Tenderness & Solitude

Ciao! This week's theme is "Tenderness and Solitude".

Our first song is Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley from 1956. It was published by Elvis Presley Music from the 20th Century Fox film of the same name. The RCA Victor recording by Elvis was number one on both the Billboard and Cash Box charts in 1956. It was adapted from the melody of Aura Lee, a sentimental Civil War ballad. Love Me Tender was also featured in many other films and television shows over the years.

Our next song is Alone Again Naturally by Gilbert O'Sullivan from 1971. When I was young I used to think this song was a bit depressing, but listening to it again after a few decades I'm able to appreciate the beautiful melody and the arrangement of the background instruments, especially the guitar and the flute. The music is rather upbeat and almost cheerful, despite the words. One commenter on YouTube says, "We need music like this in our lives to remind us of all those wonderful, cherished memories that will never die".

The Italian band, Pooh, that's "pooh" as in Winnie the Pooh, performed Uomini Soli at the Festival of San Remo in 1990 and was the winner of that year's festival. Here is Uomini Soli, which means "lonely men".

And now here is Tenderness by Diana Ross from 1980.

Solitaire by the Carpenters from 1975 tells the story of a man "who lost his love through his indifference. And keeping to himself, he plays the game. Without her love it always ends the same. While life goes on without him everywhere, he's playing solitaire".

Farfallina by Luca Carboni from 1987 speaks of a young woman as "little butterfly, flying here and there, and never taking time to truly fall in love". He says, "I'm alone. I need affection", implying that he believes that she does, also. Here is Farfallina.

Now here's Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding, from 1966.

Fanny, Be Tender with My Love was written and performed by the BeeGees for their Main Course album in 1975, and it was the third single release from the album. It reached number twelve on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two in Canada.

Our next song is Bella Senz'Anima by Riccardo Cocciante from 1974. The title means "beautiful without a soul" indicating that the woman he is singing about is cold. In fact, he says "no joy, no tears. Nothing to add, nothing to take away, into your trap I have fallen, too. Let the next man in. I'll leave him my place, poor devil. I feel sorry for him." The single peaked at the first place on the Italian singles chart, and it was the seventh most sold single of the year, in Italy. Here is Bella Senz'Anima.

Now let's listen to When the Party's Over by Billie Eilish from 2019.

Always Somewhere by the Scorpions from 1979 is a classic rock song with the singer lamenting that he is always somewhere else, but he promises, "I will be back to love you again".

Our next song is Parlami d'Amore Mariù, which means "speak to me of love, Mariù". Written in 1932, words by Ennio Neri and music by Cesare Andrea Bixio, for the voice of Vittorio de Sica, who sang it for one of his films. The song is dedicated to Mary, the wife of Bixio, whose nickname was Mariù. My favorite version of the song is the one from 2007 by Luciano Pavarotti.

Next up is She's Gone by Hall and Oates from 1973.