Here I am again with the updates, and I must say that every day, every moment there are things to read and see, so I hope you don’t miss anything!!
I’ll start with what Il Volo said about Capolavoro, interviewed by the weekly magazine OGGI.
GIANLUCA= Capolavoro also tells a little about our lives and how we experience these strong feelings that sometimes overwhelm us. It also speaks to our artistic growth, above all.
PIERO= The description of the lyrics talks about that feeling that is innate inside you, without you knowing it and the moment comes when you need to express it.
IGNAZIO= We definitely returned to Sanremo to celebrate 15 years together and send this message of union, that nowadays, it’s not easy to spend 15 years together, and then because Sanremo, we were born on the Sanremo stage in 2009, so what better way to celebrate 15 years.
Luca Maggitti, who we remember writes on Roseto.com, published this beautiful message:
GOOD LUCK FOR THE SANREMO FESTIVAL, GIANLUCA GINOBLE.
A few days ago, in Roseto degli Abruzzi, I saw Gianluca Ginoble again, walking on the seaside together with his beloved Grandfather Ernesto.
We drank a coffee and had a threesome chat, mentioning several times the ideal fourth at the table: Ernesto Junior, Gianluca’s younger brother.
Sanremo is approaching and Gianluca will return to the competition at the Festival dei Fiori (so it is said of the Sanremo Festival), with Il Volo.
This will be the third participation, after the debut with victory in 2015 (65th edition, singing “Grande amore”) and the third place in 2019 (69th edition, singing “Musica che resta”).
The song that the trio will present is entitled “Capolavoro”. My best wishes to Gianluca Ginoble and Il Volo, remembering the emotions of the 2015 victory – when he turned 20 exactly on the day of his debut as a contestant at the Festival.
Many interviews or articles are being published in various newspapers, some are just “copies and pastes” of others, or they don’t say anything new, but this one from IL MESSAGGERO reveals some beautiful responses from our young men.
Il Volo in Sanremo: “Snobbery towards us, but we also do pranks. Now forget the good guys.”
The more rock look, an album of unreleased songs, the desire to change the image a bit. Il Volo speaks, in Sanremo with “Capolavoro”: We will sing a pop ballad.
They now prefer tank tops and leather jackets to “plastered” suits: for the “restyling” they called in the same stylist as Maneskin, Achille Lauro and Paola and Chiara (all Italian singers), Nick Cerioni.
The objective? To refresh a bit that image of an adolescent pop version of the historic trio Placido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti that had characterized the trio until today.
An evolution that goes hand in hand with the musical turning point represented by CAPOLAVORO, the song that they will present in competition at the Sanremo Festival from 6 to 10 February, 15 years after the debut of “Ti Lascio Una Canzone”, the baby talent show that lim launched in 2009, hosted by Antonella Clerici, nine years after winning the event with Grande Amore and five years after third place with Musica che Resta. Piero Barone 30 years old, Ignazio Boschetto 29 and Gianluca Ginoble 28, aka Il Volo, have a mission: “At Ariston we want to show that we are not just “three tenors”, but singers each with a well-defined personality”.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE IL VOLO HOUSE?
Nothing special, let’s clarify straight away. Simply, until today we had a unique identity: all three of us sang more or less the same way. When we started singing together we were children and we have always carried on like this. Now, however, we are going for thirty years. And we have different vocals. We value them more.
WASN’T IT EASIER TO BREAK UP THE GROUP?
And why? We never thought so. We are an example. In an era where individualism dominates, we celebrate the strength of being a team.
SO WHAT WILL YOU DO IN PRACTICE? WILL YOU DIVIDE THE PIECES TO SING?
No, the opposite. The challenge was to keep the group cohesive, while trying to get the three vocals to come. When the public listens to CAPOLAVORO, they will understand that it represents a bridge between our past and our future.
It’s a pop ballad to dedicate to someone you love and which can appeal to both girls and mothers.
We demonstrate that beyond the “three little tenors” there is more. It’s no coincidence that we wanted to record an album of unreleased songs, the first in our fifteen-year career. It will be released in the spring.
WHO DID YOU WORK WITH?
A masterpiece was arranged by Federico Nardelli, already alongside Gazzelle, Colapesce Dimartino (Italian singers). Today, the more you sing, the older you are, the less you sing, the more modern you are. Our goal is to make the singing contemporary.
“THERE IS A LOT OF SNOBBISM TOWARDS US, THE RADIO DOESN’T PLAY OUR PIECES EVEN WITH THE GUN TO THE TEMPLE” YOU SAID. THE REASON?
We didn’t say it. Often in the titles of the interviews the hand is forced a little. We are calm. IF you make a tribute album to Morricone, can you think about aiming for high rotation? (they mean that if you make a tribute album to Morricone, you certainly don’t expect to be listened to much in streaming by young people).
SO THERE HAS NEVER BEEN SNOBBISM ON THE PART OF THE EMPLOYEES TOWARDS IL VOLO?
There was some snobbery, we don’t deny it. But we left it all behind. We believe that when you drive, you should look at the road ahead and not at the rearview mirror.
WHAT RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH THE CRITICS?
Good. You can’t please everyone. Patience.
WOULD YOU DO A DANCE PIECE?
Bob Sinclair style? (he’s a disc jockey)
No, we would be aping something we are not.
A REGGAETON? Ask Maluma (Latin music superstar) to sing a song from Il Volo.
“WE ARE THE CHILDREN THAT EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE”, YOU SAID. THOSE WHO HAVE EARLY SUCCESS OFTEN END UP. YOU?
We didn’t say this either: every now and then journalists want to give us the image of good guys.
AND INSTEAD? If you come on tour with us, you go home pale. (they laugh)
REALLY? It’s to say that we have done and done our nonsense, but we are responsible. We owe it to the 50 people who work with us on tour. Those who give in are because they have emotional voids that they must fill in some way. We are solved. (i.e. responsible and with strong convictions)
Even our very nice Fiorello makes fun of the title of the newspaper IL MESSAGGERO because reading only the title, it seems that our boys will become bad boys. 😱😱😂😂
He also remembers that every time he meets Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, they all sing the song TIRICHITOLLA together!! 😂😂😂
I remind you that Fiorello will participate as co-host in Sanremo on the final evening.
