The future of music

15 Most Popular Italian Songs (Best & Famous)

November 6, 2023
Popular Italian songs

I’ve compiled the most beautiful and iconic Italian songs that capture the spirit of the country.

This definitive list spans genres and generations, featuring classics by artists like Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, and Eros Ramazzotti.

Top picks of Italian songs

  • “Con Te Partirò” by Andrea Bocelli
  • “Ti Amo” by Umberto Tozzi
  • “Bella Ciao” by Manu Chao
  • “Vivo Per Lei” by Andrea Bocelli
  • “Tu Vuò Fà L’americano” by Renato Carosone
  • “Nel blu dipinto di blu” by Domenico Modugn
  • “L’Appuntamento” by Ornella Vanoni
  • “Laura non-c’è” by Nek
  • “Cogli la prima mela” by Angelo Branduardi
  • “Musica è” by Eros Ramazzotti

1. “Con Te Partirò” by Andrea Bocelli

“Con Te Partirò” by Andrea Bocelli can be translated to “With You, I Shall Depart” in English.

The song is about saying goodbye to someone close with the promise of loving them forever.

It ranked no. 1 on the France (SNEP) and Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) music charts.

2. “Ti Amo” by Umberto Tozzi

“Ti Amo” or “I Love You” by Umberto Tozzi is an Italian song about love and forgiveness.

The song was released in English and Spanish versions by different artists.

It was an instant hit when it was released and topped the French SNEP Singles and Swiss Singles Charts.

3. “Bella Ciao” by Manu Chao

“Bella Ciao” is one of the most popular Italian songs right now for being featured in the hit Netflix series “Money Heist.”

Originally a folk song, it was sung by Mondina protestors against Northern Italy’s harsh working conditions in the 19th century.

4. “Vivo Per Lei” by Andrea Bocelli

“Vivo Per Lei” means “I Live For Her” and is from the album Bocelli.

Andrea Bocelli sings his undying love for a woman through this famous Italian song.

The song topped the music charts of Switzerland, Belgium, and France.

5. “Tu Vuò Fà L’americano” by Renato Carosone

“Tu Vuò Fà L’americano” by Renato Carosone is the singer’s most famous Italian song.

The title can be translated to “You Want to Play American.”

The song is about the Americanization of rural Italy soon after World War II.

6. “Nel blu dipinto di blu” by Domenico Modugn

“Nel blu dipinto di blu” by Domenico Modugn is the most popular Italian song on this list.

The song won third place in the Eurovision Song Contest held in 1958.

It was also the first song to win two Grammy awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

7. “L’Appuntamento” by Ornella Vanoni

“L’Appuntamento” by Ornella Vanoni was featured in the movie, “Ocean’s Twelve” making it one of the most popular Italian songs in America.

The song ranked no. 1 on the iTunes chart and was played frequently on the radio.

8. “Laura non-c’è” by Nek

If you’re a pop music fan, you’ll find “Laura non-c’è” by Nek to be the perfect listen.

The song is about a man’s guilt for emotionally cheating on his girlfriend because he’s still in love with his ex.

The song is Gold certified in both France (SNEP) and Italy (FIMI).

9. “Cogli la prima mela” by Angelo Branduardi

“Cogli la prima mela” by Angelo Branduardi is one of the best Italian songs by the singer.

It re-imagines a Hungarian medieval song called “U Naseho Barty.”

The song motivates the listener to seize every moment of their life to avoid any kind of regret in the future.

10. “Musica è” by Eros Ramazzotti

“Musica è” is Eros Ramazzotti’s biggest hit from his mini album of the same name.

Listeners from around the world enjoy reading the song’s translation for the best experience.

The translation helps the song paint a surreal picture in your mind. 

11. “Gloria” by Umberto Tozzi 

“Gloria” is a famous Italian song by Umberto Tozzi that was translated into Spanish and English among other languages.

The song stayed at number one for four consecutive weeks on Switzerland’s (Schweizer Hitparade) music chart.

The song is about an imaginary woman, “Gloria” who makes the singer’s miseries go away.

12. “O’ Sole Mio” by Bryan Adams & Luciano Pavarotti

“O’ Sole Mio” is among the old famous Italian songs covered by various artists over the years.

The song is from the perspective of a man helplessly in love with a woman.

He calls her his personal sunshine, brightening his life even during hard times.

13. “L’Italiano” by Toto Cotugno

“L’Italiano” by Toto Cotugno is the singer’s biggest international hit.

The popular Italian song became even more famous after being played during the 2006 FIFA World Cup to celebrate Italy’s victory.

It topped the charts in France, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland.

14. “Azzurro” by Adriano Celentano

“Azzurro” by Adriano Celentano is an old Italian song about a lonely summer.

Along with a combination of simple and catchy melodies, a military march is also heard throughout the middle section of the song. 

The song ranked at number one on the music charts in Italy and peaked at number 17 in Switzerland.

15. “La Solitudine” by Laura Pausini 

This song was Pausini’s first song from her self-titled debut album.

The song expresses the pain and loneliness of a girl whose high school sweetheart, Marco, has moved away with his family.

Italian Songs – Final Thoughts

To ensure you get the complete experience, we recommend going through the translated lyrics of the songs as you listen.

Each of these Italian hits will tell you a special story and teach you new words along the way.

After hearing them a few times, you might even find yourself singing along to them in Italian.

Similar Articles:

Famous French Songs

Will Fenton

Will, the founder of MIDDER, is a multifaceted individual with a deep passion for music and personal finance. As a self-proclaimed music and personal finance geek, he has a keen eye for futuristic technologies, especially those that empower creators and the public.

view profile

Worst songs of all time
Previous Story

20 Worst Songs of All Time (Most Annoying Tracks)

Best indie songs of all time
Next Story

30 Best Indie Songs of All Time (Greatest Indie Anthems)

Latest from Entertainment & Playlists