I Change My Favorite Artist Like I Change My Clothes

It seems as though in Italy, when a song is popular, it is the only song you hear everywhere you go. Sometimes it is hard to know whether it has soon become your favorite song because you love it, or because you have become brainwashed by hearing it all the time.

The number song on the Italian Top 100 Chart right now is “L’essenziale” by Marco Mengoni. I personally love ballads, so the first time I heard this song the smooth piano melody caught my attention right away. The song title literally translates to “The Essential” and has a beautiful meaning behind it.

I have said this before, but Italian pop music holds so much more value in the lyrics than the American music I am used to. In this song, he talks about letting the one he loves disappear from his life. He says he never truly appreciated his girlfriend until he let her walk out of his life. He realizes that all he did led to her pain and he knows he can’t take it all back, but he wants to try. He sees now that she is his muse, his hope for better days, his “essential.”

I find the concept behind these lyrics really different, because he talks about life as a constant war, saying that he is the one who led his girlfriend into the line of fire, when he should have been protecting her from the bad.

It is easy to say that the person you love is your everything, your forever, your baby, but to say that they are you “essential” is something very different. The song holds so much meaning behind it.

If you have ever been in a relationship that is worth being in, you have problems. There are constantly going to be ups and downs, and when there isn’t anymore, that is when you have to worry. If you’re fighting, at least you are fighting to keep something alive. It’s the silence I think you have to be afraid of. This song really hits the nail on the head when it comes to the idea that love is something that needs to be worked for. If you are ever fighting with the one you love and just play this song on repeat, you are bound to feel better. Even if you do not speak Italian, now that you know the general meaning behind the song I guarantee you will feel something when listening to it.

It has quickly become my favorite song. I know I have said this a million times about the Italian artists I have reviewed, but they all seem to get better by the week. There is always a new artist, a new single that blows my mind musically and lyrically.

If you do happen to check out this song, I would recommend listening to the entire album, #Prontoacorrere (Italy really loves its hash tags!). Every song on this album is better than the next. Mengoni is a very talented artist who rose to fame in 2009 after winning the Italian X Factor, and this is his fourth number one album on the Italian charts.

Sometimes it is hard for me to write these articles all the way from over here. I know that most of the artists I review are Italian, and that is difficult to really want to listen to something you may not understand back in the U.S. If you take the general meaning of the song, however, and really listen to the music, I think you’ll find it easy to connect like you would with any other music you listen to.

I would love to hear from you on Facebook if you ever check out any of these artists and just let me know your opinion. That way, I can keep writing these and know that good music isn’t going unrecognized.

Positives:

-Great food, displays and performances…loved the international festival!

-The end of the semester is in sight, you just have to keep on keeping on.

Negatives:

-Everyone’s favorite time of the semester…class registration! But we have Banner now, so hopefully it won’t be too bad.

-Staying organized becomes exponentially harder with each additional thing you have to keep track off.

The Battery Charge:

One great thing about April is that many of the large-scale events on campus happen around this time, including the International Festival, the Alumni Ball, Greek formals, Spring Weekend (technically May 3 to 5 this year, but I’m counting it anyway) and much more. Make sure to take a break from the work that you’re most likely buried in at this point to go to some of the events!

By Andrew Gitin

SCOPE had a lot of fun activities that took place during the past week.

Comedy Week continued for SCOPE as we brought in Digital Caricaturist Angie Jordan into the Programming Space this past Wednesday. Everyone who walked by were laughing and making fun of their friends while their faces were being drawn. Students who participated also had the finalized picture hung around their necks for every student to see.

On Friday, April 5, SCOPE took students to New York City to see Comedian Gabriel Iglesias Live at Radio City Music Hall. Students enjoyed the sights and sounds of NYC beforehand, and loved the show that happened later in the day. SCOPE finished the day with an encore showing of Pitch Perfect back on campus.

On Saturday, April 6, SCOPE did pottery painting in the Programming Space. All the pottery was painted before the event ended. Everyone had fun and cannot wait to see how their pottery ended up. We will email everyone who painted when the pottery is returned to us after they get put into a kiln. SCOPE and Late Night Programming finished Comedy Week with Comedian Ruperto Vanderpool in the Dining Hall. It was a small crowd, but Ruperto kept everyone entertained and had the small crowd laughing.

On Tuesday, April 9, SCOPE had its first showing of Sinister. The students were scared and some even fell out of their seats in shock. Also on Tuesday, Stevie Starr the Human Regurgitator performed in Dodds. Students were in shock and awe as Stevie swallowed whole objects, even a live fish! And spit them back up in one piece. A student also won a gift card. Signups were also on Tuesday to join SCOPE and the Sports Industry Club to the Yankees game this Friday against the Baltimore Orioles on Charger Connection.

Check out what SCOPE has to offer this week!

On Wednesday, April 8, SCOPE will be doing an online signup to Six Flags New Jersey. Signups will start at 9 p.m. sharp on Charger Connection.