And here are our young men in Sanremo, arriving for rehearsals.
And here in the photo with Leonardo Metalli, RAI1 special correspondent and editor-in-chief.
And what about the beautiful image posted by Stef Burns, the guitarist who will perform with Il Volo? 😱😂😂
For those who don’t recognize it, this image is an icon, because it is the cover of a Beatles album: Abbey Road, and it is them who cross the road.
The single CAPOLAVORO is already in pre-order and the Il Volo staff communicates that it can already be ordered.
And here is the newspaperSORRISI E CANZONI TV,what can I say, a nice cast.
And how beautiful is this version by @la_frami_art .
As promised, SORRISI E CANZONI TV, has published the lyrics of the songs.
Ladies and gentlemen, here you are:
CAPOLAVORO
Io seduto all’interno di un cinema Sognare un po’ l’America e un po’ la propria casa E mi chiedo sempre quanto durerà Questo amore infinito che infinito non è Mi sentivo perso Una vela in mare aperto E all’improvviso tu, tu Caduta dal cielo come un capolavoro Prima di te non c’era niente di buono Come se Eri l’unica luce ad avere un senso E questa vita con te È un capolavoro Guarda come piove Ma è meraviglioso averti qui Maledetto tempo che ti concede E poi ti porta via Mi sentivo perso Come un fiore nel deserto E all’improvviso arrivi tu, tu Caduta dal cielo come un capolavoro Prima di te non c’era niente di buono Come se Eri l’unica luce ad avere un senso E questa vita con te È un capolavoro
Caduta dal cielo come un capolavoro Prima di te non c’era niente di buono Come se Eri l’unica luce ad avere un senso E questa vita con te Sì, la mia vita con te È un capolavoro.
MASTERPIECE
Me sitting inside a cinema To dream a little of America and a little of your home And I always wonder how long it will last This infinite love that is not infinite I felt lost A sail on the open sea And suddenly you, you Fall from the sky like a masterpiece Before you there was nothing good As if You were the only light to make sense And this life with you It’s a masterpiece Look how it’s raining But it’s wonderful to have you here Damn time he gives you And then it takes you away I felt lost Like a flower in the desert And suddenly you arrive, you Fall from the sky like a masterpiece Before you there was nothing good As if You were the only light to make sense And this life with you It’s a masterpiece
Fall from the sky like a masterpiece Before you there was nothing good As if You were the only light to make sense And this life with you Yes, my life with you It’s a masterpiece.
And as you can read from the names of the authors, in the editions there is also the name of Ernesto Ginoble……congratulations Ernesto!!
And this is the article dedicated by SORRISI E CANZONI TV to Il Volo.
UNIVERSAL LOVE IN MUSIC
After a victory (in 2015) and a third place (in 2019), Il Volo returns to the Festival.
“We have a lot to tell”, explains Gianluca Ginoble “and the Sanremo stage, which saw us born 15 years ago, is the best place to do it.”
Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto met very young, right at the Ariston in the program “Ti lascio una canzone” in 2009: Il Volo was born on that occasion. “In such an individualistic period,” continues Piero “still being together after so many years, being a team player, listening to and respecting those around you is a great achievement and a great professional message, and not only that. I think it’s a sign of maturity.”
The trio has ready its first album of unreleased songs: “It’s a great opportunity to be able to present the new project on that stage,” adds Ignazio.
The song they are bringing to the competition CAPOLAVORO, “It talks about a universal love, about that feeling that grows inside each of us without knowing it. And then the moment comes when you want to shout it to the world. At the first listen you already know who you would like to dedicate it to,” says Piero.
“It’s an overwhelming and emotional piece,” adds Gianluca. The watchword of this Festival?
“Let’s have fun! Let’s enjoy this Sanremo with a smile,” concludes Ignazio.
CURIOSITY In his suitcase for Sanremo Gianluca will bring a book “The Baron in the Trees” by Calvino, Piero his shoes for running, Ignazio his computer. 😁😁😁
And now we listen to what our loved ones tell us. 😉
IGNAZIO= Hello everyone, we are Il Volo.
PIERO= Get ready with us for Sanremo 2024.
GIANLUCA= Listen to our playlist.
…………and in this nice game from Radio Italia where all the singers are asked what they would ask Amadeus before starting Sanremo and here is the answer from Il Volo. 😂😂😂
PIERO= Who gave you our phone number to invite us to Sanremo?
IGNAZIO= Good question!
GIANLUCA= Ama (Amadeus) sorry.
And now a look at the beautiful couple Ignazio/Michelle who sends us these sweet shots.
I don’t know about you, but I’m more and more excited, the adrenaline is rising, I can’t wait to hear them!!!
These days preceding the Sanremo Festival are full of news and events.
I’ll update you in order:
The video below that I translate for you was taken backstage, after Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio’s rehearsals with the orchestra. The woman who interviews them is from a Rai radio channel, RADIO TUTTA ITALIANA.
WOMAN= So, I’ll tell you right away that we back here (meaning in the backstage corridors) talk to many members of the orchestra (many master musicians) and they have incredible enthusiasm for your piece, in short, you are already supported by the masters of the orchestra and I think that’s a good sign.
GIANLUCA= This is truly wonderful, especially after a year and a half of work. We’ve been working on this song for a long time, and seeing this positive reaction from the musicians is truly a great emotion.
WOMAN= The title is CAPOLAVORO (MASTERPIECE) and it marks a very important passage they tell me, I haven’t yet had the opportunity to listen behind the door of musical direction but it truly marks a passage, a significant upgrade in your career.
PIERO= Has this message always reached you from the orchestral players?
WOMAN= Of course!
PIERO= We know many of them and they have witnessed our artistic and also personal growth, because we were 15 years old and some of them played together with us. Now the message we try to send is more mature, it’s how we see any feeling today, we sing it, we live it in a completely different way.
I haven’t talked about it with them yet (Ignazio and Gianluca) but if you think about it, paradoxically this song is sung differently by each of the three.
I sing for something or someone completely different from what they feel.
