I have had several emails lately asking how and why this website was formed and why it became popular so quickly (Yay!). Well…
The Tale of the Il Volo Flight Crew
Once upon a time five (not so) little girls were very happy. They smiled and had fun all day. They talked and talked to their friends on the computer. They mostly talked about 3 Italian boys.
Then one day the website stopped working. The five (not so) little girls thought it was broken. They tried and tried to have it fixed, but no one could fix the broken website.
The five (not so) little girls were very sad. They cried and they cried. (Not so) little Kelly sobbed, “What can we do?” “Well, we could make our own website,” sniffed (Not so) little Michele.
They thought their idea was a good one. So, one day they asked their (not so) little friends, Elaine, Linda and Marie to help make a new place to play and talk.
And so they did.
They named the new site “Il Volo Flight Crew ~ Share the Love.” Then they invited all of their other friends to the new site.
And they all came.
Now they talk every day and they talk every night. They still mostly talk about 3 Italian boys. They are all happy again.
Il Volo is having an influence on the pop music world even though it is rather small
right now. However, I am confident it will grow as time goes on. How is that? It has
to do with the way they keep perfecting their art. The answer later in this article.
First let me start with this premise: the human voice is too often taken for granted and
poorly treated partly because it is an instrument inside us and not tangible like a violin
or clarinet or piano, etc. Everyone can sing and, in fact, you are doing a form of
singing when you talk. It is the same set of muscles, and you are using pitches when
you talk- just not a lot of different ones. But with all that as a given, a person is not
born with the knowledge of how to use the voice to the best of its ability. Training is
needed.
If you are given a violin or clarinet or piano and want to play it to the best of your
ability, you take lessons from a trained and degreed expert – i.e. a private teacher with
a B.A. Or Master’s degree – and learn all of the proper methods and techniques needed
to produce great quality. A singer – just as with those instruments – should take
private lessons and put those techniques to good use. You are taught by a voice
teacher (advanced is a voice coach) with a Master’s degree in vocal pedagogy ( rough
definition: the science and craft of teaching the art of singing) . Yes, anyone can sing,
and some are born with a wonderful natural instrument which they put to use with
little or no knowledge of good techniques while others take that wonderful natural
instrument and add the proper training and end up with an incredible instrument of
limitless beauty, power, grace and elegance.
IL VOLO ‘ s place
Each of these guys at a very young age had the love and passion of singing instilled in them either by their grandpa (Gianluca and Piero) or by the family and community
they lived in (Ignazio) or both (all three). Each of these boys was blessed by God
with a magnificent natural instrument. They had parents that were smart enough and
caring enough to realize that such natural beauty deserved proper training and got
them good voice teachers. Those same parents needed to provide the support and
emotional space to allow them to grow artistically. Takes a lot of patience from the
parents some times. Then comes the contests and festivals and competitions (more
parent partnership).
Picture credits to Don Ercole and Mundial
As the group was finally put together as Il Volo, they added a voice coach to sustain
the great work already started and, also, to teach them how to preserve and protect
those wonderful instruments. When you ruin a clarinet you go out and buy a new one
but when you ruin your voice you are done. You can’t buy a new one.
With all this work going on we, the public, have been enjoying wonderful pop music
(with a classical flair ) presented to the heights of quality and perfection. Since they
are so young and not in their 30’s or 40’s, they get more attention from all ages. The
youth thing really works in their favor so well. The result is that they have become
very popular with a wide variety of ages in the USA.
This has not escaped the attention of some well established big names. Barbra
Streisand had planned a tour in 2012 but after hearing Il Volo and seeing what their
coach has done, she decided to add a coach to her prep work for the last 4 months
prior to tour. Recently, I have read that Justin Timberlake has hired a voice coach to
expand the range and improve quality of his serious singing. He has mentioned
wanting to do a Broadway musical and that requires a well-trained voice. He very
much knows the “Il Volo sound” There has also been some talk amongst certain
female singers that they want to get a little of the “ Il Volo “ edge and clean up their
voice and their singing.
Il Volo is not the only group with good training but they are the youngest and the best
out there right now. They are having an impact on the pop music business. Gianluca,
Ignazio and Piero have raised the bar. They have raised the standards. Let’s hope that
impact keeps growing.
