Learn Italian in Song: Sentimento, Pentimento

Feeling, Regret

Recorded by Neri Per Caso (“Black by Accident”), an a capella group, this song demonstrates a very Italian – and very healthy – attitude towards sex. (The video is more questionable.)

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Learn Italian in Song: Sandokan

as sung by… Claudio Baglioni???

I noticed that someone had ended up on my site while searching for these lyrics. Sandokan, the Tiger of Malaysia, is an old favorte of mine, so I’m happy to fill this gap.The video above is a montage that gives you an idea what the TV show was like, using the song as recorded for the show. Below you’ll find a sing-along version!It’s not a great song in any way, but the show and song are fondly remembered by many (including me, though I saw it in later re-airings).

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Learn Italia in Song: La Pulce d’Acqua

The Water Flea


Music by Angelo Branduardi, lyrics by Luisa and Angelo Branduardi,
1977

This cheerful, Renaissance/Baroque-inspired tune makes a great kids’ song. It’s an old favorite of mine from when Enrico introduced me to Branduardi’s music during one of my first trips to Italy. A few years later, travelling together across the northern US, we were astonished to hear it in a Muzak version at a truck stop in Pennsylvania.In this (unfortunately poor-quality) video you can see another celebrated aspect of Branduardi: his famous mane of hair (one Italian word for which would be zazzera).

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Deirdré Straughan on Italy, India, the Internet, the world, and now Australia