WOMAN= We know who the sender is, but not the recipient, when we listen to it, each of us will distort it…
PIERO= You just have to decide who to dedicate it to.
GIANLUCA= Let’s say that the meaning of the song is precisely this, it talks about a universal love and can be dedicated to whoever we want. I believe that, like the personal growth of each of us, we have 15 years of career, but we are different people and artists from when we started and we were 15 years old, and therefore the song wants to demonstrate a personal growth, a work of introspection that we have done in these years which obviously we then had the opportunity to cultivate it from an artistic point of view.
WOMAN= And then leave the job of crier, given that you are very famous abroad, of encouraging all Rai Italia listeners to support you during the Festival, above all of then telling your relatives in Italy to vote, vote, vote…
IGNAZIO= Don’t do it! 😂 Certainly what we have always wanted to do in these 15 years is to make our music reach more and more people, more cultures, more traditions, and obviously, follow Sanremo, listen to us, if you want support us, and if you don’t, want do it anyway. 😁
GIANLUCA= Anyway we’ll see each other around the world, we’ll be back on tour next year.
WOMAN = Sanremo first, come on.
GIANLUCA= Yes, Sanremo first and then it will leave…..
PIERO= We send you a big hug, see you in Sanremo, our song is called CAPOLAVORO!
GIANLUCA= Bye!
Radio Italia, communicates this interview to us:
On Thursday 1 February at 12.20pm (Italian time) we will be a guest at Sanremo Italiano 2024 to present the song CAPOLAVORO, competing at the 74th edition of the Sanremo Festival.
The interview will be broadcast simultaneously on Radio Italia TV and streaming onradioitalia.it.
(Click on the green “radioitalia.it” words above to go to the website. Then click on the orange play button on the lower left of the screen to listen live.)
And then this wonderful news given by FOR MUSIC MAGAZINE:
14th Grand Press Gala of the Festival: Fiorello, Annalisa and Il Volo awarded
The 14th Grand Press Gala will be held on February 5th at the prestigious Villa Ormond, an unmissable event that anticipates the 74th Sanremo Festival. The anticipation is palpable as the Grand Gala reveals the nominations and anticipates the special prizes that will be awarded during the evocative evening starting from 8.30 pm. (Italian time)
Under the expert artistic direction of Ilio Masprone, the Gala will be hosted by the charismatic couple of presenters, Luana Ravegnini and Marino Bartoletti, a dynamic duo that promises to entertain the audience with their unique style.
The jury, chaired by Roberto Alessi, Marinella Venegoni, Dario Salvatori and Mario Luzzatto Fegiz, is ready to confirm the nominations of the prestigious awards for 2024. Among the prizes up for grabs, the assignment of the “Super Hit Award” to Annalisa stands out, an award that celebrates musical excellence.
Fiorello will be honored with the “Premio Numero Uno – Città di Sanremo”, a tribute to his extraordinary career and his unique contribution to the world of entertainment.
Il Volo, iconic Italian band, will receive the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award”, a deserved recognition for their lasting impact on the national and international music scene.
Other distinguished prizes will be awarded during the evening: Giorgiana Cristalli, Dalia Gaberscik and Mara Donà will be honored with the “Behind the Scenes Award”, recognizing the behind-the-scenes figures who contribute to the success of the event.
Music will not be the only protagonist of the evening, as DJ Georgia Mos and the ballet of soprano Claudia Sasso will add a note of elegance and entertainment to the event.
The Gran Galà della Stampa promises to be an unforgettable experience, an extraordinary preview of the Sanremo Festival which will delight fans of Italian music and will leave an indelible mark in the history of this prestigious event.
I am very happy with this recognition, but it seems really strange to me that it comes from the press!!
Furthermore, at least two of those members of the jury never spoke well of Il Volo.
It’s good that Bartoletti is there to present the evening, he has always been a good friend of our boys.
Other important news:
On January 31st all the lyrics of the songs will be published in the magazine on SORRISI E CANZONI TV, so we will be able to discover the words of CAPOLAVORO in advance.
The third evening of Sanremo is also called “Cover Evening” where the 30 singers must perform with a song already known and published by other artists, including non-Italian ones. The singers will have to perform with a national or international guest of their choice and Il Volo will perform with the American guitarist STEF BURNS. The peculiarity is that Stef Burns is a rock and jazz guitarist, therefore not a style of Il Volo, but if you remember, in 2019 they performed with Alessandro Quarta, a rock violinist and it was a beautiful performance.
But now we also know the song that will be performed: WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER by Queen!!!! ❤️
For those who don’t know it, here is the song chosen.
Stef Burns posted a photo on his page, with this comment:
Thanks to Il Volo who invited me to play with them in Sanremo 2024. Let’s do this! ❤️🎸🔥✈️✈️✈️
The photo of the scenography of the Sanremo Festival was also published, truly beautiful, this is what the stage where all the singers will perform will look like.
The magazine DONNA MODERNA has drawn up a ranking of the 10 most searched Sanremo winning songs ever on Google.
(I will only translate where it talks about Il Volo.)
Some Sanremo winning songs have become immortal and even after decades they are remembered, hummed in the shower and played on the radio. But what are the most loved songs in the history of the Festival? CasinoItaliani analyzed the data relating to the most searched for Sanremo winning songs on Google since 1951. Here are the results of the investigation.
In second place is “Grande amore” by Il Volo, which sees an average of 510,480 searches per year. The song was a huge success after winning the 2015 Sanremo Festival and placing third in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Instead, the ranking of the Sanremo song that received the most hits on Spotify is very different from this one, because Il Volo drops to seventh place.
Spotify is certainly used more by a younger audience and therefore here is the upheaval in the ranking and this is why Il Volo is so keen to enter the hearts of even the youngest.
And this is the short video of Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca leaving the theater after rehearsing. 🥰
Other good news, but which has nothing to do with Sanremo.
Italian TV offers the third series of MAKARI.
Then we will hear the theme song sung by Il Volo and written by Ignazio Boschetto! 🥰
Well, I’d say that’s all for now, but more news will come soon, I’ll also make an entire post on the rules of the Sanremo Festival, to better explain how the evenings work.
