Welcome Everyone.

Welcome to News From Italy, my blog about our Italian Adventure. Although this blog has now ceased publication I will be continuing to blog and I am sincerely hoping that my many followers here will move with me to Travel Tales blog to follow my next adventures wherever they may take me. The links to my other blogs are:-


I look forward to keeping in touch with you via them, thanks once again for all the support you have given 'News From Italy' over the years.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sunday Song – Festival della Canzone Italiana San Remo 2011




I have often mentioned the Italian Song Festival San Remo, Festival della Canzone Italiana San Remo 2011, before in Sunday Song posts as many of the artists I feature have appeared at and won various categories of the festival. The final of the 61st edition of the Festival was held last Saturday evening and was broadcast live on Italian television as it is a very popular event with the Italians, a vast majority of whom seem to love music in some form or other.  Although the songs entered into the competition are all performed for the first time live at the festival the recordings are released immediately afterwards, so these songs are now all available for purchase.
This year the overall winner of the 61st Festival della Canzone Italiana was Roberto Vecchioni singing ‘Chiamami Ancora Amore’ -  ‘Call Me Love Again’
Cover image of his new album from Roberto Vecchioni's Official Website
 Roberto Vecchioni  was born in Milan, Italy on June 25th 1943 and has been a singer and songwriter on the Italian music scene since 1966. I find it interesting that he graduated in Classical Literature at Milan University in 1968, later becoming a literature and history teacher in a Milan High School where apparently he is still teaching to this day. As well as successful musical and teaching careers he has also published a number of books, both poetry and novels. I suggest you read the words in English before you listen, unless you understand Italian that is, as the words to this song are very moving.

Roberto Vecchioni - Chiamami Ancora Amore (sanremo 2011)

Courtesy of oreste232
Lyrics for “Chiamami Ancora Amore” (“Call Me Love Again”) in Italian then English

E per la barca che è volata in cielo
che i bimbi ancora stavano a giocare
che gli avrei regalato il mare intero
pur di vedermeli arrivare
per il poeta che non può cantare
per l'operaio che non ha più il suo lavoro
per chi ha vent'anni e se ne sta a morire
in un deserto come in un porcile
e per tutti i ragazzi e le ragazze
che difendono un libro, un libro vero
così belli a gridare nelle piazze
perché stanno uccidendo il pensiero
per il bastardo che sta sempre al sole
per il vigliacco che nasconde il cuore
per la nostra memoria gettata al vento
da questi signori del dolore
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami sempre amore
che questa maledetta notte
dovrà pur finire
perché la riempiremo noi da qui
di musica e di parole
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami sempre amore
in questo disperato sogno
tra il silenzio e il tuono
difendi questa umanità
anche restasse un solo uomo
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami sempre amore
perché le idee sono come farfalle
che non puoi togliergli le ali
perché le idee sono come le stelle
che non le spengono i temporali
perché le idee sono voci di madre
che credevano di avere perso
e sono come il sorriso di dio
in questo sputo di universo
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami sempre amore
che questa maledetta notte
dovrà pur finire
perché la riempiremo noi da qui
di musica e parole
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami sempre amore
continua a scrivere la vita
tra il silenzio e il tuono
difendi questa umanità
che è così vera in ogni uomo
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami sempre amore
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami sempre amore
che questa maledetta notte
dovrà pur finire
perché la riempiremo noi da qui
di musica e parole
chiamami ancora amore
chiamami sempre amore
in questo disperato sogno
tra il silenzio e il tuono
difendi questa umanità
anche restasse un solo uomo
chiamami ancora amore


For the sake of the boat which flew away in the sky
while the children were still playing.
I would have given them the entire sea
just to see them arrive safely.
For the sake of the poet who can't sing,
for the sake of the worker who lost his job,
for the sake of those who die in their twenties
in some desert like in a pigsty.
For the sake of all the boys and girls
who defend a book, a real book,
so beautiful while shouting in the squares
because free thought is being killed.
For the sake of the bastard who lives always in the sun,
for the sake of the coward who hides his feelings,
for the sake of our memory thrown in the wind
by these lords of the pain.
Keep calling me "my love",
always call me "my love"
because this damned night
has to come finally to an end
because we will fill it from here
with music and words
Keep calling me "my love",
always call me "my love"
in this desperate dream
between silence and thunder.
Defend humanity
even if there is only one man left.
Keep calling me "my love",
keep calling me "my love",
always call me "my love"
Because ideas are like butterflies,
you can't take their wings away.
Because ideas are like stars
and storms can't turn them out.
Because ideas are like voices of a mother
whom we considered lost
and like the smile of God
in this spit of a universe.
Keep calling me "my love",
always call me "my love"
because this damned night
has to come finally to an end.
Because we will fill it from here
with music and words
Keep calling me "my love",
always call me "my love",
keep on writing this life
between silence and thunder.
Defend humanity
which is so real in every man.
Keep calling me "my love",
keep calling me "my love",
always call me "my love"
keep calling me "my love",
always call me "my love"
because this damned night
has to come finally to an end.
Because we will fill it from here
with music and words
Keep calling me "my love",always call me "my love"
in this desperate dream
between silence and thunder.
Defend humanity
even if there is only one man left.
Keep calling me "my love".
Always call me "my love".
Because we are love.


