You're welcome, Wendy. Yes, I do love music! As I mentioned, I first heard "Asimbonanga" on a sampler record (from Capitol Records I believe) that I bought back in the '80s. I was so struck by the singing and the beautiful melody of that song that I just had to find more of his music. (P.S. I'm also a big fan of Jackson Browne.) <BR> <BR>Elvira, are you familiar with a French band called Lo'Jo? I've seen them perform here in Seattle and they have keyboard player who, from what I've been told, looks and sounds quite a bit like Monsieur Aznavour. The lead singers are two striking French-Algerian women. Website at: http://www.lojo.org/navigation/ <BR> <BR>

Thank you, thank you!!! Will be leaving for Italy in 2 days and, after reading your message re Andrea Bocelli, realize that I CANNOT go to Italy without him! Will have to run out tomorrow and buy a small CD player to take along, as the 12th century castle we're staying in out side of Florence has no TV or radio. Cannot imagine Italy without music! Thanks for the reminder......Joyce

If I were going to Rumania I'd listen to Enesco's Rumanian Rhapsody #1 in A over and over to get in the mood. (I'll probably never get to Rumania, but will listen to it anyway while I'm home working today!)

Judy, Norway - "Secret Garden" (no resemblance to the movie). Spectular, kind of new-age but not really. A Norwegian composer, Rolf ? and his Celtic violinist, Fiona ?. Soon as my suitcases were unpacked I rushed to Barnes & Noble and purchased all 3 of their CD's. When I play them, I get flashbacks of the scenery along the fjiords of Norway.

We've got a truly eclectic collection of music in my household, but there's a Glenn Gould (I think) album of Eric Satie pieces that sends me to France.

I LOVE Andrea Bocelli's Romanza!!! <BR>Ironically, it doesn't remind me of Italy, but of Lisbon! I was sitting with two S. African friends at a little cafe the first time I heard it, and both my girlfriend and I had to rush into the record store next door to find out who it was and buy the CD. <BR> <BR>Nick Cave reminds me of Berlin. <BR> <BR>My tastes pretty much run the spectra, and like wendy and others have said, music can be a very powerful thing. <BR>I can pretty much tell you when and where I was, by remembering the music I was listening to. <BR> <BR>As does Diane, I have a hugely eclectic collection of music as well

Does anyone know where in Italy Andrea Bocelli is from? <BR> <BR>Also, how is Freisole pronounced? I know the first half, but the "sole" ending is a mystery. <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance.

Elsa, here's "Tutto Bocelli"... <BR> <BR>http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Galle...1/bocelli.html <BR> <BR>According to the site, he was born in Lajatico,in the Province of Pisa.

I like:<BR>Budapest by Blimp by Thomas Dolby, and anything by the singer, Marta Sebestyen and the violinist, Robi Lakatos for Hungary<BR><BR>Cinema Paradiso soundtrack by Ennio Morricone, Neapolitan songs by Luciano Pavarotti, and That's Amore by Dean Martin for Italy<BR><BR>Anything by the singer from Cape Verde, Cesaria Evora for Amsterdam...also Moon Safari by Air<BR><BR>And I know it's a cliche, but New York, New York and Bernstein's Rhapsody in Blue for the city that never sleeps!<BR><BR>Great thread.<BR><BR>

Judy, I love Bocelli too! As for another particular song that reminds me of one of my favorite countries, Etienne Daho's "Tombee pour la France"...it's got this cheezy, kinda techno, bubblegum beat....but I love it! it always reminds me of being in the Charles de Gaulle airport, landing in Paris for the 1st time. Another one is Celine Dion's "On ne Change Pas"....it reminds me of riding the train at midnight, looking out the window, watching the French countryside fly by under the full moon....

um, after reading more closely y'all's posts, I realize how truly musically ignorant I sound. but just identified with the subject of the thread and wanted to share....music is such an important part of life!

I Love andrea Bocelli myself, The Romanza Cd is my and roberto's Fav. The First song on that Cd is our Wedding Song. It reminds me of italy.When Roberto and I started to go out he gave that cd to me. When he went to italy for school 4 years ago.Everytime we listen to it we think about the first time we started going out.<BR><BR>giovanna

I'd have to say Mclaren"s "Paris" Francoise Hardy, singing "where have all the flowers gone" on one track and the image of the girls riding the metro with their pet white mice<BR> brings back all my literaure of Paris in the days of Kiki on Montparnesse and Manray and the rest of that period, Than the other Is George Brassens, a singer beloved by the French and they always play his songs for me.<BR>"Here comes the sun" because my friends in Liverpool always played that after the rain.<BR>

I'm glad this post came around again. I must add "Highland Cathedral" to my favorites--especially the version by the Blackwatch Guards. The Caledonian version is too cerebral. I'm back in Scotland every time I hear it!

Laura Pausini reminds me of Italy. She's got a beautiful voice.

ttt