It was almost a surprise; no one expected this wonderful participation from our TV crew on Silvia Toffanin’s show, THIS IS ME, aired on Canale 5 on October 29th.
The announcement of Il Volo’s participation was made only 2-3 days in advance, and in this short video, we see the crew themselves confirm it:
CLICK HERE to view the Facebook reel
IGNAZIO = Hi everyone, see you at THIS IS ME.
The program was on Canale 5, and Canale 5 videos aren’t available outside of Italy, so I’d like to thank my friend Carmen, the administrator of Il Volo En Clase, who posted the entire video of Il Volo’s appearance, which I’ll now translate for you.
Along with Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca, Silvia’s living room also features two other guests: Gerry Scotti (a great host) and Gigi Buffon (a great goalkeeper).
SILVIA = Good evening and welcome to THIS IS ME! This evening, too, we celebrate the greats of music, entertainment, and sports. We begin with three unique voices, three artists who have sung on the world’s most important stages.
(A video of some of Il Volo’s highlights begins.) I’ll translate the lyrics for you:
IN 16-YEAR CAREER 9 WORLD TOURS
THEY’VE PERFORMED DUETS WITH THE GREATEST ARTISTS
OVER 22 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE:
IL VOLO
SILVIA = Il Volo!!
(Amidst the applause of the crowd, Gianluca, Piero, and Ignazio descend the stairs, shaking hands)
Welcome! Hi Gianluca, Piero, Ignazio. (Hugs and kisses)
IGNAZIO = How are you?
SILVIA = Good!
Welcome, please take a seat!
You started early, your destinies crossed when you were still teenagers, and from there began a dream that took you to the biggest stages and touring the world together, right? Even arguing sometimes, look!
IGNAZIO = Oh yes!
GIANLUCA = It’s a marriage.
SILVIA = More than a marriage.
(A video with the best moments of Il Volo’s career begins)
(* Voices in the video)
*IGNAZIO = You know when you open a drawer and think, what’s in there? (The drawer of dreams) I’d like to do this, that’s what we want to do (is to sing – Ignazio is embarrassed to see himself as a fifteen-year-old).
*PIERO = I had a wonderful childhood, I never lacked love. I’ve had a lot of experience with grandparents, who are the greatest privilege one can receive in life (applause).
*IGNAZIO= I grew up like the usual families who leave their homeland to seek their fortune. I was lively, I got up to all sorts of mischief.
*GIANLUCA=I’m very proud to be from Abruzzo.
I’ve always been a very curious child, a very restless child.
We didn’t sing together right away; we were very lucky to be on the same show as each other.
*IN 2009 THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE TALENT SHOW “TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE”
*GIANLUCA= We were the only kids who sang the same genre, then they decided to put us together, and from there our musical journey began.
*WITH “O SOLE MIO” THEY SING TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME
*GIANLUCA= And then life changed radically, from school to Los Angeles.
*PIERO = To We are the World for Haiti
*JUST ONE YEAR LATER, THEY WERE THE ONLY ITALIAN ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN “WE ARE THE WORLD FOR HAITI”
*GIANLUCA = We had a childhood and adolescence that were completely out of the ordinary.
*GIANLUCA, IGNAZIO, AND PIERO BECOME “IL VOLO”.
*IGNAZIO = A good omen for flying to every city.
*THEY WERE JUST THREE TEENAGERS WHEN THEY DUETED WITH A GIANT OF MUSIC
*WITH BARBARA STREISAND ON TOUR THROUGH AMERICA AND CANADA IN 2012.
*IGNAZIO = Many kids want to follow this path, and we were lucky.
*GIANLUCA = We were lucky.
*IGNAZIO = Lucky to do all this.
SILVIA = (to Piero) From school to Barbara Streisand in an instant.
PIERO = Gigi’s video (Gigi Buffon was there with them; the video dedicated to him came before the Il Volo one) ends with Gigi saying, “Each of us is born with a destiny,” but this destiny must be accompanied by great luck, that of having people, parents, who help you discover your greatest calling. If you don’t have these people to help you in this discovery, it’s difficult to reach that destiny. (applause)
SILVIA = So your families have been important.
