Category Archives: Italy

MY Favorite Italian Music

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Some of you may expect something obscure, an acquired taste, serious or substantial musicians. With emphasis, these are MY favorite Italian music.

An Italian co-worker sang over and over something of a significant to Neapolitan culture. He even explained to me what was the song all about. Back then, I didn’t pay “that” much attention. Months later, the song was remixed and was all over the radio, not just in Europe but all around the world. I was talking about a Renato Carosone original, “Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano”.

The remix from Yolanda Be Cool was not the only one. Christina Aguilera and Lou Bega have different version of the song as well. Sophia Lauren, a Napoli native, danced to the tune of it in a movie. It was also performed by Matt Damon and Jude Law in the movie, The Talented Mr. Ripley. The song tis reflected when American military’s stay in Naples that booms the economy of Italy years ago. The song is roughly translated to “You wanna be an American”. It’s definitely not the same anymore.

When it comes to Italian music, there are, of course, sound names such as Andrea Bocelli and Pavarotti. I’m just not an opera listener.
I happened to like pop music in Italy. This is my most favorite video I’ve seen throughout my 2-year stay there.

Don’t we all do this…???

I really enjoy watching the video. I especially like the last part. The song is from Zero Assoluto.

My favorite females are the most recognizable ones as well, Elisa and Laura Pausini. These two are actually internationally acclaimed. They both sing in English and Spanish. Laura Pausini actually has a single with James Blunt. Elisa’s song “Dancing” had been used three times in the TV contest, “So You Think You Can Dance”. Both of them are part of the artist line-up of the song “Domani” together with other new and old famous Italian musicians.

Yes, this is sort of like their “We Are The World” song. A Mauro Pagani’s original, the song is called “Domani” or “Tomorrow“. In May 21, 2009, an Italian artist ensemble got together to compose a charity single to benefit the victims of L’Aquila Earthquake.

This brings me to my MOST favorite Italian artist, the ever-poetic, Jovanotti. He’s the man behind that project. I actually bought one of his 2007 album, L’Albero, just for this awesome song …

I love this song to death. I can sing this feel-good song over and over and over again. “Bella” is indeed a very “Beautiful” song where Lorenzo Jovanotti compares a woman to all things beautiful. I love the bridge part when it paused to make room for the flute solo.

Last Call…

This song is not in Italian nor Italian-based but from an English rock band, Skunk Anansie. It just so happened to be a constant-airplay single in Italy when I was there. You may have heard about Skunk Anansie from an internationally-acclaimed song, “Because of you”.  They may be a “clit-rock” group, but my most favorite is this vocal-heavy song called “Squander”.

There goes my favorites. I encourage everyone to embrace the culture of the country you are in or travel to, not just tourism-wise, or food, but other areas like music, perhaps clothing, language and traditions as well.

They also have versions of familiar songs like “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You“, which my Italian co-worker is also fond of singing aloud. During my time there, “Weirdero” was also a hit, which is a remake of Radiohead’s “I’m a Creep“. I always sing “Io Canto Sotto La Pioggia” every time it rains. The song is the Italian version of “I’m Singing in the Rain“.

This post is part of Flashback Friday. I made it in time. YEY!
Category: Italy

Near and Far: Europe and California

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VENICE – Tops: California, Bottoms: Italy

I badly wish to go back to Europe. But I can’t complain as much. Not only that I’ve been very blessed to have gone there, the place I’m currently in ain’t too shabby for my travel fix. Plus, it really isn’t hard to cross-culture here in California.

Villas – Design of Getty Villa {Bottom) is inspired by The Villa of Papyri in Herculaneum (Top).

I really enjoyed the neat idea I came up with when I Merge: Herculanem and Getty Villa. And so, I tweak it a bit for my entry of Near and Far. The images in this post are places in California where you can imagine or reminisce different locations in Europe. Not what the challenge is looking for, but I’ve been known as a notorious  WPC rule-breaker.

Spanish Footsteps – Top Right: Rodeo Drive, California, Top Left and Bottom: Rome, Italy. Related post: Journey

I like to know. Anything around your area, or places you’ve been to, that resembles, comparable to, or is based from another location or site from a different country?

Alcazar Garden – Left: Sevilla, Spain, Right: Balboa Park

The next one is with the help of sister, Analyn. She’s quite a globetrotter as well.

