For those of you who may be newer to this site, one of our former writers, Mary Bohling, has passed away.
Mary had such a deep love and devotion to Il Volo, and especially to her dear Piero! She flew all over the U.S. attending concerts and Meet and Greets, PBS Pledge Promotion events, the MOA event, was instrumental in all of our Minnesota Il Volo fan get togethers, plus attended the Fan Faire in Las Vegas. When ever she could adore them up close and in person…she was there! The highlight of one of the concerts she attended was out in back of the venue after the concert was over. Mary, along with Marie and her other cohorts, were waiting to catch a glimpse of the guys and lo and behold, out came Piero who jumped right in with them in the van they were sitting in! She was in seventh heaven!
She had a heart of gold and everything about her was genuine. As Joyce, a friend of Mary’s put it, “I am sure she is in heaven making sure the angels are listening to Il Volo.”
Mary was a gifted writer and poet. Writing for the blog made her feel closer to the guys, as if they were family. In honor of Mary, here is a post taken from the many of hers in our archives.
ACROSS THE MILES
To our darling sweet Italian boys, Keepers of our hearts, our joys, While you’re away you keep us guessing About new projects you’re addressing. A new CD would be so neat, A DVD would be a treat. You’ve been busy, that’s for sure. Broadcasts, photo shoots demure, Modeling, getting new wheels, Making contacts, sealing deals, Since staying fit’s high on your list, Trips to the gym cannot be missed. We search each day for what you’re doing, Wondering what surprise you’re brewing. We know it will be something great, Anticipation makes it hard to wait. We fell in love–you’re our addiction, Lots of Il Volo time is our prediction. A heavy dose both day and night Will help to keep us feeling right. We love to see your charming faces Smiling back from distant places, Tempting us with looks beguiling, Teasing with Il Volo styling. It hurts us, though, not knowing when You’ll come back to us again.
And now your tour is on it’s way, Back to work–no time to play, This schedule puts you to the test, Doing what you love the best. But we can only wait so long To see your faces, hear your songs. We will be brave, but nevertheless Please keep us posted, we confess We need to see you every day, Though Internet may be the way. Your future calls to spread the word, Throughout the world your voices heard. But we will wait for your returning, To satisfy our ardent yearning. So patiently for you we wait, Eager to see that special date When you’ll return to us once more, Bringing us the music we adore.
~~~Mary B.~~~
Mary and her boys in Detroit.
Mary and daughter, Anne, at TPT event in St. Paul.
First of all, I wanted to thank all the people who responded with the list of the most popular Italian singers abroad. 🙂❤️
I asked you to do this “experiment”, because an Italian newspaper published the list of these singers, but in my opinion it was not very correct.
Of course it was logical that Bocelli was at number 1. His success and popularity are indisputable. But I wanted to know the position of the remaining singers, which logically varies according to the country, where a singer can be more or less known, if he has been in that country to do concerts, or if the radios of that place broadcast his songs .
This is why I asked for a list that did not take into account the affection you have for singers, (it was logical for us it was IL VOLO), but only for the success, their popularity.
Of course this experiment was only useful to understand in what position was IL VOLO, after the first place certainly by Bocelli.
As I expected, the results were these:
1 BOCELLI 2 IL VOLO for most of you
In short, IL VOLO ranks second, if we consider those who live in Canada and the US.
It can also be in third place, if we consider part of South America (where is very well known Ramazzotti and Pausini).
All other singers are little known or even unknown, by most of you.
The situation is different if we take Europe, those who live in Europe know the other singers and IL VOLO is only from Eurovision that has been known in Europe, therefore for a short time. Moreover, singers like Albano, Cutugno, Zucchero, known in Europe, have for many years been in their careers and are even older than our boys, so it’s been more time since we’ve heard of them.
Therefore, I would conclude that by mixing everything, the result can be this:
1 BOCELLI IL VOLO for popularity among those who answered, is positioned between the seat n. 2 and the n.3.
Now I publish the list as required by the Italian newspaper.
