Ciao wonder2wonder,

Strawberry tiramisu is very refreshing.

I don't have any cats of my own right now but I still help my friend Wilma who picks up strays. She is always in need of help.

Yes, the round thin frisbee-shaped pizza with the puffed-up crusty edges, I cut in slices and then I fold each slice and use my fingers.

The pizza I buy from my baker is different .... it's thick and the pieces are square. I use a fork and knife , the mozzarella does not ooze as much.

Happy 2024!

Al Bano e Romina Power- "Felice Natale (1990)"

Ciao wonder2wonder,

it has a sweet melody .. there is a line in the song where the singer hopes there won't be war in the New Year...

I fear the situation in Israel will spread if America doesn't stop providing bombs to Israel.

Netanyahu is killing two birds with one stone : while he is hunting Hamas, he is also bombing, and killing civilians /children non-stop. He has leveled the North of Gaza, he will do the same in the South , he is creating his GREATER ISRAEL for the future.

In Ukraine, the war has been over for months but Zelensky hasn't got the balls to admit it and sit down and accept the terms Russia dictates..he prefers to send the last soldiers to die for nothing and Biden wants more funding to send them because he needs a win so he and his party will have a chance to seize the 2024 elections. Warmongers the whole bunch.

They don't care a hoot about the fact that the economy has nosedived and people can't pay mortgages, bills, or put food on the table.

And the circus continues.

@sunshine62 said:

Ciao wonder2wonder,

it has a sweet melody .. there is a line in the song where the singer hopes there won't be war in the New Year...

@sunshine62 Ciao. I hope you've had a good new year's eve.

Sadly, since humans have learned to walk on Earth, the planet and all creatures great and small have suffered their presence.

Al Bano and Romina sang that song - originally by John Lennon and Yoko Ono (1971) - in 1990, the same year of "Se bastasse una canzone" by Eros Ramazzotti.

Today I'm listening to The 2024 Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert - Live.

Ciao wonder2wonder,

The Vienna concert is now screening on national TV RAI 2 but I'm not a great fan. My papa' used to watch it.

The war in Ukraine has crushed Europe/ Italy so I find it hard to just accept in silence our fate.

So "Felice Natale" / Happy Christmas was written by Lennon and Yoko and Al Bano did his version in Italian or are the words the same? I had never heard either.

@sunshine62: I just saw your post about Pavarotti. Did you know that he once sang with the Spice Girls?

@SecretaryIMF said:

@sunshine62: I just saw your post about Pavarotti. Did you know that he once sang with the Spice Girls?

And:

James Brown

U2

Celine Dion

Eric Clapton

Elton John

Mariah Carey

Sting

Lionel Ritchie

Stevie Wonder

Just to name a few!

@sunshine62 said:

Ciao wonder2wonder,

The Vienna concert is now screening on national TV RAI 2 but I'm not a great fan. My papa' used to watch it.

@sunshine62 Ciao.

The Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert has been performed since 1939. I don't always watch it.

So "Felice Natale" / Happy Christmas was written by Lennon and Yoko and Al Bano did his version in Italian or are the words the same? I had never heard either.

The message is the same. Most of the lyrics, too. Although Lennon wrote the song, Ono also got co-credit.

The melodic structure and rhythm is similar to earlier songs with different lyrics, like "Stewball (1963)" - Peter, Paul and Mary and "I Love How You Love Me (1961)"- The Paris Sisters.

Ciao Secretary IMF and bratface

Yes, I was aware that Pavarotti sang with many super-pop singers. After Michael Jackson in the late 80s, in the '90s and early 2000 pop singers rallied for children in wars, dying of famine and being a noble cause Pavarotti made himself available.

The first Pavarotti & Friends was in 1992.

I don't like all the duets ..Sting, U2, and The Spice Girls are not on my list. I just didn't like the songs and the end result.

I have always loved the Eurythmics's "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" but I didn't enjoy the duet version.

Here below are the ones I love. I wish Freddie had sung with Pavarotti. I know the Queen performed with him. I teared up, damn those leaps in the past.

Clapton and Pavarotti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9uYu4R2nk8

James Brown and Pavarotti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak3bmuR7Kmo&list=RDak3bmuR7Kmo&start_radio=1&t=31s

Stevie Wonder and Pavarotti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAam1kDx1ow

Elton John and Pavarotti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-WYnki9kWk&list=PLaOrMciSnv6-2l1D7OUwzA3ucBTTOHLl1&index=6

Mariah Carey and Pavarotti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjvTzFlHVRs

Hope all the links work!

@sunshine62 said:

I wish Freddie had sung with Pavarotti.

Yes. it is a pity that it was not possible. Pavarotti started his benefit concert series "Pavarotti & Friends" in 1992. Freddie Mercury passed away a year earlier in 1991.

But with video editing and a good impersonator, one can show what could have been.

Ciao wonder2wonder,

hope you are enjoying your weekend.

In all honesty, it doesn't sound much like Freddie to me.

Also, I prefer the song The Queen sang with Pavarotti ..I wish he was there too, taking the lead with il Maestro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7FGPIRJx6I

@sunshine62 said:

Ciao wonder2wonder,

hope you are enjoying your weekend.

In all honesty, it doesn't sound much like Freddie to me.

@sunshine62 Ciao.

I know. It is also not the real Pavarotti singing. But the impersonator for both does have a good voice.