He soon gained fame due to the power and strength of his voice. The young tenor earned valuable experience and significant recognition while touring on the invitation of soprano Joan Sutherland, making his 1965 U.S. debut in Miami, Florida on her recommendation. His position was solidified in the years between 1966 and 1972, during which Pavarotti first appeared at Milan's seminal La Scala, at other major European houses, and, in 1968, at NYC's Metropolitan Opera. He received great acclaim, particularly working well with Joan Sutherland.
By the mid-70s, the tenor became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. His "high C" became one of his trademarks. The late 70s and 80s saw Pavarotti making significant appearances in the world's opera houses and establishing himself as one of the great singers of the era.
Popular stardom came at the 1990 World Cup in Italy with the performances of "Nessun Dorma" (from Turandot) and as one of The Three Tenors in their famed first concert held on the eve of the final match of the tournament (repeated at later Cups). Pavarotti sang together with fellow star tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and brought to the much wider audience hits previously confined to the opera world. Appearances in advertisements and with pop icons in concerts around the world furthered his influence. Pavarotti always maintained his identity as an opera star, unlike many crossover artists.
The later years brought a decline in ability to perform on stage due to a weight gain and lack of mobility. Pavarotti's final appearance in an opera was at the Met in March 2004. The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy saw him performing for the last time. Pavarotti sang Nessun Dorma, with the crowd as its Chorus, and got a thunderous standing ovation. On September 6, 2007, he died at home in Modena from pancreatic cancer.
Come aquile
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Prendi il vento con me.
Io e te un colpo d'alì basterà per noi non tornare,
Cuori liberi nel blu.
Blu del cielo,
Su, dai, non guardare giù,
Ormai il mondo non c'è più.
Noi due siamo irraggiungibili
Segui me fra le corrente calde,
e lascia che ti conduca il vento a me,
Guarda giù le nostre ombre,
Sembra che danzino fra le vette e gli alberi.
In un sogno,
Su, dai, non guardare giù,
Ormai il mondo non c'è più.
Noi due siamo irraggiungibili
You and me come aquile...
E non c'è tempesta che potrà mai separarci,
Nulla al mondo mai potrà dividermi da te!
You and me come aquile...
The lyrics in Luciano Pavarotti's "Come Aquile" depict a desire for freedom and escape, imagining two individuals soaring freely like eagles. The song's opening lines translate to "there is an open-armed sky for us if you want it, take the wind with me." The idea of achieving freedom is highlighted in the phrase "cuori liberi nel blu" which means "free hearts in the sky."
The imagery of flying like eagles is repeated throughout the song, with the lyrics "you and me like eagles" conveying the idea of the two individuals flying freely and uninhibited, unencumbered by the world below. The lines "there is no storm that can separate us, nothing in the world can ever divide me from you" suggest a deep connection between the two individuals, one that is unbreakable and everlasting.
Ultimately, the song can be interpreted as a metaphor for personal freedom and the desire to live life on one's own terms, to soar above the constraints of daily life and societal expectations, and to find a sense of true purpose and fulfillment in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Là per noi c'è un cielo a braccia aperta se lo vuoi,
There is an open sky for us if we want it, with its arms wide open.
Prendi il vento con me.
Take the wind with me.
Io e te un colpo d'alì basterà per noi non tornare,
One flap of our wings will be enough for us to not come back.
Cuori liberi nel blu.
Free hearts in the blue sky.
Blu del cielo,
Blue of the sky,
Su, dai, non guardare giù,
Come on, don't look down,
Ormai il mondo non c'è più.
Now the world doesn't exist anymore.
Noi due siamo irraggiungibili
The two of us are unreachable.
You and me come aquile...
You and me like eagles...
Segui me fra le corrente calde,
Follow me through the warm currents,
e lascia che ti conduca il vento a me,
and let the wind guide you to me,
Guarda giù le nostre ombre,
Look down at our shadows,
Sembra che danzino fra le vette e gli alberi.
It seems like they are dancing among the peaks and trees.
In un sogno,
In a dream,
E non c'è tempesta che potrà mai separarci,
And there is no storm that can ever separate us,
Nulla al mondo mai potrà dividermi da te!
Nothing in the world can ever divide me from you!
Writer(s): ANDREA BELLENTANI, ULDERICO ZANNI, MICHELE CENTONZE
Contributed by Jonathan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.