Ciao e benvenuto a tutti! If you are reading this post, you have found my tenth blog, or in Italian, il mio decimo post sul blog. And if that is not music to your ears, then today’s topic will surely get you movin’ to the beat. Just like in America, music is a staple of Italian culture. Yet the Italians take the melody to a completely different realm than the pelvis-shaking pizzazz of Elvis Presley and the booming bass of Drake. Come along with me as I unfold the symphony of the big boot’s rich music taste.

It may come as no surprise that much of the traditional popular music in Italy took its roots in opera. Even entering the 1900’s, many songs relied on the bellowing talent of an opera singer. Perhaps one of the most iconic songs, O Sole Mio (1898) features the profound, elongated melodies and the large octave range of an opera song. Songs like O Sole Mio are well-known even among young children today and have been covered by Italian greats like Luciano Pavarotti and even Elvis himself. Fast forward to the mid and late 20^th century, and artists still marched to the beat of the same drum. Lucio Dalla’s Caruso (1986) and Andrea Bocelli’s Con te Partirò (1995) are just a few songs that mimic this iconic style. In addition, many of these famous pieces have been covered by various artists and groups over the years. Namely, the young trio Il Volo remasters several classics, causing songs like Caruso to hit a high note.

Just like everywhere else in the world, however, Italians’ music tastes evolved over the years. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the Italians decided to jazz up their songs with stylistic elements from jazz. Popular hits like Tu Vuò Fa’ L’Americano (1956) and Volare, Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (1958) carried swingy melodies and jazzy percussion elements. And if that’s not enough of a change in tempo, the music once again shifted to conform to the rising style of pop in the 1980’s and 1990’s. It was during this time that some of the catchiest Italian songs were released. Personally, one of my favorite singles, Totò Cutugno’s L’Italiano (1983) was released during this period. This song truly embodies Italian culture, as it describes common “stereotypes” and expresses pride in these commonalities. Lines like “Buongiorno Italia, Buongiorno Maria” resonate with many, especially because it seems like a third of Italian women have some variation of the name Maria. And while a song about being Italian seems like it would be tone deaf, the entirety of Italy and I assure you that it is worth its legendary status.

Nowadays, Italian music has diverged into two prominent categories: pop and hip-hop. Names like Irama, Fedez, and Ana Mena thrill the younger population with upbeat tunes. If you enjoy songs like Danza Kuduro, chances are, you will like the similarly styled Italian songs, like Irama’s Una Cosa Sola and Fred De Palma’s TUTTO QUELLO CHE HO. If you are a larger fan of hip-hop, may I interest you in Sfera Ebbasta? His songs may not be to the same beat as those of Lil Baby, but his songs have gained traction internationally. As a matter of fact, he has even collaborated with Offset and Diplo. In short, Italian music has everything needed to please a broad audience. If you are interested in listening to a song, I will link a few below. With that, I will be signing off once more. Arrivederci!

Songs:

O Sole Mio

Volare

L’Italiano

Una Cosa Sola

Mezzanotte

Famoso

Sources:

Top 13 Italian Songs

Caruso Story

Ciao e benvenuto a tutti! I hope you came to this blog hungry. Before you stop reading here because you anticipate this to be the billionth blog about food and drinks, hear me out. Today, we are talking about Italian grandparents and their legacy. And what does Nonna love to do most? To put it simply, she loves cooking for her grandchildren. Still, I am sure that some are still not interested in today’s talk. Really, who wants to hear about grandparents? What you must understand is that there is more to the story than that. Seeing Nonni (Italian grandparents) as old people is like reading the first chapter of a novel and believing you understand the whole book. Trust me, you will want to read all the chapters to get the whole scoop (of gelato).

What separates the classic Nonno and Nonna from the rest of the grandparents on Earth is their lasting impact on their families. As a member of an Italian immigrant family myself, let me assure you that the love of an Italian grandparent extends way beyond anything else. A key attribute that grounds their passion for family is resilience. After the second World War, Southern Italy was left in shambles. A solid meal for an entire family was a loaf of bread, and townspeople lived among their livestock. For our young Nonni, their lifestyle was painful, and as they grew up, they became determined to prevent the same from happening to their children. Many thus moved to America for its promise, while others were not fortunate enough to leave. Regardless of their circumstances, however, Italian grandparents all faced hardships beyond imagination. Yet they never complained. They never took a day off. And most importantly, they never quit.

