L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano T he bond between Italian music a n d A m e r i c a has always been s t r o n g , w i t h m e l o d i e s a n d t r a d i t i o n s crossing oceans and blend- i n g c u l t u r e s . A m o n g t h e many iconic songs linked to t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , T h a t ' s Amore is probably one of the most iconic. P e r f o r m e d b y t h e l e g - endary Dean Martin and released in 1953, the song remains a cultural phenome- non still today, and is equal- l y r e c o g n i z a b l e t o b o t h American and Italian ears. B u t w h a t m a k e s T h a t ' s A m o r e s o t i m e l e s s ? T o answer this, we must look into its history, the musical and linguistic choices behind it, and the cultural environ- ment that turned it into a global hit. That's Amore was written by Jack Brooks, with music composed by Harry Warren, f o r t h e f i l m T h e C a d d y , starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. While neither Brooks nor Warren was Ital- ian, they succeeded in cap- turing within the song a very romanticized ideal of Italy, as imagined by 1950s Amer- ica. The song's lyrics, pep- pered with Italian phrases and whimsical imagery of m o o n l i t g o n d o l a r i d e s , pasta, and pizza pies, are intentionally playful, and they evoke a caricatured yet endearing vision of Italian life. Musically, the song bor- rows elements from tradi- tional Italian folk music, with its waltz rhythm and soaring melody echoing tra- ditional southern Italian ser- e n a d e s . D e a n M a r t i n ' s smooth crooning style made the rest. Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti to Italian parents in Ohio, was perfect- ly suited for the song: his relaxed delivery and charis- matic charm gave a certain a u t h e n t i c i t y t o T h a t ' s A m o r e , e v e n i f i t l e a n e d h e a v i l y i n t o s t e r e o t y p e s . Needless to say, the song quickly reached number two on the Billboard charts and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. However, we shouldn't f o r g e t t h a t T h a t ' s A m o r e became an icon also because o f t h e h i s t o r i c - c u l t u r a l m o m e n t i n w h i c h i t emerged. After decades of immigration and assimila- tion, Italian-Americans were g a i n i n g p r o m i n e n c e i n mainstream media, where they were often portrayed as fun-loving, family-oriented, and effortlessly charming: Dean Martin embodied this ideal to perfection. At a time when the post-war economic boom was reshaping Ameri- can society, That's Amore o f f e r e d a l i g h t h e a r t e d escape, presenting Italy as a land of romance, good food, and joy. Yet, the song's depiction of Italy was firmly rooted in Hollywood's imagina- tion rather than reality. In 1953, Italy was still recov- ering from the devastation o f W o r l d W a r I I , d e a l i n g with economic struggles and rebuilding its infrastructure; the picturesque Italy por- trayed in That's Amore — with its gondolas, moonlit nights, and idyllic meals — offered an idealized vision that bore little resemblance to the country of those years. F o r A m e r i c a n a u d i e n c e s , however, this romanticized Italy was irresistible, because it tapped into a collective yearning for simplicity and beauty. Interestingly, the reception of That's Amore in Italy itself has always been m i x e d . W h i l e t h e s o n g i s often seen as a lovely tribute, many Italians regard it as a caricature of their culture; t h e i m a g e r y o f p i z z a a n d pasta — though iconic — can f e e l l i m i t i n g , r e d u c i n g a nation of diverse regions and traditions to a handful of easily digestible symbols. Beyond its immediate suc- cess, the song has taken on a life of its own, becoming syn- onymous with a particular vision of Italian culture, and i t h a s b e e n f e a t u r e d i n countless films, television s h o w s , a n d c o m m e r c i a l s , o f t e n a s a s h o r t h a n d f o r romance or humor. In Italy, the song is often heard at weddings, where its waltz rhythm and cheerful melody bring people togeth- e r , a n d w h i l e i t m a y n o t reflect the realities of Italian life, its playful spirit embod- ies something universally I t a l i a n : t h e j o y o f l i v i n g . Even today, younger genera- t i o n s r e c o g n i z e t h e t u n e , whether from their grand- parents' record collections or from its ubiquitous presence in pop culture. Advancing our Legacy: Italian Community Services CASA FUGAZI If you know of any senior of Italian descent in San Francisco needing assistance, please contact: ItalianCS.org | (415) 362-6423 | info@italiancs.com Italian Community Services continues to assist Bay Area Italian-American seniors and their families navigate and manage the resources needed to live healthy, independent and productive lives. Since Shelter-in-Place began in San Francisco, Italian Community Services has delivered over 240 meals, over 900 care packages and made over 2000 phone wellness checks for our seniors. B u t T h a t ' s A m o r e a l s o s e r v e s a s a l e n s t h r o u g h which we can explore the b r o a d e r s t o r y o f I t a l i a n music in America, because it was part of a larger wave of songs, performances, and c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s t h a t brought Italian traditions i n t o t h e A m e r i c a n m a i n - stream. Starting with oper- atic tenors like Enrico Caru- s o , a l l t h e w a y t o t h e crooners of the mid-20th century, Italian music has always had a special place in America's heart. In this con- text, That's Amore is both a continuation and a depar- t u r e — a l i g h t h e a r t e d anthem that doesn't take itself too seriously, yet still carries the weight of cultural exchange. T o d a y , m o r e t h a n 7 0 years after its release, That's Amore remains a cultural t o u c h s t o n e : i t s a b i l i t y t o make people smile, to trans- port them to an imagined Italy of moonlit gondolas and delicious meals, is time- less, although not accurate. But the beauty of this song isn't in its accuracy, but in its warmth and in the good memories it can recall — a good meal, a shared laugh, a moment of love. For all its quirks and clichés, That's Amore is a celebration, a tribute to the power of music to bring cultures together, to create moments of happi- ness, and to remind us of the b e a u t y t h a t e x i s t s i n t h e world —even if it's just a fan- tasy version of it. Dean Mar- tin's crooning voice and that memorable melody continue to play, proving that some- times, a song is enough to put a smile on our faces. The story of That's Amore FRANCESCA BEZZONE LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE TRADITIONS Dean Martin brought That's Amore to worldwide success in 1953 (Photo: Ralf Liebhold/Dreamstime)

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