GIANLUCA = Yes.
PIERO = It was the greatest blessing.
SILVIA = Family.
GIANLUCA = We were talking about parents, and blessing is also having parents who don’t want their children to do what they (the parents) want, but to do what their children want to do.
IGNAZIO = Imagine, I wanted to be a veterinarian!
SILVIA = Oh, just think.
GERRY = But you were fine as a vet, you have the right physique.
IGNAZIO = “Let’s see what’s wrong with this little dog”… ha ha
SILVIA = And yet, the music was the star, Ignazio, and you can’t do without it.
Everything’s ready for you, to hear two wonderful songs…
PIERO = I thought that was for Ignazio (the fabrics are hanging from the ceiling, on which a dancer will be performing).
SILVIA = Marisol (the dancer) is here, and we’re saying goodbye. Everything’s already prepared for Capolavoro and Grande Amore: Il Volo! (The guys get up to go to the place where they’ll sing – applause)
IGNAZIO = (to the other guests) Do you want to come with us?
PIERO = Anyway, excuse me, but doesn’t Gigi Buffon look like the fourth member of Il Volo? (laughter)
SILVIA = That could be it.
GIGI = Starting tomorrow.
SILVIA = Starting tomorrow, Gigi, you have a future!
(The two songs begin, enlivened by beautiful choreography; at the end, there’s huge applause; all three guys turn to applaud the dancers)
PIERO = (to the dancers) Well done, guys!
GIANLUCA = Applause for the dancers.
PIERO = Well done, everyone. Thank you.
IGNAZIO = Thank you so much.
(The crowd stands for a standing ovation)
GERRY = Standing ovation, standing ovation, how wonderful, yes.
SILVIA = Very much.
GERRY = See, you ask me what I envy in life?
I wish I could sing 10 times worse than Il Volo and I wish I could save 100 times worse than Buffon, (laughter) and instead I end up being a TV presenter.
SILVIA = Come on, you didn’t do badly.
GERRY = Everyone has the grass on the other side. (meaning everyone appreciates what others do).
PIERO = You’re great, though.
GERRY = The biggest! (He means by size)
SILVIA = (to Gerry) So, I didn’t just have you come from Milan, but I also had a surprise…
GERRY = What’s a panettone? (a typical Milanese Christmas cake)
SILVIA = No, no, always something to eat…
GERRY = La Modonnina (the famous statue of the Madonna that dominates Milan from the high spire of the Duomo)
SILVIA = That’s difficult…
GERRY = What did you have come??
SILVIA = The Wheel and Samira!! (Gerry’s evening program is THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE, a game show, Samira is the valet – applause, the beautiful Samira enters)
Samira = Good evening, good evening everyone, hello Silvia.
SILVIA = You brought The Wheel.
GERRY = We can go home, guys (he jokes, Samira hugs Gerry and says hello to Il Volo and Buffon).
SILVIA = No, you play.
GERRY = You stole it! (meaning The Wheel)
SILVIA = Yes, I stole the wheel.
GERRY = Are you crazy?
SILVIA = Yes, I even customized it because I’ve already formed the teams: Ignazio with Gigi since they have the same type, you two play together, Piero and Gianluca, come here.
SAMIRA = We’re here.
GERRY = They must be looking for her, you really stole her!
SILVIA = I stole Samira and The Wheel too.
GERRY = It’s a different wheel, guys (he means it’s just similar to the original)
PIERO = Hold on, everyone, I have to confess something.
SILVIA = You’re welcome.
PIERO= I travel with an iPad and I watch THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE every evening (applause), no, I didn’t do it for the applause, this wheel is rigged.
SILVIA = No, this is the wheel of wonders made especially for you.
PIERO = All that’s missing is BANKRUPTCY, EXPRESS… (the real themes of the wheel)
GERRY = Bravo!
