Another year’s gone by! Another New Year’s Eve is arriving! I’m going to say 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 two years too quickly!
What made this year different?I’m going to say the same thing I did last year! You wake up every morning and turn on the news and no matter where you live New York, Italy, Germany, Russia, Australia, the news is the same – Wash Your Hands! Wear a Mask! Social Distance!
What do we all do on New Year’s Eve? We make resolutions. They usually last about a week and then it’s back to our old ways. But now we’ve forgotten about resolutions! For two year’s we are wrapped up in a world that refuses to go back to normal. No, I don’t buy the idea that this is the new normal. So, we find ourselves not saying what we are resolved to do but instead “When Will This All End???”
Those we left behind!
Then there’s the part of New Year’s that always brings to mind those who have left us! And that makes me so sad! This year, hundreds of thousands of people felt the loss of one person, Vito Boschetto. Yes, we all remember the announcement that shocked us! We had no idea he was ill and then he was gone.
We watched Ignazio step on the stage at Sanremo and courageously sing “Your Love,” and we all cried. It seems strange that so many people had the same reaction, but it goes back to what I’ve been talking about these last three weeks, “Family.” As we watched our guys go from amazing teenage boys to handsome young men who are phenomenal entertainers, we saw a transformation. Three strangers who stepped on a stage in 2009 are now three very handsome young men but more importantly they are, “Brothers!”
And as to their families, they went from three families to one. When we saw the boys, we saw the parents. Such an unusual situation! This led us to open our hearts to their families and thus we all became one,“Il Volo Family!”
When the news of Vito arrived, we immediately thought of Ignazio and how tragic it was to lose his father at such a young age. But we also learned something about Ignazio, and I think Piero said it best when he said he set an example for all of us with his courage.
When Ignazio stepped on that stage at Sanremo we had no idea how he or the guys would react. There were tears but above all there was a phenomenal performance to honor Vito. Ignazio knew this is where his father wanted him to be.
Mr. Boschetto was a man who worked very hard for his family. He was a mason, a brick layer. He worked at this job right up to the last days of his life. Ignazio would tell you that his mom and dad had worked at many jobs, and they tried to learn any trade, just to earn some extra money for the family.
This is what Ignazio had to say about his parents. “Is it the same if the images that I will never forget are …. the memories of my parents? It’s not that I’m crazy or strange, it’s right that my story would never have existed without my parents …. Of sacrifices they have made many and, big for me and for my sister but, more so for me. I do not spend a day when I do not think about how proud I am of them.”
In July 2004 when the family moved back to Marsala. Caterina’s dream was to open a pizzeria and Vito’s dream was to make Caterina’s dream come true. Every day for one year, when Vito returned from worked, he built the pizzeria. Every free moment Ignazio had, he worked alongside his father so that his mother could realize her dream. A year later the pizzeria was completed, and this led to another dream, Ignazio’s discovery and Ti Lascio una Canzone.
Since Ignazio was underage when he started to tour, he had to have a parent with him. The traveling was shared by his parents. When Vito returned from a tour he would return to his work. He never tried to make his life easy. What he did, he did for his children and would only accept their love in return.
What can I say about Vito? Vito was a simple man! A humble man who taught his children to be kind and humble and to live lives that they could be proud of.
It is not every man that passes through this life that can say he was able to fulfill his son’s dream. A dream that would bring him fame.
Vito we will all miss your presence at the concerts because you are a part of our Il Volo family, but you will be missed by Caterina, Ignazio and Nina every day of their lives but especially at this time of the year when our thoughts go back to the people who left us over the years!
He is gone but the memories never go away especially when they are moments that Ignazio shared with his dad as they traveled around the world together!
Certainly, there were many ups and downs this past year but what the guys did really made up for all the lost concerts! So, let’s move forward to the successes of the past year!
To understand what happened, we need to go back to the guy’s final performance for 2020, their mini-Concert at Piazza Pio XII on Christmas Day. And here the guys sent us their final greeting for the year!
Gianluca: On this special day when we all feel close from afar, we wanted to find a way to wish you all happy holidays.
Ignazio: And we did so in the way that best suits us, through music from this gorgeous square where we feel like we are enveloped in a welcoming embrace.
Piero: We hope this holiday season may bring a smile to your homes and warm your hearts. On this “Oh holy night” we wish to dedicate every single note and every single word to you all.
Then came the announcement that they would pay tribute to Ennio Morricone with a Concert in Piazza Pio XII next June 5th! Unfortunately, because of Covid and the fact that perhaps upwards of one million people would attend, it was decided that the performance would not take place at Piazza Pio XII instead it would be at the ancient Arena of Verona!
And then the journey began from Melpignano to Verona and beyond!
“La Notte della Taranta”, is one of the largest Festivals in Italy and one of the most significant manifestations of popular culture in Europe. The final concert of La Notte della Taranta, has had as many as one hundred and fifty thousand spectators in the past. It takes place in Salento, in the municipality of Melpignano, at the esplanade of the former Augustinian Convent specifically for the rediscovery and the enhancement of traditional Salento music. It is not limited to traditional music. It also allows for rock, jazz and symphonic music. This year’s host was Albano, a native son of Apulia, and his special guests where Il Volo.
Listen to the voices of our guys coming alive backstage! It’s a calling! “Who sells olives.”
Meanwhile Albano awaits their arrival on stage. He tells us about the song. It is from the region of Apulia, the region where he was born. He says, “It reminds me of the autumn song. It is the November song.”
November is the time of the olive harvest, and a man would always pass with a cart of olives to sell to the people. Albano and Ignazio sing a phrase in the Apulian dialect (“Who has olives, I have to buy them.”) Albano said when Modugno sang in the Apulian dialect he was very proud of him. Ignazio said, “So let’s hope, with this next song we will sing, you will be even more proud of your land.”
And then the awards began.
The 78th Filming Italy Movie Awards
In the afternoon the guys attended the award presentations where they were presented as winners of the 78th Film Italy Movie Awards. Upon exiting the building, they were interviewed by an unknown man…
Man: This is not Sanremo, this is the cinema exhibition!
PIero: But it seems a little like Sanremo, we meet, all familiar faces.
Gianluca: We are preparing a very ambitious recording project which is a tribute to maestro Ennio Morricone. We had the opportunity to collaborate with Vittorio Storaro in a music video, so we are here in the company of a great master of cinema, Vittorio Storaro.
