Nel blu, dipinto di blu is likely more well know as Volare. If you haven’t heard this song before, it’s about time. I think it’s likely the most famous song Italians have ever produced that doesn’t have an operatic voice singing it. Nel blu, dipinto di blu is a beautiful, surreal song that inspires with the sustained vowels sung by Modugno during the chorus.
Modugno’s from the south and often sung about typical life and was kind of funny. His other music is much more locally silly with sort of country Italian living at the forefront of his lyrics.
Volare charted #1 with a memorable harp that makes it the whole song seem fairy tale like, otherwise it has a big band sound run by the piano. It’s so easy to sing along, so I’m sure if you listen a few times you’ll be singing the pre-chorus with anyone you have around you, as it’s easy there are just Oh words, “Volare” (to fly), “Oh,” and “Cantare.” And of course, I love the lyrics, it’s about looking into a lover’s eyes and getting lost in a dream.
I think a dream like this would never happen again
I painted blue my face and hands
At an instant, a wind took me then
as I began flying in the sky that doesn’t end
To fly, oh-oh
To sing, oh-oh-oh-oh
In blue painted blue
up above, I’m happy, it’s true
And I flew, happily
Past the sun and even further away
Below, the world became smaller and went astray
just for me, music played sweetly
To fly, oh-oh
To sing, oh-oh-oh-oh
In blue painted blue
up above, I’m happy, it’s true
But every dream disappears with the sunrise because
When the moonsets it takes with her what was
to dream in your beautiful eyes, I continue
Like stars in a sky that are blue
To fly, oh-oh
To sing, oh-oh-oh-oh
In blue painted blue
up above, I’m happy, it’s true
And I continue to fly, happily
Past the sun and even higher
While the world became smaller and disappeared,, way down there
just for me, music played sweetly
To fly, oh-oh
To sing, oh-oh-oh-oh
In your eyes so blue
I’m happy to be down here… it’s true
In your eyes so blue
I’m happy to be down here with you… it’s true