We continue the review of small interviews, news and comments, as we approach the start of the Sanremo Festival.
In this video, Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio are asked to compare Capolavoro to a painting.
PIERO= If Capolavoro were a painting I would imagine a horizon.
GIANLUCA= ehhhhh….THE FALLEN ANGEL (painting by Cabanel), it probably could be.
IGNAZIO= He hurt himself? 😂😂
GIANLUCA= I know him, in fact, as his name is Cabanel.
IGNAZIO= A parachute (always referring to Capolavoro)
PIERO= (to Gianluca who is still looking for the painter’s name) Don’t think about it…
GIANLUCA= It is one of the most famous paintings in the world…
IGNAZIO= It was better that you said GUERNICA, okay, come on!
GIANLUCA= Ok, Capolavoro is a song that talks about how important connections are in life, and this feeling which is the engine of life itself, how suddenly, as if falling from the sky, there are people, there are situations that they can really save your life and make your existence better.
PIERO= It’s that strong feeling that comes suddenly and you realize that until the day before you experienced a great void.
IGNAZIO= Can I say something or did you say everything?😁
PIERO= Go…
GIANLUCA= It’s because there are three of us and we divide ourselves….
IGNAZIO= If I may say, it is that love that you feel for anything or anyone, therefore for a man, a woman, for a son, a father, a mother…..
GIANLUCA= A universal love…
IGNAZIO= A universal love and we compare it to the boom we hear when we feel love.
And then this announcement, which I think is satirical news, because on the video it says: “VERY UNRELIABLE NEWS ABOUT SANREMO 2024”
I really admire the fact that our kids always want to have fun. 😁😁😁
GIANLUCA= Hi guys, we are Il Volo.
PIERO= (imitating Gianluca’s manner) Hi guys, we’re Il Volo.
IGNAZIO= I don’t know if you know, let’s give a spoiler, on Sunday morning, after the final, we will do a concert together with the LA SAL group in the square…..😁
GIANLUCA= THE SAD!! 😂
PIERO= LA SAL, LA SAL, but is it possible? 😂
GIANLUCA= LA SAD, sorry, guys, Ignazio is from another era…😂
IGNAZIO= No, because Sunday morning it will be LA SAL, however we will have a concert in the central square of Sanremo at 10.30 in the morning. We are waiting for you all there.
PIERO= Ignazio will be there alone! 😁
This is the punk group LA SAD that will be competing in Sanremo, it is famous for its songs with vulgar words that talk about drugs and sex. Evidently a concert with Il Volo is unthinkable, so it’s a joke. 😁
One of the members of LA SAD, the one with the green hair, is from Brescia and is 37 years old 😩.
What I attach below, however, is a short video that was broadcast on TG1, and talked about two Sanremo singers: EMMA and IL VOLO.
(I translate what our guys say)
Emma and Il Volo, two different emotions, two great victories in the history of the Festival (Emma also won a festival). In 2015 they were even together on that stage, although in different roles (Emma was presenter that year).
GIANLUCA= It’s as if it were the first time, we’re almost thirty years old, we’re growing up too.
G+I+P= CAPOLAVORO
IGNAZIO= Everything can be a Capolavoro, you will discover it by listening to the song.
PIERO= Here, can I book? I will introduce LA SAD. (This year the singers, on the evening that they are not competing, must also present other singers)
LA SAD= We are the new Il Volo!
GIANLUCA= Or Il Volo will be the new Il Volo of itself.
And this is a nice article already published in English.
Reading the various Facebook pages, I found this comment from my friend Luce..
Luce is Sicilian, married for a couple of years and is now expecting her first child, Giosuè, whose birth is scheduled for February 7th, just the days of Sanremo, it will be her masterpiece……best wishes Luce, a hug. ❤️
“Universal Love, the one that is not only contained in a couple’s fairy tale, but expands to an infinite horizon of love towards those who suddenly arrive and change and illuminate our lives…
Poetry, not only that, hope towards something that brings good. What can I write about such depth of thought which is the essence and soul of the music of a group that always exceeds all expectations…
Yet here we are, still reading sentences that don’t describe them, that don’t reflect either their talent or their person.
And between one thought and another, a beat and a thousand in it, I follow our incomparable trio, also reading here and there the news relating to the Festival, the curiosity of listening and of this mysterious “different” or “2.0” increases who have been meditating for some time and letting us understand, regarding the beauty of the text and interpretation, I am sure they are unsurpassed, even just by reading two sentences and hearing them talk about it… many poor, confused, incompetent pen languages full only of gratuitous malice will not be able don’t recognize it… but let’s spread a quilt on this suitable for a winter night in Alaska.
I was very pleased that they have metabolised and decided to look forward, they have certainly always demonstrated their value by working, improving every day and walking with their heads held high, the best response to silence any unjust and undeserved offence. This increases in me the esteem, respect and great love I feel towards them. Chapeau! Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca! Sanremo is an opportunity, a showcase to show your artistic evolution and celebrate 15 years of career where everything started, that once upon a time that changed your lives forever… even if you don’t have any of the Festival need because your stage is now the whole world. In any case, you have already received the first truly worthwhile applause from the orchestra and the next ones will follow in flight… it cannot be otherwise… and we will be the first to jump from our seats clapping until our hands hurt.
And I, among a thousand and more thoughts, emotions that move as if on a swing that touches and caresses the sky, waiting or perhaps it would be more correct to write at the mercy of waiting for the most important and significant event of my life, of that arrival… my little one. ❤️
Here Piero and Gianluca were photographed leaving the Arcimboldi Theater on January 16th.
January 22nd was also Il Volo’s first day of rehearsals in Sanremo, where they are arriving at the Ariston Theatre, the rehearsals already done with the orchestra were not necessarily done inside the Ariston theatre.
IL Volo was welcomed with great enthusiasm.
Now the town of Sanremo is starting to see more and more the presence of singers.
But then it happens,to my great pleasure, that IMUSICFUN publishes an article with a series of questions to the well-known music critic Paolo Zaccagnini, on the topic of Sanremo and journalists’ report cards for singers.
And here’s what he said, and I will translate only the part of Il Volo.