PIERO = Where’s the EXPRESS? Where’s the joker?
SAMIRA = We have the joker in person (she means Gerry)
PIERO = And the prize?
GERRY = There will be a prize… but there’s the scoreboard!!
SILVIA = Yes, there’s the scoreboard!
SAMIRA = Really, but it’s beautiful, shall I go there?
SILVIA = Yes, go there, go Samira.
SAMIRA = I’m going, I’m going to the board.
IGNAZIO = I’ve never gotten anything right. Express.
GERRY = So, Sam (Samira), we’re live from the La Ruota studio.
SAMIRA = Yes.
GERRY = Now a cameraman is focusing on the board where a sentence will appear that they tell me will be titled: GERRY and SILVIA. (The game works like this: the wheel spins to decide who goes first. You name the consonants, and if they’re in the sentence, the boxes light up and Samira turns them over. At the end, you have to guess the hidden sentence.)
GERRY = So, let’s make Buffon turn. (Gigi)
GIGI = Clockwise or counterclockwise?
PIERO = Like this.
GERRY = Like this and let’s see who starts.
Easy, don’t break it, it’s fake.
GERRY = They’ll start saying a consonant…Ignazio and Gigi start.
GIGI = I turned, he tells a consonant (Ignazio).
GERRY = Audience, don’t suggest, it’s already easy.
PIERO = A consonant.
IGNAZIO = N
GERRY = N of Naples.
SAMIRA = Good, let’s see. One at random.
GERRY = Let’s see if it’s there.
SAMIRA = One,two, three. Three, come on! Not bad.
Let’s see if it works (the scoreboard), it works here too.
GERRY = Good, good.
As long as you have the game, you go ahead, say another one.
GIGI = S, the S for Savona.
SAMIRA = No, the S for Samira, sorry….
GIGI = The S for Silvia, then….
SAMIRA = Yes, and for Silvia.
SILVIA = S for Samira!!
GERRY = We only have two.
SAMIRA = There are two.
GERRY = As long as they keep the game (that is, they guess the consonants), they go ahead.
IGNAZIO = T for Tuna.
GERRY = The T for Tuna….
SILVIA = Let’s see….
SAMIRA = One
GERRY = There is, there’s only one.
Oh my, Silvia and Gerry, look, it’s difficult with the board, it’s not easy….Gigi?
GIGI = I have to find a consonant that’s a little out of the ordinary, let’s go with the F.
GERRY = The F.
GIGI = The F for fire.
GERRY = There’s that too.
SAMIRA = One
GIGI = It saved us.
GERRY = I’d put a vowel.
SAMIRA = A vowel, come on, good job.
IGNAZIO = Why can you do that?
GERRY = Yes, you can buy it, I’ll give you 500 euros (laughter – in the real game, vowels have to be paid).
IGNAZIO = It’s a bit expensive, damn! A of damn (in Italian A di Ammazza).
GERRY = A for Ammazza.
SAMIRA = Let’s see if there’s an A… there is, there is…
GERRY = Well done, well done and lucky, but only they (meaning Ignazio and Gigi) are playing.
GIGI = But can they (Piero and Gianluca) play?
GERRY = Not as long as you keep winning.
GIGI = Then I’ll take a chance.
GERRY = Ask for the W.
GIGI = A G for Gigi.
GERRY = A G for Gigi.
PIERO = There isn’t one.
GERRY = It’s your turn (Piero and Gianluca)
PIERO = The L.
GERRY = The L for Luna.
SAMIRA = Let’s see?…two.
GERRY = A couple, go on, Samira…
SAMIRA = Come on, we’re getting closer.
GERRY = Silvia and Gerry….one sentence, the audience is murmuring, it’s your turn
GIANLUCA = The C.
GERRY = The C for Como….is there? Yes, there is, but only one. (Ignazio laughs), don’t disturb…
PIERO = Can I call a vowel?
SILVIA = Yes.
PIERO = An E, the E for Empoli.
GERRY = Let’s see with the E, look, he (Piero) seems ready to give the answer.
