Viral Georgian group, Niko’s Band, covers Annalisa

Niko’s Band visits Italian pop again with a cover of “Sinceramente,” the Festival di Sanremo entry from Annalisa.

Niko’s Band – Alone (cover of “Sinceramente”)

The band’s cover of the THE KOLORS’s “Italodisco,” which hit the top 20 most “Shazam’d” songs in the world at one point, has 40 million views on the official YouTube channel of Georgian network PosTV and millions more on TikTok. THE KOLORS recently complimented their cover and are looking forward to paying a visit to the group in their home country.

The group is featured on the TV show “Niko’s Show” and consists of lead female singer Manu Murghulia, “Niko host” Niko Nanitashvili, Amiko Chokharadze, Nanuka Porchkhidze, and band music director Dato Porchkhidze.

Niko’s Band – Georgian Disco
Niko’s Band – Georgian Disco with English lyrics

The band performs covers of all sorts of European pop hits including 80s French hit “Voyage, voyage” and Polish dance single “Przekorny los” from Akcent.

Niko’s Band – Voyage Voyage (cover of Desireless – Voyage, Voyage)
Niko’s Band – New Year (cover of Akcent – Przekorny los)

Recent French cover of 80s hit “Amore Disperato”

“Alabama” is a June 2023 release from French singer/actress Adèle Castillon. The electro pop single samples Nada‘s 1983 classic “Amore Disperato,” written by I Camaleonti founder, and Nada’s husband, Gerry Manzoli, and Varo Venturi.

Official video clip of Adèle Castillon – Alabama:

Nada performing “Amore Disperato” on “Popcorn,” music series broadcast on Canale 5 from 1980-1985:

For those that want a taste of both worlds, here’s a mashup of the above, posted from Youtuber Doudouard:

Lucio Battisti: David Bowie’s favorite singer

Lucio Battisti died 25 years ago September 9th at the age of 55 and is considered one of the most influential Italian pop artists of all time, recognized by artists worldwide. David Bowie once listed Lou Reed and Lucio Battisti as his two favorite singers. In 1974, he composed the English lyrics to a cover of Battisti’s “”Io vorrei… non vorrei… ma se vuoi” for friend Mick Ronson.

Battisti’s songs have been covered by international artists around the world, in English, Spanish, French, Croatian, Finnish, Greek, and Swedish.

cover of Mi Ritorni in Mente

cover of Balla Linda

Battisti recorded a number of albums in Spanish and in 1977, he relocated to Los Angeles and released an English album of some of his biggest hits.

Amarsi un po’

Even years after the release of his greatest successes, covers are continually recorded, even internationally.

cover of E penso a te

“Zucchero Day”; Los Angeles event promo

We’re entering the last week of Zucchero’s North American tour with Sugar visiting the west coast.

Tue, Sep 27Portland, ORREVOLUTION HALLtickets

Thu, Sep 29San Francisco, CAPALACE OF FINE ARTStickets

Fri, Sep 30Los Angeles, CASABAN THEATREtickets

Sat, Oct 1San Diego, CABALBOA THEATREtickets

Sun, Oct 2Tucson, AZFOX THEATRE

LA City Council Member Joe Buscaino declared September 30th Zucchero day in Los Angeles: “I am excited to proclaim September 30 Zucchero Day in Los Angeles, in recognition of Zucchero’s incredible contributions to Italian culture! Zucchero is hailed as ‘the father of the Italian blues’, having introduced the sweet sounds of blues music to Italy.”

Special 15% off ticket offer for the LA event:

Saban Theatre
8440 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
323-655-0111
FRI SEP 30, 2022 – 8:00 PM
Ages: Guests Under 18 Require Accompanying Adult

For 15% off, enter code LILAA22ZU in the Discount code box :
https://www.axs.com/events/428918/zucchero-tickets

Here’s a recent fun mash-up featuring Zucchero from Bruxxx Music Shaker, who commonly mashes up Italian pop with rock:

200k attend Notte della Taranta 2022

Some big names of pop performed at the final night of the annual pizzica festival in Salento, Puglia, last month including Elodie, Marco Mengoni, Stromae, Dardust, and Samuele Bersani. The annual event, since 1998, attracted 200k on its final night according to festival organizers.

