L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE W h e n y o u t h i n k o f summer, w h a t c o m e s t o m i n d ? F o r s o m e , i t ' s t h e smell of sunblock, the taste of ripe, juicy watermelon, or the feeling of sand between their toes. For others, sum- mer is a song - a tune that transports you back to warm nights, carefree days, and the sweetness of doing absolutely nothing. For Italians, this is often a song about the sum- mer, or a song that became popular during the warmest months. O u r f i r s t s t o p i s t h e v i b r a n t 1 9 8 0 s , w i t h t h e synth-pop hit L'Estate sta F i n e n d o ( 1 9 8 5 ) b y Righeira. Despite its title, which translates to "Summer is ending," this song is any- t h i n g b u t a d o w n e r : i t ' s a lively, danceable track that b e c a m e a t r u e s u m m e r anthem. Perhaps it's because the song captures the fleeting beauty of the season and the youthful sorrow we felt when those long days of freedom began to shorten. Each beat s e e m s t o e c h o t h o s e f i n a l nights out, the last dips in the sea, and the setting of a summer sun that we wished w o u l d l i n g e r j u s t a b i t longer. As the 90s arrived, so did Più Bella Cosa by Eros Ramazzotti (1996) a love s o n g t h a t s e r e n a d e d a n e n t i r e s e a s o n . Y o u c a n almost hear the rustling of palm trees and the gentle breaking of waves in its soft, romantic rhythm. There's something about this song that makes you want to slow dance under a starry sky, preferably with a summer love. Its lyrics praise the beauty of the singer's at- that-time romantic partner, and the song itself became a backdrop to countless sum- mer romances, a soundtrack of stolen kisses and seaside walks under the moonlight. A journey into summer music wouldn't be complete without a stop in the 1960s, t h e g o l d e n a g e o f I t a l i a n pop. Edoardo Vianello's 1963 hit Abbronzatissi- ma is the epitome of a sum- mer anthem: title translates to "very tanned," capturing the quintessential image of Italian beach culture. Its playful lyrics paint a picture of sun-kissed skin, straw h a t s , a n d c a r e f r e e b e a c h days that seem endless in m e m o r y . E v e r y t i m e t h e song plays, you can almost taste the salt on your lips and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. It's a ticket back to a time when sum- mer meant freedom, fun, and the occasional sunburn. Fast forward to 2012 and we have Estate by Jovan- otti, a beautiful blend of p o p , h i p - h o p , a n d f o l k music that is a tribute to the Italian summer. The song is l i k e a b u r s t o f s u n s h i n e , filled with catchy lyrics and a rhythm that just makes you want to move. It encap- sulates the joy and carefree s p i r i t o f t h e s e a s o n , a n d every play brings back mem- ories of lighthearted, youth- ful summer days. It's the song you'd blast from your car radio as you drive along the coast, the wind in your h a i r a n d t h e s e a i n y o u r sights. Our journey ends in 1992 with Mare Mare by Luca Carboni. This song is a love l e t t e r t o t h e s e a s i d e a n d turned into a true classic in Italy. Its melody is as calm- i n g a s a l u l l a b y , a n d t h e lyrics echo a longing for the beach that anyone who has spent a summer by the sea can relate to. It might be three decades old, but every play brings a fresh wave of nostalgia for past summers, and a longing for the gentle rhythm of waves, the cool sea breeze, and the simple joy of days spent by the sea. In the end, summer, like this music, is ephemeral. It c o m e s a n d g o e s , l e a v i n g behind a trail of sun-soaked memories in its wake. And y e t , j u s t a s w e r e t u r n t o these bel oved songs year after year, so does summer, bringing back its sun, cheer- fulness, warmth, and joy. T h e s e t u n e s s e r v e a s t h e b a c k g r o u n d s c o r e t o o u r summer memories, and act as anchors to moments in time forever preserved in the sun-drenched corners of our minds. And so, from the playful levity of "Abbronza- tissima" to the sweet longing in "Mare Mare," these songs encapsulate the essence of the season and, somehow, give us back a small speckle of our youth. They remind us of a time when days were l o n g , n i g h t s w e r e w a r m , music was always just right and, most importantly, the future was all for us to con- quer. A s a n o t h e r s u m m e r unfolds before us, we may find ourselves adding new songs to our playlists, creat- i n g n e w m e m o r i e s t o t h e rhythm of fresh melodies. And who knows? Perhaps years from now, we'll listen t o t h e m a n d m a g i c a l l y return to the warmest days of 2023. In the meantime, l e t ' s e n j o y t h e s u n s h i n e , while our favorite tunes play on, each note a celebration of the past and a toast to the summers yet to come. After all, as the Italians say, la vita è bella, life is beautiful - especially in the summer. Sun, sea, the beach, and millions of memories: this is what some songs bring back to our mind (Photo: Sarah Nicholl/Dreamstime) GIULIA FRANCESCHINI Sunny melodies: a nostalgic journey through Italian summer songs Many of these songs have been the soundtrack of unforgettable moments, often associated with summers spent on colorful beaches with friends (Photo: Luca Lorenzelli/Dreamstime)

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