_Black_Acrylic presents … An Italo Tearjerkers Playlist *

* (restored)

 

Italo disco is a dance music genre that’s never afraid to let its feelings show, and the tearjerking Italo ballad is perhaps the purest expression of the form. I don’t know if maybe this style is the legacy of Italy’s great operatic tradition but anyway, I’ve long had a love for these exquisite songs of heartbreak and pain. The music’s hardly danceable in any conventional sense and the sounds all serve to create a feeling that’s hard for me to define. There’s usually a profound disjuncture between the big emotional force of the lyrics and the limited technological means at the musicians’ disposal. The whole package creates an effect that I find to be both uncanny and psychedelic. I hope this playlist might provide a way in, so see if you can feel it:

 

Dario Dell’Aere – Eagles In The Night

Dario Dell’Aere is a New Wave musician, producer and singer from Milan, Italy. At the end of the 1970’s Dario performed in a mime show that was influenced by the glam cliches of David Bowie. In 1979, Dario met Victor Life outside a cinema and began a lifelong collaboration of projects: Diamond Dogs, Ice Eyes and Fockewulf 190. Musically, the duo were inspired by the Human League’s “Reproduction” and John Foxx’s “Metamatic” and visually they took cues from New Romantic’s Visage and Ultravox. With the Fockewulf 190 moniker, they created their own dark blend of Italo disco releasing the hit singles “Gitano” and “Body Heat” in 1984.

By the end of 1984 the duo took a break and Dario went into the studio and recorded his debut solo single “Eagles In The Night”. One of the most coveted Italo Disco 12”s, it was released in 1985 on Market Records. The song features unique xylophone-like synthesizer notes that Dario’s deep vocals float over. Lyrically, the song is about a spirit that flies above the heights of the world in search of a true love to share with a partner. Clocking in at over 8-minutes of melancholic, the song’s mid-tempo kitsch comes with backing vocals from Dario’s sister, Nora Dell’Aere. On the B-side is the shorter instrumental version with the occasional “oh wacky co-co” refrains from Dario.
https://anost.net/en/Products/Dario-Dell-Aere-Eagles-In-The-Night/

I love this song so much.. His strong, dark voice drives me …going crazy.. Dance with me..
Italogirl1000

 

Fockewulf 190 – Body Heat

Victor Life

The story of Fockewulf 190 started when you and Dario (Dell’Aere) met outside a cinema in Milan in 1979. Can you tell us about how the band evolved from there and what those early years were like?

Full of enthusiasm, we had the power of seducing everyone who got in touch with us, especially the dandy guys from the Taxy Club, the historic New Romantic club in Milan where we used to play live. Everything seemed possible for Fockewulf 190… immediately a crew of fans made us like their little stars.

By 1984 it seems as if there had become a greater mystical element in your music, in tracks like ‘Gitano’ and ‘Body Heat’, and of course you enjoyed greater commercial success in other countries during this time too. Can you tell us about the message you were trying to convey in your music, and also how the band were treated by the Italian music industry at this point?

1984 wasn’t crucial only for us, but also for an entire generation brought up in 1977 between the energy of Punk and the electronics of Kraftwerk, the glorious dreams of the The Thin White Duke and the New Romanticism of synth-pop. The last wave before the end, like in the best apocalyptic prophecies, for us could be only linked to the electronic and futuristic mysticism, philosophically esoteric, imperial in its theatrical shape and plasma’d by oriental sounds. The idea was to re-unite the different styles into one centre of gravity, something so strong in spirit, soul and body, to not leave space for anyone else, recreating something mythological like the Ziggy Stardust era.

Not even the great Bowie himself, who wrote the best mythology of the sci-fi rock, managed to have such an extreme vision… the last link, the final chapter of the Diamond Dogs legend. That was our idea and in the scene they were talking a lot about us, but nobody had the guts to seriously invest in our band, not even the ones who considered us the new Rockets. In the end being Italian, as I said before, was a curse that made us live in a cage, not even made of gold… more or less a silver one!
http://magicwavesradio.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/interview-victor-life-of-fockewulf-190.html

Great melody, synths and Fred Ventura´s performance. Italoclassic! ****
mvalvee5

 

Flexx – Love Theme From Flexxy-Ball

‘Zeit’ was your first song under name Fred Ventura, but earlier you you had project ‘Flexx’ and the song ‘You’ll Never Change (Theme From Flexyball)’. What is ‘Flexyball’? Movie? Could you tell us a little bit more about it?

It was just a fantasy we had in the studio when we were recording the track in october 1983, there is no movie and no soundtrack, just a funny idea….

Fred, who was or were your inspiration(s)?

