May 31, 2011

Il Volo on US Magazine

 

Il Volo Discuss Their Overnight Success

You may have noticed three young Italian dudes with really, really big operatic voices on American Idol recently. Then you may have noticed that those three young Italian dudes, named Il Volo, suddenly had a self-titled debut album jet immediately to the Top Ten of Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart. And now everybody is talking – even them!

Yep, the trio – Piereo Barone, 17, Ignazio Boschetto, 16, and Gianluca Ginoble, 16 – have translated overnight success in the European boot country into a meteoric rise here. So what do they think of all this chatter? Us Weekly just caught up with them in our NYC office to hear what makes them tick.

UsMagazine.com: When did you first start singing?
Ignazio Boschetto: We started when we were three years old, but started to seriously sing two years ago. We met on an Italian television show and the producer of the program decided to put our voices together and from there our group was born. Our first song was "Il Sole Mio"

Us: Why did you choose the name Il Volo?
Piero Barone: Because the music makes us fly.

Us: What makes your group unique?
Gianluca Ginoble: This is the first time that young boys are singing this kind of music.
Ignazio Boschetto: The voice. Because we are three different voices put together as one group.

Us: Is this your favorite type of music?
Ignazio Boschetto: No, we listen to every kind of music. We listen to everything from Elvis Presley to Pavarotti. We hope to bring our music to the younger generations.
Gianluca Ginoble: Lady Gaga, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas. Every kind. Again, we are sixteen years old so we are young.

Us: You are on the same label as Lady Gaga and Eminem. What is it like being a part of Interscope?
Ignazio Boschetto: We met Lady Gaga and it was incredible.
Piero Barone: It is a great opportunity and we are so lucky because we have the same contract as Lady Gaga and Eminem. We were asked to sing at a party after the Grammy's and Puff Daddy came up to us and said 'welcome to our family.' It was incredible and so beautiful.

Us: Do you have any musical inspirations of your own?
Ignazio Boschetto: Not really.

Us: You recently performed on American Idol. What was that like? (Watch their performance here.)
Piero Barone: One word, Jennifer Lopez!
Ignazio Boschetto: The standing ovation was incredible.

Us: Did you watch the show prior to performing?
Ignazio Boschetto: Yes because in New York it was live but in Italy it was not.

Us: Do you have a favorite contestant on the show? Do you have any predictions who will win tonight?
Piero Barone: I like the boy, Scotty [McCreery].
Gianluca Ginoble: No for me it is Lauren Alaina. I voted for her
Ignazio Boschetto: I like Lauren too.

Us: You are so successful at such a young age, do you have any advice that you would give to your fans who are looking to fulfill their dreams?
Ignazio Boschetto: Always believe in your dreams. Don't lose sight of your dreams because it is very important to have new artists and new talent in this industry.
Gianluca Ginoble: Especially because there are many new and young artists like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, and now Il Volo.

May 27, 2011

Il Volo on Young Hollywood



Il Volo interviewed with Young Hollywood!

Il Volo on Belgium TV



I typed the Dutch subtitles into Google Translator and it did its magic. Here's the English translation of their interview. Lol. I think it was worth it :D

Piero Barone: We each sang a solo on Italian television show. Later the director decided to put us together to sing. That was the beginning of the trio Il Volo.

Ignazio Boschetto: Yes, why not a boy band, we can each play a number of instruments when we aren't singing. Like a boy band, we sing pop music but also more classical stuff, or opera. We make pop music so yes, we're a boy band.

Gianluca Ginoble: We want to sing for the rest of our lives. It is our passion. We hope that we'll still sing about 10 years. We always, always, always want to sing!

Ignazio Boschetto: We want to sing at Madison Square Garden. Let us hope. (We wanna sing) at The Metropolitan Opera.

Don't miss Ignazio's beatboxing at the end!

Il Volo @ UMD NYC Branch



Singing Happy Birthday song


Singing Un Amore Cosi Grande


singing O Sole Mio

Il Volo on The Ellen DeGeneres Show




May 26th.
Il Volo performed O Sole Mio on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The crowd loved it! :D

May 26, 2011

Il Volo debuts in the Billboard Top 10


Thirteen weeks after its release, Adele remains at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 with 21. The album sold 138,000 copies last week, according to Nielsen Soundscan, more than double the No. 2 album, Seether's Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray. Italian boy band Il Volo translated its American Idol appearance into a Top 10 debut, selling 23,000 copies of its self-titled album.


