What memoriable music to bring on my iPod for Italy/France to enhance trip?

Pete,

I actually recommend the soundtrack for a cooking show! David Rocco's Dolce Vita music soundtrack is actually a really cool mix of European songs. Even a bit of techno style mixed in.

There are song samples on his website here: David Rocco

Pete

Pete, it's not recent, but have you ever heard Keltic Eletrik from Jack Evans? I've really enjoyed it. My favorite is the first album. Pam

Afro Celt Sound System? (Though I've lost track if they've released anything new/in years)

Incanto by Bocelli. There is nothing like being in Italy, listening to anything Bocelli.

Enjoy!

I put the soundtrack from Room with a View (the Helena Bonhom Carter version) for walking around Florence and sitting on the wall outside of San Mineato watching the sun set.

Pete – I carry my iPod everywhere; I will not leave home without it and I especially love listening to music that evokes memories and images of my travels. The mere fact that you will hear the music in Italy and France will create ‘musical associations’ for you.

Why not drop into a music store in France or Italy to see what is popular (or on sale). When we were in Siena my husband bought a Definitive Simon & Garfunkel CD (I couldn’t understand why) but I listened to it on our train rides and on the air flight home and now I completely associate this music with images I saw on the train and my experiences in Rome.

When I was visiting NYC’s very little Little Italy, Andrea Bocelli’s ‘Con Te Partiro was blasting through the open door of one of the shops. It inspired me to get to Italy much sooner than I had planned and I took along Bocelli’s Romanza CD which now reminds of my favorite City NYC, and Italy.

In NYC the Palm Court in the Plaza Hotel had a wonderful trio playing a variety of songs, many were classical. I bought the ‘Music from the Palm Court’ CD in the gift shop and it’s another all-time favorite.

In Venice, we had a wonderful experience when a fellow tourist joined one of the dueling orchestras in San Marco Square and delivered a world-class performance of “O Sole Mio”. So now this song is part of music memory scrapbook.

So, download a few pieces of new music before you leave and see what you can pick up in France and Italy. You may find that you come home with music you love but would not have chosen before your trip.

I suppose unless you travel with a laptop you won't be able to access your iTuns account...hmmm...well, I still think you should keep your ears open on this trip...it would be interesting to see what you would come back with.

Try an album of Debussy's orchestral works for France.

the entire radiohead or wilco discography...can not go wrong

" There goes the neighborhood " by the Bus Boys

This is not new music, but it is music that all people like : For ITALY : the Compact Disc that includes the album "CONTINENTAL ENCORES : MANTOVANI ORCHESTRA" (it has the tune "For the First Time" - Come Prima. It is actually a different tune title on the CD - the first track on that CD). For France : Prelude to Afternoon of a Fauna, composed by Debussy, perforemd by any good symphony orchestra.

How about some Justice for France? They are an awesome French electro group. Their song D.A.N.C.E. was a big club hit a few summers back. Or of course, there is also Air. Super chic French chill out music. Oh, and Daft Punk.

For Italy, any of the awesome Italo disco stuff. It's all pretty upbeat, dance-able, and charming in a goofy 80's kind of way.

What about some wonderful opera arias? "Amore 2 - Great Italian Love Arias" is a lovely album - and if you've never listened to opera this is a great place to start. You've likely heard nearly every piece on the album in TV commercials, movies, World Cup soccer etc. This is not shrieky horn wearing buxom germanic stuff - it's soothing, inspiring, romantic and very, very Italian. Start with Pavorotti's "Che Galida Manina" from Puccini's "La Boheme" and you might just get hooked on opera

Go on, give it a try! I dare you!

I love Francis Cabrel, especially the CD "Samedi Soir Sur la Terre". His simple but beautiful accoustic guitar based songs range from wistful to soulful to witty to jazzy and back again.

Hi Peter, For me nothing says Europe like ACDC! Just a thought.LOL Monte

We just got back!

Thanks for all the suggestions... I put many of those songs/artists on my Sansa "iPod" from Rhapsody.com subscription music service and it was great.

But I have to say I found something in the end even better than pre-loading music:

My Sansa music player has the ability to RECORD THE RADIO. I was able to record 4 gigs of French and Italian music/pop/techno and for me has been a great memory from the trip.

Pete

Pete,

When touring Italy - or anywhere for that matter - consider plugging into the movie soundtrack music by Nino Rota, who wrote the score for many of the memorable Federico Fellini films, such as Amarcord and La Strada.

If Rota's tuneful music doesn't put you into a romantic Italian mood then the Italian border patrol may just banish you to Branson.

Best of luck.