Did Al Bano and Romina Power Pioneer Hyperpop?

An overview of Al Bano and Romina Power’s repertoire, between kitsch and innovation

This is the first installment of “beyond la dolce vita,” a summer series where we take the most overly-sentimental and stereotypical Italian songs and singers (you know the ones) and make a case for their artistic merit, beyond their most mainstream success.

Around the world, “Felicità” by Al Bano and Romina is, on a par with “Sarà perché ti amo,” the quintessential Italian sound. The rich orchestration (synth-heavy, but still prevalent), the lyrics that describe what happiness is (holding hands, going far, a down pillow, the rain outside your window, among other things) in a way that is reminiscent of “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music, all tied together with the contrasting yet complementary vocals of the duo, effectively sell an image of Italy that’s all sunshine, love, and happiness.

This post would not be possible without Demented Burrocacao’s essay “Al Bano e Romina Power Effetto Amore,” which appears in the book Italian Futuribili. We quote him and attribute the quotes …