“Mamma son tanto felice, perché ritorno da te…” (mom I’m so happy, ‘cause I’m returning to you). You may or may not be familiar with it, but it’s the opening lines of one of Italy’s most iconic songs and one of the most renowned tributes to mothers. Simply titled “Mamma”, it debuted in the 1941 film of the same name, performed by Beniamino Gigli. In the scene, Gigli sings aboard an ocean liner bound for home, captivating a crowd of silent and spellbound immigrants. This song swiftly became a classic, synonymous with Mother’s Day, and has been covered by icons such as Pavarotti and Bocelli.
Mother’s Day is a civic observance paying homage to the maternal figure and the concept of motherhood across many nations. However, there’s no universal date that unites all countries in celebration. In Italy, as in most places, it falls on the second Sunday of May. Yet, in Arab nations, for instance, it aligns with the spring equinox, while in Argentina, it’s the third Sunday of October. Russia marks it on the last Sunday of November, and Indonesia on December 22nd.
Songs honoring mothers are deeply ingrained in Italian musical heritage, partly because of the significant role mothers play in Italian culture and society. It might also be because the Italian mother is almost a mythological creature, the ultimate multitasking being who effortlessly juggles cooking, cleaning, working, and even sending WhatsApp messages with some emojis, all while caring for her husband and remembering every significant family event (from the birthday of a distant fourth-degree cousin to the name day of the aunt living abroad). Amidst this whirlwind, her children are always her first thought. How does she do it? While it’s said that there’s only one mother, sometimes it feels like the Italian one is threefold!
To celebrate Mother’s Day 2024, here’s a curated selection of Italian songs dedicated to Mother, ranging from timeless classics with almost a century of history to more contemporary pieces. After all, as the saying goes in Italy: a mother is always a mother!