01 – Laura Pausini
02 – Andrea Bocelli
03 – Eros Ramazzotti
04 – Marco Mengoni
05 – Al Bano
06 – Toto Cutugno
07 – Il Volo
08 – Tiziano Ferro
09 – Zucchero
10 – Adriano Celentano
I tell you right away that the newspaper says “Ranking of the best known Italian singers abroad”, do you understand? Writes “abroad” ….. if they had written Europa, maybe I would have accepted the ranking, but abroad ???
Bocelli is not even at No. 1. AND IL VOLO at no. 7 ??????
For me, those who have written this ranking do not have exactly the right vision. Your lists confirm this. Some singers who have been listed before IL VOLO are almost unknown to most of you.
For those who want, here is the link to the original article.
Ok, we played and it was fun too. Did you like being able to say your opinion freely? What do you think of the newspaper’s ranking? Thanks again so much for participating.
During the Sanremo period, many articles were published on Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. Among the many, this one in particular has aroused my curiosity and I hope yours too.
Taken from Donna Fanpage:
Over the years, the guys from Il Volo have changed their style: at the beginning of their career they were just teenagers, a bit chubby and awkward but then, over time, they changed image and style, showing extreme safety, taking care of their physical form and the look, which ranges from super-elegant dark suits, to official events, complete with ties and bow ties,
to casual and trendy clothing that showed off at the Premios Juventud awards ceremony, held at the Watsco Center in Miami in July 2018, always paying maximum attention to their appearance.
In 2015, on the stage of the Ariston IL VOLO triumphs with the song “Grande Amore” but also with the best of Emporio Armani’s Made in Italy.
In the same period on his profile, Gianluca tagged himself in Via Manzoni 31. The address corresponds to the Milanese workshop of Giorgio Armani and the location is just a dressing room.
But even without tags, the look would have been unmistakable:
Basic t-shirts and trousers with darts and sports pockets scream the style of King George.
And for the second photo another Armani classic: gray.
Leather jacket with slightly rock tones, trousers with tubular leg and British style lace-ups. Gianluca is not new to these clothes: on the stage of the Ariston, in fact, the three boys showed off a look by Emporio Armani. Their image has been studied ad hoc according to a game of contrasts: the lyric tradition that wears leather jackets. No jacket, tie or bow tie (reserved for the final): the classic takes on the look again, especially if the protagonists in these scenes are little more than twenty years old.
Relations with Armani have always been very friendly. Armani has always been a good choice for them.
Milan Fashion Week 2015 Invited to the Armani fashion show: Il Volo
Il Volo with Armani
Il Volo with Roberta Armani
Also for the 2015 Eurovision, IL VOLO chooses ARMANI.
During the video, as they have done several times on several occasions, they will wear the new EA7 sneakers (Emporio Armani). The set of the new video will be the beautiful Arena of Verona,
Even for the first night of Notte Magica in Florence, IL VOLO chooses Armani.
The 2017 NOTTE MAGICA tour is about to begin, the boys visit the Lardini tailoring, here with Brenna Lardini.
During the Notte Magica tour, they will always wear Lardini suits, marked with a flower-shaped brooch, placed on the lapel of the jacket.
But we arrive at Sanremo 2019.
IL VOLO, on the red carpet of the Ariston, parades with clothes designed by Manuel Ritz: the brand has joined the three young tenors for the return of the Ariston to the stage and their 10-year career. For the occasion, they wore tuxedos from the Evening line and jackets from the main collection.
We arrive at the three evenings of Sanremo 2019.
Here are some of the comments:
First night.
Very elegant as always the singers of the trio IL VOLO, with pinstriped suits and Emporio Armani tuxedos.
Second night.
IL VOLO in Armani.
The look of IL VOLO, of the second evening, convinces less.
Those baggy pants, too baggy.
Final night.
IL VOLO in Emporio Armani
This evening we must reject the look of the three tenors who appear on stage with outfits that are too pompous and excessive for their young age. Either too casual or too elegant and baroque like in the final, a middle way isn’t it? (taken from Donna Fanpage)
This is my opinion.