Ignazio: He chose our voices for a tribute of the video of “Your Love,” which is shot in the Frasassi Caves, and therefore it is beautiful, this is not the first time we come here. It is always a beautiful atmosphere. Venice is a place that is stupendous.
So, let’s go back to the ancient Arena of Verona and the Seat Music Awards.
Prior to the guy’s performance, the stage was set up with multi color lights and when the guys arrived on stage, I think they were even surprised. The stage was lit as it was for last year’s performance. Very simple, very plain but what was going on in the audience was a totally different story. All phones were lit up. It was magic.
They stepped on stage in their beautiful but informal all black attire. Elegant in its simplicity!
As they came face to face with the audience, I could see the emotion in their faces.
Look at how these people love them and how they love their fans!
The DIVA Award
Then Carlo Conti presented the guys with their DIVA award
Carlo said, “I seriously read the inscription: Arena di Verona Award for Il Volo, for the tribute project to Ennio Morricone, represented with great success right here at the Verona Arena, live on RAI1, and for the over 10 years of career, which led them to be known and appreciated representatives of Italian music in the world.”
This song is slowly becoming a signature song! A song that reminds us of sadness but brings us to a new and exciting time in the lives of our guys! It’s as if Vito left them a final gift, a new and exciting adventure in their lives. It is the song that will lead the way in their new tour around the world. Always before them will be this song and the movie which has already and continues to make its mark in history!
And then on Christmas Eve!
After the Mass celebrated by the Pope, greetings from Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero are broadcast on RAI1 and, from the Frasassi caves, the sweet song: “O Holy Night.”
Gianluca: The most beautiful things in life are not that far away, they are close to us, they are within us.
Ignazio: I am inside this magnificent place that never ceases to enchant us.
Piero: We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The performance in the Frassasi Caves took the whole Morricone message to another level. Suddenly things were happening so fast. The guys seemed to be everywhere.
When speaking of the guy’s performance in the movie, Vittorio Storaro says, “Il Volo, in this case becomes a symbol, as, not only does it enter the womb of the earth, it first regenerates the energy of life, but it can do it in all the squares, in all the theaters, in all the places of the world, and that, certainly is what music is, nevertheless it carries a great message of love.”
Italy what have you to say about your guys now. You have got to be so proud of them. Look at how they shine in the world! But there was never a problem in recognition. We in America have always been proud of them and called them our own. I hope this project will allow them to spend more time in the US! Maybe at the Academy Awards.
On November 5th Il Volo Sings Morricone was released and that was followed by the 2022 World Tour Dates
I opened this story with Vito, and I would like to close it with him.
When the guys were on Domenica In, this past Sunday, there were some very emotional moments. Ignazio talked about an incident when they were filming with Vittorio Storaro. He said, when they were recording “Your Love” at Grotte di Frasassi, Maestro Storaro wanted to get a new and deeper emotion from each one of them, so he gave them some advice. When it was Ignazio’s moment to sing his own part, he asked Maestro for more advice. Storaro told him “Ignazio forget about where you are. There’s just you and the camera… and think about a person dear to you”, and so Ignazio did, and he ended his part in tears and cried for 15 minutes.
Mara asked him who he thought about, and Ignazio explained, “Your Love” is really important because we sang it at Sanremo only three days after the death of my dad so I will always associate that song with those days.”
Gianluca added, “The new album is dedicated to Vito.” Piero said that Ignazio showed them all that his dad was such a great man, and that Ignazio has all his esteem. Gianluca added that, when they arrived at the Ariston Theatre for the rehearsal, Fiorello hugged Ignazio tightly for three minutes because he knows what he was feeling since he had been there too when his own dad died at 58 years old. Gianluca said that that moment really moved all the people who were there with them.
Beautiful emotions to end an emotional 2021!
Finally, how do I sum up this year? As I mentioned 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.”
And today I’m thinking of the smile of one person. You know who you are. I dedicate this article to you. Always be happy! Never stop smiling.
So that about sums up “Another New Year’s Eve!”
Happy New Year Piero, Ignazio & Gianluca!
New Year’s 2022
Happy New Year to All the Fans!
Looking forward to meeting many of you on the World Tour next year!
See you next year when I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
If you would like to read the full story of Vito Boschetto, go to www.ilvoloflightcrw.com and search Vito Boschetto ~ A Simple, Humble Man
Every Saturday morning, I sit at my desk and think about what I will write about this week! Since we’re closing in on Christmas, I thought maybe I should start a little earlier this week!
My first thought was last year’s Christmas message was amazing! Not because I wrote it but because of the people who helped me write it! Two wonderful friends! Our special little nonna, Maura Pucci and Giovanni Granaro local historian and my go to man in Naro. Over ten thousand fans responded to the story! It gave us a look at the different Italian traditions and an insight into our guy’s Christmas. So, I thought maybe I should republish the article but with a few new and interesting facts added.
But before we relive the story let me tell you what the story told us about each of the guys. It showed their different traditions based on the region they came from but, they do have one tradition in common and they share that tradition with Italians all over the world. It is the Feast of Seven Fishes that is celebrated on Christmas Eve. In Italy, the meal is known as Festa Dei Sette Pesci (the Feast of Seven Fish), or, more simply, La Vigilia. Now let me add some say the meal should include twelve fish. Why? Seven fish for the seven days it took to create the world or twelve fish for the twelve apostles. The number of fish is not as important as the feast, or La Vigilia, itself. This is a tradition that goes back to ancient times in the Church. Before a great feast day, it was important to fast to prepare for the feast. So, everyone abstained from meat, thus everyone ate fish.
In the early 1900’s when Italian immigrants came to America, they brought this tradition with them. This allowed them to rekindle the old country’s Christmas Eve tradition so they would feel close to their homes and the families they left behind. Today, it’s considered one of the oldest Italian traditions because most Italians still keep the tradition! I certainly do!
