So, as you probably know, I write a weekly article for The Herald my local newspaper back home.
Usually, I put different things on my blog from what I write in the articles. I'm thinking, though, that with how rarely I have a chance to update this blog, maybe I could use the same material for both. Like, after The Herald publishes an article I could post it here, too? That way this blog wouldn't be so dead all the time and people who don't read the paper can still see my articles! I'm trying it this week, since I particularly liked what I wrote for this one. If you have a strong opinion as to whether I should keep the articles separate from the blog or not, let me know in comments. And don't worry, I'd still be doing regular blog posts from time to time that are more "personal" than what I put in the paper.
Another thing I'm thinking about doing is Italian translations for my posts. It would have what I write in English at the top and below my translation into Italian. This way, my Italian friends could read more easily if they wanted to, and I'd get some good practice.
The paper called this week's article "American music rules Italy's Airwaves, says Rock Hill teen." It's about my take on the music that's popular here.
Here goes!
I’ve noticed that Italy’s popular music -- what they play on the radio stations and in the discos -- is mostly American music.
Most of their hits are songs that were on the American charts anywhere from a year to a couple of months ago. Sometimes a song will be popular in both countries at the same time, but the US always falls in love with the song first, then Italy follows suit.
I’ve asked some friends for Italian music suggestions. I thought listening to some might help improve my Italian.
The song “In Italia,” by rapper Fabri Fibra, always seemed to come up in the conversation. While not my style, it’s undeniably catchy. Most people I asked, however, told me, with a tone in which I could detect only the faintest disappointment, “There isn’t really much good Italian music being made today.”
After that, they’d perk up a bit. “It’s alright, we prefer American music in English.”
Of the songs that get super big here, I’d estimate seven of every 10 are songs in English. To give you an idea, the ones I hear the most right now include “Paradise” by Coldplay, “We Found Love” by Rihanna, “On the Floor” by Jennifer Lopez, “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull, and “Titanium “by David Guetta and Sia.
Then, about two in 10 are in languages other than Italian or English. There’s the bilingual Spanish and Portuguese song by Puerto Rican singer-rapper Don Omar and French artist of Portuguese origin Lucenzo called “Danza Kuduro” and Brazilian Michel Teló’s Portuguese “Ai Se Eu Te Pego.” Only about one in every 10 “big” songs in Italy is in Italian. The only one I can think of that’s really big at the moment is Tiziano Ferro’s “La differenza tra me e te.”
The reason for the lack of Italian music in Italy is unclear. Here’s one theory I’ve come up with: Italy’s population was 60,483,521 in 2010, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators, and the USA’s is vastly greater at 307,006,550 in 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Maybe it’s only natural that more famous music would come from the US since we simply have a larger population, a larger pool for talent, so a greater likelihood. That theory is even more plausible when considering also the added populations of other major English-speaking countries. The population of Australia is 22,374,370. The United Kingdom has a population of 61,612,300. There are 4,294,350 people in New Zealand. Not to mention that English is considered the “official language” of more than 50 countries in addition to these. So of course a large part of the world’s music is in English, while much less is in Italian.
I don’t think that fully explains, however, the scarcity of Italian language songs that get popular in Italy. This country, though struggling economically and with an abundance of problematic issues, is very patriotic. There’s no denying that Italians are almost always fiercely Italian. They are proud of their style, their openness, their food, and it seems usually that they’re proud of their language. I’ve heard Italians speak so fondly, passionately, even, of their language, their bounty of words to catch the smallest differentiations in what they’re describing. Why wouldn’t they search out songs to dance to in their own language?
My friend Sasha from Russia once told me very simply that when people want to make something sound cool and sophisticated in Russia, they give it a name or title in English. I think that’s a bit of what’s going on in Italy. I notice sometimes that the names of shops are in English, even chains originating here in Italy. Storefronts often boast advertisements in English and t-shirts have phrases in English more often than in Italian. These phrases and advertisements are usually well-stated, but from time to time make absolutely no sense. The fact that they’re in English seems to be enough.
Italians like English in their shops and in their music because they think things sound intriguing in our language. We do the same thing, just not to the same extent. We say “foie gras” in French because it sounds a whole lot better than “liver of an overfed goose.” People will pay much more money for something called “haute couture” (another French phrase) than they would if we translated it to “high sewing.” “Hors d'œuvre” beats “appetizer.” We’d rather refer to our noodles in Italian as “al dente” than call them “chewy.”
So I believe the reason the radio stations here favor music in English and sometimes other non-Italian languages is simply a variation of the old phrase “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” Things sound more magical and enchanting in a language that isn’t your own.
Whether I’m correct in my guessing of the reason or not, this is the way things are here. It works for me. When conversation is too complicated to follow, I at least have the small joy of understanding the lyrics to the song that plays in the background. When my Italian friends sing along at the top of their lungs to songs they don’t quite understand, we can chuckle together at their funny pronunciation. If they want to know what a particular line means, I can translate.
And, on a final note, my quest for Italian music in Italian did end in success. The AFS volunteer who taught Italian lessons earlier in the year compiled a list for me of 33 singers and 11 bands, who while not the “big hits” she considers notable. So far I’ve only skimmed the surface of the list, but it seems promising. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
La differenza tra me e te (Italian)
In Italia (Italian)
Danza Kuduro (Spanish & Portuguese)
Ai Se Eu Te Pego (Portuguese)