I loved the velvet jackets by Lardini, but my opinion is that when they wear Armani, they are simply unbeatable, especially in this outfit.
Today I want to talk about a very discreet and very special person for IL VOLO, Barbara Vitali.
All of us fans know her and her role, but certainly not because she is an exhibitionist, yet she plays a very important role for Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero, but little is heard of her, but her presence can be sensed, it is like a shadow that follows our boys and watches over them.
When Gina suggested the idea of making a post dedicated to Barbara, I immediately accepted, because I liked the idea a lot, but I must say that in my search for news about her, I found almost nothing. Yet she plays a very important role, but it is certainly not the person who loves fame. Her task, very well done, does not require footlights, but requires a lot of patience and also a lot of firmness.
And so I remembered when I read an interview with Torpedine. He said that in the beginning he had to deal with three kids, who came from different cities and he immediately thought of a person who was able to maintain relationships with the various guys, solve their adolescent problems, and try to get them in agreement – three guys, surely with different characters and also doing “bridge” between their parents, mothers and fathers who had to be reassured …… in short, a role, not at all easy, a ROAD MANAGER, but with many shades more than the usual road managers.
And Barbara plays this role very well, always present for “her boys”.
Always ready to go with them. It must not have been easy, at the beginning, to channel three kids from different cities, in a single point from which to set off all together for long flights to distant destinations, and then, the long stays in America, luckily there was always support at least one parent for each boy. And she, always with them, almost a second mother.
In short, a SPECIAL person, who knew how to establish excellent relationships with as many as six parents, who love her and respect her, and who immediately understood the importance and seriousness of this person.
And the fans who had the pleasure of meeting her, they were fascinated, an exquisite person.
Not to mention the guys who love her.
The drawing below, which depicts a kitten, was made by Gianluca and the dedication says:
“To Barbara, I love you so much, Gianluca.”
Taormina, 23 August 2015 – The XXI International “Rosario Livatino – Antonino Saetta” Award, dedicated to the memory of the two judges of Canicattì, victims of the mafia, was assigned to Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, Gianluca Ginoble de Il Volo, to their road manager Barbara Vitali.
The three boys are now young men, but she is always with them, the problems to be solved are different, but her presence is always welcome, an indispensable support for IL VOLO.
Dear Barbara, we fans thank you for everything, because surely on the formation of the character of the guys, your advice will also have influence, your presence went far beyond the working relationship, has taken over, the mutual affection and esteem, these are fundamental parts between you and Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca.
Thought something a bit more light-hearted was due for today (yes, pun intended!) 🙂
I was in Oliver in high school and a beautiful song came out of that musical, written by Lionel Bart. “Where is love? Does it fall from skies, above?” Our love may not fall from skies above, but it does fly! It flies all over the world to greet their fans. Their fans, too, fly all over the world, just to hear them! We spare no expense, our love is unconditional. Our love is reciprocated as soon as they walk on stage and smile at us. All worries disappear for at least an hour or two. Soon, their new CD will be flying into my mailbox – hey, it will be from skies above, all the way from Italy! 🙂
Here are some pics of our guys with their new loves!
Such adorable little puppies for Igna and Gian, Arturo&Luna!
Piero certainly looks like he has been bitten by the lovebug with his own valentine, Valentina!
Sending Flight Crew Love to all – far and wide! We hope you are able to share your love this day with special friends, family, and loved ones.
And of course, always spreading Ilvololove! ♥ 🙂 ♥
I’d also like to welcome some newcomers/commenters on our site!! So many new names that I’ve never seen before! So glad you stopped by to say a few words. Please come back often – even if it is just to “say hi!” 🙂 Our site would not be what it is without you!Thanks to you, we’ve had nearly 250 comments in the last several days with the Sanremo posts by Daniela and the other day, our site got OVER 2,000 views!! With Daniela’s post about the scandals…
Jana
Thank you and credit to all owners of pictures!
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
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