A lot of different music and artists, not only dance music even if I felt a natural need to make danceable music, but my biggest influences were Joy Division, New Order, Giorgio Moroder, Bobby O, The Human League, Patrick Cowley, Kraftwerk, D.a.f, Etienne Daho…..

You sang the song ‘Bodyheat’ by Fockewulf 190. Did you know this is someone else song? Can you tell more about this please?

Turatti asked me to write a melody and lyrics for the Fokewulf track, they didn’t like the original version, I simply wrote it and sing it in few hours, nothing else, it was very easy to do it and now I love the track more than ever…
http://www.italo-interviews.com/FredVentura_2.html

This release would fit the genre, and definitely is among the italo freaks, classic italo disco. Nevetheless, it’s just an excellent piece of early 80’s italo disco history.

Electro ballad a like song with strong vocals sung by one of the finest italo disco voices, Fred Ventura, telling the story, told millions of times, and giving a man’s point of view regarding an heartache, will, difference and a need.

I love the arrangement of the song. It’s epic, full journey, like a song mixing from ballad to another synthetic dimension.

That’s exactly what italo is all about. You can always expect surprises and miracles, personal mental explosion.

At the end of the song it just goes wild, Fred Ventura has done his vocal job and has left the building, leaving space for synthesizers to create a spacey atmospheric world of italo disco arpeggiators.

I just love it. It’s excellent.
GeorgeSpruce
https://www.discogs.com/Flexx-Love-Theme-From-Flexxy-Ball-Youll-Never-Change-No-More/release/387820?ev=rr

 

Flying D.J. – Marilyn

Marzio Benelli

easily my favourite Italo-Disco song of all times. A true gem.
cocabots

 

Sensitive – Driving

It is so easy and so difficult at the same time to review a breath taking masterpiece like this one… What can we say about this song except that it is the best possible example of Italo perfection. Well, at least in my personal opinion. It is loaded with a lot of emotions going through some sadness, melancholy and fragility all in a very refined way with a dark and boosted up galloping baseline. The instruments are just perfect and well thought, and the vocals, well, they maybe are even better.. All the ingredients were there to create something that won’t be forgotten in the years that would follow.

Knowing this, it could be remarkable, but this song is bringing you exactly in the mood you want to be and so it doesn’t have to be a sad or melancholic mood. Me for example I just get very happy with it, tons of emotions and goosebumps from the deepest! It was their very first official release as a group and their love for the music is really painted on that song. You’re feeling that devotion till the very last second.
Weird that it never broke glasses into the charts back in the day.. Maybe because of the tons of releases that came out in a very short period of time in that area, but anyway, it’s a real pleasure to see and discover that it finally gets the popularity it deserves!

A truly wonderful production from David Zambelli, but most of the credits goes to the real creators of it: Sergio Bonzanni as the composer & Salvatore Pileggi on the vocals. Gigi Vavassori gets the same credits for his help in creating this wonderful piece of musical history! The song was recorded in 1983 at the Regson Sound Studios in Milan (Italy), the day after Scotch recorded there famous ‘Disco Band’. The instruments used in the song are an Elka Synthex, a Korg Poly 61 and a E-mu Drumulator. The picture on the sleeve is Sergio Bonzanni in the studio together with Salvatore Pileggi.

Definitely my absolute favorite song of all time!! No words could EVER describe this song as it should be…
Aftering_at_my_way
https://www.discogs.com/Sensitive-Driving/release/422118

 

Decadance – On And On

Franco Rago and Gigi Farina (a.k.a. Atelier Folie, ‘Lectric Workers, Expansives, Decadance, Wanexa, Pleasure Discipline, Message from the Future)

“On And On (Fears Keep On)” is a total masterpiece production in the italo disco genre. The same people behind ‘Lectric Workers and many other infamous italo projects present us with this song under the alius of ‘Decadance’. The song shares male/female vocals – the male has a very heavy Italian accent, while the female vocals are probably the best example of just how amazing an italo song could be. All in all, this is a very dark song and is something like a love song meets electro-synth crossover. I love this song so much and don’t doubt it’s level of demand one bit.
magic00
https://www.discogs.com/Decadance-On-And-On-Fears-Keep-On/release/94807

 

Paul Paul – Burn On The Flames

Fred Ventura

I waited too much
I’ve wasted my time
I’m looking at shadows on the wall of my room
The beat of my heart is so tired to run
The pictures of her make me feel so alone

Burn on the flames! Walk on the flames!

I’ve wasted my youth
I’ve cried too much
Life is so hard and so full of troubles
I make my choice, my mind is still late
I wanna forget from the people I saw.