Is everyone ready for February 6th? If the musical ship is now ready to set sail, so are the controversies, it needs certain report cards from the first listens, which almost in unison rejected the song by Il Volo and Ricchi e Poveri.
Why does some of the press snub Il Volo?
It’s the usual acrimony towards those who are truly successful abroad. I read the pre-listening report cards… Some journalists go to Sanremo to be seen and then sell themselves better. It is the mirror of an Italy adrift where Luca Dondoni’s arrogance reigns supreme. To think that he used to DJ at Armani fashion shows…
I saw their podcast – PIECES: INSIDE MUSIC (by Andrea Laffranchi, Dondoni and Paolo Giordano) and I laughed a lot.
(These three journalists all gave below passing marks to Il Volo, one of them Andrea Laffranchi in 2019 was one of the journalists shouting against Il Volo.)
I was so pleased that someone, in particular an authoritative critic and not a simple journalist, spoke out in favor of Il Volo.
For the rest there are only 15 days until the start of Sanremo and the euphoria is rising!
I also want to give space to love and to a young couple who are currently floating above a cloud: Ignazio and Michelle. Sunday 21st January was a sunny day and our two lovers went to the beautiful Lake Como, here is their wonderful shot…..but how beautiful are they???
First of all I want to apologize to all of you, because I previously wrote to you that no one can listen to the Sanremo songs until the first evening of the festival.
Unfortunately I didn’t remember that accredited journalists are allowed to listen in order to give their opinions, naturally they cannot report the music outside but they can write a phrase of the melody.
I didn’t remember this rule at all, in fact, perhaps I didn’t want to remember it, given the bad treatment our journalists have always had towards Il Volo.
This time too, some of them did not contradict themselves, giving Il Volo very low marks, but there were also favorable votes. For fairness I will list them both, although I know that many fan pages have only published positive comments, but this is not the case.
I’ll start with the best comments, then I leave it to you to interpret them.
At the beginning of the comment I put the name of the newspaper, sometimes even the author who published the review. There are also some put the vote which could be given up to a maximum of 10.
IMUSICFUN
Third participation in Sanremo for Il Volo which offers a fundamentally different song compared to the previous ones brought to the competition at the Ariston. The first part of the song moves on a piano that accompanies the voice of Gianluca who casually interprets a text in which the hand of the author Edwyn Roberts can be felt, the refrain, entrusted to Ignazio in the opening, is preceded by an underlining of Piero who makes the song truly precious. The string play after the second chorus gives way to a triumphal finale. A song characterized by a pace that highlights the vocal evolution of the trio. A piece that enhances the group idea, but also the vocal peculiarities and stylistic approach of Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio. RATING 7.5
IL FATTO QUOTIDIANO
The piano introduces the return of Il Volo. In full musical transformation Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio from tenors become singers to present themselves with sounds different from those heard up to now. Each with a different nuance, they sing about love.
Verdict: They’ll make a great impression! The refrain ‘Fall from the sky like a masterpiece, before you there was nothing good’.
PANORAMA
Less lyrical and more pop than usual. A perfect piece for the style of the three who have already won the Festival once and who with this song have a good chance of finishing in the upper areas of the final ranking.
FUNWEEK
When the Il Volo song starts, you immediately understand that we are traveling on another level. Yet it seems that the three boys have opted for a less pompous, less lyrical style. That vein of pop gives Il Volo a lot: watch out for the podium.
TV BLOG
The trio returns to Sanremo 2024 with a piece consistent with their path, the voices well balanced and distributed for a potential ‘classic’ of their repertoire. Gianluca Ginoble opens up to the fusion of the three voices in the chorus, to express how much she is a masterpiece…
LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO
We go out of our way, you may like the band or not, but the song is worthy of the podium. The three guys from Il Volo return with a song that reflects their amazing success: magnificent voices, a modern melodic start and a lyrical refrain but without overdoing it. They have polished off some virtuosity and worked more on the contemporary part, the result could even be a victory. Well done.
OGGI
They won in 2015 with Grande amore, but they won’t repeat it (and for this they should be praised). The three former tenors have grown up, are thirty years old, celebrating 15 years of their career, and return with majestic pop, but without exceeding the bel canto. They no longer all sing together, each one enhances his own vocality. Works. RATING 8
LA WEBSTAR
Three unique voices, which give strength to an immediate but absolutely non-trivial text. Few words, but all said and sung very well. Less lyrical, but still effective and extremely clear. The title seems pretentious, but after listening to them you change your mind. Pure talent. RATING: 7.5
“A sail on the open sea and suddenly you”
AVVENIRE
Less lyrical and more mature song that comes from the personal experiences of the three boys (already winners in 2015 with Grande Amore) who on the threshold of 30 years are looking for a leap forward. Here a love for a woman, for a parent, for someone who is no longer there sung with great skill. “And suddenly you . . .”
TGCOM24
To present yourself with a song with a title like that takes personality or unconsciousness. The three reduce the use of the voice to a minimum with a lyrical approach, but remain in the tradition. They play a sort of separate championship, but in that they have few rivals. It is difficult to imagine that they will remain outside the top five places.
SORRISI E CANZONI TV
Winners in 2015, the guys from Il Volo arrive at their third Sanremo with the very romantic “Capolavoro”, a crescendo orchestral ballad that focuses entirely on the talent of the three performers and, perhaps even more than in the past, on the difference between their vocals, who move between opera and pop. “Fall from the sky like a masterpiece, before you there was nothing good.”
LEGGO
Example of vocal crossover that meets in a pop which, although classical in nature, is contemporary. Talk about hope “Fall from the sky like a masterpiece, before you there was nothing good.”
