Walking down the streets of Italy, it is not unusual to see people humming tunes or singing while going about their daily lives. Venetian gondoliers a singing Italian song as they row their boats, Neapolitan canzones sung aloud, Italian grandmas singing local tunes while hanging laundry on their balconies, Pavarotti performing Italian opera at La Scala… these are all realistic scenes you can imagine. As you can tell, Italian people’s lives are intertwined with songs and music.
But have you ever wondered why? We think that the reason lies in the nature of the Italian language itself.
Italian is great for rhyming because its words naturally end with one of just five vowels: a, e, i, o, u (or seven if you count the open and closed variations of e and o). This makes it easy to find words that sound good together. Imagine trying to write a song or poem—since many Italian words rhyme easily, creating smooth, flowing lines feels almost effortless. Plus, with the language’s musical quality and the way the tonic accent in Italian, accento tonico, often falls on the second-to-last vowel, the verses sound naturally beautiful. This is why Italian songs and poems often have such a pleasing and harmonious sound.
Learning Italian through Italian songs is a fantastic idea because it’s fun and lets you enjoy the musical elements of the language. Because of the nature of the Italian language, the lyrics blend perfectly with the music, making it a great way to learn the language with more than just your brain—your emotions get involved too.
Today, we will explore four iconic Italian songs that can help you learn Italian: “L’italiano” by Toto Cutugno, “Volare” by Domenico Modugno, “Azzurro” by Adriano Celentano, and “Sarà Perché Ti Amo” by Ricchi e Poveri.
1. “L’italiano” by Toto Cutugno
“L’italiano” is like a love letter to Italy and everything that makes it unique. When Toto Cutugno sings, he paints pictures of everyday Italian life. The song celebrates the small, charming details that define the Italian spirit and captures the feeling of being Italian, full of warmth, nostalgia, and a touch of national pride.
Italian Lyrics:
Lasciatemi cantare
Con la chitarra in mano
Lasciatemi cantare
Sono un italiano
Buongiorno Italia, gli spaghetti al dente
E un partigiano come presidente
Con l’autoradio sempre nella mano destra
Un canarino sopra la finestra
Buongiorno Italia con i tuoi artisti
Con troppa America sui manifesti
Con le canzoni, con amore
Con il cuore
Con più donne e sempre meno suore
Buongiorno Italia, buongiorno Maria
Con gli occhi pieni di malinconia
Buongiorno Dio
Lo sai che ci sono anch’io
Buongiorno Italia che non si spaventa
Con la crema da barba alla menta
Con un vestito gessato sul blu
E la moviola la domenica in TV
Buongiorno Italia col caffè ristretto
Le calze nuove nel primo cassetto
Con la bandiera in tintoria
E una Seicento giù di carrozzeria
Lasciatemi cantare
Con la chitarra in mano
Lasciatemi cantare
Una canzone piano piano
Lasciatemi cantare
Perché ne sono fiero
Sono un italiano
Un italiano vero
English Translation:
Let me sing
With a guitar in my hand
Let me sing
I am an Italian
Good morning Italy, al dente spaghetti
And a partisan as president
With the car radio always in the right hand
A canary on the window
Good morning Italy with your artists
With too much America on the posters
With songs, with love
With heart
With more women and fewer nuns
Good morning Italy, good morning Maria
With eyes full of melancholy
Good morning God
You know that I am also here
Good morning Italy that is not afraid
With mint shaving cream
With a pinstripe suit in blue
And slow-motion replays on Sunday TV
Good morning Italy with strong coffee
New stockings in the first drawer
With the flag in the dry cleaner
And a Seicento down for repair
Let me sing
With a guitar in my hand
Let me sing
A song slowly
Let me sing
Because I’m proud of it
I am an Italian
A true Italian
2. “Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu)” by Domenico Modugno
“Volare,” also known as “Nel blu dipinto di blu,” is a timeless classic that takes you on a journey through the sky. Domenico Modugno’s dreamy lyrics describe painting his hands and face blue and then being swept away by the wind to fly in an endless sky. The infectious chorus, “Volare, oh oh,” makes you want to spread your arms and soar with the music!
