'O sole mio
'O sole mio is a Neapolitan song written in 1898, with lyrics by Giovanni Capurro and music by Eduardo di Capua. Its title means “my sun.”
Eduardo di Capua: Eduardo di Capua was an Italian composer and songwriter, best known for the music of 'O sole mio. He composed the melody that gives the song its musical identity.
Enrico Caruso: Enrico Caruso was an Italian operatic tenor whose recordings helped popularize opera and Italian song. His influential recording helped carry 'O sole mio beyond Naples.
Neapolitan song: Neapolitan song is a popular vocal tradition from Naples, commonly featuring lyrical melodies and local-language lyrics. 'O sole mio belongs to this tradition of urban song.
Funiculì, Funiculà: “Funiculì, Funiculà” is an 1880 Neapolitan song celebrating the opening of the Mount Vesuvius funicular railway. It is an earlier Neapolitan hit often mistaken for, or grouped with, 'O sole mio.
Giovanni Capurro: Giovanni Capurro was an Italian journalist and poet who wrote the lyrics to 'O sole mio. His verses supply the song’s images of sunlight and love.
Luciano Pavarotti: Luciano Pavarotti was an Italian operatic tenor celebrated for his powerful, clear voice. His performances made the song a signature item in popular concerts.
Strophic form: Strophic form sets multiple verses to the same musical tune. Its repeated musical structure supports the song’s successive verses.
Santa Lucia: “Santa Lucia” is a traditional Neapolitan song depicting a boat ride in the Bay of Naples. Its serene maritime setting contrasts with the radiant, romantic imagery of 'O sole mio.
Neapolitan language: Neapolitan is a Romance language spoken chiefly in Naples and southern Italy. The song’s original words are written in this language.
Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley was an American singer and actor central to the rise of rock and roll. His adaptation, “It's Now or Never,” reworked the melody into a pop hit.