So, without further ado, let’s join Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca for Christmas with Our Italian Family
Yes, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca are our family! Why do I call them family? We’re their fans, yes but, we are more than fans. We certainly do all the things that fans do but it goes deeper than that because our guys are different than any other entertainers. The difference is the guys think of us as their extended family because they grew up with us. They spend more time with us than they do with their families. And they show us their love in everything they do. Think of how they treat us! When you meet them, they embrace you. Most entertainers just want your praise and accolades. Not our guys! They want to know about us! They ask about our lives and our families. They listen to us and do things to please us. And think about how you spent your last twenty-one months listening to their music and feeling secure with every song! So, what is family? Family are the people who are there when you need them. When you’re sad you can always feel their love and their encouragement! Family is not just blood it’s the people who are there for us!
So, let’s take a look at how our Italian family spends their Christmas.
The Christmas season starts in Italy on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary which is also a holiday in Italy. This is the day that many Italians put up their Christmas trees and the cities light up their streets with colored lights. Why? Because Mary is the mother of the Light, Jesus! But there are other traditions that are celebrated on this day!
Let’s go to Naro, Piero’s city, to see how they open the Christmas season.
Every year, on the 7th, 8th and 9th of December, every inhabitant in Naro stocks up on muffuletti. Muffuletti is a bread which is stuffed with meat and vegetables. Some people go to their local baker to buy them, and some people prepare them at home. The tradition is linked to religion. Naro’s sandwiches are blessed and distributed in Churches at the end of the Mass on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. The bakers donate the muffuletti to the Churches as a gesture of generosity towards their fellow countrymen but, above all, of love towards “a bedda matri ‘Mmaculata”, the Most Holy Immaculate.
During the month of December, the Christmas markets are held in Naro. The Fair is set up inside the cloister of the Town Hall. Many people go to the Franciscan cloister where, every evening, to the delight of the children, there is a special snowfall that whitens the baroque courtyard. On the final evening there is a concert of Sicilian folk music, and an award is given for the best photo taken at the large Christmas tree in Piazza Garibaldi.
During this magical period the streets are colored by many Christmas lights, and everyone visits the living nativity scene of Borgo Castello. There is Mass on Christmas Eve and between hugs, kisses and best wishes there are a thousand good intentions. And then, on Christmas day, the family gathers together for a dinner laden with many local delicacies.
And what would Piero do on Christmas day? Most likely, he will walk around Naro and visit some older people and his friends. He certainly would have decorated his home so I’m sure he will make a video for all of us to see. He will most likely sing at the Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Mass. And I’m sure he will spend time singing with his grandfather, Pietro. Most importantly, he will spend the day with his family!
Christmas in Bologna! How does Ignazio celebrate Christmas?
Unlike Piero and Gianluca, Ignazio and his family live in a big city and like cities in America there are many events.
The Christmas tradition in Bologna has deep roots. The Bolognese Nativity Scene (Presepe) goes back to the Middle Ages. The tradition of the Presepe dates back to the 13th century and one of the oldest Presepe in the world is preserved in Bologna. What makes the Bolognese Nativity different? It is life size and includes clothes that are different from the traditional Neapolitan style. They are dressed in a medieval style. In Porretta Terme in the Emilian Apennines another Presepe which is one of the oldest Presepe in the world is kept in the church of Capugnano.
I’m sure Ignazio will visit the Christmas Tree in Piazza Nettuno. It is a Bolognese tradition. The beautiful tree is a welcoming and bright place to meet friends and feel the warmth of Christmas.
So, what will Ignazio’s family eat on Christmas? I’m sure on Christmas Eve there will be fish on the table. This is the tradition in every Italian house on “La Vigilia,” Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, there is another tradition. Lunch is the main meal and Pasta in brodo (pasta in broth) will certainly be served. In Bologna, it’s all about meat-filled tortellini in capon broth. These, small, Tortellini, are filled with a mixture of meat, mortadella and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese but you will find in Bologna every family has its secret ingredient for them. You’ll recall in an interview Ignazio mentioned his family buying Tortellini every Sunday.
The soup will most likely be followed by a roast and the meal will end with a traditional dessert like Certosino (or Pan speziale) which is made with almonds, pine nuts, dark chocolate and candied fruits. The recipe has its origin in the Middle Ages where Certosino was produced by pharmacists and later by Certosini Friars. Certosino is very popular in Bologna.
I know the part of the meal that Ignazio will like the best is the dessert! A dessert he will share with his family to celebrate Christmas Day!
There is one Sicilian tradition that I did not talk about last year and since we have two Sicilian men in the group, I think it is important to include it in the article.
For many in Sicily, the Christmas season starts on the Feast of Santa Lucia. In some regions of Sicily, the feast day is celebrated with Cuccia. The word itself is Sicilian. Cuccìa is typically made with wheat berries, ricotta and sugar. How did this tradition come to be?
In the winter of 1646, Sicily was undergoing a terrible famine. People were dying of hunger after a massive crop failure. The people of Palermo did the only thing they could in the circumstances: they prayed. And then on the morning of December 13th a ship full of grain arrived in Palermo harbor with enough grain to feed the whole city. Rather than wait to have the grain milled into flour to make bread, the hungry people boiled and ate the grain to satisfy their hunger and save their lives. The people were convinced that Santa Lucia (St. Lucy), Sicily’s most important saint had saved the city, since the grain arrived on her feast day.
I’m not sure if Piero and Ignazio’s family make Cuccia or eat it but I’m sure they know the tradition.
So, now let’s talk about Gianluca’s Christmas!
A Montepagano tradition is the Nativity scene. At the end of the last century a famous living Nativity play was started in Montepagano which is a real theatrical performance, with a director and a narrator.
In the Abruzzi region, there is a tradition that bagpipers, so called zampognari come into the towns and play their flutes and bagpipes for the people. They symbolize the shepherds who come in search of the newborn baby, Jesus. The bagpipers were once shepherds, today they are musicians who walk the streets of the cities, playing Christmas music. Often, they are in pairs, and one plays the zampognari (bagpipe) and the other the ciaramella (which is similar to a small piccolo).
For certain Gianluca will celebrate December 24th, Christmas Eve with a meal of fish including shellfish because he lives by the sea. As far as food traditions are concerned, on Christmas Day, the typical dish of the whole region of Abruzzo is spaghetti alla chitarra (which is prepared on a particular instrument called a guitar, because it is made of wood with metal strings) but most likely Gianluca will eat Lasagna. The second course will be arrosticini, which are pieces of meat, traditionally lamb, strung on long sticks, similar to a kebab. And for dessert, they will most likely have the traditional Christmas cake, Panettone.