Second place at this years 61st Festival della Canzone Italiana San Remo 2011 went to Emma Marrone, accompanying Italian rock band Moda  singing “Arriverà”   “Will Come” a much more upbeat rock and roll style than the previous song.
Emmanuela Marrone was born in Florence, Italy on May 25th 1984 a young singer whose rise to fame on the Italian music scene I followed last year whilst watching the Italian reality talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi, which she won in March 2010. To find out more about Emma you may want to visit her Official Website.

Modà ed Emma - Arriverà - Sanremo 2011

Uploaded by  on Mar 14, 2011


Lyrics for “Arrivera” (“Will Come”) in Italian then English
Piangerai come pioggia tu piangerai e te ne andrai
come le foglie nell’autunno triste tu te ne andrai
certa che mai ti perdonerai
Ma si sveglierà il tuo cuore in un giorno d’estate rovente in cui il sole sarà
E cambierai la tristezza dei pianti in sorrisi lucenti tu sorriderai
E arriverà il sapore del bacio più dolce e un abbraccio che ti scalderà
Arriverà una frase e una luna di quelle che poi ti sorprenderà
Arriverà la mia pelle a curar le tue voglie la magia delle stelle
Penserai che la vita è ingiusta e piangerai e ripenserai alla volta in cui non ti ho detto no
Non ti lascerò mai
poi di colpo di buio intorno a noi
ma si sveglierà il tuo cuore in un giorno d’estate rovente in cui il sole sarà
E cambierai la tristezza dei pianti
in sorrisi lucenti tu sorriderai
E arriverà il sapore del bacio più dolce
e un abbraccio che ti scalderà
Arriverà una frase e una luna di quelle che poi ti sorprenderà
Arriverà la mia pelle a curar le tue voglie
la magia delle stelle
La poesia della neve che cade e rumore non fa
La mia pelle a curar le tue voglie
La poesia della neve che cade e rumore non fa
Piangerai come pioggia tu piangerai e te ne andrai
come le foglie nell’autunno triste tu te ne andrai
certa che mai ti perdonerai
Ma si sveglierà il tuo cuore in un giorno d’estate rovente in cui il sole sarà
E cambierai la tristezza dei pianti in sorrisi lucenti tu sorriderai
E arriverà il sapore del bacio più dolce e un abbraccio che ti scalderà
Arriverà una frase e una luna di quelle che poi ti sorprenderà
Arriverà la mia pelle a curar le tue voglie la magia delle stelle
Penserai che la vita è ingiusta e piangerai e ripenserai alla volta in cui non ti ho detto no
Non ti lascerò mai
poi di colpo di buio intorno a noi
ma si sveglierà il tuo cuore in un giorno d’estate rovente in cui il sole sarà
E cambierai la tristezza dei pianti
in sorrisi lucenti tu sorriderai
E arriverà il sapore del bacio più dolce
e un abbraccio che ti scalderà
Arriverà una frase e una luna di quelle che poi ti sorprenderà
Arriverà la mia pelle a curar le tue voglie
la magia delle stelle
La poesia della neve che cade e rumore non fa
La mia pelle a curar le tue voglie
La poesia della neve che cade e rumore non fa


You will cry and cry like rain you go
like autumn leaves you sad you will go
certain than ever forgive you
But your heart will wake up in a hot summer day when the sun is
It'll change the sadness of tears into smiles you smile bright
It will taste sweeter than the kiss and a hug that will warm up
There will be a sentence and then a moon of those that will surprise you
My skin will come treat yourself to your desires, the magic of the stars
Do you think life is unfair and cry and think back to the time that I have not said no
I'll never leave
Then suddenly the darkness around us
but your heart will wake up in a hot summer day when the sun is
It'll change the sadness of tears
in bright smile you smile
And the kiss will taste sweeter
and a hug that will warm up
There will be a sentence and then a moon of those that will surprise you
My skin will come treat yourself to your desires
the magic of the stars
The poetry of falling snow and noise does not
My skin treat yourself to your desires
The poetry of falling snow and noise does not
You will cry and cry like rain you go
like autumn leaves you sad you will go
certain than ever forgive you
But your heart will wake up in a hot summer day when the sun is
It'll change the sadness of tears into smiles you smile bright
It will taste sweeter than the kiss and a hug that will warm up
There will be a sentence and then a moon of those that will surprise you
My skin will come treat yourself to your desires, the magic of the stars
Do you think life is unfair and cry and think back to the time that I have not said no
I'll never leave
Then suddenly the darkness around us
but your heart will wake up in a hot summer day when the sun is
It'll change the sadness of tears
in bright smile you smile
And the kiss will taste sweeter
and a hug that will warm up
There will be a sentence and then a moon of those that will surprise you
My skin will come treat yourself to your desires
the magic of the stars
The poetry of falling snow and noise does not
My skin treat yourself to your desires
The poetry of falling snow and noise does not