Italian Lyrics:
Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu
Poi d’improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito
Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
E volavo, volavo felice più in alto del sole
Ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva lontano laggiù
Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me
Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
Ma tutti i sogni nell’alba svaniscon perché
Quando tramonta la luna li porta con sé
Ma io continuo a sognare negli occhi tuoi belli
Che sono blu come un cielo trapunto di stelle
Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù
E continuo a volare felice più in alto del sole
Ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano scompare negli occhi tuoi blu
La tua voce è una musica dolce che suona per me
Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù
Con te
English Translation:
I think a dream like this will never come back
I was painting my hands and face blue
Then I was suddenly seized by the wind
And began to fly in the infinite sky
Fly, oh oh
Sing, oh oh
In the blue-painted blue sky
Happy to be up there
And I flew, I flew happily higher up than the sun
And higher yet
While the world slowly faded away down there
A sweet music was playing just for me
Fly, oh oh
Sing, oh oh
In the blue-painted blue sky
Happy to be up there
But every dream vanishes at dawn because
When the moon sets she takes them away with her
But I keep dreaming in your beautiful eyes
That are blue like a star-spangled sky
Fly, oh oh
Sing, oh oh
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be down here
And I keep flying happily higher up than the sun
And higher yet
While the world slowly disappears in your blue eyes
Your voice is a sweet music that plays for me
Fly, oh oh
Sing, oh oh
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be down here
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be down here
With you
3. “Azzurro” by Adriano Celentano
“Azzurro” is like a nostalgic trip back to those sunny summer days you never wanted to end. Adriano Celentano sings about spending all year looking forward to summer, only to feel a bit lonely when everyone heads to the beach, leaving him in the city. The song paints vivid pictures of whistling airplanes and childhood Sundays enjoying the sun. “Azzurro,” meaning blue, symbolizes the endless sky and the dreams it holds. Singing this song, it will make you smile as you remember your own summer adventures.
Italian Lyrics:
Cerco l’estate tutto l’anno
E all’improvviso eccola qua
Lei è partita per le spiagge
E sono solo quassù in città
Sento fischiare sopra i tetti
Un aeroplano che se ne va
Azzurro
Il pomeriggio è troppo azzurro
E lungo per me
Mi accorgo
Di non avere più risorse
Senza di te
E allora
Io quasi quasi prendo il treno
E vengo, vengo da te
Il treno dei desideri
Nei miei pensieri all’incontrario va
Sembra quand’ero all’oratorio
Con tanto sole, tanti anni fa
Quelle domeniche da solo
In un cortile, a passeggiar
Ora mi annoio più di allora
Neanche un prete per chiacchierar
Azzurro
Il pomeriggio è troppo azzurro
E lungo per me
Mi accorgo
Di non avere più risorse
Senza di te
E allora
Io quasi quasi prendo il treno
E vengo, vengo da te
Il treno dei desideri
Nei miei pensieri all’incontrario va
Cerco un po’ d’Africa in giardino
Tra l’oleandro e il baobab
Come facevo da bambino
Ma qui c’è gente, non si può più
Stanno innaffiando le tue rose
Non c’è il leone, chissà dov’è
Azzurro
Il pomeriggio è troppo azzurro
E lungo per me
Mi accorgo
Di non avere più risorse
Senza di te
E allora
Io quasi quasi prendo il treno
E vengo, vengo da te
Ma il treno dei desideri
Nei miei pensieri all’incontrario va
English Translation:
I look for summer all year round
And all of a sudden, here it is
She left for the beach
And I’m alone, up here, in town
I hear whistling over the rooftops
An airplane that is leaving
Blue
The afternoon is too blue
And long for me
I realize
I have no more resources
Without you
And so
I’m about to take the train
And coming, coming to you
But the train of desires
