Top 20 Most Beautiful Italian Songs of All Time

An eleven-minute symphony celebrating the power of music. It begins as a whisper and builds to an insane climax. The lyrics describe music as comfort, as friend and as breath of life. The guitar solo, the choirs, the belts: everything fits. It's epic, bombastic and the ultimate Italian power ballad that consistently ranks high in the Top 2000.

A mysterious masterpiece. Who is Max? Nobody knows exactly, but the atmosphere is unmistakable. The buildup is slow, threatening and hypnotic, leading to that famous "Parapapara" scat singing. Conte whispers and hums. The orchestral arrangement is heavy and melancholic.

A tribute to the legendary tenor Enrico Caruso. Dalla wrote it in the same hotel in Sorrento where Caruso died. It's a masterpiece of storytelling and melody. The chorus "Te voglio bene assaje" is Neapolitan dialect and cuts through the soul. It's grand, romantic and deeply moving.

A beautiful, mid-tempo song that almost sounds gospel-like. It's about love making you fly. The melody is soothing and warm. Zucchero sings here with a softness that contrasts with his rugged appearance. It's a song that feels like coming home.

A vocal tour de force. The 1980s synthesizers are typical, but it's the voice of Antonella Ruggiero that makes this song legendary. The belt at the end is otherworldly high. "I feel you". It's about all-consuming passion. The energy is electric and compelling.

The song that made Eros world famous. A powerful pop ballad with a social message: if a song was enough to change the world. His distinctive nasal voice is at its strongest here. The choir at the end gives it a grand, unifying feeling.

Vasco Rossi is the Bruce Springsteen of Italy. This song, "A Reckless Life", is an anthem for everyone who refuses to become bourgeois. It finished second-to-last at Sanremo, but became a huge hit. The atmosphere is rebellious and laid-back.

The song about Marco who left and never came back. Pausini's debut is a monument of teenage heartache that became a worldwide hit. Everyone recognizes the piano intro. Her voice is powerful and pure. She sings about loneliness at school and on the train with an intensity that is universal.

The band that put Italian rock back on the map by winning Eurovision. It's vulgar, fast and bursting with attitude. The riff is inspired by Led Zeppelin and Franz Ferdinand. Damiano David sings with a charisma that's undeniable. "We're out of our minds".

A jazzy, smoky song that sounds like a black-and-white film. Conte's voice is like an old gramophone record: crackling and full of character. The piano hops cheerfully, while the lyrics describe a melancholic farewell. It's stylish, intellectual and irresistibly swinging.

Or whether it's the solo version or 'Time to Say Goodbye', this is modern opera for the masses. Bocelli's voice is warm, powerful and full of emotion. The song swells to a gigantic climax. It's about traveling to places you've never seen with someone you love.

The superlative of drama. Marco Borsato also scored with it, but the original by Cocciante is rawer and more desperate. He screams his love for Margherita. The buildup from soft whisper to total vocal surrender is masterful. You feel the pain in every fiber of his voice.

Better known in the Netherlands as the blueprint for Marco Borsato's "Dreams Are Deceit". The original is however more melancholic and less 'hup-holland-hup'. The guitar intro is iconic. Fogli sings about everyday stories and dreams that fade away.

Zucchero Fornaciari brought blues to Italy. This version (often with Paul Young) is a world hit. The groove is slow and soulful. His voice is like sandpaper: rough and lived-in. "No woman, no cry" in Italian. It's about independence and pain.

A mysterious, rock-like track that won the Sanremo festival in 1981. The lyrics are a modern adaptation of Beethoven's "Für Elise", but it's about a woman trying to save a man from his addiction. Alice sings with a heavy, dark voice. It's a bewitching song that deviates from the standard Italian ballad.

"Lasciatemi cantare". Perhaps the most famous Italian chorus in the world. It's a proud, but also melancholic enumeration of Italian stereotypes (pasta, partisans, blue suits). Although sometimes seen as kitsch, the melody is immortal. Cutugno sings with a warm, nonchalant voice.

The ultimate swoon song. The chorus is repeated so often that it becomes a mantra of love. The production is typical 1970s: full of strings and drama. Tozzi sings with a hoarse, pleading voice. It's about forgiveness and passion. A song that balances on the edge of melodrama, but gets away with it gloriously.

The most famous Italian song of all time. Modugno broke with tradition by spreading his arms wide while singing. It's an explosion of joy and freedom. The orchestral opening is dreamy, then the chorus ("Volare, oh oh!") bursts forth. It's the sound of the Italian summer and the dolce vita. Timeless heritage.

The winner of the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest. A fragile sixteen-year-old girl who sings that she "doesn't have the age" yet to love. The atmosphere is innocent and nostalgic. The melody is timeless and melancholic. A beautiful chanson that captures the purity of youth.

The ultimate Italian disco song. Raffaella Carrà was an icon of style and liberation. The beat is tight, the rhythm irresistible and the lyrics are a celebration of love. The song, later sampled by Bob Sinclar, bursts with energy. It's the sound of a sultry evening in Rome.