Finally for my last choice today the winner of the newcomers section this year at the 61st Festival della Canzone Italiana San Remo 2011 was with a song he wrote himself Raphael Gualazzi singing  “Follia d’amore” - ‘Madness of Love’ , personally my favourite song of the three. Raphael Gualazzi  twenty-nine year old singer and songwriter from Urbino will represent Italy at this years Eurovision Song Contest 2011  to be held in Dusseldorf Germany on the 10, 12 and 14 May 2011.
Photo of Raphael Gualazzi from his Official Website
Whilst researching this post I found out via Wikipedia that it was this Festival of Italian Music that was the original inspiration for the Eurovision Song Contest which incidentally the Italians are entering this year for the first time since 1997!

Sanremo 2011 - Raphael Gualazzi - Follia d'amore

Courtesy of Tooomusic
Lyrics for “Follia d’amore” (“Madness of Love”) in Italian then English (Listen carefully, as there are a few words of English amongst the Italian lyrics).

Dire si dire mai
non è facile sai
se tutti quanti siamo in orbita nella follia
io non so più chi sei
non mi importa chi sei
mi basta perdere l’incanto di una nostalgia
ma vedrai un altro me in un sogno fragile
riderai come se
non ti avessi amato mai
cercherai un altro me
oltre all’ombra di un caffc
troverai solo me
se mi fermo un attimo io non so più chi sei
qui si vive cose
day by day
night by night
e intanto il mondo si distoglie dalla sua poesia
non dipingermi mai non costringermi mai
abbandoniamoci alla soglia della mia pazzia
e vedrai un altro me disarmato fragile
perchè quello che sei
non lo cambierai mai
neanche se fossi tu
come il tempo a correr via
ma rimani con me
non mi perdo neanche un solo attimo di te
e vedrai un altra te
quasi invincibile come non mai
viva come non mai
ed è li che tu mi avrai
oltre false magie l’orizzonte sarai
splenderai
splenderai
splenderai
splenderai


Say you say never
is not easy to know
if all of us are in orbit in the madness
I do not know who you are
I do not care who you are
I just miss the charm of nostalgia
but you will see another me in a dream fragile
laugh as if
I had not ever loved
I will try another
beyond the shadow of a coffee
there is only me
if I stop for a moment I do not know who you are
Here you live things
Day by Day
night by night
and while the world turns away from his poetry
never paints do not make me ever
wallow to the the threshold of my madness
and you'll see me another unarmed fragile
because what you are
not ever going to change
even if I were you
as the time to run away
but stay with me
I do not miss a single moment you
and you will see another
almost invincible as ever
alive like never before
and it is them that you will have me
false spells over the horizon will be
shine
shine
shine
shine


I hope you have enjoyed your retrospective visit to the Festival della Canzone Italiana San Remo 2011 .
I would also be grateful if you discover any glaring errors in the lyric translations that you let me know so that I can make necessary corrections.
More Sunday Songs can be found by visiting Sunday Song at 5 Minutes Just for Me and Sunday Session at Doireallywannablog both Australian blogs.
Sunday Session
Buono Domenica Tutti

Friday, February 25, 2011

Friday Photo – Doors – No 1

 

 

 

I am fascinated by doors and always seem to be taking shots of them or windows, or buildings, I thought it would be fun to share these architectural photos on Friday Photo occasionally, starting this week with a door!

I also posted this photograph yesterday on Beautiful World  as part of the Thursday Theme which was squares and rectangles. This is what reminded me as I did think about doing something like this ages ago.  In fact I wrote a post in October 2009 entitled Doors, so it has not taken me long to organise!

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Italy in Books - Reading Challenge - February

 

Italy in Books - Reading Challenge 2011

A Party in San NiccoloPhotobucket

The February post with a list of books that the other people taking part are reading this month has already been posted. February Reviews

This is a thriller with a realistic Italian background, although as first published in 2003 there are a couple of points that remove it from the 21C and the Italy that we know. The lira is no longer the currency and the wave of immigrants, although still a big problem, as I expect many of you reading this are aware, will often be of different  nationalities to those featured.  The depth of description of the ex-pat community in Florence reminds me in some ways of A Room With A View, although this is much more detailed and not set in 1908 but modern days. The author clearly knows and loves Florence and is not afraid to write about the drugs, corruption and prostitution that are part of the city and I suppose most big cities in the world these days. As far as I understand though Florence is not generally a dangerous place, just maybe a bit rough around the edges. She also describes beautifully the countryside outside Florence, in Tuscany and the Maremma, including Thermal Springs to be found in the countryside that I have enjoyed bathing in myself if not the particular ones described.

