Italian music has been an integral part of world music culture for centuries. Italy is the birthplace of opera and has produced some of the most iconic musicians and singers of all time. The history of Italian music is so rich and diverse, one article is not enough to do it justice. However, a selection of the most popular music from Italy is doable, starting with this overview of the top songs this article covers:
| 🎶Song Title | 🎤Artist | 📅Year | 🏅Notable Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu | Domenico Modugno | 1958 | Won two Grammy Awards |
| Azzurro | Adriano Celentano | 1968 | Covered by multiple artists |
| Tu Vuò Fa' L'Americano | Renato Carosone | 1956 | Sounds just like American rock'n'roll from that era. |
| L'italiano | Toto Cotugno | 1982 | Sold over 100 million copies |
| Quando, Quando, Quando | Tony Renis | 1962 | Famous refrain, covered internationally |
| A Far L’amore Comincia Tu | Raffaella Carrà | 1976 | Remixed by Bob Sinclar in 2011 |
| Parole Parole | Mina & Alberto Lupo | 1972 | Available in 14 languages besides Italian. |
| Musica è | Eros Ramazzotti | 1988 | Boosted fame in Italy and Germany |
| 'O Sole Mio | Traditional (Various) | 1898 | Performed by Caruso and Pavarotti |
| Felicità | Al Bano & Romina Power | 1982 | Received a Golden Globe Award for its massive commercial success. |
| Ti Amo | Umberto Tozzi | 1977 | Remained a top-seller globally |
| Bella Ciao | Traditional | WWII | Symbol of resistance, popularized by 'La Casa de Papel' |
| Con te Partirò | Andrea Bocelli | 1990s | Global success, performed in multiple languages |
| Funiculì, Funiculà | Luigi Denza | 1880 | Commemorated the opening of a funicular |
| Gloria | Umberto Tozzi | 1979 | Covered by Laura Branigan |
| La solitudine | Laura Pausini | 1993 | Based on Pausini's personal life |
| Senza una donna | Zucchero | 1987 | Zucchero re-recorded it in English, with Paul Young |
| Buona Sera, Signorina | Louis Prima | 1956 | Popular on TikTok |
| Sarà perché ti amo | Ricchi e Poveri | 1981 | Platinum success in Italy |
| Più bella cosa | Eros Ramazzotti | 1996 | Won Best Song at Europe's MTV Music Awards |
Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu - Domenico Modugno
Franco Migliacci and Domenico Modugno wrote Nel blu dipinto di blu in 1958. It is known worldwide as Volare and, more importantly, the song that won the third Eurovision song contest. At the time, this tune represented a clean break in traditional Italian music. American swing had grown very popular in Italy, so Italian artists did their best to catch that wave.
Azzurro - Adriano Celentano
Adriano Celentano's 1968 Azzurro is one of the most famous songs in the world. Far from the Italian melodic tradition of the times, Azzurro became a great success. It topped the charts in Italy and abroad, and is still one of the anthems of the Bel Paese.
Adriano Celentano is famous for 'Prisencolinensinainciusol', an 'anthem' for rising Americanism.
This song means to sound like English - and it does, but its lyrics are pure nonsense.
Tu Vuò Fa' L'Americano - Renato Carosone
As though proving our assertions about Italy's sudden love for Americana, we present Renato's You Want to be American (1956). It sounds like 1950s rock'n'roll, but the song's mildly insulting lyrics prove that not everyone was happy about this influence. They describe a youth who walks around like he's American, but still has to beg his parents for pocket money - ouch!
L'italiano - Toto Cotugno
It appears that, by 1982, Italy was done with its America impression. Toto Cotugno's L'italiano is one of the musical emblems of Italians abroad, studied in London Italian classes, as in classes around the world. The Italian has since been translated into various languages including Finnish and Chinese. The song features in numerous films, both Italian and international.
Quando, Quando, Quando - Tony Renis
Singer-composer Tony Renis released Quando, Quando, Quando in 1962. The song was a resounding success, becoming another milestone of the Italian song catalogue. Famous the world over, it's enjoyed extended airplay through numerous remakes and covers. As a testament to its enduring popularity, it became a part of the soundtrack for the 2022 Korean hit series, Our Blues.
A Far L’amore Comincia Tu - Raffaella Carrà
An icon of eroticism and emancipation, Raffaella Carrà sings about an unconventional woman who asks her husband to take the initiative in bed. Upon its release, in 1976, it became an international success, particularly in France and Germany.
Many speculate that this raunchy song wouldn't have received the same level of airplay, had DJs in those countries understood what the lyrics meant. That's another benefit of Italian lessons: being able to understand and appreciate the country's music.
Parole Parole - Mina & Alberto Lupo
In stark contrast to the eroticism of the previous song, we have the upbeat-yet-sad words at the end of love. He says how much he loves and admires her, she says it's all just words. Mina and Alberto Lupo recorded the original version in 1973. It was later translated into French, so superstars Alain Delon and Dalida could deliver their take on the story. So popular is this duet that we heard it in 15 different languages.