Goes the opposite way in my thoughts
It looks like when I was at the oratory
With so much sun, so many years ago
Those Sundays all alone
In a courtyard, strolling
I’m more bored now than back then
Not even a priest to talk to
Blue
The afternoon is too blue
And long for me
I realize
I don’t have resources anymore
Without you
And so
I’m about to take the train
And coming, coming to you
But the train of desires
Goes the opposite way in my thoughts
I’m looking for a bit of Africa in the garden
Between the oleander and the baobab
Like I used to do as a child
But there are people, it’s not possible anymore
They are watering your roses
The lion is not here, who knows where he is
Blue
The afternoon is too blue
And long for me
I realize
I have no more resources
Without you
And so
I’m about to take the train
And coming, coming to you
But the train of desires
Goes the opposite way in my thoughts
4. “Sara Perché Ti Amo” by Ricchi e Poveri
“Sarà Perché Ti Amo” is the ultimate feel-good love song that fills you with joy and energy. Ricchi e Poveri sing about the crazy, wonderful feeling of being in love, where everything seems brighter and more exciting. The song’s upbeat tempo and playful lyrics will make you want to dance around and sing out loud! It’s about those moments when love makes the world seem a little bit mad but in the best possible way. Whether it’s holding your loved one close or just feeling happy because they’re in your life, this song celebrates love’s magic and the happiness it brings.
Italian Lyrics:
Che confusione
Sarà perché ti amo
È un’emozione
Che cresce piano piano
Stringimi forte e stammi più vicino
Se ci sto bene
Sarà perché ti amo
Io canto al ritmo del dolce tuo respiro
È primavera
Sarà perché ti amo
Cade una stella
Ma dimmi dove siamo
Che te ne frega
Sarà perché ti amo
E vola vola si sa
Sempre più in alto si va
E vola vola con me
Il mondo è matto perché
E se l’amore non c’è
Basta una sola canzone
Per far confusione
Fuori e dentro di te
Ma dopo tutto
Che cosa c’è di strano
È una canzone
Sarà perché ti amo
Se cade il mondo
Allora ci spostiamo
Se cade il mondo
Sarà perché ti amo
Stringimi forte e stammi più vicino
È così bello
Che non mi sembra vero
Se il mondo è matto
Che cosa c’è di strano
Matto per matto
Almeno noi ci amiamo
E vola vola si sa
Sempre più in alto si va
E vola vola con me
Il mondo è matto perché
E se l’amore non c’è
Basta una sola canzone
Per far confusione
Fuori e dentro di te
English Translation:
What confusion
It must be because I love you
It’s an emotion
That grows slowly
Hold me tight and stay closer
If I feel good
It must be because I love you
I sing to the rhythm of your sweet breath
It’s springtime
It must be because I love you
A star falls
But tell me where we are
What do you care
It must be because I love you
And fly, fly, you know
We go higher and higher
And fly, fly with me
The world is crazy because
And if there is no love
One song is enough
To make confusion
Outside and inside of you
But after all
What’s so strange
It’s a song
It must be because I love you
If the world falls
Then we move
If the world falls
It must be because I love you
Hold me tight and stay closer
It’s so beautiful
That it doesn’t seem real
If the world is crazy
What’s so strange
Crazy for crazy
At least we love each other
And fly, fly, you know
We go higher and higher
And fly, fly with me
The world is crazy because
And if there is no love
One song is enough
To make confusion
Outside and inside of you
Learning Italian through Italian songs
By singing along these Italian songs and feeling the rhythm of the language, you can improve your pronunciation, expand your vocabulary, and gain a deeper appreciation for the musicality of Italian. So, why not make learning Italian with these Italian songs, a fun and musical adventure? Let these iconic songs be your guide, and enjoy the journey of mastering Italian in the most delightful way.
To learn more about Italian language learning and living and studying in Italy beyond these lovely Italian songs, don’t forget to follow Go! Go! Italia. Buon apprendimento! Happy learning!