Gianluca will surely spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with his family including his Grandpa Ernesto!
As you know my mother is Abruzzese and I must say, Gianluca’s Christmas is very similar my Christmas.
If you’re wondering where Santa Claus is, in Italy he is known as “Babbo Natale,” Father Christmas, who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve but, in true Italian tradition, gifts were exchanged on January 6th the day of Epiphany when La Befana comes to Italian homes in search of the Christ Child and leaves gifts for the children. This is a tradition that is celebrated in the central regions of Italy. La Befana is an old woman, with a hooked nose, badly dressed, with a handkerchief on her head, grumpy but good, she is not a witch. On January 6th, riding through the sky, flying on a broom, La Befana lands on the roofs, enters the houses from the chimneys and descends from the fireplace, leaving gifts and sweets in the big socks that the children place in front of the fireplace. If they were good, they get sweets. If they were bad, she leaves coal in the form of a sweet black candy. I’m sure there will be many sweets for Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca! No coal for our guys!
I would like to mention an important member of Il Volo’s family. Michele Torpedine! His family is originally from the region of Puglia. He moved to Bologna when he was twelve years old. So, he will celebrate Christmas with his family and the celebration would be similar to Ignazio’s!
Again, I would like to thank the two people who contributed to this Christmas story. Maura Pucci and Giovanni Granaro. Their knowledge of the regions of Montepagano and Naro and the different Christmas traditions made this story come to life!
Susan Daniela Pat
In closing, I would like to thank my team at Flight Crew! The two ladies who make all my stories come to life! Daniela Perani (a/k/a Sherlock Holmes) who is my second pair of eyes and provides all the photos and videos for my stories and Patricia Ward who does the layouts for the stories.
I want to wish all of my Christian friends a Merry Christmas and all my Jewish friends a Happy Chanukah! And all my other friends, All the Happiness and Joy of the Season!
And finally, I’m sure you would love to join me in wishing Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with many Concerts!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
Only one week until Christmas and so much more to do! It seems to arrive so fast and, we always think not enough time! But over the last two years, it seems time is all we have! We started last year in fear and then hope because there was a vaccine coming and then we thought now it will be over but, no not yet. And we find ourselves saying but WHEN!
Through it all, there was one constant in our lives ~ Il Volo!
I started writing my articles back in March 2020 because I realized that the fans were truly concerned about these three young men. They worried about them going home to Italy where we were hearing horror stories about Covid and how it was killing people. So, everyone went into panic mode. It seemed their departure was so sudden. They turned off the lights and went home!They canceled their last three performances and the next thing we knew they were on their way home. But being true to form, what did they do? Like good sons, they checked in with us as soon as they got home and told us they were safe and, they needed to be with their families now.
Let’s go back to the part about the fear. Remember when we first heard about this pandemic. It was all about Italy. Being the good fans we are, we wanted the guys to remain in the states and to be safe. Little did we know that soon, none of us would be safe but, our first concern was for the guys!
When they suddenly went home it really got to us! Absolute fear! What was going to happen to the guys. And we prayed, let them be safe!
And then the first statement from Gianluca on his way home from Fiumicino airport….
After two months of touring the United States, I went back to Italy, in a few hours I will be home again.
I remember when I was leaving home, they said to me “You will see that time flies … then, nothing ever happens here.” Instead, while I was not there, things did happen, even if I did not realize the situation because I was far away and busy. Then, a few days ago when Conte (Prime Minister) spoke nationally it was something unexpected that deeply touched me. At that moment, homesickness assailed me and, I suffered at the thought that our country, the most beautiful of all, was going through such a critical period.
Today we live in a historical period that we will remember for a lifetime. These strong emotions, fears, hopes … we will take them forever with us, but the next time we live what we took for granted a few days ago, we will do it with another conscience, and it will have a completely different flavor. The taste of something that has not been given to us since birth, but something that we had to take back through the renunciations to which we are called today.
I stay at home with my family, do it too and think about when a hug is worth it, because I came back after two months spent outside, and I can’t hug those I missed.
After Piero’s return to Naro….
Hi friends, sorry if I only write now but it took some time to realize everything that’s going on. I came back yesterday from the United States, we were there since January and believe me that we didn’t get a chance to fully understand what was happening here in Italy. We had the full perception of the emergency just a few days ago and we made the decision to stop the final part of our American tour to return to Italy before all the airlines closed. In these weeks between concerts, we met tens of thousands of people, and before returning to Italy we were informed about the precautions to be taken. Currently in voluntary isolation, I am here at home, in my own country, with all the necessary comforts. I think I’m lucky for this. I have taken on this responsibility and will pass my quarantine without seeing my parents, grandparents, only with the purpose of protecting them. All of this has made it easier for me to see the reaction of my city, Naro, united right now, with a punctual administration in the information it gives to the citizens. I therefore say to my friends, to those who follow me and anyone who reads these few lines: everyone stay home and, follow the WHO information. To face all this looking into perspective because sooner or later it will all pass. And if we stick to these rules, it will pass faster. See you very soon, Piero
In an interview with Red Ronnie, Ignazio talked about what happened on tour and why they went home….
Red: Listen Ignazio, let’s start from Il Volo, how did it go in America?
Ignazio: It went very well, we were lucky enough to bring the tour almost to the end, we only canceled three concerts. Without talking about what happened in the end, we had a lot of fun, because it was already a year and a half, two, that we were not in America, and it was nice to go back for the 10th Anniversary, because we celebrated 10 years. However, we are used to taking nothing for granted, and receiving people’s affection in that way, after 10 years, has been surprising.
Red: And after that you came back, you had the greatest contrast, a tour in America and then quarantined in the house.
Ignazio: Think what luck! (ironic).
Red: It went well because you have almost finished the American tour.
Ignazio: We canceled the last concerts, when the decree arrived, which canceled flights to and from Italy, we looked each other in the eye and said to each other, we have people who work with us who have families, small children, and so we made a serious decision to go home. And that was it!
Red: How many dates have you canceled?
Ignazio: Three
Red: And how many dates have you had?
Ignazio: About twenty.
And so that was how the guys went home!
Ironically, what we feared for the guys reached our shores and they started to pray for us.
