Memories from childhood are particularly sweet, for music as for everything else.
My father was in his thirties when I was born, and his mother was in her late thirties when he was born, so my music memories are of Carlo Buti records, which my grandmother, who lived with us for a good part of the time, loved, Italian folk songs, which she loved and sang, and my father's opera. I think the first song I learned to sing was "Quel mazzolin di fiori".
I learned to dance to Carlo Buti songs, with my feet on top of my father's shoes. He was opera mad so that was always playing.
As for "modern" music, I remember Mina, and fun songs my mother played, like an old record of Marina, or Volare, things like that, and then the music of the 60s and 70s. My father wanted me to be just like Gigliola Cinquetti, which is why I know her songs so well. Then, of course, my own taste determined my "play list". By the later years I was only in Italy in the summer except for that one university year, and there was no internet so I couldn't listen to Italian radio the way I do now, so some songs I missed. Celentano, except for a few songs, just wasn't on the list. I wasn't a big fan of Al Bano and Romina Power, either, although I liked some of their songs. We're all different. As an adult, and here in America, I was exposed to the traditional Neapolitan canon and now adore it. I also now adore pizzica music.
I have lots of favorites, although favorites tend to change a bit. I've posted their songs above. My tastes run to pop and rock in terms of "modern" Italian music.
An homage to the past...Gigliola Cinquetti...I'm not old enough...
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