The Italian classics were also played at the opening ceremony.Image: keystone
The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are also making Italian hits popular again. They are songs that have been somewhat forgotten.
02/08/2026, 08:3002/08/2026, 08:30
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 was played in spoken language on the teleprompter for the American also caused ridicule.
However, music is more celebrated during competitions. Classics like “Azzurro” by Adriano Celentano were often heard. A brass band from the Netherlands played it at the speed skating competitions. At the opening ceremony, the organizers chose another Celentano song, called “Prisencolinensinainciusol,” which sounds very English but is written in a made-up language.
Celentano comes from Milan. However, the now 88-year-old did not appear at the opening of the games in his hometown. On the sidelines of the competitions, “Felicità” by Al Bano and Romina Power as well as “Sarà perché ti amo” by Ricchi e Poveri often came off the production line.
(sda/dpa/con)