Learn Italian: 10 songs that will sweeten your language skills

Singing together - and then eating too! ^{_{Photo: adobe.stock/Davide Angelini}}

From our editorial team

Grammar is good. But music is better. Anyone learning Italian knows that there is no better way to learn the language than through Italian songs. They're fun, stick in your head - and help you learn vocabulary, develop a feel for the language and take cultural excursions from the sofa.

The melodies are catchy and automatically help to internalise difficult expressions and irregular verbs in a way that feels completely natural. The songs also give you direct access to different dialects and regional accents, which improves your overall understanding of the language. Here are ten songs that will improve your Italian - and touch your heart:

1. "Azzurro" - Adriano Celentano

A true classic from the 1960s, written by Paolo Conte and sung by Italy's cult entertainer Adriano Celentano. "Azzurro" literally means "sky blue" and in the song stands for a day full of sunshine, but clouded by loneliness and melancholy thoughts. The contrast between the cheerful-sounding melody and the rather sad content is what makes the song so special.

Learning aid: Colours, simple sentence structures, present tenses, everyday language - ideal for beginners to immerse themselves in authentic Italian.

2. "L'italiano" - Toto Cutugno

A song that has almost become the unofficial national anthem. "L'italiano" - which translates as "The Italian" - is full of typical Italian motifs: espresso, fashion, family, Ferrari, pasta and the Catholic Church. In it, Toto Cutugno ironically and lovingly pokes fun at the idiosyncrasies of his fellow countrymen and celebrates Italian identity at the same time. The song has become a huge success abroad and is particularly popular with Italy lovers.

Learning aid: Cultural terms, national pride, idioms, typical Italian vocabulary from everyday life and the media.

3. "Felicita" - Al Bano & Romina Power

"Felicita" means "happiness" - and that's exactly what the song is about: small moments that make life beautiful. The 80s hit by cult duo Al Bano & Romina Power has a simple musical structure, with lots of repetitions and clear language. Particularly nice: the two sing in alternation, which trains listening comprehension.

Learning aid: Emotional vocabulary, simple nouns and verbs, sentence structure in the present tense - perfect for repetition and for singing along.

4. "Come saprei" - Giorgia

This soulful ballad from the 1990s has made Giorgia one of the best voices in Italy. "Come saprei" means about "As I would know" or "How I would like to know" - It is about love, empathy and the difficulty of expressing feelings correctly. Giorgia's clear articulation and melodic voice help with comprehension and repeatability.

Learning aid: Conditional sentences (conditional), emotional language, intonation - ideal for advanced learners who want to develop a feeling for sentence melodies.

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5. "Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu)" - Domenico Modugno

A song that has made Italy world-famous. "Volare" means "to fly" and won the Sanremo Festival in 1958 and went on to become an international hit. The lyrics are poetic and dreamlike, full of imagery. It is about flying, freedom and the feeling of being one with the blue sky. A song for dreaming - and for learning Italian.

Learning aid: Metaphors, verb forms (especially "volare"), colours, alternating subjunctive and present tense - a classic for listening comprehension.

6. "Musica leggerissima" - Colapesce & Dimartino

A modern hit that became a catchy tune at the 2021 Sanremo Festival. "Musica leggerissima" means "very light music" and thematises the longing for lightness in a heavy world. Despite the danceable rhythm, the lyrics have depth and social criticism. The language is contemporary, with many idioms taken from modern everyday life.

Learning aid: Everyday vocabulary, idioms, present tense, recognising irony - for advanced learners with a sense of context.

7. "Zitti e buoni" - Måneskin

Italy can rock too! The song with which Måneskin won the ESC 2021 is loud, rebellious and full of energy. "Zitti e buoni" means something like "quiet and well-behaved" - ironically, of course. The language is youthful, snotty and sung very quickly. Ideal for venturing into colloquial language and modern pronunciation.

Learning aid: Slang, youth language, fast articulation, pronunciation training under real conditions - a challenge with a fun factor.

8. "Che fantastica storia è la vita" - Antonello Venditti

This song is almost a short novel in song: "What a fantastic story life is". In poetic images, Venditti tells of the highs and lows of life, of encounters and decisions. The music is calm, the language elevated, but easy to understand. If you want to learn Italian in a "literary" way, this is the right place for you.

Learning aid: Train narrative form, reflection, vocabulary from everyday and educational contexts, sentence intonation and narrative language.

9. "Sei nell'anima" - Gianna Nannini

Gianna Nannini's smoky voice goes straight to the heart. In German, "Sei nell'anima" means "You are in my soul" or "You are in the soul". The song is about inner connection despite separation - intense and emotional. The language is clear but full of meaning. Ideal for advanced students who are interested in content and want to work with song lyrics.

Learning aid: Emotional expression, past tense, dealing with poetic language - for all those who want to go into depth.

10. "La vita com'è" - Max Gazzè

A tongue-in-cheek song about life and its absurdities. "That's life" - beautiful, annoying, funny, sad. Max Gazzè plays with language and tempo, the song is rhythmically varied and stays in the ear. Also ideal as an introduction to modern Italian pop music.

Learning aid: Change of perspective, irony, contrasts, advanced vocabulary in an accessible musical framework.