Italian music with lyrics

[flotemysost]

Been teaching myself Italian recently (total beginner, just a hobby really as I find it quite relaxing). Can anyone recommend any music that could be a fun way of picking up some words and phrases?

I heard about the lovely Fitness Forever thanks to this place, and the Mondo Cane album by Mike Patton is also good, as the lyrics don't seem too complicated on the whole, and the mix, delivery etc. means they're very discernible. On that note it seems all my Italian mates are obsessed with Mina, I'm enjoying what I've heard of her so far.

But yeah, any recommendations welcome, pretty open with genre/era (first person to say SHADDAP-A-YOU FACE gets the QI klaxon). Grazie!

[Sin Agog]

Preface: the Italian music I listen to tends to be crazy '70s prog shit.  Kinda wish Julian Cope would complete his axis of evil trilogy with 'Woprocksampler.'

Opus Avantra - S/T 1974 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=116t0UBI7-A

Alan Sorrenti - Aria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnD5-oXkaCE

I Balletto di Bronzo - Ys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8rBECkNqHo

Pierrot Lunaire - Gudrun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYMC-xu2gM

Lucio Battisti - Anima Latina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9waqCjunvQ

I Balletto di Bronzo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8rBECkNqHo

Love all of Franco Battiato's first four albums dearly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpXIGlA2fwI

Crazy rapping washerwoman from a '70s Neopolitan opera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4oQxtm0uww

[Crabwalk]

Lucio Battisti - Anima Latina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9waqCjunvQ

That's a really good album, but if you like Fitness Forever also try Battisti's Una Donna Per Amico (1978), which is a direct influence on Fitness Forever (It's the record that the grey bearded bassist is holding in this promotional shot):



Lucio Battisti - Prendila così

I'd also recommend Tenco (1966), a brooding collection of songs from doomed young crooner Luigi Tenco.

Luigi Tenco - Se Sapessi Come Fai

For something more contemporary, Egomostro by Colapesce (2015) is a very melodic collection of softpop with interesting sociological and personal themes (as far as my very limited Italian can make out, at least):

Colapesce - Maledetti Italiani

Nuova Napoli by Nu Guinea (2018) is one of my favourite records of recent years, fusing Italo-Disco, funk and giving it a Neapolitan twist (not sure if the lyrics are Italian or Neapolitan though). They also compiled an amazing album of obscure Italo-Disco from Napoli last year called Napoli Sageta which you should check out.

Nu Guinea - 'A Voce 'E Napule

A great place to find hours of excellent vintage Italian language music would also be Dino Erre's (AKA Carlos Valderrama of Fitness Forever) mixes for Milan's Radio Raheem station which are all archived here:

http://www.radioraheem.it/resident/dino-erre

[Dewt]

The best lyric in an Italian song is "Jabdah".

[Noodle Lizard]

Been teaching myself Italian recently (total beginner, just a hobby really as I find it quite relaxing). Can anyone recommend any music that could be a fun way of picking up some words and phrases?

I heard about the lovely Fitness Forever thanks to this place, and the Mondo Cane album by Mike Patton is also good, as the lyrics don't seem too complicated on the whole, and the mix, delivery etc. means they're very discernible. On that note it seems all my Italian mates are obsessed with Mina, I'm enjoying what I've heard of her so far.

You mentioned liking the Mondo Cane album, so a good place to start would be looking into some of the singers/composers those songs are by; like Nico Fidenco[nb]"Legata a un granello di sabbia" is a fantastic song they cover, but it didn't make the album[/nb] and Gino Paoli, as well as Ennio Morricone of course, whose due recognition as a pop songwriter is sadly overshadowed by his film scores.

Others I've enjoyed are Pino Donaggio and Bobby Solo. If you get into it enough, you'll also start realizing how many famous American songs are actually covers - supposedly in the 60s it was cheaper to buy the rights to well-known Italian songs rather than paying out royalties to American songwriters!

[flotemysost]

Thanks lads, looking forward to giving these a proper listen at the weekend.

[non capisco]

I have nothing to add except that I fucking love Mondo Cane, especially the live stuff. Joyous. Possibly Patton at his most engaged with the material.

[sevendaughters]

I'll only do one, but I absolutely love this song and kind of ripped it off on one of my records. It's a Lucio Battisti cover by Fabio Viscogliosi. Simple and satisfying.

Il Nostro Caro Angelo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiMoHl5wQwQ

[holyzombiejesus]

If you like Fitness Forever, maybe check out other artists on the Elefant label? Most are Spanish but there's at least one other Italian person on there. He might sing in English though :(

https://www.discogs.com/artist/1375228-Giorgio-Tuma

https://www.google.com/search?q=elefant+records+italian&rlz=1C1GGRV_enGB749GB749&oq=elefant+records+italian&aqs=chrome..69i57.5477j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[Crabwalk]

Giorgio Tuma is absolutely brilliant and do check his music out. He sings exclusively in English though, I'm afraid.

[Brundle-Fly]

Helpful translation video. Bowie's lovely version of Volare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM9-TrvQiek

[Lost Oliver]

Che idea meravigliosa per un thread!

Mi piace molto questa canzone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fTZeQOL1jc