A week in the springtime in Florence, what could be a better way for Gina Donovan to unwind from the pressures of family life while visiting an old friend from university. Gina’s holiday turns out to be not at all the week of relaxation that she was anticipating as through her we meet the motley cast of characters that form part of the expat community. The main ones are Jane her university friend, who runs a cookery school, her successful architect husband Niccolo who has English and Italian parentage plus his daughter Beatrice. The aristocratic Frances a widow in her seventies is a character central to the story as is her Birthday party that is planned for the end of the week. Frank is the journalist within the community, although not a terribly successful one and young Ned, Beatrice’s boyfriend.

The plot is complex with many other characters besides the few I have mentioned. Within the first few pages we learn of the two murders but it is only the second body that is discovered immediately. Before the end of the week not only death but love,memories and secrets will all have intruded on Gina’s time in Italy. I think that is enough information to have tempted you if you like the sound of a murder mystery in an Italian setting. There is enough suspense skilfully built into the story that kept me turning the pages to make this a very quick and entertaining read.

 

Christobel Kent

A Party in San Niccolo was Christobel Kent’s first published novel and since then she has written and published four more novels set in Florence. They all feature a Florentine private investigator Sandro Cellini that she created and has written this series around. These titles may well be of interest to those of you taking part in the Italy in Books - Reading Challenge 2011

  click to enlargeclick to enlarge
click to enlargeclick to enlarge

 

Photobucket

If you would like to read my earlier book reviews they can all be found on my other blog LindyLouMac's Book Reviews

Monday, February 21, 2011

Dishwasher Saga Final Update

 

 

 

In July 2010 I first mentioned here about the problems we were having with the Dishwasher and I wrote about the experience here Dishwasher Saga and here Saga Update.

I promised that I would let you know the final outcome. It was at the end of September last year that it was suggested to us that the dishwasher would be replaced, what a surprise when it actually was on Saturday.

We have no real idea why it has taken so long as we have had regular discussions with the engineers, who were always waiting for the go ahead from the manufacturer's, or awaiting delivery of the replacement machine to their workshops. Then suddenly a few weeks ago when we were yet again monitoring progress they informed us that it was now in the hands of the kitchen suppliers.

We contacted them straight away and they were horrified to learn that it had not been dealt with yet, however no one had told them that they were supposed to be dealing with it. Frantic discussions were held and phone calls made with promises that the delivery would be made last Monday, of course it was no real surprise when it never arrived. When we made contact the next day we were told it could not have possibly been delivered yet as they had still not taken delivery of the machine form the manufacturer’s themselves!

When I took the telephone call on Friday afternoon to say it would be delivered on Saturday afternoon you can imagine how sceptical I was.

One thing you have to learn if you want to live in Italy is patience.

We will be trying the appliance for the first time later this evening so lets hope the new one does not blow the electricity or leak.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Friday Photo – Signs of Spring

 

More signs that Spring is hopefully not far around the corner.

Have a lovely weekend.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Olive Pruning

 

I am sharing with you today photographs of some local olive pruning on a large scale that our neighbour has been carrying out for yet another neighbour. This is a major pruning task as the trees have not been pruned for many years.  Thank goodness we did not have  such a mammoth task to tackle! There were prunings everywhere and it was difficult to move around much amongst the trees to get these photos. Whilst I was clambering around I did find a beautiful little yellow flower, an aconite I think.

The Aconite I found, a welcome sign of Spring.

 

I am linking to Outdoor Wednesday today, for the first time this year, to share these images with other lovers of the great “Outdoors”.

Outdoor Wednesday button[5]Welcome to ‘News From Italy’ to the other participants, thankyou for calling by.

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Sunday Song – San Valentino – St Valentine -

 

      

This weeks Sunday Song selection is as normal linking up with my blogging friend Natasha from Five Minutes Just For Me. This week she is hosting a special Valentines Day Post, so I am joining in with this selection of Romantic Italian Songs.

I have not included any biographical details of the artists today, just some photographs, as I will feature them individually here in the near future if I have not already done so previously.

My choices for Romantic Italian Songs for this San Valentino Edition of Sunday Song are sung for us today by Umberto Tozzi, Andrea Bocelli with Giorgia, Luciano Ligabue and Laura Pausini something for everyone I hope, whatever your taste in music. It was extremely difficult to decide which songs to include here today as I consider that the majority of songs sung in Italian sound romantic. It is after all the language of love.