The Top 10
  1. Adele, 21 (138,000 weekly/1.848 million total)
  2. Seether, Holding Onto Strings Better Left (61,000/61,000)
  3. Various, Now That's What I Call Music! 38 (50,000/243,000)
  4. Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party (29,000/1.204 million)
  5. Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More (25,000/1.463 million)
  6. Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 (24,000/194,000)
  7. Lonely Island, Turtleneck & Chain (24,000/92,000)
  8. Justin Bieber, Never Say Never: Remixes (23,000/605,000)
  9. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues (23,000/150,000)
  10. Il Volo, Il Volo (23,000/24,000)

Read the full article here

May 23, 2011

Il Volo Take to 'Idol' Stage



May 20. Fox News
Cute interview clip! :D

May 21, 2011

CBS Early Show




Youtube Link: http://youtu.be/uHuLWW5r0Fg

May 21.
Il Volo was on CBS Early Show.

A message from Il Volo


You're welcome! We love you too! xD

Il Volo is #1 on Amazon!


Holy cow, look at this! Il Volo is the #1 bestseller in the ENTIRE music category! Il Volo is on the same chart with amazing artists such as Lady Gaga, Glee and Adele. In the sub-categories, Il Volo is also the #1 bestseller in pop chart and rock chart. I don't know how they got on the rock chart but that will be my least concern ;)


On the other hand, Il Volo is #2 best selling Albums on iTunes US! That means a lot of people downloaded their entire album rather than just a song or two. What an amazing success! Great job guys! Fly high!

*** Updates ***
May 21. Il Volo is #79 on the entire iTunes top 100 chart. They were ranked #93 yesterday. They are still #2 best selling Albums on iTunes US and #1 best selling music on Amazon.

May 20, 2011

Thank You Videos



For Stephanie Pratt


For Britney Spears

Il Volo on Jay Leno Show






Watch from 37:25.
Il Volo performed O Sole Mio on Jay Leno and NAILED IT! :D

Il Volo Interview on Yahoo Music


Il Volo is featured on the main page of Yahoo Music! 
It says "Meet teen opera sensations Il Volo, as seen on 'American Idol'"

Watch the interview below!


I must say that I like the title "Il Volo: Regular teens who happen to sing like Andrea Bocelli" :) 
Read the full Yahoo Music article here!

Un Amore Cosi' Grande



Il Volo performing 'Un Amore Cosi' Grande at LA showcase.

May 19, 2011

Il Volo on American Idol




I'm sure Il Volo stole the hearts of America with their amazing O Sole Mio performance :)

Il Volo – A Captivating Trio Of Endearing Voices

Please read the full article here.

Q. Briefly, please tell us about how you got started singing?
Ignazio: I started singing at the age of 3, I was singing at home for fun as most children do, and took part in the school choir. Then my family and I moved to Sicily and there I started singing with a teacher.
Piero: I started singing when I was a child- I used to sing songs on my grandfathers lap.
Gianluca: I started singing when I was a child, in the square of my village.

Q. How does it feel to be compared to the great tenors?
Ignazio: To be compared to the Three Tenors is a big honor for sure, even if our repertoire is not operatic.
Piero: I feel very proud to be compared to these great artists, but with that comes a lot of responsibility and a strong commitment.
Gianluca: It is a great honor, we hope to follow and have their same successful careers!

Q. At your young ages, it seems a little surprising that this would be your preferred choice of music. Why did you not choose to go contemporary pop? And how has this type of music affected your life?
Ignazio: Since childhood I knew which my favorite kind of music was. I listen to all kinds of music, except heavy metal. When I was a child I really loved Andrea Bocelli, now I listen to blues, jazz, pop and opera as well.
Piero: We chose this kind of music because it suits our voices. This type of music really affected us- even though we listen to all kinds of music.
Gianluca: It is not is a choice, it’s just the way we sing, we cannot sing Hip-Hop or Rap, our kind of voice complements this type of music.

Q. What does Il Volo symbolize to all of you?
Ignazio: I always compare IL VOLO to an airplane, I think that to take off you have to push the engine to the maximum and every component of the plane is fundamental to take off, to fly and to land, so I think that IL VOLO has all the right components to do this trip, or this is what I hope!
Piero: To me “IL VOLO” symbolizes the beginning of a career.
Gianluca: IL VOLO for me symbolizes the beginning of my career, it’s a dream come true, because that’s what I wanted to do since childhood.

Q. Who would like to sing with in the future?
Ignazio: I would really love to sing with Celine Dion.
Piero: I like to sing in the future with Celine Dion, Lara Fabian and all the great artists of world music.
Gianluca: I would like to sing with Michael Buble, Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli.