Elodie, resident of Puglia, performs the popular Pizzica di San Vito
Mengoni performs traditional song Klama
A pizzica version of his hit “Alors on dance” from French superstar Stromae
Samuele Bersani performs ancient song from Gallipoli, Lu Rusciu de lu Mare (“The sounds of the sea”).

Zucchero US and Canada tour Sept 9 through Oct 2

A reminder that Zucchero’s world tour hits North America on September 9th in Atlantic City, NJ and goes across the US and Canada through October 2nd. For those in the Chicago and Detroit areas, visit our Facebook page and leave a comment in the last Zucchero post for a chance to win tickets to the shows in those cities.

Sep 9 – Atlantic City, NJ
Sep 10 – New York City
Sep 11 – Foxwoods Casino, CT
Sep 13 – Washington, DC (sold out)
Sep 14 – Washington, DC
Sep 16 – Boston
Sep 17 – Montreal
Sep 18 – Niagara Falls, ON
Sep 20 – Detroit
Sep 21 – Chicago
Sep 24 – Seattle
Sep 25 – Vancouver
Sep 27 – Portland
Sep 29 – San Francisco
Sep 30 – Los Angeles
Oct 1 – San Diego
Oct 2 – Tucson

Sting and Zucchero – Senza una Donna
Zucchero and Andrea Bocelli – Miserere

Bocelli was discovered by Zucchero during an audition for the featured part in “Miserere,” recorded by Luciano Pavarotti.

“Fiore di Maggio,” cover of Fabio Concato classic
Queen & Zucchero – We Are The Champions 

In Concert: Zucchero, Eros Ramazzotti, Diodato, Riccardo Fogli & Mal return to the US and Canada

Rescheduled 2020 tour dates from Zucchero and Eros arrive in the US and Canada in the second half of the year, along with Niagara Falls appearances from classic pop stars like Riccardo Fogli and Mal, and Hitweek is back with 2020 Sanremo winner Diodato in Miami and LA and Cosmo joining him in Miami.

Zucchero’s latest album, Discover, is a cover album containing international favorites like Coldplay’s “The Scientist” and Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” as well as Italian hits from Elisa, Fabio Concato, and Fabrizio De André. His 16-city tour begins on September 9th.

Ramazzotti’s album, Battito Infinito, will be released on September 16 and his US and Canada dates begin October 30th. The first new single was released last month and is titled “Ama.”

See our Events page for more details.

Zucchero – cover of Fabio Concato classic “Fiore di Maggio”
Eros new single “Ama” released on June 10th.
Diodato’s 2020 Sanremo winning song.
2017 single from singer-songwriter Cosmo
Fogli’s 1982 Sanremo winning song
theme song to TV series “Furia”, performed by Mal

Updated Philly-area radio listings; Italian Festival season

We’d recently updated radio program entries for the hour-long Philly-area shows titled “Viaggio Musicale.” Both shows feature pop music and provide news of interest to the Southeastern Pennsylvania, South New Jersey and Delaware Italian communities. On Sunday afternoons 2 to 3pm, Melissa Cannavo-Marino and Nick Alessandrini host the show on Philadelphia’s 860 AM – WWDB; on Sunday evenings, from 6 to 7pm, Cannavo-Marino produces the program broadcast out of Vineland, NJ’s 92.1, WVLT.

The unofficial start of summer begins next week and Italian-American festivals from Portland, ME to Honolulu are back. Some upcoming events:

May 19-21St Philip Neri Italian Festival
Fort Mill, SC
May 26-29Sons and Daughters of Italy Italian Festival
East Fishkill, NY
May 28La Festa dei Ceri/ Saint Ubaldo Day
Jessup, PA
May 28-30I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival
Santa Barbara, CA
June 3-5Festa Italiana, Kansas City, MO
June 3-5Festa Italiana, Madison, WI
June 512th Annual Italian American Heritage Festival
Media, PA (Philadelphia-area)
June 8 – 12The Feast of St. Anthony
Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY