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As Italy is pummeled by the coronavirus, Italians are forced to stay inside, venturing out only with permission to shop and do other necessary tasks.
But that can't silence the Italian love for song and for community, as evidenced in this video of neighbors on a street in the Tuscan city of Siena singing together out their windows ... "Long live our Siena."
The effect is joyous, and heartbreaking, and is a testament to the human spirit. Especially because they're singing what is popularly called "Canto della Verbena" and officially, "E mentre Siena dorme" ("While Siena Sleeps"), a sort of Senese hymn.
Even when they compete against one another in the Palio each year, the 17 neighborhoods of Siena are united in singing this song.
Meanwhile, up in Milan, it takes more than a pandemic to quash the musical spirit of Italians. Check out this band playing Chic's "Good Times" for their neighbors, while a woman below rocks out to the disco classic ...
And in Napoli...
Meanwhile in Bologna and Sicily...
I am happy to report that Bologna has decided to rock this whole social distancing thing.pic.twitter.com/2DBwpid8qP — John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) March 14, 2020
Sicily has figured out this whole self-isolation thing.#COVID19 #CoronavirusPandemic pic.twitter.com/93whPVtQcR — John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) March 13, 2020
All over Italy, 14th of March, 12am
This applause is for all of us Doctors!
This is the Italian people.
And I’m deeply touched..#CoronaVirusitaly #covid_19italia #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/b0IngltCp5 — Roberto Persiani (@PersianiRoberto) March 14, 2020
The Italian Air Force is doing their best to lift spirits.
🇮🇹 The Italian airforce gives a big emotional lift to their nation with Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma (let no one sleep) and where lyrics say venceremos (we will overcome). They have their planes dramatically facing and overpowering the single plane (virus) with their Nat. Flag! pic.twitter.com/77ywWPfQ3v — WvO-N 🇳🇱💎❤🙏🦅🏆🇳🇱 (@NassauWillem) March 14, 2020
No one can take music away from Italians. Milano always resists! I hope we can be this resilient, America.
#milanostrong #italiastrong
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
