Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Tony Bennett in concert. That’s Mr. Anthony Dominick Benedetto to you.
As an introduction to one of his songs, Mr. Bennett told the crowd how Bob Hope came up with the Americanized version of his name in a conversation after Tony’s appearance in Pearl Bailey’s show. Tony (the only white kid in the show) tried to introduce himself as “Joe Barri” but Bob caught on right away that this was a made up name and demanded to be told the real thing. Of course, once he heard it, he knew why Tony was using a fake one and quickly suggested the alternative. BUT, I digress.
The purpose of this post is to crudely generalize my ethnic heritage and point out, that regardless of how many Italian-Americans have had to pose as merely “Americans” by dropping the “etto” and the “icci”, the fact remains, that Italians (hyphenated or otherwise) are the best entertainers in the world. And the reason is: we are sentimental, romantic, nostalgic, simplistic, genuine saps, simultaneously ruled by by emotion and able to conjure emotion, just as comfortable ending a show stopper with arms spread under the spot light as winding down a ballad perched on a stool next to a grand piano letting one tear spill down a quivering cheek.
To see a pro like Tony Bennett at age 83 inspire probably 10 or 11 standing ovations in the span of one ninety minute performance, is to understand performance itself. At least the Italian interpretation of performance, which right now, is all that matters to me. It is to feel, publicly, what everyone else feels privately, and let it trickle out of you in an effortless vibrato where appropriate, to whisper it in a husky sotto voce when applicable, to sustain it in a clear bell of a tone where fitting, and most importantly to belt it out at the top of one’s lungs when necessary.
Though the Italian-American style is not in vogue in the music world at present – what’s left of rock music favors sort of a Scandinavian goulache, a Norwegian, Swedish, British deadpan, I don’t care or I am just very precious by nature, look and sound – it always manages to dominate in some sphere of public consciousness, i.e. Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey, and I believe will regain its rightful place in pop music soon.
At the very least, Saint Bernadette, will be working on it . . .
Prego,
Saint B
You are not italian, you are an American, im so tired of white people calling themselves Italian, Irish, if you dont want to be American, go back to italy or ireland. I say this because im tired of Italians and Irish people telling me im not African. Im proud of my African heritage, and any African Americna, Italian American, Irish American who got a problem with it can kiss my African Ass.
Comment by Bobby — November 3rd, 2009 @ 10:41 pm
Thank you so much for your comment and thank you for visiting the blog!
I must say I am confused that you choose to comment on my blog because of “people” who tell you that you are not African. I don’t recall telling you that you are not African and I certainly would never prevent anyone from identifying themselves with their own cultural heritage. I also do not refer to myself as “Italian”, but instead “Italian-American” which I can assure you is an accurate term, used regularly in the vernacular to describe a person, such as myself, who is descended from people, from Italy, who migrated to the United States through Ellis Island shortly after the turn of the century. It is only in this context that I use the term. It is a true reflection of my own ethnic identity which is a somewhat interesting element of my overall identity as an American citizen. As a proud resident of Bridgeport, I celebrate all diverse cultures including and especially the American culture that has so successfully and beautifully integrated so many in one place.
But as my post describes, Italian-American people are impassioned loudmouths and as such are entitled to spew unsubstantiated theories willy nilly using only their ethnic identity and capacity for intense volume as support. I encourage you to do the same with your cultural characteristics, with my blessing.
And I do not have a problem with your heritage, so thank you for the invitation, but I will pass this time on the kissing of your ass.
Please visit again, your comments are always welcome!
xo
Saint B
Comment by Meredith DiMenna — November 5th, 2009 @ 8:54 am
bobby italians arent white
Comment by batman — November 7th, 2009 @ 11:34 pm