Danish – Tops: Solvang, Bottom: Copenhagen, Denmark (picture courtesy of my sister)

This post is part of Flashback Friday. *sticks tongue out*

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FEATURED BLOG

Here is Loni. Check out her Yosemite posts. Check out her Venice post. Check out her Mud Run post. Check out the one where she got on TV. Check out her Anniversary post and the different places her and her husband have gone to. Check out her Academy post. Check out food, places of mainly California, and her wide-eye impressive photographs. My favorite however is  her 100th post where she showed her “Loni Exhibit”, These are some of my favorite things. Go ahead and Check out how Loni Found Herself.

Flashback Friday: Columbus Day Weekend in San Marino, Verona, Venice and Pisa

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On my very first Flashback Friday, I annotated that my next one was supposed to be this post. I decided to put it on hold and wait for the Columbus Day Weekend as this trip happened on the same occasion three years ago.

These are my very first Italy destinations so imagine my excitement. Not only that, I went with a family that I’ve known for 8 years. I’ve been with them in Mississippi, Italy, and now, here in California. They welcome me to their lovely abode every time I go to San Diego. Being an independent individual for so long, having a family friend that I cling myself to is a wonderful blessing. Yes, a blessing, because we all know how difficult it is to find genuine relationships. We visited San Marino, Verona, Venice and Pisa during a 3-day Columbus Day Weekend three years ago.

SAN MARINO:

Entering in an incline and through small alleys ways, San Marino greets you with inviting souvenir shops and restaurants of different cuisines. I bought me a miniature wine barrel and a bottle of Limoncello during our gander there. Shopping is not the only thing that greets you here. Being perched on a mountain top, getting to the top will give you a bird’s eye view of the city. I took the sky lift to experience it better. At the heart of it stood the Pianello or Piazza della Liberta (not to be confused with the one in Florence). San Martino is the world’s oldest republic and Europe’s third smallest state. As a matter of fact, it has open borders as long as you don’t stay for more than 20 days.

- Piazza della Liberta (Liberty Square) -

VENICE:

I already have two previous blog posts of Venice so I wouldn’t bore you again. *BIG GRIN*
Riding Gondola in Venice, or Making The Best of your Travel
CARNEVALE

- I haven’t share a picture from my first Venice trip so here goes it. -

Coming back from San Marino and Venice, we took two quick side trips to see The Leaning Tower of Pisa and to Verona for La Casa di Julietta.

VERONA:

No one can really put a dot on whether the greatest lovers we recognize existed or not. Being it a quick stop, we became one of the curious tourists who still opted to visit The House of Juliet in Verona.

- Juliet’s Balcony -

There is also a market and shopping place further down the street. I don’t know what it is, but I love this fountain, and it’s very memorable. Perhaps, it’s from the mere fact that it’s my first Italian trip. Or maybe, though crooked, I just flattered myself with how I got the shot. *Big Grin*

The Leaning Tower of Pisa:

I don’t mean to argue to those who thinks otherwise, but to be completely honest, I just think The Leaning Tower of Pisa is too much glamorized than what it is. However, above it all, being it my very first Italian tour, The Leaning Tower of Pisa sure sparked that magnificent feeling of being very blessed. To physically be there and see it was quite an accomplishment.

By the way, there is also a market place in Florence that we always go to buy cheap tapestry. *wink* I had purchased a good number myself.

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Traveling to Italy

FEATURED BLOG:

Let Amy take you there. An impressive list of travel destinations and a pleasing personality she has, this blog completely lives up to its title and web address, The World is a Book … shareandconnect.wordpress.com. Athens, Canada (to inlcude the ever-magnificent Niagara Falls), Prague, Colorado, Germany, Greece, and of course, an ample amount of Italian posts are some of the many places under her belt. An all-around and all-over-the-place blogger, Amy participates in many challenges to include Weekly Photo Challenge, Sunday Post, Story Challenge, and of course, Travel Theme Challenge. My favorite post is this sad but lovely post about Change – …but the old is better. You better read this post or I will smack you in the head. Get over there and flip the blog post pages full of awesome images of wonderful locations.

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Last Call…

I think I owe them an apology for not mentioning them much on my posts. Narrating is just not my strongest suit. It’s about time that I mention them since I was with them almost all my travel destinations. I introduce, the Katimbang Family…