Umberto Tozzi  - Ti Amo  - I Love You

Courtesy of rocky2762

Lyrics for Ti Amo in Italian then English from metrolyrics                             

Ti amo, un soldo
Ti amo, in aria
Ti amo se viene testa
vuol dire che basta:
lasciamoci.
Ti amo, io sono
Ti amo, in fondo un uomo
che non ha freddo nel cuore,
nel letto comando io.
Ma tremo
davanti al tuo seno,
ti odio e ti amo,
e' una farfalla che muore
sbattendo le ali.
L'amore che a letto si fa
prendimi l'altra meta'
oggi ritorno da lei
primo Maggio,su coraggio!
Io ti amo
e chiedo perdono
ricordi chi sono
apri la porta
a un guerriero di carta igienica.
Dammi il tuo vino leggero
che hai fatto quando non c'ero
e le lenzuola di lino
dammi il sonno di un bambino
Che "ta" sogna cavalli e si gira
e un po' di lavoro
fammi abbracciare una donna
che stira cantando.
E poi fatti un po' prendere in giro
prima di fare l'amore
vesti la rabbia di pace
e sottane sulla luce.
Io ti amo e chiedo perdono
ricordi chi sono
ti amo, ti amo,ti amo
ti amo ti amo
dammi il tuo vino leggero...
che hai fatto quando non c'ero
e le lenzuola di lino
dammi il sonno di un bambino
Che "ta" sogna cavalli e si gira
e un po' di lavoro
fammi abbracciare una donna
che stira cantando.
E poi fatti un po' prendere
in giro
prima di fare l'amore
vesti la rabbia di pace
e sottane sulla luce.
io ti amo,
ti amo, ti amo
ti amo, ti amo ...

Ti amo, God how I love you so
My heart just won't let go
Day after day I'm still holding on
Even though you're gone
Ti amo, wasn't I good to you?
I did all that I could do
To make you want to be here with me
I thought you loved me
I can't believe you could just turn and leave
You did it so easily
You pulled my world out from under me
Look what you've done to me
How could you end it this way
After the love that we made?
God how I wish you had stayed
Can't you see that I just want you back?
Ti amo, I never had a clue that I was losing you
You never once let me know you were letting me go
Oh, I guess it was there in your eyes
Guess it was there in your sighs
Guess it was there in your lies
I was blind then, couldn't face the end
Ti amo, thought we'd go on and on
Thought we had something strong
You pulled my world out from under me
Look what you've done to me
How could you end it this way
After the love that we made?
God how I wish you had stayed
Can't you see that I just want you back?
Ti amo, God how I love you so


My heart just won't let go
Day after day I'm still holding on
Even though you're gone
Guess it was there in your eyes
Guess it was there in your sighs
Guess it was there in your lies
I was blind then, couldn't face the end
Ti amo, thought we'd go on and on
Thought we had something strong
You pulled my world out from under me
Look what you've done to me
How could you end it this way
After the love that we made?
God how I wish you had stayed
Can't you see that I just want you back?
Ti amo, wasn't I good to you?
Did all that I could do
To make you want to be here with me
I thought you loved me
I can't believe you could just turn and leave
You did it so easily
You pulled my world out from under me
Look what you've done to me
Ti amo, God how I love you so
My heart just won't let go
Day after day I'm still holding on
Even though you're gone ...

Andrea Bocelli and Giorgia – Lo Vivo Per Lei – I Live For Her

Courtesy of ArcanaIntellego

Lyrics for Lo Vivo Per Lei in Italian then English from justsomelyrics I should point out that Giorgia is also singing in German, no translation for those parts.

Vivo per lei da quando sai
la prima volta l'ho incontrata
non mi ricordo come ma
mi è entrata dentro e c'è restata
Vivo per lei perché mi fa
vibrare forte l'anima
vivo per lei e non è un peso
Vivo per lei anch'io lo sai
e tu non esserne geloso
lei è di tutti quelli che
hanno un bisogno sempre acceso
come uno stereo in camera
di chi è da solo e adesso sa
che è anche per lui, per questo
io vivo per lei
È una musa che ci invita
a sfiorarla con le dita
atraverso un pianoforte
la morte è lontana
io vivo per lei
Vivo per lei che spesso sa
essere dolce e sensuale
a volte picchia in testa una
è un pugno che non fa mai male
Vivo per lei lo so mi fa
girare di città in città
soffrire un po' ma almeno io vivo
È un dolore quando parte
Vivo per lei dentro gli hotels
Con piacere estremo cresce
Vivo per lei nel vortice
Attraverso la mia voce
si espande e amore produce
Vivo per lei nient'altro ho
e quanti altri incontrerò
che come me hanno scritto in viso
io vivo per lei
Io vivo per lei
sopra un palco o contro ad un muro
Vivo per lei al limite
anche in un domani duro
Vivo per lei al margine
Ogni giorno una conquista
la protagonista sarà sempre lei
Vivo per lei perché oramai
io non ho altra via d'uscita
perché la musica lo sai
da vero non l'ho mai tradita
Vivo per lei perché mi da
pausa e note in libertà
Ci fosse un'altra vita la vivo
la vivo per lei
Vivo per lei la musica
Io vivo per lei
Vivo per lei è unica
Io vivo per lei

