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Fashion, Gianluca

In Sickness and in Health – I Gemelli Ginoble: The Ginoble “Twins” or Seeing Double By Giovanna

January 17, 2021 Jana 25 Comments

And we can’t forget a belated tanti auguri to the Ginoble Brothers’ Mamma!! Tanti Auguri, Eleonora!! 🙂

We posted earlier this month as soon as Flight Crew heard that Gianluca and his younger brother Ernesto Ginoble both tested positive for COVID-19. We didn’t and still don’t know if Gianluca was infected and contagious at the time of the Christmas concert, when he was in close contact with Ignazio and Piero. Piero’s asthma puts him at a higher risk of complications if he were to contract coronavirus. As of now, neither of our tenors has reported being infected. So, we want to start with a big “Grazie a Dio” (“Thank God”) for that.

Gianluca has been radio silent for a while, as he and Erny are recovering, but they’re getting better with the help of their faithful Luna.

For all of you who were worried and praying, Gianluca has recently checked in on Instagram sending a “Tutto OK” message. No translation needed. While he and Ernesto are recovering, celebrating Mamma Eleanora’s birthday this week as best they can (Buon Compleanno, Eleanora), and getting ready for Gianluca’s upcoming birthday, we thought we could encourage them by doing something fun and entertaining for them. Here goes…

Gianluca and Erny posted their shared infection status on January 7, along with an emphatic plea that everyone should follow their own regional protocols to protect each other. Even before that, I was already noticing that questi due fratelli (these two brothers) have shared a lot of other things besides this troublesome sickness. In the pictures below, I’ve catalogued a few of the many things I’ve spotted.

I first noticed this T-shirt a while back because I liked the Gucci logo and wanted one.

Then guess who popped up later that season wearing the same thing?

I’ve seen this summer print a few times in Gianluca’s own posts.
Check out Erny boating this past summer. Notice anything? Do you think he borrowed it?

You have probably seen at least one of these two pictures over the past two years. Gian has posed in this shirt from time to time since 2019, when the first picture was taken.

Gianluca was wearing that comfy shirt as recently as this past summer 2020 when he and the twins, Eraldo and Giuseppe di Stefano, took a vacation at a beach resort up the Adriatic coast from his home, where he posed for the second picture. I don’t know if these two ladies belong to him or the twins, or are relatives or fans. Gianluca is very cautious about showing or naming his girlfriends, so it’s not likely either of them is attached to him.
Not long after that summer stripes picture, here was Erny, sporting the same shirt, with a buddy and minus the girls. He has one of his own – girls, I mean.

Gianluca posted this picture with Eraldo and Giuseppe, the day after they lost their Grandfather. In very tender words, he explained how rare and unexpected it is in this life to find such a strong and permanent friendship. Then he adds, “It’s them, Eraldo and Giuseppe, my strength, my point of reference. This friendship has withstood some hard tests. Soon we will smile together again. I love you.” The hard test was of course the loss of their “Nonno.”

Back to the shirts. That’s not the only striped shirt that the Ginobles had in common, even way back when they were both in their teens. Remember this picture from a summer day before the concert at Wolf Trap more than half a decade ago? These red stripes in profile are the same, too.

So, what do you think? Is Erny wearing Gian’s clothes? Do they shop together? Does Gian buy two of everything? I don’t know the answer, but I think it’s nice, and a testament to their closeness and the admiration of a little brother for a very loving big brother. Nothing wrong with that.

The dark sunglasses are to be expected. Papa Ercole mastered up this one. That’s him in the middle.

The boys’ duplication is not limited to clothes, either. Have a look at these.

Birthdays

Of course, the Ginoble guys both got tower birthday cakes on their 18th birthday.

Did you notice? Ernesto is the one still actively playing competitive soccer. Gianluca is the active professional musician. So how come Gian got the soccer cake, and Erny got the music cake? I suppose that since they are both soccer fans (team Roma among others) and both music fans, it all comes out the same. For the rest of you, soccer fans, “Noi siamo la Roma!” We are Rome! I’m a Francesco Totti #10 fan, just like the brothers. Here’s blue-eyed Totti #10 after he retired from the Roma team in 2017, of course with each one of the Ginoble guys.

Did you notice Erny’s shirt? Does it look familiar? Here’s why, maybe.