SAMIRA = I see him as an expert, there are four.
GIANLUCA = Be careful….
GERRY = Come on, ask for another one, you can do it.
PIERO = Another vowel, the I.
GERRY = The I.
SAMIRA = Let’s see…
IGNAZIO = Okay, the I.
GERRY = There is, there is, and the word Felice is there.
GIANLUCA = UNA FELICE, yes, exactly.
IGNAZIO = I understood the first sentence and the last one.
GERRY = But first they (Piero and Gian) have to make a mistake.
PIERO = The D of Domodossola.
SAMIRA = Two, two.
PIERO = The consonant R.
GERRY = Yes, we’re there…
SILVIA = Yes, go…
SAMIRA = Are we there?
SILVIA = Now it’s easy.
GERRY = The crowd is shouting, soon, say it.
GIANLUCA = We’ve got it, we’ve got it.
PIERO = A HAPPY REUNION FROM THE TIMES OF WORD OF MOUTH (applause and hugs)
PIERO = It’s done!
GERRY = It’s obvious you play, well done!
SILVIA = It’s done, thank you!! Well done.
GERRY = Well done, Samira.
SILVIA = Let’s look at the photo Gerry, it’s us, look how young we were. Too many years ago Gerry.
(The photo of Gerry and Silvia appears in 1999. Gerry Scotti hosted a game show called PASSAPAROLA, which aired on Canale 5, and Silvia was one of the showgirls called Letterine. For Silvia Toffanin, it was her first appearance; she was 20 years old. Piersilvio Berlusconi, the young son of the then owner of the television network, saw her and began courting her. Since then, they have been a couple and have had two children. Piersilvio is now CEO of all Mediaset television networks.)
IGNAZIO = But you were a little girl.
GERRY = She was a little girl, look, how embarrassing, I was so old.
SILVIA = But you look great.
GIANLUCA = He’s Benjamin Button in real life.
SILVIA = Yes. Thanks, Samira, bring the wheel.
SAMIRA = I’ll take it back.
GERRY = (to the audience) Everyone knew (the solved sentence), but you didn’t suggest it, well done.
SAMIRA = Hello everyone, thank you, you’re a great inspiration.
GERRY = Go, Samira, we have to go to work later. Long live Samira.
SILVIA = It’s time to see your extraordinary career that’s taken you all over the world. Look!
(video starts)
*3 YOUNG TALENTS BRING “BEL CANTO” TO THE WORLD
*PIERO = It’s not Il Volo that brings Italian music abroad. It’s the music we sing that has made us discover the world.
*GIANLUCA = This is Il Volo.
*BEST GROUP OF THE YEAR AT THE “LATIN BILLBOARD AWARDS” (2014)
*IL VOLO ALSO WINS THE ITALIAN PUBLIC
*CONTI = Il Volo wins the 2015 Sanremo Music Festival with Grande Amore.
*SANREMO FESTIVAL 2015 “GRANDE AMORE”
*IGNAZIO = We hoped to win, also because we were practically unknown in Italy.
And then an earthquake struck.
*EUROVISION 2015.
*SANREMO FESTIVAL 2019 “MUSICA CHE RESTA”
*SANREMO FESTIVAL 2024 “CAPOLAVORO”
*9 WORLD TOURS IN A 16-YEAR CAREER
*PIERO = Here we are in New York.
*NORTH AMERICA
*EUROPE
*IGNAZIO = Good evening, London!
*CHINA
*IGNAZIO = We’re going to China.
*PIERO = We have a 10-11 hour flight ahead of us.
*JAPAN
*THEY JUST CONCLUDED THEIR NEW LATIN AMERICAN TOUR WITH HUGE SUCCESS.
*GIANLUCA = We’ll be at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires.
Seeing the emotion on people’s faces is truly refreshing for us and a privilege.
*PROTAGONISTS ON THE STAGE OF THE VERONA ARENA
*IGNAZIO = Ciao Verona.