Here the trio leaves the circuit. The song is not Grande Amore. But it is with the orchestra that they will perform best. RATING 7
IL SOLE 24ORE
For the Volo tenors, a return to the Ariston in the name of modesty. You pass through the Eighties ballad structure with the trademark set voice that emerges here and there, but how do you title a piece Masterpiece? In the Po Valley they would say: “Fly low”. RATING 4.5
LA REPUBBLICA
A song that is more pop than lyrical, it satisfies most of their audience. They are the optimists of love and she falls “from the sky like a masterpiece”. RATING 6.5
QUOTIDIANO NAZIONALE
It is a masterpiece that falls from the sky, the verse is pop, the special is more romantic than fictional even if the voices swell. Orchestral. What their audience wants in the world. RATING 7
FANPAGE
In the mean time we have avoided the Grande Amore effect (almost for the entire song), and this time Il Volo tries a more pop and less lyrical path, as many have been asking them for years and they must be given credit for having attempted a new path, at least for them. It’s not clear, however, where they want to go for now with a song that passes without leaving any major shocks, but the atmosphere of the Festival will pay, as always, so in the end they will be right.
ONDE FUNKY (Paola Gallo)
Melodic reassuring love song, perfectly in line with the interpretations of Il Volo.
“This life with you is a masterpiece” is flypaper for applause. Listening to her you can already imagine the standing ovations from the traditional audience which this year has few, very few representatives. RATING 6/7
ANSA
The three boys who are now men try to take off the vintage patina, but it’s a safe bet that the older generations will appreciate it more. From bel canto to bel pop, the Ariston will appreciate. RATING 6.5
VANITY FAIR
“I felt lost / Like a flower in the desert / And suddenly you, you”. Unfortunately the piece does not reflect the title. RATING 5
ALL MUSIC
Divisions of the parts of the song always the same and they, as always, equal to themselves. The song is powerful and draws easy applause in the room, playing with the orchestra, something that is also typical of them. It’s not a bad song, but where we were with “Grande Amore” we’re still there. Good for them because they could make the podium. RATING 6
DAVIDE MAGGIO (attenzione a come sono scritti i nomi in questa recensione)
Ignazio Barone, Piero Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble are that stuff: lyricism, love, melodrama and some banality. The chorus is there but it’s not as powerful as at the time of Grande Amore. RATING 6
CORRIERE DELLA SERA(LAFFRANCHI ANDREA, this journalist harshly attacked Il Volo in the press room in 2019)
The three try to modernize themselves, the direction is that of pop but they remain harnessed by the rhetoric of opera and bel canto. The text gets lost in the banality of clichés, from “sailing on the open sea” to “flowers in the desert”. RATING 4.5
TODAY
Il Volo failed. Il Volo in the Valerio Scanu version (Italian singer). Almost no trace of the three tenors, who put themselves to the test with a melodic pop song with a flavor of the early 2000s. Courageous but distorted. Masterpiece, only in the title. RATING 5
MESSAGGERO
“Suddenly you fall from the sky like a masterpiece, before you there was nothing good”: he likes to win easily. Shall we bet that it will be the most popular at weddings this year? It adds nothing to the trio’s style, but it will take them to the top. RATING 5
BILLBOARD
It is right that in Sanremo there is also the lyrical quota so loved abroad by those who go crazy for everything that concerns Italy (and also very loved in our country) but in the midst of all the up-tempo (fast pace) pieces of this this year they make the same impression as an older uncle at the high school party.
IL MATTINO (Federico Vacalepre, this journalist was the architect of the Anti-Volo Brigade in 2019.)
The “Masterpiece” of the title is not the song, whoever praises himself blames himself and the trio knows this well, but the sung love story.
Less romantic than usual, in search of a different repertoire, to launch the first album of unreleased songs with three voices aiming for a standing ovation at the Ariston. RATING 5.5
ELLE
They sing the great praise of love but, more than a masterpiece, the song recalls the musicality of Disney films.
ROCK.IT
A little better than one might have feared. But the misfortune remains. RATING 5.5
I think you might have an idea of what our journalists think after reading these reviews.
Some are really bad, sometimes it seems that having beautiful voices is almost a mistake, and not a merit.
The ratings are certainly very low and journalists are certainly not immune from reviewing with their personal tastes.
Have you also read the names of the authors of the song: Edwyn Roberts, Stefano Marletta and Michael Tenisci are all successful young singer-songwriters.
Here they are in this photo, from left: Michael Tenisci Edwyn Roberts Piero Barone Stefano Marletta Ernesto Ginoble
And now I offer you this article from TP24. Reading this article my arms literally fell.
I warn you that the article talks about Ignazio because it is a newspaper from the Trapani area (Sicily, near Marsala)
Sanremo 2024, critics divided for Ignazio Boschetto and IL VOLO: “They can’t win”
“They cannot and must not win.” Some comments from journalists and music critics are merciless for Ignazio Boschetto from Marsala and the trio Il Volo, who will participate in the next edition of Sanremo 2024.
Yesterday the specialized press had the opportunity to preview the songs (almost all of them are very catchy and danceable, is the general comment) giving report cards to the artists.
And, once again, Il Volo was not appreciated. “Il Volo cannot and must not win this time” writes the Huffington Post.
Il Volo is taking part in Sanremo 2024. For them, this is their third participation in the competition at the Festival after first place in 2015 with Grande amore and third in 2019 with Musica Che Resta. This year Ignazio Boschetto, Piero Barone and Gianluca Ginoble bring “Capolavoro” to the Ariston stage.
The song was written by Edwyn Roberts, Stefano Marletta and Michael Tenisci.
“Corriere della Sera” gives a score of 4.5: “The three try to modernize themselves, the direction is that of pop but they remain harnessed by the rhetoric of opera and bel canto. The text gets lost in the banality of clichés, from the “sailing on the open sea” to “flowers in the desert”.
However, there are those who recognize that this is a style they like in Sanremo, and therefore it is likely that they will finish in the top three.
For Rock.it the song is “a little better than what one might have feared. But the disaster remains”.
For Oggi “they return with a majestic pop, but without exceeding the bel canto. They no longer sing all together, each one enhances his own vocality. It works”.
I remind you that the journalists of the Sanremo Press Room have to vote on the songs during an evening and their vote can be really heavy for the ranking.
I also remind you that in 2019 Il Volo suffered this vote which was absolutely exploited by the journalists so as not to let Il Volo win (which still came third even after their negative vote).