I think this is the same one that appeared in one scene of “Un Amore Cosi Grande.”

Luna the Moon Dog

Given that Luna is the family pet, of course we expect to see her being cuddled and spoiled by everybody. Somehow, she even manages to alternate her nap times between the two brothers.

How about vacations?
Gianluca, himself, has posted that at least one member of his family often accompanies him on tour. Erny has definitely been with him at least once. These two shots are from Il Volo’s singing trip to the Emirates some years back. This is definitely not the only time that Erny joined GIanluca. In the past, I’ve spotted Erny in Taormina, myself, and seen him in photos at other concert venues.

Remarkable how much these two resembled each other at different times as teens, or at least before Gianluca started styling the curls out of his hair. Erny was even wearing Gian’s thick-top, side-trimmed haircut. Or maybe it was the other way around.

Nonno Ernesto

Here’s something else very special the Ginobles share. Sometimes, even 86-year-old Nonno Ernesto attends performances, especially if Gian or Il Volo perform locally near Abruzzo. I have never seen or met their Nonno at any of their shows yet. At Italian concerts I have noticed Papa Ercole taking crowd pictures, but so far have not spotted Nonno Ernesto.

God willing, it will soon be healthy and safe enough for Il Volo to be back on open stages and Nonno to come out and about in public to enjoy them.

The Baby Connection
We have all seen tons of pictures of the Il Volo guys playing with babies and toddlers. It’s the normal state of affairs for this gang.

It’s definitely an Italian thing.
And an Erny thing, too.
Instead of the guys with babies, how about the guys as babies?

Guess who these little fellows are? Can you tell from the shapes of their faces? I can understand why Mamma Eleanora or Papa Ercole couldn’t resist taking this picture. Years ago, I also did one just like this of my son Barry at the same age, playing a toy guitar and pretending to be Jack Cassady, the very gifted bass player of the Jefferson Airplane/Starship/Hot Tuna. Gian, Erny, and Barry were all musical since they were very young, and of course they all figured out the look, right down to those hip sunglasses. It’s an Italian thing.
Even Barry, see? Barry’s blonde hair has since turned into dark Italian-Jewish curls. And it looks like they all had some of those same Fisher-Price musical noisemakers, too.

Of course, we know there were two other special musical miniatures who were youngsters at exactly the same time and age as the Ginobles and my son. Here they are as ragazzini (little guys).

And they’ve all grown up so well!

Giovanna (Jo Ann)

Credit to the owners of all photos.

Article or Video Translations, General news, Gianluca

GIANLUCA AND THE TWINS by Daniela

March 21, 2020 pitterpat0 44 Comments

In these quarantine days, Gianluca and his friends Giuseppe and Eraldo communicate via a video call, which I translate for you.

Gianluca cuddles his dog Luna and says that he will make a live broadcast with Giuseppe and Eraldo.

Friends ask Gianluca how the quarantine is going and Gian replies that he does nothing but run between sofa and kitchen, kitchen and sofa. Instead the twins reply that, however, it is nice, that their whole family in this period is all together, which is almost anomalous.

Giuseppe tells Gian that, after all, the quarantine is pleasant for him who has been away for so long.

Gian replies that after a month and a half outside, it is nice to be at home, with the family, and confirms that he is with his mother, in quarantine in his home and shows that the neighboring house is that of his parents, but says that he and his mom, they saw his father and brother from afar and could not hug them.

Gian admits that it is not easy, to return and not be able to embrace the grandfather, the dad, the brother, the friends (surely even if he does not say it, his girlfriend).

He says that while they were in California, the virus alarm also arrived there and then they closed everything there too, however from Italy they told me, “You can’t imagine what the situation is like here.” He realized it when they landed in Rome – there was nobody at the airport.

They did concerts with a lot of people, then also the Meet & Greets. Luckily they are fine, they didn’t have any problem and he also says this for the people who are watching them.

Piero and Ignazio, who are now in Sicily and Bologna, were also lucky.

Unfortunately they had to cancel the last three concerts, but health above all. In the US, they are now getting scared and are now taking the example of us Italians, even in Europe.

Giuseppe replies that even England, even if they were reluctant, is taking measures. Everyone has to do it, because the virus is getting everywhere, to be able to travel without problems again, otherwise the infection continues to return.

The problem is worldwide and that he hopes that the arrival of the heat will mitigate everything.