I live for her, you know
the first time I met her
I do not remember how, but
I came in and stayed there
I live for her because she makes
soul vibrate so strongly
live for her and not a burden
I live for her too, you know
and do not be jealous
she belongs to all those who
have a need always on
as a stereo in the bedroom
to someone who is alone and now knows
which is also for him, for this
I live for her
She is a muse who invites us
to brush with your fingers
Through a piano
death is far away
I live for her
I live for her who often knows
be sweet and sensual
sometimes she stuns a
is a blow that never hurts
I live for her, I know I am
travel from town to town
suffer a bit 'but at least I live
It is painful when she leaves
I live in hotels for her
Grows with supreme pleasure
I live for her in the vortex
Through my voice
expands and produces love
I live for you I have nothing else
and others who meet
like me who have written on their faces
I live for her
I live for her
on a dais or against a wall
I live for her to the limit
even in a harsh tomorrow
I live for you on the edge
Every day a conquest;
the protagonist will always be her
I live for her because now
I have no other way out
because the music you know
to be true I never betrayed
I live for her because she gives me
pause and notes with freedom
If there were another life I'd live
I live for her
I live for her music
I live for her
I live for you is unique
I live for her

Luciano Ligabue - Regalami il Tuo Sogno – Entrust Me With Your Dream

 

Courtesy of TheNewCitizen
Fotografia di Ligabue

No need to include the lyrics separately as they appear on screen in Italian and English.

Laura Pausini – Ascolta Il Tuo Cuore – Listen To Your Heart

Courtesy of vicpasvicpas

Lyrics for Ascolta Il Tuo Cuore in Italian then English from lyricstranslate

Ehi adesso come stai?
Tradita da una storia finita
E di fronte a te l'ennesima salita.
Un po' ti senti sola,
Nessuno che ti possa ascoltare,
Che divida con te i tuoi guai,
Mai! tu non molare mai!
Rimani come sei,
Insegui il tuo destino,
Perch tutto il dolore che hai dentro
Non potrai mai cancellare il tuo cammino
E allora scoprirai
Che la storia di ogni nostro minuto
Appartiene soltanto a noi.
Ma se ancora resterai,
Persa senza una ragione
In un mare di perch

Dentro te ascolta il tuo cuore
E nel silenzio troverai le parole.
Chiudi gli occhi e poi tu lasciati andare,
Prova a arrivare dentro il pianeta del cuore

difficile capire
Qual la cosa giusta da fare
Se ti batte nella testa un'emozione.
L'orgoglio che ti piglia,
Le notti in cui il rimorso ti sveglia
Per la paura di sbagliare,
Ma se ti ritroverai
Senza stelle da seguire
Tu non rinunciare mai

Credi in te! Ascolta il tuo cuore!
Fai quel che dice anche se fa soffrire.
Chiudi gli occhi e poi tu lasciati andare,
Prova a volare oltre questo dolore.

Non ti ingannerai
Se ascolti il tuo cuore,
Apri le braccia fino quasi a toccare
Ogni mano, ogni speranza, ogni sogno che vuoi
Perch poi ti porter fino al cuore di ognuno di noi.

Ogni volta, che non sai cosa fare,
Prova a volare, dentro il pianeta del cuore.

Tu tu prova a volare
Do do do dov' il pianeta del cuore.

Tu tu tu dentro il pianeta del cuore

Hey, how are you now?
Betrayed by a story that has ended
and in front of you the way out
you feel alone a little bit
there is no one to listen to you
that shares your problems with you
never! dont let it go ever
stay as you are
follow your destiny
because all the pain that you have inside
can never cancel your way
and now you'll discover
that the story of our every minute
belongs only to us
but if you still remain
lost without a reason
in a sea of 'why'

listen to your heart inside of you
and in the silence you'll find the words
close the eyes and then go away
try to come to the planet of your heart

it's difficult to understand
what is the right thing to do
if the emotion hits you in the head
the pride that takes you
the nights in which remorse wakes you up
for the fear of making an error
but if you find yourself
without a star to follow
dont ever give up

Believe in yourself! Listen to your heart!
do what it says, even if it makes you suffer
close the eyes, and let yourself go
try to fly over this pain

You wont deceive yourself
if you listen to your heart
open your arms to touch
every hand, every hope, every dream that you want
because later it will take you to every heart

everytime, when you dont know what to do
try to fly, to the plant of the heart

you, you, try to fly
to the planet of your heart

you, you, you to the plant of the heart

 

More Sunday Songs can be found by visiting 5 Minutes Just for Me

Image from Five Minutes Just For Me

Buono Domenica Tutti – Buon San Valentino

This is the image and final words that I used in my Valentine post last year, to read what else I had to say visit the post here.

