He was an actor and Italian Tenor, who specialised in romantic-melodic “musica leggera”, reaching a sort of The Voice status in Italy as “il reuccio (della canzone)” - the small king, so called also because of his sanguine character. While Nilla Pizzi was the Queen.
But the baby-boomer generation disliked more and more his genre, style and virtuosisms (the long acute Grand Finale - e.g., notable in “Granada” -, bringing a stereotype operatic flavour into traditional pop or easy listening “musica leggera”). Sharp age divisions therefore emerged, so as to make music tastes become an identitarian, Weltanschaung space of generational divide, at the time of ‘50s rock (with Little Tony, Italy’s Elvis), then the ‘60s new pop (many thousands of cave bands, also in Italy). All this was not so specially Italian, of course; but, because of his so long career, Claudio became a target symbol (for the ritual “parricide”); he was gradually ghettoed into an ageing but always faithful audience (no empty space at his concerts). On the other hand, he basically sticked to his 1950s repertoire and style.
Together with Domenico Modugno, he holds the record for the most wins at the Sanremo Music Festival, where he won the competition in 1955 (Buongiorno tristezza), 1957 (Corde della mia chitarra), 1962 (Addio ... addio) and 1967 (Non pensare a me). He won the RAI-TV Canzonissima competition in 1964 with " ‘O sole mio", and in 1966 with "Granada".
His debut was as a follower of the folk singer Carlo Buti (Florence 1902-1963, “the Golden Voice of Italy”); in 1947 he records his first 78 giri record (a rarity now) and in 1952 he is the main actor in the movie “Serenata amara” dir. by Pino Mercanti - followed by about 30 movies, where he is often singing as well; he most loved the Mario Valli character, an artist in “Granada Addio” (1966) dir. by Marino Girolami.
In the 1950s, together with his archi-rival Luciano Tajoli, he interpreted even many songs that will almost disappear afterward: "Il Ponte", "La luna nel rio" (Who threw the moon in the river, who threw it ...) and "Fontane Romane". Among Claudio Villa’s classics, one shoud also mention: 1948 Scalinatella, 1949 Fontana di Trevi and Signorinella, 1950 Luna Rossa, the 1951 Neapolitan suite (Voce 'e notte - Core 'ngrato - 'Na sera 'e maggio - Anema e core - Malafemmena - Munasterio 'e Santa Chiara - Marechiaro), 1951 I’ te vurria vasà, 1952 Vola colomba and Vecchio scarpone, 1955 Arrivederci Roma, 1956 Guaglione, 1957 Corde della mia chitarra, Lazzarella, La vie en rose, and Ave Maria di Schubert, 1958 Nel blu dipinto di blu (Modugno’s Volare), 1960 Romantica and Marina, 1969 Strangers in the night, 1974 Michelle and La Paloma, 1980 Dove sta Zazà and Tamurriata nera, 1982 El Condor pasa, 1985 Nessun dorma, and Caro amore (Concerto per Aranjuez).
In 1973 he interprets unforgettably on TV some “stornelli a dispetto” in duet with the great folksinger Gabriella Ferri, his great admirer and friend. After different labels, he ended up recording with Cetra (later on becoming Fonit-Cetra).
His death in 1987 by heart attack was announced live on Italian television by Pippo Baudo, during the last night of the Sanremo Music Festival of 1987.
He recorded across 4 decades over 3000 songs, and sold over 45 million records.
O sole mio
Claudio Villa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
N'aria serena doppo na tempesta!
Pe' ll'aria fresca pare già na festa...
Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole.
Ma n'atu sole
Cchiù bello, oje ne'.
O sole mioSta 'nfronte a te!
O sole
O sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne,
Me vene quase 'na malincunia;
Sotto 'a fenesta toia restarria
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne.
Ma n'atu sole
Cchiù bello, oje ne'.
O sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te!
O sole, Ohhh sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Sta 'nfronte a te!
The lyrics to Claudio Villa's song "O sole mio" describe the beauty of a bright and sunny day and the happiness it brings, particularly after a storm. The singer finds joy in the fresh air and sights around him, almost as if he is witnessing a celebration. However, even though he appreciates the beauty of the world around him, his attention is ultimately drawn to his beloved. In the second half of the song, the singer expresses a sense of melancholy that comes with nightfall and the setting of the sun. He longs to be with his lover, to stay beneath their window, even as the darkness sets in. The chorus, repeated throughout the song, declares that "O sole mio" is the most beautiful sun in existence, particularly when it shines directly in front of the singer and his lover.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of someone who finds joy in the world around them, but that joy is ultimately centered on their romantic relationship. The contrast between the bright, celebratory imagery of the first half of the song and the more wistful, sentimental imagery of the second half emphasizes the importance of love and companionship in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole,
Oh what a beautiful day of sunshine,
N'aria serena doppo na tempesta!
The air is clear after the storm!
Pe' ll'aria fresca pare già na festa...
The fresh air feels like a party already...
Ma n'atu sole
But another sun
Cchiù bello, oje ne'.
More beautiful, today.
O sole mio
My own sun
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Is in front of you!
O sole
Oh sun
O sole mio
My own sun
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Is in front of you!
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Is in front of you!
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne,
When night falls and the sun goes down,
Me vene quase 'na malincunia;
A melancholy feeling comes over me;
Sotto 'a fenesta toia restarria
I would stay under your window
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne.
When night falls and the sun goes down.
Ma n'atu sole
But another sun
Cchiù bello, oje ne'.
More beautiful, today.
O sole mio
My own sun
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Is in front of you!
O sole, Ohhh sole mio
Oh sun, my own sun
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Is in front of you!
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Is in front of you!
Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stellinarosa3304
Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole
N'aria serena dopo na tempesta
Pe' ll'aria fresca pare già na festa
Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole
Ma n'atu sole
Cchiu' bello, oi ne'
'O sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te
'O sole, 'o sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te
Sta 'nfronte a te
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne
Me vene quase 'na malincunia
Sotto 'a fenesta toia restarria…
@vincenzoruiu3233
Il sole che splende ora più grande e luminoso sei tu grande Claudio ci manchi tanto sei stato il più grande cantante che sia mai esistito unico immenso.
@vincenzoruiu3233
Quando il sole ti sente cantare è molto più luminoso e più grandre viva Villa unico immenso.
@antoniettagranata3330
Splendida come te🤍🐦
@francotrovato2237
La meglio interpretazione di o sole mio e il grande Villa
@gabryblynd8058
Canzone bellissima anche se a 13 anni è la prima volta che la sento wow...
@vincenzoruiu3233
Solo tu sei sempre stato il più grande cantante che sia mai esistito unico immenso più luminoso del sole.
@graziagiovanditto3958
io che ascolto il mio papà che me la canta...bellissimo ricordo
@vincenzoruiu3233
Cantata dal più grande cantante che sia mai esistito e
@vincenzoruiu3233
Il più grandre sole del bel canto unico al mondo sei sempre stato tu grande Claudio vero Re della canzone italiana e mondiale unico immenso.
@FighTimepl
si, vero questo è grande cantante :)