Picture credit Laura Batke at The Mall of America
Coming soon: an article looking at two of the concerts Il Volo did during the winter
season.
By Leelee Where: Miami Date/Time: April 22nd/5:30 p.m. (or so we thought)
Our afternoon started by driving from Palm Beach County to Dade County (figure approximately 1 hour). Considering we were to be there at 5:30 p.m., I thought it would be a good idea to get there early to avoid traffic. We arrived at 4:00 p.m. You can’t hurt us for trying. We were hoping to catch maybe a glimpse of (I can say it now) the “AWARD-WINNING” Il Volo hanging out like they sometimes do before concerts. I should have known – it’s me – no such luck.
We were greeted by the Miami Fan Club. They were there early also, I think in the hopes of the same thing. Not only that, they were expecting 50 fan club members. To digress a little, I want to give a shout out to the Double D’s and the rest of the fan club. Now I know what you all are thinking and get your minds out of the gutters. I MEAN Diana and Diana. These two ladies were the first ones we met and they were just awesome and fun. I’m sorry I can’t remember all the names of the gals we met, but you know who you are. Here’s just a glimpse of some of the fan club
Thank you Miami Fan Club for treating us like one of your own!!!
Anyway, it was about 5:30 when they made the announcement that they were going to start calling our numbers so we can go get our tickets. Mind you, the tickets are free. When you go get your tickets, which go by the number in your party, they were not pre-determined, they give you a ticket for food. YES, FOOD!! You had a choice of hot dog or ham and cheese sandwich, chips, and a drink. Pretty cool!
And then we wait…and then we wait… One of the ladies from the fan club was told that the “AWARD-WINNING” Il Volo would be there about 7:00 p.m. So around that time, the natives started becoming restless and were checking out to see any sign of a limo, SUV, anything to indicate that they were there. Again, no such luck.
They called us in about 7:30 – 7:40 by your seat number. You enter the studio, which was surprisingly very small. It doesn’t seem that way on tv. They seat you row by row and then the announcer comes out and starts giving all the rules and regulations (all in Spanish, so I had a translator on either side of me, which helped).
When looking at the stage, we were seated to the left of the stage, 2nd row. GREAT SEATS – trust me. Looking straight ahead across the set is a large door which is the way we came in. Looking at the door, I thought to myself how the guy across the studio looked just like Gianluca. HOLY COW! The lightbulb went off. Just as I saw him, a woman yelled: “OH DIOS MIO”. We all yelled out. The rest of the audience looked at us to see what we were seeing, and then the ruckus began!!!! They walked out of sight and I was thinking they were ready to come on through the center entrance. But NOOOO. They came in right where we were sitting. They announced to get ready, and I looked through where the curtain was opening and there was Ignazio. Just then a group of girls got up to take pictures and blocked my view – but I was ready. They announced them coming in and I held up my camera and…
At this point, I need Joan’s help, because in her statement she mentioned that ¾ of the audience were Il Volo fans. I’m not quite sure which ¼ were not Il Volo fans. And if by some off chance there wasn’t anyone there for Il Volo, they left being Il Volo fans, based on the Standing O they received after they sang Mas Que Amor.
Now comes the piece of advice that I wish everyone to take heed. DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THESE GUYS!! I did. There was so much activity that I was not paying attention until I looked up and found that they were posing for more pictures AND THAT THEY WERE AT OUR END OF THE STAGE!!! I picked up my camera so fast and took the picture and this is what happened…
The worst picture I ever took. But you see who Piero and Ignazio are looking right at, don’t you? Apparently, Gianluca missed the opportuity to pose for me ?. Next time, though…and there will be a next time.
What a great night. Though the picture didn’t come out good, the memory is forever embedded in my mind. Thank you all for reading and sharing in my excitement.
Thanks also goes to Joan and Ivie (cohorts) and Soledad (Solie) from Sabado Gigante. Now for June!
Leelee,
Sounds like you all had a great time.
That video is such a tease! Loved it!
Now I can’t wait for the show on May 31st.
Thank you for sharing your amazing
adventure with us.
~Marie