LOVE IS FOR EVERY DAY NOT JUST ST VALENTINES

knots of love

Friday, February 11, 2011

Friday Photo–Daffodils

 

Copyright All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection

Our first daffodils are in bloom. Can you spot the stone heart I posted on Beautiful World yesterday?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Fastweb and George Clooney – Italian Advertising Series No 7

 

Fastweb is an Italian based broadband telecommunications company, internet and television on demand company that was founded in 1999 in Milan, though is now 82% owned by Swisscom. 

George Clooney who already stars in a series of television commercials in Italy has now expanded his repertoire and in these latest adverts we even have the treat of him speaking, albeit very few lines, but they are in Italian.

He is popular with the Italian public not just for his love of Italy but his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, these facts make him an ideal spokesman for advertising products here.  No doubt the success of his latest advertising campaign  for  Nespresso Italian Advertising Series No 3  and Nespresso - Italian Advertising Series No 4, encouraged Fastweb to hire him for their own.

 

The first commercial appeared in January and I have been planning to share it here, but already a second one has appeared so I decided it was time to share them while they are still relevant, it seems this may be just the start of the series.

First commercial.

Courtesy of EnricoDTL

Fastweb Man “ Benvenuti in Fastweb Mr. Clooney”  (Welcome to Fastweb Mr. Clooney.)


George  “E' un piacere “  (It's a pleasure.)


Lady  “Oh che carino! Lei sembra proprio George Clooney”.  (Oh how nice! You look just like George Clooney.)                                                                                                      

“Potrebbe fare la sua controfigura, sa? “ (  You could be his stand-in, you know? )

George  “ Certo “ ( “True” )

 

Second Commercial.

Courtesy of mikmarcotube

This second commercial was first aired just a few days ago on February 6th just two days after Fastweb launched a new fibre optics TV service in Milan, Rome, Turin, Genoa, Bologna, Naples and Bari to surf the Internet with the highest levels of reliability and performance according to their press release.

This time George complete with yellow helmet goes underground to run the cables underneath the city streets. He of course does not go unnoticed, a young woman who sees him can not believe her eyes!  His response is “Sono io” ( “It is I” ).  She is lead quietly away by the disbelieving officer who on asking her if all is OK “Tutto Bene” thinks that she must be disturbed thinking she has seen George Clooney popping up out of a manhole!

Good fun and I look forward to the next one. Yes as some of you already know I enjoy the adverts here in Italy more than the programmes!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Top Ten Posts From The Bloggers in Italy – February 6th 2011

 
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 Top Ten Posts From The Bloggers In Italy

I am very flattered to be included in this weeks list at italytutto - the blog about the blogs and bloggers in Italy  with my photo collage of the wind causing rough water Friday Photo on Lago di Bolsena on February 5th 2011.

 

6 Feb: Top Ten Posts From The Bloggers In Italy

The choice this week of the top ten posts from the English-language bloggers in Italy, in alphabetical order are:-

 

A Certain Simplicity: Resilience and style – the anatomy of an Italian barn restoration
An organic project entrenched in imperfection

Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino: A carnevale ogni scherzo vale
Whatever they are called, fried pastries are delicious

Ciao Amalfi: Know your pasta
A fun infographic chart to identify the 100s of different types of pasta

Goat Berries: The goats get ready for World Nutella Day
Even the goats are interested!

Italian Notebook: Cauliflower Fritters
With sugar?

Italy to Los Angeles and Back: Playful differences and similarities of Italian vs. American Life
Guaranteed to make you smile

Knowing Rome: Caesar’s Wives – an interview with author and teacher, Annelise Freisenbruch
The role of women in Roman society

News from Italy: Lago di Bolsena
Strong winds and rough water

NYC/Caribbean Ragazza: Drink your eggs – Trionfale Market
The freshest in the market

Rome the Second Time: Parking a scooter in Rome
Everything you need to know about parking a scooter.

 

I enjoy reading this feature on a regular basis and through italytutto have discovered lots of great blogs on Italy which I hope some of you will now maybe discover for yourselves.

I have some new readers, followers, friends that may be unaware that I have been honoured to have been selected to appear on this list on a number of previous occasions, so I have included the links to the earlier posts.

Our Garden in July , Montefiascone Fiera del Vino 2010  Grape Harvest and Winemaking and Our Garden In October

Thankyou italytutto for all the sterling work you do towards keeping the wonderful community of Italy Bloggers connected with each other, of which this weekly list is just one example.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Sunday Song – Announcement – Love Is In The Air

 

No Sunday Song this weekend from me, but I wanted to let you know what will be happening here next week, as Sunday is the day before Valentines Day, Natasha from Five Minutes Just For Me has decided to set up a special edition of Sunday Song.

I will join in with a selection of Romantic Italian Songs.  Why not join us, or if you prefer let me know your choices which I will feature and give you credit for with a link to your blog. Just let me know.

Image from Five Minutes Just For Me

 

Image from Five Minutes Just For Me

I hope you will be able to join us on the 13th!

If you are new to the concept of Sunday Song you might enjoy some of my old posts.