Burn on the flames! Walk on the flames!
Burn on the flames! My life, my life Burn on the flames! My life, my life Euh-euh-euh.

The night is so clear
My booze is soaked up
I’m looking for something for the bottom of my heart
The silence around sound to me like a theme
And they like it fire alone in the dessert

Burn on the flames! Walk on the flames!

I’ve wasted my youth
I’ve cried too much
Life is so hard and so full of troubles
I make my choice, my mind is still late
I wanna forget from the people I saw.

Burn on the flames! Walk on the flames!
Burn on the flames! My life, my life Burn on the flames!
My life, my life Burn on the flames!
My life, my life Burn on the flames!
My flames, my flames Burn on the flames! My life, my life

 

Hélicon – You … See

All around, “You… See” is one of the finest Italo Disco songs ever created. This one is very beautiful, VERY beautiful! Male/female vocals, softer beat, instrumentation is just perfect. This is definately top 10 for my favorite Italo Disco songs of all time! This song does it for me everytime, always and forever an Italo gem!
magic00
https://www.discogs.com/H%C3%A9licon-You–See/release/299967

 

Felli – Diamond In The Night

Gianfranco Felli

“Diamond In The Night” is a true classic and will rank forever among my favourites. I love it how the refrain changes from “Your love doesn’t shine” to “Let your love shine” in the progress of the song.
latscho
https://www.discogs.com/Felli-Diamond-In-The-Night/release/346417

 

Savage – Don’t Cry Tonight

Roberto Zanetti aka Savage

Were you inspired by some artists to make Italo disco? For example, High-energy music existed before Italo-disco, one could say that Italo is the child of High-energy in some way (a logical continuation of disco music). You know who Bobby Orlando and Patrick Cowley are. Did they have some influence on you ?

Of course they influenced me. as you state Italo disco is an evolution of High-energy. I think our style is a medley between the High-energy’s sound and the Italian melodies.

The year 1983 is far away from us now. Your first single was Don’t Cry Tonight. How did you compose this song ?

I was in a blue, sad moment of my life. the melody went out from the deep of my soul. It was written in five minutes.

Italo disco is a very nice and strong music. Your song Don’t Cry Tonight in an example of a beautiful, soft song, a very good song for our heart and soul, for our thoughts. Italo disco in general is the most beautiful music in the world, don’t you think so?

Yes, I agree. Many thanks for you compliments.
http://www.italo-interviews.com/Savage1st.html

I Loved, I love you and I will love you forever! I remember with this song!
doge663

 

Mike Rogers – Just A Story

I can listen to a recording day and night, thanks to this amazing recording who created it many thanks
yakyle9

 

Marc Line – You Can Break My Heart

Marcello Catalano

Probably one of the most coruscating Marcello Catalano’s jewels, as much smooth for the ears as it is not to be found at every street’s corner ! A record seemingly that’s worth the price.
vinylric

 

Moskow – Come Back

Angelo Valsiglio

Unlike others, I love this song because it’s beautiful and, for me it doesn’t matter if the record is 10 cent the euro or 3000.

Clear and easy-to-understand vocals (you’re an Italo, I don’t want you to be clear), excellent drums programming (lots double kicks but why that snare ? ok..), wonderful melody and sounds/effects during the song.

** You might like the Instr. version more

Is that record worth the money for a “love” song ? you decide..
MyMine
https://www.discogs.com/Moskow-Come-Back/release/216797

 

G.J. Lunghi – Acapulco Nights

Such an absolutely perfect song. The keyboard hook and lead female vocals are especially outstanding. Owwww!!!
beagletender

 

Lame’ – You’ve Got The Night

Thank you for sharing this with me Triggerfs, I have been listening to this song in my room for the last 5 hours having an emotional breakdown. This track breaks my heart two ways, first the percussion through the track.. amazing.. The final destruction to my soul comes at 3:27ish when he starts beckoning to her, and then the final “but if you want it, you got it….” and thats when the tears pour out….
partyeffectsdotbiz6

 

The Hurricanes – Only One Night

Tess

If you haven’t heard this Italo classic, then hear it! The intro from 0:17 gives me goosebumps and the voice is wonderful. One of my absolute favorites ever. Produced by Tess (aka Fancy).
webhamster
https://www.discogs.com/Hurricanes-Only-One-Night/release/126243

 

93rd Superbowl – Forever And A Day

Great and crazy synth action, wonderful long break in the middle, this song has it all for me. One of my personal favorites that never left my head since the first time I heard it. Pitch it up a little for maximum effectiveness!
https://www.discogs.com/93rd-Superbowl-Forever-And-A-Day/release/518476

 

Ventura – Another Time

Bruno Tavernese

One that grew on me a lot over the years, with solid production (as always) from the master Bruno Tavernese.
The singer is not out of tune at all, she has a powerful husky voice which I love.
One of few italo 12″ maxis with great (different) songs on both sides, actually the b-side “Another Time” is better for me.
Be sure to watch the incredible and spirited video performance of that one.. what a stage presence!
hysteric
https://www.discogs.com/Ventura-Touched/master/120549

 

Jules – I Want To…

Simply amazing.
My Number One in the Top Ten!!.
TheItalodancers

 

Ghery M & Ocean D – Love’s Emotions

VERY NICE!!!!!