With the values of faith and family, they instilled the importance of hard, honest work into their children’s minds and nurtured them beyond their best ability. A story that particularly resonates with me is one that my aunt told me. As a teen, she had a mall day planned with her friends, but she needed money. Consequently, my aunt proceeded to ask my grandfather for money, and after some coaxing, he gave her a few dollars. Little did she know, that was the last of his money, and he selflessly gave it to her. This encounter demonstrates the tenderness Italians have towards family, especially those of younger generations. It is evident that this love has lasting impacts, as well. Compared to other cultures, Italians are known to have strong family bonds, and this is thanks to Nonna’s extensive care. Yet Nonni have a tough side harder than the volcanic rock of Mount Etna. When it comes to their children’s and grandchildren’s success, Italians are sticklers of good practices and conduct. However, due to their strictness, Italian Americans often have better experiences than preceding generations. And this leads me to my last point: as Italian Americans, we must never forget what our grandparents did for us. Words cannot express the adversity that out Nonni faced, nor can it express the debt we owe them. So whether you are Italian or not, let this inspire you to work harder and give more than what you think you can. Someone down the line did just that to guide your destiny; don’t let that hard work go to waste! Grazie e ci vediamo presto!

Ciao e benvenuto a tutti! It is grind season here in State College, and that got me thinking of grinds (as in coffee). To some of us, there is nothing better than a warm cup of joe to help power through a long night of studying. If you are a coffee enthusiast, you have probably fallen victim of the lines at one of the university Starbucks. After a week of hard work and little sleep, I too found myself ordering a cup of the limited-run Apple Crisp Macchiato. As a coffee lover who does not normally go to Starbucks, this was an exciting experience for me… until I took the first sip. The macchiato was entirely too sweet, and I questioned if the liquid inside my cup was even coffee. Frustrated, I decided that I needed to inform others of better coffee. Why waste money at Starbucks when you can make it on your own? By the end of the blog, you’ll be a star and save a ton of bucks! So let’s take a trip to Italy and experience a quality brew!

Of course, Italian coffee is not quite the same as American coffee. In Italy, venti and trenta mean twenty and thirty, not Starbucks sizes. In reality, the coffee comes in smaller cups than a tall. How could this be better than what we have in America? An Italian would respond to that by saying “Nella botte piccolo fa il vino buono,” which figuratively translates to “good things come in small packages.” The true forte of Italian coffee is its richness; despite coming in a shot glass-sized cup, espresso packs the same punch as an entire cup of brewed coffee. Because the flavor is much denser, espresso tastes more high-quality than your standard cup of coffee. And that’s just one of the perks of Italian coffee (that joke could have bean better)! Brewing espresso is also an awesome experience. Traditionally, Italians make espresso in a moka, a small pot with an iconic shape. Mokas consist of three parts: a bottom container, espresso tray, and top pot. To make coffee, you pour water into the bottom container. Then, that rises through the espresso tray (which is filled with coffee grounds) when the water boils. And finally, the hot espresso trickles into the top pot. If you do not have the patience for a moka, there are even professional machines that simply require you to place the coffee in a tray. The final product varies between these two methods, but both create an authentic flavor.

This sounds great, but what if you dislike the strong, bitter taste of espresso? Fear not, because you have a latte of options when it comes to sweetening your coffee (and latte is not one of them). The most iconic is a cappuccino, which adds milk and milk foam to a standard espresso. The coffee absorbs some of the sweeter taste of the milk, and it creates a delightful balance between sweet and bitter. The problem is, Italians do not tend to serve cappuccinos after 11 A.M. No need to worry, though, because you can also choose from options like the macchiato and caffèlatte (which feature less and more milk than a cappuccino, respectively). Of course, adding sugar is always an option, but some Italians strongly believe against using sugar to sweeten their espresso. Really, it comes down to whatever floats your gondola. This is all I have time for today, but if you are still curious, I have a link below that will show you some more variations of espresso that are worth trying. Arrivederci e buon caffè!

 

13 Types Of Coffee In Italy | A Sprinkle Of Italy