Over the years I've become a big fan of certain Italian pop superstars. Originally I explored Italian contemporary music as my interest in the language grew. Some I can leave but some I quite like and listen to a lot, owning multiple CDs of each singer. One is Nek whose CD In Due I enjoyed on my iPod at the gym this morning. But I think my favourite is Eros Ramazzotti, one of the most successful cantautori or singer/songwriters in Italy today.

His popularity extends far beyond Italy for he releases every new CD in Italian and Spanish. I don't know how popular he is in the English speaking world but he has collaborated on recordings with Cher, Tina Turner and Ricky Martin. Usually I can get his CDs locally, one copy maybe in the World Section or I can always get them online.

Italian pop/rock music has its own definite sound. It's very different from British or American pop/rock and it doesn't seem to get much radio play in the English speaking world. Zucchero, another very successful Italian superstar had this to say in an interview, about releasing an album both in English and Italian:

"The radio in England or America will not play your music unless it's sung in English. That's the main reason, because honestly it's not easy to translate from Italian to English. Sometimes it's ok, but sometimes it's very difficult because you lose the poetry. You lose the harmony and the deep meaning of the lyrics sometimes because it's not easy to translate into another language. I personally prefer to sing in my own language but the radio in England and America won't play the music if it's not in English."

But back to Ramazzotti, for whom I have a slight preference over the others. I was delighted to hear that he had a new CD being released in North America at the end of October. I looked online first, as I usually do, but only available for pre-order. Recently in the music store I went over to the International Section and there it was. But wait, was it in Spanish or Italian? I've been caught before, so I always check carefully. No, Italian, great. It's two CDs. That meant really expensive and Italian CDs are never cheap here. $30 plus tax. It's only money, so I bought it.

I could hardly wait to rip off the cellophane and play it when I got home. The first song was great, the second.........what the heck? That was an old one. I grabbed the CD case and saw this little sticker.

The Ultimate collection on 2 CDs
14 classics plus 4 new songs plus 17 new versions.
New collaborations with....list

So basically it's a best of compilation with a few new songs, some old songs and some old ones reworked with new collaborators, like Cher, Tina Turner, the Chieftains. What a gyp Eros. Nothing new for two years and now this. Oh well, I do like it so I'll just enjoy it and forget about the fact that I've been swizzed, I've been taken, I've been cheated. I definitely have to read the fine print next time.

Apart from Welshcakes, I'm sure few of you have even heard of Eros Ramazzotti. However I think you might like this one with Ricky Martin, Non Siamo Soli, We are not alone. They won't allow anyone to embed the video but this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5L9-m-8Wgc will take you right to it at YouTube. Do click over and let me know what you think.

NB I don't know how to link here so just go to YouTube and look for Non siamo soli. It will pop right up.