berlusconi singing for his cena*, sort of
Well you can’t say Silvio Berlusconi, who turns 72 next month, isn’t entertaining.
No seriously. He entertains.
This former cruise ship singer, media mogul, and–oh yeah–Prime Minister of Italy is currently producing a CD of canzoni d’amore (love songs) with Neapolitan** singer Mariano Apicella.
Actually, this will be Berlu’s second set of compositions released by Apicella; the first was out during Berlusconi’s second time around as Prime Minister in 2003 and reached Italy’s Top 50.
The duo hope that the CD will be released in December (just in time for Christmas shopping!), but Apicella admits “it won’t be easy given all the (prime minister’s) responsibilities.”
Oh yeah…THOSE! Glad someone’s thinking about that.
Will you be buying the Berlusconi-produced CD?
And my *real* question:
When are we going to see Obama or McCain’s greatest hits?!
*Cena (CHAY-nah) in Italian means dinner/supper.
**Why isn’t it “Napolitan?” It’s not Neapoli, it’s Napoli! If anyone has answers, please share. This has always bothered me.
21 Beans of Wisdom to “berlusconi singing for his cena*, sort of”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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Have no clue on Napolitan vs Neapolitan. But, the CD might be good for target practice for the Spring hunting season.
I love how you’re into recycling/reusing, Gil 🙂
Michelle, I’ll be blunt. My answer is NO.
casalba’s last blog post..Riviera del Conero
I’m with you 😉
Oh, please! He already gets my tax dollars…he’s not getting my expendable income, too!
Saretta’s last blog post..Snails, anyone?
Excellent point, Saretta!
Thanks for the laugh! What is he thinking? Oh yeah, I forgot, he is a politician…what else would he be thinking!
So true….
Hey just found your blog today and looking forward to reading more! I love hearing music from the countries that I live in, and all over Europe. There is some music that I never would have liked before moving here. Dancehall, anyone? But McCain and Obama already made a list of their top hits, haven’t you seen it?
No I haven’t! Do share 🙂
Just a thought . . . anything that would distract Berlusconi from his “responsibilities” — getting himself and his cronies off the hook, pushing contracts his buddies’ way, etc. etc — might be a GOOD thing!
Kim B.’s last blog post..August 23. 2008 is very different than 2006!
Hah, I like that positive spin Kim!
I know La Berlusca is a total douchebag, but I have to say he totally makes me laugh. I love that he’s so OPENLY a douchebag, and he does weird stuff like this. And like the pirate shirt a couple summers ago! LOL He’s like my crazy old uncle who declares himself king of the BBQ, except La Berlusca does it for Italy and EVERYONE APPARENTLY LETS HIM.
It’s kind of like with Bush – I hate him with every fiber of my being, but when he speaks publicly I still pull for him to pronounce everything correctly and I’m totally nervous for him, as if I cared for him. I go through this internal struggle where I’m like, OMG PLEASE SAY EVERYTHING CORRECTLY, YOU CAN DO IT! and OMG YOU TOTALLY SUCK.
Miss Expatria’s last blog post..Succor
I hear you, although with Bush I’m kind of just hoping he doesn’t embarrass the country any more each time he steps up to a podium…but, like a train wreck, you just have to watch, you know?
I won’t be buying his CD but I will be cheering for his football team. AC Milan wins the Scudetto this year.
running42k’s last blog post..A late weekend report
And here I even try to stay away from his TV stations….
Perhaps he and France’s first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy could make a CD of duets together?
Diane Mandy’s last blog post..Happiness is…
Hahahahaha!
I want to meet Miss Expatria’s uncle.
It is Neapolitan because we draw the name from the Latin Neapolis, just as Firenze is Florence as drawn from Florentia. Is that boring that I know that crap, or what?
Judith in Umbria’s last blog post..Pasta alla Norciera
Not boring at all b/c now I get to know that crap too! Thanks Judith 🙂
And yes, a BBQ with Miss Expatria’s uncle would definitely be something….
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Also, I think the ancient Greek name for Naples was Neapolis, yes? I don’t know why that means we have to call the nnapuletani ice cream bars, but it makes about as much sense as dropping the ‘v’ in “Genova.”
Also, forza Roma.
paul of crazy like whoa’s last blog post..Day 9: 14,543 words HAH!