To help you remember better, watch this video, which has English subtitles. 😩
🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
For my part, I think exactly like my friend Mara who yesterday, after reading the report cards of the songs, published this comment:
“The journalists listened to the 30 songs competing at the next Sanremo festival, and reading several of these reviews I remain firmly convinced of one thing: the press room should not vote!
Among several reviews there is not one that is coherent, because on the same artist and related song there are those who exalt it and those who undermine it… the majority are not technical judgments but personal opinions evidently based on one’s own tastes musical (or perhaps based on the artist who is the most popular at the moment or the team that has “pushed” the most… who knows)…
I could easily have written those reviews even if I who am not in the profession because they don’t have anything objective or technical… which is why, I repeat, the press room should limit itself to making reviews or giving report cards at most but not voting… they are not capable of being objective and not biased, but unfortunately they are also given too much importance in this area…
I hope at least that this year they avoid unworthy sideshows, that they have the decency not to shamelessly express their preferences… because then if someone comes out who doesn’t mince his words and defines them for what they are, they get offended, poor things… !”
P.S: The orchestra, which is made up of people who understand a little about music (certainly something more than the newsagent vendors), doesn’t really applaud anyone after the rehearsals… the pen sellers must understand it.😉
My dear friend grandmother Maura, on the other hand, gives great advice to Italian fans: VOTE, VOTE, VOTE as much as possible (max 5 votes per person).
However, they must be the most voted by the PEOPLE. This will however be a moral slap for the juries, and a title of pride for them, who will thus “measure” our Great Love.
For those who want to know in depth the jury system that will be able to vote for Sanremo, I attach this very exhaustive article.
Unfortunately, as you will read, the first evening will be worth the vote of the Press Room (therefore Il Volo will certainly be penalized)
On the second and third evening they can vote from home and it is worth 50%, the other 50% comes from the radio vote (another penalty for Il Volo).
On the fourth and fifth evening all three juries vote, Press Office, Home and Radio with 33.5% each. I see the very tough competition for our beloved boys.
Click on the article below to read the Sanremo rules:
And here’s my opinion, Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio, certainly don’t start with an advantage, but I have a lot of trust in their fan base.
Italian journalists and radio stations must understand that there is not only rap or trap or urban, we are really tired of these repetitive songs, spoken more than sung because so many people have no voice and really don’t know how to sing. But why do we have to listen to these bad songs whose words we don’t understand or listen to vulgar and rude words?
Why is it fashionable?
But we are the ones who can decree fashion, let’s stop following what is shown to us as good if it isn’t.
We must accustom our children and grandchildren to objectivity, you can listen to a song because it has a nice rhythm, also because it is new, sometimes even a catchphrase, but then there is also room for those who know how to sing, for beautiful melodies. Not all of us have the same tastes, but every taste must be respected.
Il Volo doesn’t expect to win Sanremo, otherwise they wouldn’t have scheduled the concert in Verona on the same day as Eurovision, not even the bookmakers say they are winners, but for us, for the courage they show in showing up again at Sanremo, they have already won!!!
Daniela 🤗
P:S: = If you’re feeling down, I want to lift your spirits with this little video clip that just arrived in which Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero talk about the new song : “Capolavoro” .
I admire their way of being calm and playful in this situation. ☺️
Enjoy it.😉
PIERO= We will return to the Sanremo Festival to celebrate this great milestone with music, 15 years of career, 15 incredible years of friendship, of pure esteem and of this common passion for music.
IGNAZIO= Pure esteem you say, though!
GIANLUCA= (To Piero) Don’t exaggerate, he always exaggerates, I don’t know why he does this.
PIERO= I also wanted to be a little serious.
GIANLUCA= How romantic is this boy here. (Piero)
Let’s say it’s emotional pop, at times…how can I say…
PIERO= Not very emotional…not very emotional…
GIANLUCA= Yes, very emotional, where our voices in harmony, reach that epic quality but with some contemporary features that we needed.
IGNAZIO= We worked alongside some authors with whom we shared our ideas, and this song, ironically, was born two years ago. It’s been two years of work looking for the right message, because we wanted to come back “in a big way” making it clear that even within our group there has been an evolution, there has been personal and also artistic growth.
GIANLUCA= How important it is in our career to work on ourselves, and how important connections are, how important feelings are, and people arrive who out of the blue, as if falling from the sky, can really enrich your life and make it better.
PIERO= And maybe you didn’t realize until the day before that you had experienced a great void.
The auditions and rehearsals are over and finally, we have the guys together at the Ariston Theater and they are about to meet but before they meet, I want to tell you a little more about the journey they took to get here and what this new adventure will be for them but, even more so for their parents.
For Piero and Ignazio, great sacrifices were made.
We know Ignazio’s parents worked hard and gave up all they had to make Ignazio have the opportunity to have singing lessons. In the end, thanks to someone dear to them, Ignazio finds himself on the stage of Ti Lascio Una Canzone.
From a very young age, Piero worked endlessly for a classical education which would lead him to the stage of an opera house. Thanks first to his grandfather, who paid for the piano lessons, and the sacrifices of his parents, Piero found his way to the stage of Ti Lascio Una Canzone.
As we know, Gianluca never had singing lessons and never competed in any singing competition. He was discovered while singing with his choir and that led him to the stage of Ti Lasio Una Canzone. So, there was no sacrifice by his parents but don’t think this is where the story of sacrifice ends.
No, the story just begins on the stage of Ti Lascio Una Canzone. The Big Sacrifice follows.
But let’s begin with the fourth night of Ti Lascio Una Canzone.
With O Sole Mio in hand, the boys set out for night four of Ti Lascio una Canzone.
It’s April 25th, 2009, and these three teenage boys who only met a short time before are getting ready to turn their world upside down. They are one step from stardom!
The first time they sing together everyone is amazed. Who wasn’t amazed, Roberto Cenci! He knew exactly what he was doing. He realized by putting these three voices together he would create an amazing sound! How right he was!
So, let’s turn to Piero who will tell us how the guys first sang together….
I remember Roberto Cenci calling us all three to the center of the stage during the rehearsals.
‘Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio, come here.’