What did we learn from this experience? They love their families and needed to be with them at that time and they were concerned for the people who work for them! They also love their fans and they worried about them during the pandemic. These fans are their family too! They grew up with the fans and spent many holidays with them. For many of the fans, these young men are their family, and in some cases the only family they have. Family isn’t only blood; family are the people who are there for you every day! The people who make a difference in your life!
One thing we know about these guys is they love their fans and when they are way from them, they miss the fans as much as the fans miss them.
My Office
Thanks to Fabio Ingrassia’s fabulous work I get to share my office with the guys!
I get emails and comments from people every day telling me how much the guys mean to them. They tell me stories about losing loved ones and how the guy’s music helped them. Or going through a serious illness and their music soothed them. The fans tell me that they are like family. Some even tell me that their families think that they spend too much time listening to their music and talking about them. They have pictures in prominent places in their homes and some children think that it is not appropriate.
One woman had the best answer for that. She has a picture of the guys on her dresser in her bedroom and one of her children asked why do you have a picture of strangers on your dresser and not a picture of me? The woman answered: “I have to make appointments to see you and when you visit, you’re always in a hurry and you never want to do anything to please me. These three young men spend every single day with me. They sing to me, and their concerts give me such pleasure. And when I go to their concerts, they make me feel like I am a member of their family.”I guess she answered her question!
And then there are those people who wish they had family. These people tell me they have no blood family, but they do have a family. They have three sons or grandsons. And they love each of them with their whole hearts because of the pleasure they bring them every day.
These young men are not like any other entertainers you will ever meet. For entertainers it’s all about them! It’s not about what the fans want, it’s about what they want. Think about when the guys went home last March. They may have left the states, but they never left our sides. They were on Instagram and Facebook every day. They sang for us and encouraged us and let us know about everything that was going on in their lives. And they sang to us when they knew we were in trouble! That’s what people do for the people they love. They care!
Let me go one step further to prove how much they care.
In their book Un’avventura Straordinaria, in the last chapter they tell the fans what they really mean to them. Let’s listen to what they had to say….
When they asked us to write this book, our first thought was “Finally,” finally we can tell the truth. In a three-minute interview you cannot tell a life, but in a book yes. And here’s what we tried to do in these pages: telling our true story.
Which is a normal story, of three guys like many who had a great passion and were lucky enough to be able to transform the passion into what today makes them live and makes them famous.
Being successful is beautiful, it would be stupid to say no after we have so dreamed and desired, but you need to quickly understand something, and that is, that it is not only our merit.
The people who follow us have a large part of that merit.
And knowing it, it is what gratifies us the most.
It is wonderful to know that we have managed to our emotions with those who listen to us.
That’s why we work, and that’s why we try to give everything when we sing, we live in a concert or recording studio. And that’s why we do our work always with the maximum of passion, so that we can create what for us is magic, the magic of emotion that passes from our voices to people.
Fans are the reason, the only real explanation of what happened to us from 2009 to today, of records, of tours around the world, of the victory at Sanremo, of what we are finally living in Italy.
During a concert we would like to embrace all the people before us one by one, we would like to be able to say, “Thank you!” with our voices to all. And we want to thank them if we are in the studio to record, if we fill the halls in concerts, if we are in the charts, if we go around the world.
They are our everything!
But for sure, for all we have done so far, let’s say thanks to those who have followed us. And we will continue our great adventure together! Goodbye for now! PIERO, IGNAZIO and GIANLUCA
So, though we are apart, they are always in our hearts, and we are in theirs!
At this time of the year people are rushing around to get their shopping done and make preparations for holiday meals! To those people who have no family to shop for or cook for, I want you to know you do have a family, it’s Three Amazing Young Men and they and all the fans love you as much as you love them! You are never alone! The guys are as close as the next song you listen to or the next concert you watch!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and take you on a Christmas Journey to Italy!
Note: Did you notice the three solos I used for the guys were songs that they sang at Radio City Music Hall on February 6, 2020. That was the last time I saw them but, have no fear, guys, I will be there on March 18, 2022! The first of the five concerts I will attend!
‘Twas three weeks before Christmas when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring not even my Spouse! The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that Il Volo would soon be there!
That pretty much sums up what we all want for Christmas! Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca! Dream on, that’s not happening!
What I want for Christmas this year is for the guys to spend more time in the States!
When I was watching the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockerfeller Center last week, I was thinking about 2012 when our guys were there! It made me think that maybe it would be nice to relive someChristmas Memories!
Let’s go back to 2011 where we find the first Christmas presentation….
Christmas 2011 ~ The Tonight Show with Jay Leno “Christmas Song”
Those were the days when we could turn on our TV and see Il Volo on one of the night shows! The night shows the guys did were amazing! Why? These were three Italian kids who came to America and stole the hearts of the American people! American groups don’t get the opportunity to go on these shows. But again, they are not Il Volo! Amazing!
And let’s not forget the Christmas Tree lighting in LA!
Il Volo performs with Pia Toscano at the LA Live Tree Lighting
How absolutely amazing is this performance? I think Pia Toscano was in awe of those three teenagers!
Christmas 2012 ~ Lighting the Christmas Tree at Rockerfeller Center
This is by far was one of the best Christmas Tree lightings at Rockerfeller Center! They stole the show! Hopefully they will be invited back to light the tree again!
Christmas 2013 ~ Home and Family Holiday Show 2013
One of the things I miss about the guys not being in the States is their appearances on Home & Family Show. The guys cooked and sang and brought us much joy! One of the greatest shows was the 2013 Holiday Show. Guest stars on that show were Il Volo. They sang such beautiful Christmas Carols!
Christmas 2013 ~ Concert at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
I had a hard time deciding whether to use the Home & Family Show video or the Assisi video. So, I decided let’s use both!
Christmas 2014 ~ Concerto di Natale 2014 at the Italian Senate
Before I tell you what the guys had to say about this concert, I want to tell you that this is the most amazing Christmas concert you will see this year! The guys and the kids are phenomenal! They brought me to tears! And, I must say Pietro Grasso enjoyed it, especially all the old Neapolitan songs. I thought he was going to get up and sing with the guys! Reactions like this is why the classical Neapolitan songs never die! They stay in our hearts forever! A good time was had by all!
In their book, Ignazio speaking for the guys explained how it felt to sing at the Senate.
We want to talk about the thrill of singing in front of the highest office of state! What twenty-year-old boy has something like that happen? It happened to us, and it seems to me a beautiful result, an honor.