“Contagion is the most important problem also in South America”, says Gian because a message arrived while the two of them were talking. Gian says that when he saw, from cell phone, Italian Prime Minister’s first speech, he cried, imagining his nation in that way.

Gian reads some greetings from people from South America and Russia.

Giuseppe asks Gian to tell him something about the tour, as they have traveled around America far and wide.

Gian says it was beautiful, one of the most beautiful tours they have done in the US, a month and a half of great satisfaction, many people, many emotions.

In the comments of the video, someone asks to sing something, to raise morale at all. Gian says that he trained a little on the piano and therefore plays a song, he also makes a mistake and says that he gets emotional.

Now he will have time to train, and says he would also like to write a song.

Gian shows the panorama of Montepagano and Giuseppe shows the panorama of his city: Ascoli.

Gian says that in the evening he will watch TV, there is the second film of the Harry Potter saga and (he is a fan of the saga) and Gian remembers that he was in Orlando to visit Universal Studios.

Gian replies in English to an American fan.

Then they say goodbye to various fans, including Saretto of Bambar and they tell him that they will soon go to Taormina. They remember having eaten 40 granitas in one day.

Then Gian talks about fans from South America, saying that Il Volo knows that the US audience is more adult, while in South America they are all young girls.

Giuseppe confirms that this is because Il Volo is liked by a transversal audience that is liked all over the world.

Then he asks Gian if he has seen the video commented also by Trump, on the Frecce Tricolori (our aerobatic aeronautics) and Gian confirms that it is very beautiful, on the Nessun Dorma sung by Pavarotti.

Both then stress the importance of observing the rules in these moments.

STAY HOME.

Gian says that he recommends this to his brother Erny, who however says that he is a very responsible boy.

Then he says that he has not been able to embrace his grandfather, they have not even seen each other, despite the fact that his grandfather is the love of his life, “Woe to those who touch him.”

Gian continues saying that many will understand him, because in his situation there are many people.

Giuseppe says that now attitudes among people have also changed, we are all far away.

Gian says that he thinks that the virus problem will continue until 2021, and he hopes that a cure, a vaccine will be found soon, otherwise there will always be anxiety about being in a crowded place.

It will be hard to overcome this moment.

Then Gian shows the window from which he sees his brother and dad, who greet him, like Giulietta and Romeo.

Then Gian shows his lounge rhino.

One of Giuseppe’s uncles welcomes Gian back.

Luna arrives and Gian fondly cuddles him, he says that when she arrived, it changed his life.

Eraldo also returns and Gian says that the two of them and Alessio are his best friends. They met about three years ago, through a relative of Gian who knows the grandfather of the twins (Alessio has always been his friend.)

The twins ask Gian what the banana cake he cooked was like and Gian shows it to them, and says that the dough also contained banana, along with almonds and walnuts.

The twins ask Gian to tell everyone what his breakfast consists of and he says: “Lactose-free Greek yogurt, inside a crushed banana, almost liquid, then chopped almonds and walnuts …..” Giuseppe says not to say last two ingredients, which maybe he will play a game to guess these components.

Eraldo says that he spoke to his grandfather who told him that now the young people complain, because they have to stay at home, but then, what should his generation have done, who was called to war? Gian replies that in fact the younger generations complain too much, instead in grandparents there is wisdom.

Gianluca says that our generation is spoiled, it is hard to stay in quarantine, but it must be done for health. This situation will make us grow and face problems differently and we will face life differently. We will be more mature and look at life with other perspectives, and when we are grandparents, we will say that in 2020 we were closed at home, because of the C19.

So Gian offers some nice masks on his face, and the meter, away. The twins say that we have to play down and laugh a little.

Then Gian says that he has also done some physical training and shows his small personal gym.

Giuseppe says that in the next few days they will do a live broadcast while Gian or all three sing or while Gian is cooking.

A fan in the video asks Gian if he saw Piero’s new haircut and Gian says that with that mustache, he looks like Pablo Escobar.

Another fan, however, asks Gian to do a live broadcast every day.

Gianluca reads some greetings from the fans and in the end it is he who greets everyone.

Well Gianluca, it seems to me that with your speeches, you have given good messages to follow.

There are no words to add.

We listen to all the rules.

Daniela

Credit to owners of all photos and videos.

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