On Thursday, April 11, The Roast of USGA President Pat Kelland will be happening at 8 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge. Come hear Ross Weiner, Tim Farmer, Patrick Daniele, James Zap, Dean Bandong and PJ Reilly roast and tell funny and embarrassing stories that will make you laugh while making Pat cringe in his seat.

On Friday, April 12, if you signed up on Tuesday Night, SCOPE and Sports Industry Club will be going to Yankee Stadium to see the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. The bus will leave from Maxcy at 4 p.m. If you did not sign up or did not get on the trip, we will have an encore showing of Sinister at 9 p.m. in the Dining Hall. There will be popcorn!

On Saturday, April 13, if you signed up on Wednesday Night, SCOPE will be going to Six Flags New Jersey. The bus will leave from Maxcy at 8 a.m.

On Tuesday, April 16, SCOPE will be showing Jack Reacher at 9 p.m. in the Dining Hall.

If you want to become a SCOPE Committee Head next year, applications are on Charger Connection on the SCOPE page and are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12. You can email completed applications to SCOPEChair@newhaven.edu or submit it by hand in a SEALED ENVELOPE to either our President or Vice Presidents in the SCOPE Office located at the Office of Student Activities (OSA). OSA is located at the top floor of the Bartels Campus Center.

Hope to see you at these events coming up, or at future events throughout the rest of this semester!

Artist Talk with Michaela Lombardi

I promised in my last article that this interview was to come. This is the first time I have done an entire article focusing on my interview with an artist, but I felt that this vocalist deserved her own moment in the spotlight, without any reviews to take away from the actual interview.

I was introduced to the vocals of Michaela Lombardi at the Billy Holiday Tribute concert I reviewed in my last article. Her voice was amazingly captivating, and she definitely did Billy Holiday justice, so I figured I would try to conduct an interview to see just how she got started. As a singer, I am always interested in the stories of others, especially vocalists that I can quickly look up to for their immense talent.

When asked how she got started singing, Lombardi replied, “Mom, I guess! I grew up hearing her sing while working in the kitchen of our restaurant. Ever since I was a child, listening to music and singing always meant life and joy to me, so when I was 14 I decided to join my first rock’n’roll band.”

I found it so interesting that joining a band would be a 14-year-old’s first reaction to loving music. It is almost admirable that at that age she had that much spunk and sass to pick up and start a live-music career.

“I was raised on folk, country, rock, blues, soul and jazz: Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Carmen McRae…they’re all American artists,” she said.

“I adore melodies (I live in the land of Puccini!), and I believe that true joy is made of harmony, storytelling, generosity, wisdom and humour,” said Lombardi when I inquired about her musical and personal influences in life.

“I love poetry and philosophy, as well. I double majored in philosophy and jazz composition in college, so my influences are greatly intertwined with my studies. Definitely too many influences!” she said. “In my personal life of course my family influences me majorly. Musically however, Wittgenstein, Ella Fitzgerald, Tori Amos, Fred Astaire, Noa, Joni Mitchell…And the list goes on.”

I have asked this question many times in an interview and never have I gotten a response including the influences of things intangible, such as philosophy or composition. It is easy to see just how intellectual Lombardi is, which is why, I think, this interview was so enlightening for me both as a journalist, and a singer myself.

I questioned Lombardi on her preparation when it comes to do a tribute concert, especially one that is not in her native language, such as the Billie Holiday concert.

“To me, a tribute concert (unless you’re part of a cover band so you’re supposed to look and sound like the original artist) means trying to find out how something that was written or performed by someone else can match your personal sensibility, meshing the two together. I focus on the lyrics and the music. Nothing else. Otherwise, how could I work on a tribute to Lady Day and a tribute to Madonna at the same time?” she said.

“I couldn’t conceive singing something I don’t understand fully and deeply: I think of myself as of a storyteller, so I must know all the songs I sing by heart,” said Lombardi regarding singing songs that are not in Italian (her native language).

I asked if she simply learned the songs by ear, or if she truly researched their significances. “Not only must I know their words, but their meaning as well. I actually choose to sing only the songs I really love, and if I love them it’s because their meaning touched my heart,” she said.

Of course, I had to ask who her favorite artist was just out of sheer curiosity. Lombardi supplied me with the simple answer, “What would great vocalists be if there were no great songwriters?”

Such a simple answer really made me think as an artist myself, just how right she was.

I asked Lombardi if she ever performed in the U.S. and I got an answer that shocked me:

“Not yet, although I have had a pop record on the Billboard’s Charts 12 years ago,” she said. “As of now I’ve only been to the states once in 2010, but things are likely to change very soon.”

Throughout our entire interview and meeting process, I never knew that she had a record on the Billboard Charts. It just goes to show how modesty goes a long was an artist, and that this woman who already has a fully-developed career will take the time to do an interview with a college student for an article published in another country.

I feel that Italian musicians have a much different outlook on music and life in general than some back in America. From the people I have talked to, especially Lombardi, I see that music is more a form of expression and life in Italy. Fame is not the most important aspect of “making it” in the industry here, having their voices heard is.