The concert was on December 21st. You cannot imagine the emotional feeling to be called “guests of honor” inside the Senate.
The fantastic Filarmonia Orchestra Veneta conducted by Diego Basso. Half the beauty of the song is in the orchestra.
We start with Christmas classics such as Adeste Fideles and White Christmas, but then there was also Caruso, Mattinata, No Puede Ser, Memory and of course our classic ‘O Sole Mio.
The most exciting moments? Every one! But the hymn of Mameli was the heart-pounding one, the first song, singing in that place, with everyone singing along with us, including Giorgio Napolitano, (President) and Pietro Grasso (President of the Senate). It is one thing that I cannot explain.
And then, of course, the pleasure of shaking hands with the President of the Republic and of feeling that he knows Marsala, he has been there.
Christmas 2015 ~ Santa Claus is Coming to Town!!
Alright so you don’t have a sense of humor! I couldn’t find a Christmas video for 2015. Let’s face it the guys were a little busy that year! Remember Sanremo and Eurovision
Christmas 2016 ~ Il Volo & Jackie Evancho sing “Little Drummer Boy” on the Today Show
And those were the days when we could turn on the morning shows and find Il Volo! This is singer and former “America’s Got Talent” contestant Jackie Evancho. She teamed up with our guys to perform “The Little Drummer Boy” live on the TODAY Show.
Christmas 2017 ~ Adeste Fideles (O come all ye faithful)
Ok! So, I cheated. This is actually January 2017. But isn’t it spectacular!
Christmas 2018 ~ “Voci di Natale” Líbano 2018
In 2018 the guys went to Lebanon to spend Christmas with the troops! What beautiful hearts they have! There are some very touching moments in this video! It warms my heart!
This story was so beautiful that I decided to include the link to the original translation of the video by Daniela Perani. It is so worth reading! Thank you, Daniela!
Christmas 2019 ~ O Holy Night (Especial Navidad Azteca)
This was a TV Special Navidad Azteca, of the Azteca Uno Channel of Mexico, recorded during the guys visit in November 2019.
Christmas 2020 ~ Piazza Pio XII at St. Peter’s Square
That was the year that was!What a wonderful way to take a year that we all want to forget about and turn it into an absolutely amazing moment. An event that will never happen again. One of the things I love in this video is Gianluca looking back at the light in the window of the Holy Fathers apartment! He knew he was listening to them!
This event was a prelude to the Tribute to Ennio Morricone that was planned for June 2021. It never took place at Piazza Pio XII but, it did take place at the ancient Arena of Verona. And what an unforgettable event that was! Let’s pray that the guys will have an opportunity to have a concert in Piazza Pio XII when we are finished with this awful business!
This one was my personal favorite! In a year when we really needed it, they made all of our Christmases bright!
Thank you, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca for all the wonderful moments you share with us!
So, I hope you enjoyed reliving the guys’Christmas Memories!
Let me leave you with the lyrics to another Christmas song!
I don’t want a lot for Christmas! There is just one thing I need! I don’t care about the presents, Underneath the Christmas tree. I just want you for my own, More than you could ever know, Make my wish come true, All I want for Christmas is Il Volo!
Perhaps ask Santa for their album, “Il Volo Sings Morricone,” or a ticket to one of the many concerts on the World Tour!
One final thought! In the United States the Christmas season starts on the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, the first day of Advent! In Italy the Christmas season starts on December 8th the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. On that day the streets of Italy come to life with beautiful lights and decorations and wonderful street festivals. So, I would like to wish my Italian family, friends and fans a joyful Christmas Season!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
When I read Un’avventura Straordinaria, the story that I loved the most was the story of Sanremo. The decision by the guys to take on the Sanremo Festival. This story brought out their personalities, their differences and how they are so bound to one another that they could make the decision of a lifetime together even if it meant they could lose what was so important to them, their country and their people!
In our story today we witness the guys making some important decisions about their career. But before we hear about those decisions, let’s step back and see where the guys were in 2014.
2014 started out as a bad year. Their contract with Universal ended and was not renewed and they found themselves wondering what would happen next. This is when they stepped up to the plate and began to see Il Volo from the inside out!
After many sleepless nights, they approached Sony and asked to be under contract with them. Following some lengthy negotiations and, what seemed like an eternity, Sony put them under contract.
Then suddenly things were happening. They were invited to sing at the Italian Senate. This was an event of immense importance for them. It said Italy was finally noticing them so, it only made sense that it was time to take a giant step!
Time to go to Sanremo!
But this story doesn’t start with Sanremo, nor does it end there! Sanremo was the door opener!
They will tell you that the decision to go to Sanremo was a good one but, in contrast going to Eurovision may not have been their best decision. My reply, going to Eurovision was an excellent decision!
Let’s see how these decisions were made and what path they chose!
Sanremo 2015
The Decision
So where do you begin to make the decision. Well, you have to start with the decision itself.
Who’s in and who’s out!
Who’s in?
From day one, Gianluca wanted to go. He was so convinced that they would win that he never backed down from it. He had no doubt in his mind that they would win.
Who’s out?
Always the pessimist, Ignazio. He said “No, we can’t win. It’s too hard.”
So that leaves Piero! Piero at first was not on board but Gianluca persuaded him. Gianluca said, “No one trusted, no one believed it. It was I who persuaded Piero to persuade Ignazio to go to Sanremo. Because I told them: ‘Guys, if we go, we’ll win it, I’m sure, I’m sure’”.
Piero said, “We said to ourselves: ‘Guys, make it or break it, in the end, we were not anyone here in Italy, at most we would not be anyone even afterwards.’”
Decision made! It’s official the guys go to Sanremo!
Then there’s the second problem, the song!
At Sanremo you must perform an unpublished song. How do you begin to find such a song?
Now this is the part of the story that’s really interesting and sometimes funny! Oddly enough, the one who wanted this the most was the one who did not agree to the song. I so enjoyed listening to this dialogue between the guys. This is where we begin to hear the guys make important decisions together. They’re really good. When they begin, they’re not agreeing but as time goes by…. Well, why don’t I let them tell you how they finally got to Sanremo?
The Song
Gianluca: I did not agree to go with that piece. If I think about it now, I’ll say that the next time I must reflect better before judging, try to sing a song and then judge because our voices change the songs. We arrange them by cutting them on our voice, and I did not take this fact into consideration. The song when we first listened to it was not very ugly!
