Sporting events Olympics make Italo hits popular again
The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo are also making Italian pop songs popular again. These are songs that had been somewhat forgotten.
08.02.2026, 05:12
08.02.2026, 05:13
SDA
On the first day, spectators at many competition venues sang along to "Nel blu, dipinto di blu", which is better known internationally as "Volare". The song from 1958 - originally by Domenico Modugno and Johnny Dorelli - was also part of the central opening ceremony at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. However, there was some criticism of the interpretation by US pop diva Mariah Carey. The fact that the Italian text for the American was read out loud on the teleprompter was also met with derision.
The classic "Azzurro" by Adriano Celentano was often heard during the competitions. During the speed skating competitions, it was played by a brass band from the Netherlands. At the opening ceremony, the organizers opted for a different Celentano song, "Prisencolinensinainciusol", which sounds very English but is written in an invented language.
Celentano comes from Milan. However, the now 88-year-old did not make an appearance at the opening of the games in his home city. On the sidelines of the competitions, "Felicità" by Al Bano and Romina Power and "Sarà perché ti amo" by Ricchi e Poveri were also often played.