Q. Who is your biggest inspiration?
Ignazio: I think that the inspiration for every pop lyric artist has been Luciano Pavarotti, now I think Bocelli is.
Piero: My biggest inspiration is our group “IL VOLO “.
Gianluca: I am inspired by the great crooners like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Andrea Bocelli.

Q. What role does your family play in your career right now? How supportive are they of your profession and what are the challenges you’re facing so far?
Ignazio: Family is truly important and I really miss them when I’m forced to stay far from home.
Piero: My family plays a major role because they give me support and strength, and support us as a whole.
Gianluca: The role of my family is vital for my career, and it is always a constant presence by my side.

Q. Name one thing you can’t live without?
Ignazio: Oxygen (smiles)
Piero: I could never live without music.
Gianluca: I could not live without music; it has been my passion since I was a kid.

Q. What song will you most likely sing to a girl whom you’ve fallen in love with?
Gianluca: If I had to dedicate a song to a girl I’d choose “E più ti penso” which is on our CD.

Q. What advice would you give your fans to fulfill their dreams?
Ignazio: Mine is actually a direct message to the parents: please help your children reach their goals to make their dreams come true.
Piero: To make a dream come true you need luck to find the right people, much desire, passion and above all honesty with oneself, to understand your limitations and learn to overcome them.
Gianluca: Never give up, always believe in your abilities, always position yourself and never stop dreaming, because sooner or later you may realize that dream!

The Next Big Thing: Il Volo Take Flight


The moment Il Volo begin to sing, a crowd at The Grove in Los Angeles gather to watch. These teen boys sound like seasoned tenors. The popera Italian trio are taping a segment for “Extra” to a stunned crowed. However, after their appearance on “American Idol” on May 19, these kids will not be able to walk the streets unrecognized.

It’s been an incredible journey for Piero Barone (17), Ignazio Boschetto (16) and Gianluca Ginoble (16) that started in 2009 when they met doing an Italian music compeition show titled “Ti Lascio Una Canzone” (Leavin’ You a Song).

These kids are high energy, funny and hard-working. Barone and Boschetto both hail from Sicily. When asked about their island home, both light up and launch into a skit of Sicilian and Calabrese humor and food jokes. 

The group’s self-titled debut, already a massive hit all over Europe, was released in the U.S. this week. Produced by hitmaker Humberto Gatica and artist/visionary Tony Renis, the album is the essence of cross-over opera pop.

Tony Renis, Il Volo and Humberto Gatica

In fact, legendary songwriter Diane Warren gave the group two songs, “La Luna Hizo Esto” (The Moon Did This), which Diane calls her “best melody ever” and another song titled “Painfully Beautiful.” In addition, the album features a melody by iconic Italian composer Ennio Morricone with lyrics by Renis titled “E Piu Ti Penso.”

Renis explains that Il Volo is the first-ever Italian act signed directly to a U.S. pop label (Geffen/Interscope). In fact, the group is an international priority for parent company Universal Music Group.

It was Renis – best known for his massive 1962 hit “Quando, Quando, Quando” – who discovered the group in May 2009 and assembled a dream team to launch them internationally. Grammy-award winning producer Gatica, who has worked with such acts as Josh Groban, came on board as did Michele Torpedine, Andrea Bocelli’s manager for 16 years.

The trio was brought to then Geffen chief Ron Fair. He and Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine promptly signed the act.

Word got around and rock manager Steve Leber, of Aerosmith and AC/DC fame, literally came out of retirement to share management duties with Torpedine.

Co-manager Jordan Leber, Il Volo, and Steve Leber

“Il Volo reminds me of the early Rolling Stones and Elvis,” Leber says. “They are going to create a massive shift in the music business.”

The goal is to position Il Volo, which means “flight” in Italian, as international pop stars that transcend the classical genre so dominated by Andrea Bocelli, Il Divo, Josh Groban and the Three Tenors. “These boys can do anything,” Renis says.

The boys hang out at The Gove after their performance of the hit that put them on the map, “0 Solo Mio.” They are mobbed by a group asking for autographs and they smile and take photos with fans. One women bought two CDs on the spot.

“This is going to be big,” says Leber.
Il Volo at the The Grove

Source: The Comet

Il Volo on Billboard.com

Il Volo Transitions from Italian TV to 'American Idol'

It's a long way from Italian TV to "American Idol." But when they take the "Idol" stage on May 19, the members of teenage tenor act Il Volo will have made that trek in just two years.

With a single serendipitous performance on Italian vocal competition "Ti Lascio Una Canzone" (Leavin' You a Song), the trio -- Piero Barone (17), Ignazio Boschetto (16) and Gianluca Ginoble (16) -- secured an international recording contract and a dream team to guide its career.

After "Idol," the boys will appear on CBS' "The Early Show" on May 21. These performances support the May 17 release of their self-titled Geffen debut, produced by hitmaker Humberto Gatica and longtime champion of Italian music Tony Renis. International touring kicks off in June with a simple goal: global domination.

While the release is "a priority in every country," Geffen chairman Ron Fair says, he harbors particularly high hopes for the United States. "Mario Lanza was one of the biggest matinee idols," Fair says. "He was like Elvis, yet singing legit operatic pop. The dark, handsome Italian guy is an iconic part of American culture. And well, here's three."

Il Volo's story starts in May 2009, when Renis caught the teens' preternaturally mature version of Neapolitan classic "O Sole Mio" on "Ti Lascio." Best-known for his 1962 hit "Quando, Quando, Quando," the native Italian has since served as a writer/producer for Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion. "At first I thought it was fake," Renis says. "Three kids, 14 and 15 years old, singing like a 45-year-old man. At the same moment, I visualized everything."

After contacting the teen trio, Renis started to assemble a team. Grammy Award-winning producer Gatica has helped guide similarly big-voiced, classical-leaning artists like Josh Groban to international pop success. Michele Torpedine, Bocelli's representative for 16 years, stepped in to manage the act. Then Renis called his longtime friend and lawyer, the late Peter Lopez, who paid a visit to Fair.

"[Lopez] opened the YouTube link on my computer and stood behind me while I watched. I pressed the space bar not 10 seconds into it and said, 'I'm doing it,' " says Fair, who then contacted Interscope Geffen A&M chairman/CEO Jimmy Iovine. "Within the span of 30 minutes, he greenlit it.

"After hearing the boys sing, renowned rock manager Steve Leber (Aerosmith, AC/DC) came out of retirement to share management duties with a special eye toward touring. "Il Volo has that same mystique and charisma as the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and AC/DC," Leber says. Il Volo will play a series of headlining dates in the United States, Canada and Italy throughout the end of the year, as well as open for Matthew Morrison of "Glee" and Marco Antonio Solís.

With a name to fit their ambition -- Il Volo means "flight" -- Barone, Boschetto and Ginoble possess the youth, looks, charm and, most important, the voices to match. The hope is that they'll transcend their built-in constituency of doting grandmothers and classical apologists and win the youth vote

."A cultural shift has already taken place with shows like 'American Idol,' " Fair says. "The whole ethos of musical talent is part of young people's lives now. They can hear the Black Eyed Peas on the radio but can watch TV and really appreciate a great singer or pianist."

The "Il Volo" track listing was carefully assembled by Gatica and Renis to strike the right balance of traditional, classical and pop fare. "If there were too many traditional songs, you'd flip it over and say, 'Ah, nice little boys from Italy,' " Gatica says. "And that's not what I wanted."

In addition to a customized arrangement of the song that launched the trio's career ("O Sole Mio") and Italian classic "Un Amore Cosi Grande," the album features two new Diane Warren originals, "La Luna Hizo Esto" and "Painfully Beautiful"; "Smile," made popular by Nat "King" Cole; and "Per Te," originally performed by Groban. A Spanish-language version of the album will include seven additional Spanish songs.

Source: Billboard.com

Good Day LA







Date: May 17 
Il Volo performed O Sole Mio on Good Day LA (FOX). I love their accent! :D Great job boys!

May 17, 2011

Il Volo in LA

Gianluca and Piero looking fabulous in LA

Taking over the world at Universa

At MySpace office

Source: Il Volo Official Facebook

May 12, 2011

Il Volo in Belgium!



From Belgium TV rehearsal. Oh man, looks like Il Volo is having busy busy time buzzing around Europe! I guess their next stop is America! :D :D :D

Picture source: Il Volo official Twitter

May 9, 2011

SHOWCASE IN LIEGE, FRANCE



Il Volo sung O Sole Mio at a showcase in a shopping mall in Liege, France. They received such a warm reception from the French crowd! :D Awesome! cool! fantastic! Too bad the video kinda cuts off in the middle of the song. 

FRENCH NEWS COVERAGE



Again, I have no idea what they are talking about but yay, Il Volo was featured on French news! Looks like they are having a lot of fun buzzing around Europe :D

IL VOLO IN HOLLAND

Il Volo's new album already has received Golden Award in Holland! 
Congratulations guys!

Rehearsing for their Dutch television debut! Good luck!

Source: Il Volo Official Twitter

O SOLE MIO IN HOLLAND


Il Volo sings 'O Sole Mio' at a TV show, 'Life 4 You' in Holland! You can see that they are singing with a guy named Frederic Francois but I'm not so sure who that is! Lol.