Ignazio: It’s not that we’ve heard only that, no. Do you think it is easy to choose a piece for Sanremo? We started to do a search and a selection of unpublished tracks. Our policy was: either we go with something strong, or we do not go, right?
One day this song comes to us through Michele: Grande Amore by Francesco Boccia and Ciro Esposito, two Neapolitan authors. As usual, I am pessimistic. I listen to it and it does not make me crazy. Not even Gianluca was convinced. The only enthusiast was Pie …
Piero: (interrupts) I loved “Grande Amore!” I did not believe that we would have won, but I was the one who pushed, I and Michele pushed for “Grande Amore” because the audition that we heard was not beautiful, but we imagined it if it was made by Celso Valli and, I must say that we had guessed right.
Ignazio: (interrupts) And I said it too if you let me talk. I was saying, in fact, that “Grande Amore” was not as we hear it today. It was always called “Grande Amore,” but it was totally different. So, we start to think: who can produce the piece? And Michele calls the great Celso Valli. After several weeks of work in the studio, we manage to churn out a song that could leave its mark at the Sanremo Festival.
Gianluca: (interrupts) That’s why when we left for Sanremo I was very convinced we had the piece, the right project.
Piero: He wanted to influence us, but we are superstitious ….
Gianluca: Every day at lunch and dinner with Michele and the president of Sony, I say: ‘Guys, we will win Sanremo.’
Piero: (interrupts) Do you know what a week like this means?
Ignazio: Piero and I were all day touching iron and the low parts. Gianluca was convinced that the little lion (the Sanremo award is represented by a lion) would be ours? And the two of us tried to keep the situation under control.
Gianluca: (interrupts) What should I tell you? I am an optimist. They took it something like ‘he makes fun of us,’ but I felt it inside. I do not know why.
So many interruptions! Ignazio, before he was interrupted, was about to tell us about the first night they sang.
Ignazio: The 65th edition of the Festival begins on Tuesday, February 10th. We sing the second night, Wednesday the 11th. The strange thing is that normally my legs tremble before the performance, but mine trembled even after the performance! Perhaps too much adrenaline, it never happened before.
Piero: (interrupts) Or maybe it was because we came back to the Ariston stage after going around the world. It was like coming home, because we experienced the beginning of our career here with Ti Lascio una Canzone. One thing that cannot be described: in Sanremo, in Italy, to sing and receive the applause of the Italian public. It cannot be explained.
The Wardrobe
Gianluca: Can you imagine for me this was also my birthday? I turned twenty on the Ariston stage! Of course, I was moved in the end, and it was too much emotion to my sensibility to play bad jokes at times. And then, we felt the pressure in the air. Even though I was optimistic, the tension was there.
Although we had taken care of the smallest details of the song, we had tried and tried again, and we had taken care of even the smallest details of the clothing. First evening look more rock: total black with leather jacket.
Because when we do our work the image matters, too.
Piero: (interrupts) Count, of course that counts. But do you remember how we were dressed before? I remember that time at Una Notte per Caruso, in July 2009, it was the second time we saw Torpedine. Michele arrives with another white Range Rover, not that of Jesolo, and as soon as he arrives, we do not even say hello and we go to see the car. Let’s run, let’s open the car. Ignazio immediately goes up to the car. We went crazy for cars, one like that, we did not see every day. The day after we go for a ride in downtown Sorrento, a shopping trip, and we enter Gucci’s. Michele spent almost two thousand euros and we with that written number at the counter, we exclaimed: “Mizziga! (Damn!) Two thousand euro” with wide eyes. And we still have those clothes, at least I personally still have them.
He had bought us a jacket, but above all the need for us to dress all in white and blue. I had the blue jacket and the white shirt, Gianluca had blue trousers and white shirt, Ignazio the blue shoes and everything else white, Michele the blue jacket. And we took a picture in front of the hotel.
Gianluca interrupts: We were just dressed badly to be singers by trade, we were children, we came from families of workers. What could I buy? There was not even the need.
Piero: (interrupts) And then you remember the restaurant? Afterwards we went to a restaurant near the sea. When we finished eating, the three of us took off our shoes and ran to the beach. Michele ran behind us telling us: ‘Guys, calm down. Guys, slow down.’
At this point Ignazio loses his patience. “YES, but, what does that have to do with it, Pie? We were talking about Sanremo. What has Sorrento got to do with it?
The Performance
Ignazio gets the conversation back on track!
Ignazio: Sanremo 2015, from the 10th to 14th of February, we sang on the second evening, legs shaking, Gianluca’s birthday.
Among the many interviews, the diary that we kept every day for TV Sorrisi e Canzoni … We had fun with the diary!
It was a sort of ‘pill.’ A very few minutes, in which we recorded from the 9th to 14th of February. We talked about some of the emotions we felt. For example, the time that Gianluca almost stumbles on stage or the happiness of seeing the audience get up and applaud the first night we sang “Grande Amore.” The recording, then, went online on the site of the magazine.
What was I saying? Ah, yes, among the many interviews, the diary that we kept every day for TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, meetings and press conferences …
Piero: (interrupts) And the criticisms we felt in those days? People at home voted for us, appreciated us, and journalists gave us votes that we thought were postponed until September, I also said this at the press conference after the victory. Five that flew (bad votes given by critics). But we see that the criticisms have done us good.
Ignazio: Can I do a criticism of you?
Piero: Ah, tell me…
Ignazio: You interrupted me. I was about to tell the final. I can continue?
The Win
Ignazio: In short, the final evening arrives, February 14th. I realize from my shirt that in a week we have eaten more than we sang. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’m a boy who does not say cat if I do not have it in the bag, then until Carlo Conti said….
Piero: (interrupts) And indeed, whoever wins does not know it until the end! Sorry, Igna’. Speak you!!!
Ignazio: Until Carlo Conti said: ‘The winner of the Sanremo Festival 2015 is … Il Volo!’ I said to the boys: ‘No, guys, we do not win, it’s difficult.’ And on the one hand I had Piero with shining eyes and on the other Gianluca with a smug smile as if to say: ‘Do not worry.’