Musica è - Eros Ramazzotti
This 1988 single made Eros Ramazzotti the most famous Italian artist of the 1990s. Many affirm that he is the best Italian singer of his generation, and he is still performing today. Eros Ramazzotti has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, and Musica è was something of a breakthrough for him, propelling him to success in Germany as well as his native Italy.
O Sole Mio - Various Artists
The most important and best-known Neapolitan song in history. Published in 1898, this song has since enjoyed popularity through various artists' recordings. Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti versions aside, we recognise Elvis Presley's rendition as arguably the most renowned English version. However, the lyrics don't quite match up, as my Italian tutor showed me:
What a wonderful thing a sunny day
The serene air after a thunderstorm
The fresh air, and a party is already going on…
What a wonderful thing a sunny day.
It's now or never, come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling, be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late, It's now or never
My love won't wait.
Felicità - Al Bano & Romina Power
This infectious melody well matches what this song's lyrics describe. It's all about happiness - felicità, and the sense of great things already here to enjoy. Things like holding hands with someone you love, or a glass of wine and a sandwich. The fact that one of the most famous Italian duos in 80s music recorded it might have boosted its popularity, but we like to think its message did all the heavy lifting.
Ti Amo - Umberto Tozzi
An iconic song from 1977 with which Umberto Tozzi won Festivalbar. Top of the charts in Italy and abroad, Ti amo was one of the great successes of Italian music worldwide. Umberto Tozzi gives us a masterful interpretation of a typically Italian song, whose lyrics are an ode to love. The song was successful in many countries and remains the top-selling single in the history of French record sales.
Bella Ciao - La Casa de Papel
Bella Ciao's lyrics have their origins in Northern Italian folk traditions, particularly a song called Fior di Tomba. It was originally an Italian revolt song, which celebrated the commitment of partisans and resistance fighters during the Second World War. Since then, Bella Ciao has become an international anthem, performed all over the world. Thanks to its simple, repeating lyrics, you might even study it in your Italian courses Manchester.
Con te Partirò - Andrea Bocelli
Bocelli is arguably the most famous Italian in music, and this song has taken on a life of its own. It has been translated into several languages, including English and Spanish. Many films and series take ownership of the message, musicality and rhythm, to match their stories as closely as possible. This Italian singer is renowned thanks to this track - a mixture of slow, vocal power, and Italian culture.
Funiculì, Funiculà - Luigi Denza
Luigi Denza wrote this song as a joke, to commemorate the opening of a funicular railway up to Mount Vesuvius. Like many things Italian, the original song focuses on a sweet and romantic setting, but this one takes a unique turn. A young man compares his love to a volcano before he invites his beloved to travel on the funicular to see the top of the volcano. It features in many of the best Italian TV shows, as well as adverts for Italian restaurants and foods.
Gloria - Umberto Tozzi
There's a good chance you instantly recognise the song. It's Umberto Tozzi's second appearance on our list is a testament to his power at dominating Italian airwaves across all radio stations. American songstress Laura Branagan boosted this tune's popularity across English-speaking markets in 1982. However, Tozzi's original version has recently been getting more attention.
La solitudine - Laura Pausini
This song is proof that Italians know how to write a power ballad, it is one of the most famous Italian songs of its era, the 1990s. The title translates to "The Loneliness". Singer Laura Pausini has explained that the song draws on her own life experiences and relationship with a man called Marco.
Senza una donna - Zucchero
Zucchero penned this tune while living alone, trying to save his marriage. The song was deeply personal to him, but he felt it was too boring to include on the album he was working one. His manager convinced him to record it, and aren't we glad he did! A year later, he collaborated with Paul Young to record it in English, but the Italian version hits the heart harder.
Buona Sera, Signorina - Carl Sigman and Peter de Rose
This is another song that may well be best-known for its cover versions, including becoming a Tiktok featured song. Louis Prima released the most popular of all its versions in 1956. It reached number one in the singles charts in Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway. It also features at number 3 on a list of the best-selling singles in Belgian charts between 1954 and 2014.
Sarà perché ti amo - Ricchi e Poveri
This song had immense success in Italy, where it went platinum in sales, but also around the world. There have been many different cover versions and the song has been remixed as well as translated into many different tongues. If you understand the language, you'll know this title means "It must be so because I love you".
Più bella cosa - Eros Ramazzotti
Earlier, when he sang about loving music, we experienced how deeply Eros Ramazzotti feels. Now, we see his depth of feeling for his partner, who he later married. This more upbeat song wowed European audiences, not just Italian ones. As it turns out, The Most Beautiful Thing was both this song's inspiration, and the song itself.
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Thanks for the songs. Please correct the Italian grammar mistakes :-)
I want to know the name of the song which I am not able to get out of my mind…I listened to this while watching amazon series name “zerozerozero”…please help me find name of the song
hi