: passion. We have it.”

All right, but three boys in their twenties will often fight among themselves.

(Gianluca, but the others nod) “We were educated by our parents and we have the teaching of our manager Michele Torpedine. So sure that we quarrel, often with vehemence, because each of us has a different character. But with intelligence everything is always resolved.”

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All ready for the big night?

                                                                                                                                                               

Credit to owner of photo.