 

George Gray – Life

Those many italo songs I have searched, I havent found. Instead of all that I found this thanks to Qlee Italo Disco Radio. and RSDH in Holland. And I am thankful for it. There is very little music like these. Its not about sounds, lyrics and arrangement only, but how it makes me feel due to the all about this itself.

It also seems more than just mainstream italo ( which was made for money).
alexelaist3

 

Lisa G. – Call My Name

Another wonderful 80s italo disco masterpiece! The intro has a Very cutting crew “I just died in your arms” feel imo. Lisa g”s vocals are quite lovely and the over all production Is flawless! 🙂 🙂 🙂
garyvictor
https://www.discogs.com/Lisa-G-Call-My-Name/release/561437

For my friend and DJ colleague Scott Duncan aka Il Discotto who introduced me to so much of this wonderful music.

 

 

*

p.s. Hey. ** Dominik, Hi!!! My pleasure. Yeah, I just found it interesting to read the TJ Lane post backwards, so you start with the ‘evil’ him and inevitably look for its signs in the earlier him, which distorts how you see him, or something. Yay, Nancy Sinatra. One of my boyfriends was obsessed with her and played her albums practically 24 hours a day. We can’t tell our left from right, But we know we love extremes, Getting to grips with the ups and downs, Because there’s nothing in between, G. ** Misanthrope, I can see that, about Joe. Poor Joe. Poor us. ** _Black_Acrylic, His book is so good and fun, right? Someone said there’s a sequel, but I’ve never seen it. Look just above, pal! ** James, I’m pretty sure those British-ly named painted places were/are in fact in the UK. He was a very big Anglophile. I was thrown out of prep school. It wasn’t particularly fun or enviable, actually. Glad you dug him/it. You must have to pee a lot. My parents wrote, but they didn’t read. My dad wrote terrible rhyming poems, and my mom, who was pretty wack, believed she had an invisible spiritual guide named Phillip and she was always transcribing messages and words of wisdom from him. I’m hit and miss at bowling. I can be amazing for maybe ten minute spates and get strikes after strike, and then it’s just gutter ball after gutter ball. Writing or inspiration or whatever has a quirky tempo. You have to be ready when it’s in the mood. The link didn’t work, but I’ll look up that painting and revise it accordingly and try to see you. Finish the novel? I’m just prepping for my trip and having bon voyage coffees with certain pals. ** jay, Hi. Very happy to. Oh, okay, on the angelification. I’ve seen that sort of thing in manga. I guess it does get the point across. Big congrats on your dissertation movement forward! Heads up once we sort out a London screening. Probably not until after I get back from LA. The sorting part. Thank you being so kind and generous with HaRpEr. ** Steve, I only hope that your presence and intervention will finally get your parents situation under control and on the right track. But, yes, that sounds unbearably stressful. Very, very best luck with all of that. ** P, I’m a bit of an amusement park fanatic to say the least. I can’t remember if I read that Gil Cuadros book, but he’s really good, yeah. Nice. Yes, there was a person who commented all the time who decided to adopt a fake persona and comment here under that identity too. The fake identity was very manipulative and creepy, it turned out, and it caused kind of a big mess when the deceit was discovered, and I had to ask the commenter to never come back here again. I’m a trusting person, but when my trust is betrayed, I find it very hard to forgive. That happened maybe 10 years ago. Other commenters since might have been or might be ‘fake’, but not that I know of. I’m not suspicious about that sort of thing until I’m forced to be. Thank you asking that. ** Lucas, Hey, Lucas! Up with me: getting ready to go to LA and premiere the film. Busy with that. Interesting about ‘Hour of the Star’. Very cool that you got all of that from it. Yes, I too felt that about the hollowness thing. Yes. I’m happy you’re working on the story, and writing poems too. I can’t wait until I’m freed up enough again to write stuff. You sound good, pal. Hugs and xoxo. ** politekid, If the festival says no, we’ll find something else. Remind me about that theater possibility, and thank you. We won’t be able to start figuring London film stuff out until we’re back from LA, I don’t think. I do remember that about the nb Marxist. What doesn’t take an age longer than you think it will. Well, actually, a lot of things, what am I saying? I really liked ‘Neuromancer’. I had a period back in that day when I was reading all the Cyber Punk novels. Gibson