I hear you; I also don’t get why we can’t just say Roma or Milano but we’re cool with Parma, Bologna (except if it’s baloney), etc. I’m sure there is a historical basis, but it sucks 😉
Wow. That is pretty cheezy. Don’t think I’d be buying it. And not buying a duets album between the Obama and McWalkingCane either.
I would buy one from Bush because inevitably he would screw something up. The melody, the words. it would be something. He makes the best bloopers. Sad that thats the only thing he is good for though.
My Mélange’s last blog post..Travel Tip Tuesday : Finding Budget Accommodations in Europe
But what about a duet album with Obama and Hillary Clinton? I kid. I kid.
Cherrye and I were talking about a Bush album, actually…I would also love to see him dance to it 🙂
It’s “Nea” because the Greeks called the first settlement here “Neapolis,” meaning “new city.” That was 3000 years ago, though, so it’s one of the oldest new cities around…
Hilarious about Berlu’s CD… Sheesh… Why doesn’t he just stick to entertaining? I don’t know if you’ve ever seen “Boston Legal” but I caught it at my folks’ while I was back in the states and it struck me that Berlusconi is the Italian “Denny Crane.”
Oh, to answer your question, I *won’t* be buy Berlu’s CD. I’m saving up for Fratello Metallo’s latest! ;P
~Tui
mentalmosaic’s last blog post..Heavy Metal Monk and a Beauty Pageant for Nuns
I *knew* you’d know Tui! Thanks 🙂 And yes, definitely Denny Crane. EXCELLENT connection there.
Do you remember Clinton wailing on his sax on the Arsenio Hall show or are you too young? 😉
Um… McCain and music would freak me out. If Obama’s had anything to do with his rally choices, he ROCKS.
jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..Firelight’s fine – on to the next!
I remember Jen! Clinton was the first president I voted for 🙂
Btw… maybe Berlu, Bill and Carla Bruni can start a trio, just like Amy Tan, Stephen King, and Dave Barry (and I forget the others) have their “side” music project?
jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..Firelight’s fine – on to the next!
Now that would be something, wouldn’t it?!
Nope, I won’t be buying that. I’ll stick with the french president’s wife’s albums 🙂
poppy fields’s last blog post..Give us this day our daily bread story
I hear she has some interesting stuff, Meredith 😉
I guess McCain is still young too at 72 yrs. old. Let’s not talk about Bologna or baloney. My maiden name is Bellone and when I started school in America I got teased by everyone calling me baloney.
Since I was still learning english and being naive I would always correct them that it wasn’t spelled the same way, but they didn’t care they went by the sound. Talk about stupidity!
What about Torino e Turin during the Olympics?
Hey, I invite everyone to read the Italian version of Shelly’s quasiromana blog. Molto divertente!
Oh that must have been a scarring experience. No, let’s not go there.
And yes, you remind me that I need to link to Shelley’s new blogs! Will also mention them in a post soon 🙂
Almost Roman (English)
Quasi Romana (Italian)
Our politicians are too busy slinging *stuff* at each other and everyone around them to do anything nice like… singing.
Perhaps we will send them to Italy for a break, so that they can get the idea of enjoying life and all the things that make life lovely; good people, good food, good fun, good living… and then they will sing.
Meantime, it’s pretty hairy over here in Denver… the city has become a mob scene.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Wanderlust Scarlett’s last blog post..Watching Whale Rights
I was in Philly when the Republicans met there several years back…mob scene really is a good word for it. *So* frustrating to do the simplest, every day things! At least you have the good side there…although I *did* get to exchange smiles with Brian Williams (and Tom Brokaw) so all was not lost….
I would say he’s crossed the line with this one but he keeps moving the line.
Yeah, the line concept is a tricky thing around here, isn’t it?
I was still recovering from the news of his third stint in charge, and now he goes and gets a second job. Isn’t there really enough to do with running the country? Or does he have a union contract for 32 hours a week? That would leave at least an afternoon for the recording studio, right? To say nothing of the hour and a half a week for the tanning booth. People just don’t understand. It takes a special kind of guy to run a country like this.
So very true Diana. So very true.
Berlusconi
That man is a laughing stock of the whole world. How can someone so stupid, become so rich? By beeing a racist, coldhearted bastard. How can the italians vote for such a fool?
I have *no* idea, Jesper 🙁