I want to thank Michaela Lombardi for being the most insightful artist I have ever interviewed, and helping me gain a new perspective on the industry and music in general.

Positives:

-Congratulations to the Theater Department and the cast of Into the Woods for a great production!

-That awesome moment when you manage to ace a test you didn’t study for.

Negatives:

-Is it possible for a junior to catch senioritis? I feel like I have all of the symptoms at this point.

-There are a few things I know for certain and this is one: There aren’t nearly enough hours in the day to finish everything that needs to be done.

The Battery Charge:

To those that say that there’s nothing to do on campus, I’d like to point out that last weekend was not only Black and Latino Alumni Weekend, but also featured multiple productions of Into the Woods as well as a few other events. I can’t stress enough that there plenty of events out there, you just have to look for them!

Rule #13: Don’t let work pile up! Take care of it earlier, rather than later.

We have all procrastinated on work, but if you are like me you probably always regret it afterwards. In the long run, doing the work ahead of time (although you may not want to) will help reduce the stress of pulling an all-nighter to finish an essay. Also, try to prioritize your work so that the most important work gets done first, and then work on the less significant work that may not be as important to your grade.

Here’s a list of events being put on by SCOPE this week. Check them out!

Monday, April 1, 2013—Shane Mauss is a standup comedian who will be performing in the Alumni Lounge at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013—Come out to watch Pitch Perfect in the Bartels Dining Hall at 9 p.m. FREE FOOD!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013—Angie Jordan will be doing Live Digital Caricatures in the Bartels Programming Space from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013—Gabriel Iglesias Trip sign-ups will be on Charger Connection starting at 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 4, 2013—Roast of Patrick Kelland will be in the Alumni Lounge from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, April 5, 2013—Trip to see Gabriel Iglesias in NYC. Bus will leave at 3 p.m.

Friday, April, 5, 2013—Pitch Perfect will be shown in the Bartels Dining Hall at 9 p.m.

As far as I am concerned, Billie Holiday was one of the most influential and iconic female vocalists who has ever lived. In today’s music there is no real distinction between artists, but during her time, the voices of every singer were distinct with their own tambour and quality. Billie Holiday is up there with the likes of Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, and made a name for herself that has proven to last for generations to come.

There is a youth community center in Prato known as Officina Giovani. On March 11, 2013, the week before Spring break, the center put on a Billie Holiday Tribute concert. I have to say I was a little hesitant when I walked into the old abandoned slaughterhouse for the show, with the meat hooks still hanging prominently above the audience seating. The show, however, was one of the most unique live performances I have ever experienced.

It was more than just a live tribute show; there was a spoken biography in the beginning, and theatrical performances in between. The biography was, of course, spoken all in Italian, so it was a bit hard to follow, but it was easy to get the idea. The music section was prefixed by an old recording of Holiday singing “The Man I Love.”

When Michaela Lombardi came out with the band, her singing took me by surprise. I was expecting to detect some sort of accent or something, but it was one of the best jazz vocals I have ever heard. Her range was incredible and she had amazing control over every aspect of her voice. I truly admired the piano solos as well. The drums seemed a bit out of character for most of the songs, and they were a little hard to adjust to.

In between the live set, the band took a break and three actresses came out onto the stage, playing the roles of Billie Holiday’s mother, a young Holiday, and Holiday after she came into fame. Even though this was all in Italian as well, it was easy to grasp the scene and it really hit home after hearing all of her songs being performed. Somehow they were able to transport the audience to the 1940s and make you feel like you actually knew Billie Holiday and were a part of her story.

After the show I set off without any permits or passes, like a true journalist should, to try and snag an interview with Lombardi. When I spotted her backstage I was hesitant to ask for a moment because I was not sure how much English she spoke, but I soon found out she spoke it more fluently than I did. I am meeting up with her next week for an exclusive “Meet the Artist” interview, which will be the topic of my next article, so be sure to keep your eyes open for that!

This was an amazing experience and I have to say that I never thought Italy would be able to offer me so much when it came to music. I have seen and met some of the most amazing musicians since I have been here and experienced shows I would never be able to back home in America. I think a tribute show like this would be amazing to do in the States because it truly captures an artist that has passed, or possibly become a bit forgotten. It helps current generations to appreciate the foundation on which their music today has been based upon.

Positives:

-I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend!

-While it came much later than I had hoped, it looks like spring weather is finally here to stay.

Negatives:

-There is no challenge in this world quite as horrific as conducting independent research.

-I’m not quite sure how I feel about all of these UNH pages that are popping up…

The Battery Charge:

This year’s USGA election broke a record in the number of people that voted compared to last year, which in turn broke the record from the year before that. If that isn’t Charger pride, I don’t know what is!

Rule #12: Always show up on time to meetings because decisions are made by those who show up.

It’s important show up to meetings because some decisions can only be made by the people who attend. If you want to have your input and opinion in the way your organization is run, then make sure you take the time to have your voice be heard!