*THEY HAVE DUETED WITH THE GREATEST ARTISTS
*OVER 22 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
*THE ALBUM “GRANDE AMORE” HAS BEEN TRIPLATINUM
*THE SINGLE “GRANDE AMORE” HAS BEEN TRI-PLATINUM
*THE SINGLE “L’AMORE SI MUOVE” HAS BEEN TRI-PLATINUM
*THE “CAPOLAVORO” GOLD RECORD
*THE “TEN YEARS – THE BEST OF” GOLD RECORD
*THE PLATINUM COLLECTION GOLD RECORD
*THE “BUON NATALE” GOLD RECORD
*LIVE TIM MUSIC AWARDS 2025
*2019 WORLD YOUTH DAY
*PIERO = Being asked to represent these events makes you understand that you’re doing well, both musically and personally.
*2022 WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES
*2025 YOUTH JUBILEE
*PIERO = What we’ve always tried to do from the beginning is to convey values. (applause)
GERRY = Beautiful
SILVIA = So many things.
GERRY = Beautiful, beautiful.
GIANLUCA = Thanks for this video.
SILVIA = It’s you.
IGNAZIO = And then when I look at myself, you think…is it us?
GIANLUCA = Is it us? Let’s wake up for a moment… (it’s like a dream)
SILVIA = It’s you…and all those people…
IGNAZIO = But because, having started very young, that is, very early, we experienced everything with great naiveté.
I mean, I remember when we first arrived in Los Angeles, we’d go to parties where Ryanna, Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio were there, then Cindy Crawford would come by, and I… wow, I was 16…
GIANLUCA = We didn’t even speak English back then…
IGNAZIO = No, I just spoke like that… (he imitates foaming at the mouth)
SILVIA = You were catapulted into a huge world, bigger than you.
IGNAZIO = Yes, and it’s crazy because then we’d go home and tell our friends, and they… no, no…
SILVIA = But it was all true.
IGNAZIO = And it was all true.
GERRY = It’s really you.
PIERO = Can I add something?
SILVIA = You’re welcome!
PIERO = We’ve had the opportunity to see some of our experiences, but recently we’ve organized some events, some evenings with the program TUTTI PER UNO, which are dedicated evenings in prime time on Canale 5. If three young people like us have the opportunity to achieve these things, it’s also thanks to those who give us the opportunity to make them come true, and this network is allowing us so much. It’s allowing us to realize great dreams, because we desire so much, we imagine, but then to make them come true, we need someone who gives us the opportunity to do so. (Long applause – it’s a thank you to Mediaset for allowing them to organize the wonderful TUTTI PER UNO events.)
SILVIA = And I’m happy to be here to tell you your dream, Gerry’s dream, Gigi Buffon’s dream.
Everything’s ready for you to sing THE SOUND OF SILENCE.
GIANLUCA = We dedicate this to Gerry.
GERRY = Noooo, it’s one of my favorites!!
I can ruin it for you… (sing with them)
IGNAZIO = If you want, yes.
GERRY = Or I’ll send Buffon. (who’s out of tune)
SILVIA = Il Volo. (applause, the song begins)
(applause and standing ovation)
PIERO = Thank you.
SILVIA = Thank you, come on.
GERRY = Well done, and well done to the dance troupe, obviously, (people cheering the guys on), well done, well done.
SILVIA = Thank you for being here, thank you for telling your story.
GERRY = It was wonderful! So I have to tell you something, Silvia. Usually, as you know, I get emotional about things that concern me. This evening I’m happy because following their stories made me as emotional as I did with my own. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.
It was a beautiful evening. This show, hosted in a very natural and kind way by Silvia, highlighted the best moments of Il Volo’s career, highlighted their beautiful words, and honored their voices.
It was truly a wonderful show, followed by a huge home audience, which earned the highest audience share of the evening.
Our guys were truly genuine and very familiar, they felt at ease in Silvia’s living room. Well done, guys.
But I want to finish even more beautifully with this very sweet shot.❤️💙❤️
Daniela 🤗
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.