seemed the best by far. And he’s a really nice guy. I did a reading with him once. I remember really liking the ‘Neuromancer’ sequel ‘Count Zero’ especially for some reason. Good about the PhD and do coast well when you do, which I’m certain you will. You seem like you’re probably really good at gliding when need be. And luck/curiosity about the Mhairi Vari collab. The headache inducing materials gathering/lawyer part of the visa thing is over. Now it’s just fear about not getting it. Everyone thinks I will, but, if I don’t, things would get difficult, so, gulp. Kali Malone is playing the night after we arrive. I will be massively too jet-lagged to go, unfortunately, but I think Zac, who luckily doesn’t get jet-lag, is going. Mostly the LA plan its to try to schmooze or whatever to construct a future for the film. Otherwise, see friends, art, an amusement park or two. What’s your today and tomorrow? ** HaRpEr, Right, the signed books, that’s handy. So nice that you and jay figured something out. LA has become more expensive than Paris, which blows my mind. The reason I’m able to live on my savings and meager income is because I live really frugally, but our film’s ex-producer fucked us over and put the film in deep debt, so I had to put in money of my own to be able to finish the film, so I’m hurting from that. But I’ll be fine. Awesome that you saw ‘Luna’ and liked it. I love that film. I like pretty much all of the early Bertolucci films, but, yeah, I would watch ‘The Conformist’ next. It’s really great. Same here, on the ‘Ulysses’ find. I got to Henry Miller later, and I wasn’t very impressed by him. Although I remember thinking the first 15 or 20 pages of ‘Tropic of Cancer’ were good. ** Joshua, Hey Joshua! Agreed, about early Talking Heads. I saw them once when they were still a jittery trio, and it was sweet, yeah. ‘Eternal Darkness’! There must be some big rights issues with that game. I was so surprised there wasn’t a sequel, and I feel like it would be rebooted for Switch if it could be because the cult following is passionate. It’s a real shame, or that at least other games haven’t taken from that game’s crazy engine and run with it. The admin jobs sound interesting, or at least a way to do something noble while earning. What sort of music do you play? Are you a collaborator or an accompanist or … ? And cool about the zine. Me too, I love collaborating, or at least where you’re lucky enough to find true like minds. Have a terrific day! ** Justin D, My pleasure on the Hannah front, of course. I’m an apparently rare bird who doesn’t get or appreciate Pasolini’s films. I’ve tried and tried. I too find them silly and garish and clunky, but I also accept that I’m just not getting it. The film stuff will be most of the LA trip assuming we can parlay hopeful success into finding future opportunities while we’re there. Otherwise, just friends and seeing stuff and so on, I guess. This blog is very, very fortunate and lucky to have such an amazing group of people entering and commenting here. I’m blown away by how interesting and smart and talented and kind and everything else the blog’s ‘community’ is. You very included naturally. I feel really really lucky. ** Uday, Go for it. Okay, gotcha, about the reverse Guibert concept. Very fruitful sounding. Enjoy your day paranormally! ** Nicholas., Interesting, your bark-y walk. Barks can turn into growls in a heartbeat, so … Everyone, Nicholas. has added to his exciting website with ‘new editions on magic and anima stuff’. Follow the siren to here Oh, ‘and get your copy of my book if you haven’t yet,’ he says. I don’t like taking selfies, so I don’t take them. I do shoot people and things, not as much as I should. ** Tyler Ookami, Hi. I have been wary of ‘Mickey 17’ from the outset, partly for assumptions that match with your reports. I haven’t seen the ‘Terrifier’ films, but word among my friends who are fans is that #2 is the one for whatever reason. I am curious to see why they’re so popular. I doubt they’ll be featured in my impending in-flight entertainment unfortunately. ** Dan Carroll, Thanks, Dan. My memory is that you do in fact get to read ‘Cartoons’, or perhaps not the whole thing, I can’t remember. Funny, your positive review right after Tyler’s negative review of ‘Mickey 17’. Now I’m confused. But I like being confused. Thank you. ** Okay. Today I went back into the archives and breathed new life into _Black_Acrylic aka Ben Robinson’s generous foray into the particular joys and head rush capabilities of the Italo Tearjerker genre. Let’s all rise to our feet and enjoy the beats and emotional outputs, etc. together, what do you say? See you tomorrow.