Gianluca: The truth is that I was right from the beginning, and no one had ever listened to me, ever. I believed it so much that, if you notice, maybe I’m the one with the least surprised look on my face when Carlo Conti announces the winner. Then, of those moments, one remembers little, there is great confusion, emotion. It was a dream to be able to shout, ‘Thank you, Italy!’ from that stage. I look at Sanremo as a child, when there was Pippo Baudo, and I was there and have won because people were on our side and it was a dream, I repeat even if I have already said. The emotion was only when my grandfather told me almost in tears: “Who would have told me that in life I saw Modugno win at the Festival and then I saw you win?”
Taking the conversation back, I have to say, to me this was the best conversation we could listen to. They disagree, they find middle ground, and they agree but, most importantly they listen to one another and that’s what makes the bond so great!
In the end Gianluca said: “In short, Sanremo was just a dream that brought us many different emotions. Too bad it was not repeated also in Vienna!”
So, they gambled and, they won. They were happy and they finally felt accepted in their own country. It seems that everything worked out well but there’s a little piece of the puzzle missing.
The one disappointment they had. Or as Ignazio put it, “Eurovision… one of those things that I do not like to talk about, but we’re telling the truth, so let’s tell it all.”
Many of you know the winner of Sanremo goes to Eurovision to represent Italy. After winning Sanremo and the popularity of “Grande Amore”, the guys were fairly confident they could win Eurovision. And to some degree, Ignazio believed it too!
So, let’s join Piero as he tells us about what happened at Eurovision….
Piero: Vienna, the 60th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, was a rather strange experience because we came as favorites. So, we were loaded, convinced! From February 14th to May 17th, the day we arrived in Vienna, we sang “Grande Amore” so many times that we convinced ourselves even more that we would make it. I mean, Gianluca and I, convinced ourselves while
Ignazio was pessimistic as usual. However, Gian, your presentiment this time is wrong.
Gianluca: But do you know what happened to Eurovision? Unlike Sanremo, the vote of the public was not as important as the Festival: fifty percent vote from home and fifty percent vote of the jury of journalists. And this put us at a disadvantage. But the public had voted for us, we arrived first for the people at home.
I cried when it was over. Why did I cry? I knew we had lost not because people did not love us, but for other reasons. Mom, I cried….
Ignazio: Do we really have to talk about it? I’m not so happy to talk about Eurovision because I do not have a great memory.
Piero: What a blow that night …
Gianluca: I started crying, then I looked at Piero, he too cried …
Piero: Gianluca in the end had convinced me to say: “We win, we win.” We had taken it in Sanremo, it could be that we would take it in Vienna, right?
Gianluca: Look, I guess because we won the televoting, I repeat it.
Ignazio: And I always am the pessimistic one, with my feet on the ground, saying, “No, guys, it’s hard. It does not say that we succeed.” Even though I had believed it myself a bit.
But it happened we came in third, behind the Russian Polina Gagarina, second with A Million Voices, and the Swedish Mans Zelmerlow who won with Heroes.
Gianluca took it very badly, he cried. Piero as well. Everyone took it very bad. What could I say? “Come on, guys, we got third, not everyone does that, the last one was Modugno.”
Piero: In the end, however, Gianluca and I looked at each other, a look as if to say: “Now what do we do?”, and a moment before we cried and the next moment we laughed. We had lost, what could we do? By now, it had happened.
Gianluca: We could not cry forever. And then, the public’s heart was ours.
Ignazio: Instead, the undersigned, after having done a little shoulder to others, the next morning I felt very bad, but very bad. For two or three days I was very bad, I threw it all out, later.
Piero: In life you cannot always win, that’s what we learned.
Where’s the beauty? Not all women can say yes to you. After that, how do you try to seduce one, if you already know that she will tell you yes?
So, when we came back from Vienna, many people in Italy asked: “Are you sad about the third place?”
Absolutely not, indeed we are very satisfied, but maybe even too satisfied, because our goal of Eurovision was to show us to two hundred and twenty million people. Even in Australia they saw us. But think how many are two hundred and twenty million people? A sea, is, a sea!
And can I tell you something? I have never loved the tricolor flag so much in my life. Knowing we were there at the Wiener Stadthalle with the roar of sixteen thousand people to hear us sing live and another two hundred million to see us at home, to know that we at that moment represented Italy for all of Europe is a great responsibility, however it is also a great stimulus to do it in the best possible way.
We represent Italy around the world with singing, with bel canto, and we believe we have done it better in Vienna. We put it all, we worked hard, we really gave our heart for this occasion.
It was a completely different experience from the others because it was not a competition between artists, it was a competition between Countries, it was a competition between origins, and we were there to defend our nation.
It was really very strong!
As Italy is a member of the Big Five, the guys went straight into the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Vienna on May 23rd, 2015. “Grande Amore” came in 3rd with 292 points but, they won the televote with 366 points and the Marcel Bezencon Press Award, as best song according to the collective voting of the accredited press. The extended play “Sanremo Grande Amore” was released in Italy on February 20th, 2015, and it was certified triple platinum by FIMI. They won the televote and the best song according to collective voting by the accredited press. The people have spoken!
This is how I see the situation!
What they saw as a disappointment I saw as a great achievement. Look at how far they came! They won the Latin Music Award, they won Sanremo and finally they won Eurovision (third is a win you know)! They saw Sanremo as the harder win. I saw Eurovision as the harder win because here they were representing something very dear to them, their country! As Piero said, “it was a competition between Countries, it was a competition between origins, and we were there to defend our nation.”
As much as they were disappointed in the Italians in the beginning of their career because they felt they were not on their side, they were never disappointed in their country. They loved it and brought it around the world with them but, Eurovision was the moment when they were able to say this is Italy, we are Italy! This is my country that I am singing my heart out for it and, I will always be there to represent it. And never has that been more evident than today. Look at what the guys have done for their country and the Italian people in just this past eighteen months. Bottom line, Eurovision was when the guys really came into their own.
Against all odds they pulled it off. The part of the story they missed was the Italian people. They were always on their side. Even when they were traveling around the world and hoping to perform concerts in Italy, the Italian people were always waiting for them. The press was against them but never the people. They wanted them home as much as they wanted to go home.
In Contrast the decision to go to Sanremo was good but it was even better going to Eurovision!
Time to go back to Sanremo! How about all those unpublished songs you guys are holding on to? Maybe there’s a winner among them!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
