If you’ve ever spent time in Italy, then you’ll have undoubtedly concluded that almost every presumption made about their great attention to aesthetically pleasing fashion, artwork, or music is pretty spot on! Many Italians, both north and south of Rome, continue to take great pride in how they appear and behave in almost every social occasion.
It was however, on my first experience of an Italian karaoke night in a local wine bar, when I had braced myself for an unholy shattering of this well-manicured illusion. Yet, even in all the cringe-worthiness that comes with karaoke, Italians manage to carry themselves with an undisputed class and stylishness, as if it were ordained by heaven.
So why is Italian karaoke on my mind?
Well, it’s firstly to tell you about some of the things I’ve learned about the mainstream music scene around Italy, particularly in the lovely region of Puglia. Then, I’d also like to drop you a list of some rather popular Italian songs, which you may want to get to know if you should ever find yourself living in Italia.
Just a quick disclaimer to anyone who doesn’t like Eurovision, this may not be for you!
Speaking of which, there’s a pretty common practice among some younger adults, of closely following headlining acts from Festival di Sanremo, which is held annually in a coastal city by the same name. Both during and after the festival, you might be told how fashionable it is not only to watch the performances, but to also commit to an intense week or fortnight of learning the highest trending songs off by heart.
And as you may have guessed, Sanremo 2025’s greatest hits have been circulating around every venue and mode of public transport in Italy since it’s live festival back in February, to a near nauseating degree.
That being said, there’s no denying Italy’s fairly respectable place in music history and its own very likeable though at times (as said previously) “stylishly cringey” collection of pop and rock hits. Many of these include artists from Rome and Naples (which oddly enough has quite a following in Puglia despite not understanding the dialect).
I don’t claim to be an expert in any way regarding what counts as “good” music, but I do claim to know a few groups among my own Italian social circle who have quite a deep love for some of the songs on the list below.
Final warning, I am not liable for any post-listening side effects which may include incessant humming, tapping, singing along, or gradual descent into earworm-driven madness.
Buon ascolto!
- Sal Da Vinci – Rossetto e caffè
- Tony Renis – Quando quando quando
- Tiziano Ferro – Sere Nere
- Giorgia – La Cura Per Me
- Maneskin – Torna a Casa
- Bruno Sas – L’albero delle noci
- Negramaro – Sei
- Lucio Battisti – Un’avventura
- Eros Ramazotti – Più Bella Cosa
- Domenico Modugno – Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu)
- Lucio Corsi – Volevo essere un duro
- Lùnapop – 50 Special
Ardent Writing 