They start ‘O Sole Mio’ and we sing as we had divided the parts. Gianluca begins with the first verse and then it’s my turn, I attack with ‘Ma n’ato sole,’ (but another sun). This ‘Ma n’naaaato’ with the note kept so long and vibrated, as we still sing it today, was born in that first test because I learned, ‘O Sole Mio,’ by listening to the Three Tenors, that is Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Josè Carreras. And Pavarotti made those three words of refrain with a very, fast, but difficult beat. I did not have that technique, so I did it slowly. Then I asked: ‘Roberto, sorry, can I do it my way the ‘ma n’ato sole?’ He answers ‘Yes.’ And I say, ‘Unplug the orchestra when it’s time and come behind me.’
Ignazio tells us about the reaction to their singing it on that Saturday night….
That Saturday night there was a great standing ovation for us, with ‘O Sole Mio.’ I think that that performance marked the real starting point of our career.
When I had agreed to do the auditions, I was aware that it would be a great experience and would last only two months. But I never expected that we could get all this great success.
Gianluca puts the event in the history books…
The theater came down.
Piero on my left, me in the middle, Ignazio on my right. In the history of music no one had ever seen three children of thirteen or fourteen sing these kinds of songs. So, we must also thank Roberto Cenci because, if it wasn’t for him maybe today, we would not be here. It was nice, it was something…. How can I tell you? It was natural. I immediately enjoyed singing together, there was no problem.
But it was also all unexpected.
I thought there were three hundred thousand boys singing like me, and instead that night I discovered that there are only two: Ignazio and Piero.
Before the big night of O Sole Mio, the guys were already being praised by some very famous singers. These singers were in total awe of our guys. It seemed obvious that they were taking over the show! No one else could come close to them.
Piero did a duet with Al Bano.
Ignazio did a duet with Massimo Ranieri.
Gianluca did a duet with Riccardo Cocciante.
Ignazio did a duet with Fausto Leali.
Gianluca did a duet with Sara Pischedda.
Piero did a duet with Simona Collura.
In his book Ricomincio Dai Tre (I Start Again from Three) Michele Torpedine, their manager tells us what happened that night.
Alone in his apartment, Michele Torpedine was sitting on his sofa with the volume off on his TV. The show he was watching was Ti Lascio Una Canzone. He keeps looking at the screen and he suddenly thinks Ignazio reminds him of Luciano Pavaroti, Gianluca seemed similar to Jose Carreras and Piero is similar to Placido Domingo. He still had not heard them sing. Out of curiosity, he raised the volume and Michele says, “Here I am aware of another element, that is even more important than the first. The three casually put together to sing a song of the program possess an incredible vocality for their age.”
At this point Michele’s head is spinning. He’s thinking these guys are good and again repeats it to himself, they’re good! He thinks, “What if I try to put them together seriously? A trio he tells himself. Here’s what I could do….”
Michele says, “The next day I am a volcano. I want to talk to everyone: producers, managers, families.”
They all performed exceptionally well. They all came in first one night during the performance.
Gianluca won the first night with the song “Il Mare Calmo della Sera.”
Ignazio won the second night with “Quando l’amore Diventa Poseia”
Piero won the fourth night with “Un Amore Così Grande.”
And Gianluca won the final episode.
Piero and Ignazio showed great respect for Gianluca who won the final episode. They may have been disappointed, but you would never know it to look at their faces. Their reaction to Gianluca winning was beautiful! Look at the video….
And the biggest win of the night, they walked off the stage, Il Volo! Well maybe they didn’t have the name yet, but they were certainly on the road to stardom!
But this is just the beginning of the story!
We know that the guys got a phenomenal contract with Universal and began an amazing career. They went to America and all the rest is history!
In the beginning I told you that great sacrifices would be made not only by the guys but also by their families.
When I write about the guys I always think about the sacrifice they made when they became Il Volo. They left behind the best years of their lives. Their teenage years. They left their families and there were times when they weren’t home for months.
In the beginning they had a parent with them because they were underage but once they turned eighteen, they were on their own. We all realized that this happened to them, and we all thought this was a great opportunity but what a sacrifice they made. True but what about the sacrifice their families made. When one parent traveled, the other was left at home to care for the other children.
I can’t even imagine how the parent who was left home with the other children felt. Of course, you feel joy for your child but to say goodbye I’ll see you in a few months. That’s got to hurt. And the parent who went with him had to leave his other children at home. That had to hurt too.
This was a big sacrifice that was made by the parents but there were others who probably hurt even more. How about their brothers and sisters? I’m sure some of them didn’t even understand why their brother had to go away!
All around tremendous sacrifices. I remember Ignazio saying in his story that he didn’t see his sister for five months and it really hurt.
Yes, they went around the world and became super stars, but they paid a high price for it. The Big Sacrifice they made is now in the past. But I’m sure that the guys wished they could have back some of those years to spent time with their families. And I’m sure the families wished they had an opportunity to spend more time with them.
On the bright side of the story, they got to spend a year with their families during the pandemic. The Lord certainly had a plan with that pandemic!
One last note before I leave you today. I just started writing a new book and I need to take some time off to do my research. So, for the next few weeks I will post old stories on Wednesdays about the guys.
In the meantime, you can also read some of the old stories in the archives. Just go to www.ilvoloflightcrw.com and you can either go into the search bar and ask for a particular story or a story about a particular guy. Or go into Galleries on the top of the main page and pull up stories by the year.
I promise I will work as fast as I can to get back to you. In the meantime, Daniela will be keeping you up to date with all the latest news including all that is going on in Sanremo. The guys start rehearsals for Sanremo this week!
Be back in a few weeks!
Let me leave you with the first video of O Sole Mio!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and find some really great old story for you!
*What I have written here are excerpts from the book the guys wrote about their lives. “Il Volo, Un’avventura Straordinario, La Nostra Storia.” (An Extraordinary Adventure, Our Story) This is just a small piece of each mans’ story. The book is written in Italian. If you can read Italian, I would highly recommend that you read it. It’s wonderful! If not, I can only hope that someday it will be translated into English. Or you can use Google Translate to translate it.
I also recommend you read their second book “IL Volo: Quello Che Porto Nel Cuore” (What I Carry in My Heart)
If you would like to share a story with me, please email: susan.flightcrew@yahoo.com
