Lucio Dalla “Caruso“
Te voglio bene assai
Ma tanto, tanto bene, sai
È una catena ormai
Che scioglie o’ sangue dint’e vene
I love you very much
Oh, so very much
It’s now a chain
That melts the blood inside our veins, you know
This is the chorus—and heartrending refrain—of “Caruso,” one of Italian musician and star Lucio Dalla’s most famous works. It was certified platinum by FIMI (A.K.A. the Federation of the Italian Music Industry) and has been covered by Julio Iglesias, Luciano Pavarotti, and Josh Groban.
Over the last week, I’ve listened to at least most of Dalla’s album once, and it’s clear to me that his status as a cultural icon known for his poetic lyrics, eclectic style, and a mixture of influences like classical, jazz, and fado make his music some of the loveliest I’ve ever heard
The Creation of Caruso
Dalla wrote “Caruso” in dedication to the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso written at the Sorrentine Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. While Dalla had intended to leave Sorrento, a broken boat made him remain. In an ironic twist, Dalla booked the same hotel room that Caruso had lived in when at the Excelsior Vittoria.
While at the hotel, Dalla heard stories of Caruso’s last time at the Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. Despite Caruso’s throat cancer, he continued to teach his love—a young, female student named Dorothy Park Benjamin—how to sing.
Dalla’s tribute echoes this concentration of love and death into a ballad with subtle references to Caruso’s life such as his success as an artist in America and, later, his last years of life in Naples.
Local Love for Lucio Dalla
Even now, decades since “Caruso’s” release, the adoration Sorrento has for Dalla is palpable!
Near the train terminal, the Neapolitan street artist Jorit painted Dalla in vivid blue hues and ornate, intricate detail that serve as a reminder to Dalla’s contributions to Italian culture. When I stood before the mural, I felt on a real level the amount of connection Sorrento and artists have to one another. From Caruso to Dalla to Jorit, Sorrento is somewhere that seems to spur visitors and locals alike toward artistry, beauty, and inspiration.
Another mural of Dalla in Sorrento is featured at SyArt, a contemporary art gallery. “Sorrento Loves Art,” an aptly named piece drawn by Tv Boy shows Dalla with Caruso and the Italian actress Sophia Loren. Located near the Villa Communale, this mural is in the heart of Sorrento. Whenever I see it, I cannot help but notice how bright, expressive, and celebratory it is.
