![Capossela - Che coss'e l'amor](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN_DWy9wa-7aRLET9tqgDa0OkM5djLwGjvhzqSSsh4pcgxcclhYQVLgV6o4jBmivqz7rrXSaAYc_GNg7HyuzWq0rKXS1uC5nGfcZCLJenVeCS4ePLdEVH1MGQz1lhOn8ToxHsptAfEOA/s200/Che+cos%27e+l%27amor.jpg)
![Capossela - si e spento il sole](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-YGv3QXs3ejAZnEYMWFzLSG1mrJH4KDNGBfcEdhOFLm8vwr0aHyfYpV5Qf43I5z5PaMJV9hujjpOZ67qmMLWwNu2GVEHKE5DffUEZ1He3RMwmDlYnizAj_GhPRP1pUYiYbBFxM0kzAU/s200/Si+e+spento+il+sole.jpg)
A friend gave us compilations of two Italian singer-songwriters to listen to: Vinicio Capossela and Gianmaria Testa. Both are good and are definitely worth checking out. Capossela’s music makes me think of (and I’ll borrow from his web site’s biography) a “circus artist” – in a good way – with songs populated with “demons and ghosts.” There are hints of Luis Prima definitely. Travelmarx favorites: “Che coss’è l’amor?”(What is love) and “Si è spento il sole” (If the sun were turned off?).
Testa’s music is (at least to my American ears) a little more serene, intimate, introspective. However, it does share common elements with Capossela: bits of bossa nova, jazz, and is very lyric-driven. The last element is what always stands out for me for both artists and Italian artists in general, that is, how important words are to the song. Even if I don’t always understand the meaning of the words, the power of the voice, not electronically mangled as is fashion in modern songs, grabs you as, well, human. Travelmarx favorites: “Per Accompagnarti” (To go with you) and “Biancaluna” (White moon?). Some samples of Testa on YouTube. Testa’s instrumentation reminds me a bit of the group The Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
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