As I near my final weeks in Florence, Italy, the cradle of the Renaissance, studying art conservation and art history, I pause to write for you, dear DJ, a playlist that conveys for your some sense of my experiences in a foreign land. Though I could go on and on about my semester in Dante’s hometown, boring you to tears, I thought it would be best to give you a playlist instead. It’s more fun, and you can dance to it. I mean, if you dance to people telling stories, then hey, big ups to you. Now- ascoltare! Listen in!
M83: “Raconte-moi Une Histoire”
My roommate, Phoebe, always had her music on in the kitchen, as background music for cooking, working, or just surfing the often-slow internet. She has a wide range of musical tastes, but they were firmly established in electronic music and dubstep. Like me, and like many of you, she was extremely excited for M83’s new LP, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. Once the album came out, I could count on hearing this song, along with other from the album, playing on repeat while polenta was cooking.
Sleigh Bells: “Rill Rill”
Other than Renaissance artworks, Florence is famous for its many beautiful churches. And where there are churches, there are bells my friend. Living a hop, skip, and jump from Florence’s Cathedral, or Duomo, means that many a Saturday and Sunday you get a nice medieval alarm clock. And once, just once, while walking home from class, the bells of the Duomo sounded like the bells in this song.
Jovanotti: “La Notte Dei Desideri”
What type of Italy-related playlist would this be without some Italian artists included? At the time of writing, this song is the top 10 single on the Italian charts. While many Italian pop songs are either too dramatic or too ridiculous to be taken seriously, Jovanotti’s hit mixes just the right amount of silliness with sincerity, coming off as a male counterpart to Robin or Yelle. Plus- cr-aaazy costumes!
I Cani: “I Pariolini di 18 Anni”
Does Italian indie rock exist? Yes, it does. Just like its American cousins, it encompasses a variety of sounds. In the case of Rome’s I Cani (The Dogs), they combine a pop-punk joviality with a truck-load of synthesizer and electronic effects. Don’t worry about that description; it’s more of a happy No Age than a Warped Tour monster.
LCD Soundsystem: “Home”
If you would have to choose an LCD Soundsystem song about living in a foreign country where you didn’t speak the language, you would probably choose “North American Scum”. And for the first month I was here, I would have agreed. The euphoria has worn off, and now you’re stuck in a country where the shopkeepers and residents are at the very least mildly annoyed with dealing with you. But after a while, it becomes part of the territory. You love the grumpy scooter drivers, the masses of tour groups blocking your way to class, and of course, the gelaterias on every corner. You make unusual friends- in my case, a large group of Portuguese students over in Florence doing internships for the European Union’s Erasmus program. It starts to feel like- please kill me- “Home.”
And, finally……
LL Cool J: “Headsprung”
What better background music is there to memorize the layers of a Renaissance fresco? I believe Giotto would approve.