News from Italy: Sunday Song – Jovanotti – Ora - Tutto L'Amore Che ...

News from Italy: Sunday Song – L'appuntamento – Ornella Vanoni or ...

News from Italy: Sunday Song – Lili Rocha – Selection

News from Italy: Sunday Song - Elisa Toffoli -

News from Italy: Sunday Song - Canzone Dell'Amore Perduto ...

News from Italy: Sunday Song - Eros Ramazzotti - Il cammino

News from Italy: Sunday Song–Yolanda Be Cool

 

Buono Domenica Tutti

Saturday, February 5, 2011

World Nutella Day 2011

 

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Hazelnut Catkins January 2011.  Copyright All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection

You may remember if you were reading News From Italy this time last year World Nutella Day 2010 that I do not like Nutella. As I live in the region where many of the hazelnuts that go into the production of Nutella are grown I felt that I should at least show my support.

I decided that the best way to do this was just to publish the link to friends of mine in the blogging world who are the organisers of World Nutella Day. They will be posting recipes and links to others joining in to celebrate, from all over the world.

 

 

Nutella was first developed in the Piedmont region of Italy in the  late nineteen forties by Pietro Ferrero who owned a patisserie in Alba, in the Langhe district, an area known for the production of hazelnuts.  The mixture was first sold as a solid block and was not sold as a creamy version until 1951 containing approximately 50% almond and/or hazelnut paste and 50% chocolate.

In 1963, Pietro's son Michele the creamy version was revamped named "Nutella". The first jar of Nutella left the Ferrero factory in Alba on 20 April 1964. The product was an instant success and remains widely popular. The estimated Italian production of Nutella averages 179,000 tons per year.

The exact recipe is of course a secret a closely guarded but the version of Nutella produced nowadays according to the product label,  are sugar and vegetable oils (most of which is palm oil), followed by hazelnut, cocoa solids and skimmed milk, which together are at most 29% of the ingredients.  Under Italian law, it cannot be labelled as a chocolate cream, as it does not meet minimum cocoa solids concentration criteria. About half of the calories in Nutella come from fat (11 g in a 37 g serving, or 99 kcal out of 200 kcal) and about 40% of the calories come from sugar (20 g, 80 kcal).

Unfortunately Nutella is not the healthiest of foods, although of course a little of what you fancy never does you any harm. This caused problems for the product in June 2010 when  the European Parliament approved a draft measure requiring all processed foods to clearly label fat, salt and sugar contents and placing restrictions on advertising such foods. A ‘Hands Off Nutella’ Campaign was started last year but I have been unable to find any recent references to this, after an initial spate of articles when this was first announced. I have included a link to an article published by The Daily Telegraph at the time.

The links to the recipes – Enjoy but do not over do it!

http://www.nutelladay.com/     The site that co-ordinates World Nutella Day where Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy and Michelle from Bleeding Espresso (and Shelley from At Home in Rome, in spirit) solemnly declare Saturday, February 5th “World Nutella Day 2011″ – a day to celebrate, to get creative with, and most importantly, to EAT Nutella.

 

Tartine et pot de Nutella.jpg

With thanks to Wikipedia for the facts I have included here.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Friday Photo – Lago di Bolsena

 

Italytuttotoptenpost Badge 6th February Top Ten Posts From The Bloggers In Italy

Copyright All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection

I thought you might be interested to see what the lake was looking like yesterday with the strong winds causing rough water.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Festa Day for San Biagio in Marta – February 3rd 2011

 

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Today has been a local holiday in Marta, as February 3rd is the feast day for one of their Patron Saints, San Biagio in Italian. I know very little about Saint Blaise as he is known in English, apart from the information there is to be found on Wikipedia in English or Italian.  

Saint Biagio was born in the 3rd century AD  in Armenia, where he eventually became a physician and Bishop of Sebastea, Armenia, (modern day Sivas, Turkey). He blessed throats and effected many miracles, often depicted using crossed candles. The most common story that was explained to us this morning is the saving of a child’s life, by getting him to eat bread after fish bones were stuck in the child’s throat. Of course this is nowadays a well known way of clearing fish bones lodged in the throat, but now you know where the idea originates from.

This morning in Marta there was a mass held in his honour, which the locals tell us is a very important service for the blessing of throats, as it is believed he will intercede in the case of throat illnesses. After mass the service continues with a procession through the streets of Marta with a hymn and prayers in his honour throughout the parade.

Afterwards the festa atmosphere continues with locals enjoying a passegiata and perusing the usual stalls that appear on such occasions.

Piazza Umberto Marta

The bells ringing as Mass ends.

Fur coats out in force in the Commune of Marta this morning, it was bitterly cold.

 

I have chosen a small selection of photos to share with you here, the full set can viewed at Flickr.com in my album entitled

Festa Day for San Biagio, clicking on the link will take you directly there.

Copyright All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection except the print which is courtesy of sanbiagiomodena.it