Zucchero for Earth Day: Third version of “Let Your Love Be Known”

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2020-04-22)

Update:

The performance has aired in full and can be viewed below:


VIDEO: Zucchero performing “Canta La Vita” in Rome.

Original Story:

Zucchero has performed for Earth Day and the song was called “Canta La Vita.” The performance took place in a deserted Colosseum in Rome, and the song is a new version of the song Bono sang at home, “Let Your Love Be Known”. “Canta La Vita” translates to “Sing Life.” The performance was done for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which is being celebrated around the world today. The performance by Zucchero has been previewed on various internet platforms, and is also part of the #OnePeopleOnePlanet broadcast on RAI networks which will be shown tonight. The preview can be seen below in the embedded Tweet from Zucchero.

The song includes some of Bono’s vocals from the intial performance he posted from Dublin, as well as new Italian lyrics written by Zucchero. In a post on social media, Zucchero explains, “When I heard from Bono, we were both very shaken by the graveness of the situation affecting northern Italy. But what really struck us was the reaction of the people, seeing and hearing them singing on the balconies. So we said that we should do something to highlight that singing is a great form of resistance. In a tragedy such as the one we are experiencing now, singing can bring us closer together, we can react together, all over the world. Music travels through walls and reduces distances.”

Zucchero’s lyrics include:

Giorni isolate
io e te ancora qui
come sospesi nel tempo
ho paura di si
ma viene sempre il giorno
sorridimi se puoi, e andiamo
che il viaggio del ritorno
è sempre il più lontano
Ma sono qui
Sotto questo cielo
Non puoi toccarmi
Ma puoi cantare

This translates to “Isolated days, you and me still here, as if suspended in time. I’m afraid yes, but the day always comes, smile at me if you can, and let’s go. The return journey, it is always the furthest, but I’m here. Under this sky.
You can’t touch me. But you can sing…”

The Zucchero performance will be aired during the #OnePeopleOnePlanet marathon on the Rai Play streaming channel, and will also be shown on Rai1, Rai2, Rai3, Rai News, and Rai Ragazzi. The marathon is underway now.

This is the third version of the song that we have heard. On St. Patrick’s Day, Bono debuted the song he called “Let Your Love Be Known” on U2’s social media channels. The orignal version featured Bono with accompanyment by his son on piano.

The second version that we heard was posted by will.i.am, who also took Bono’s original and added his own vocals to the song, as well as vocals by Jennifer Hudson. That version of the song was called “#SingForLife”. That version was shared on March 24. We’ve added both of these earlier versions at the bottom of this article.

Zucchero revealed a few days ago he was working on a new song with Bono where he was working on lyrics, and Bono was working on music. The two have been in communication by phone.

Bono and Zucchero have worked extensively together over the years.

  • In 1992, Bono contributed lyrics for Zucchero’s “Miserere” for the album of the same name. The song was performed by Zucchero and Pavarotti.
  • In 1998, Bono contributed English lyrics for Zucchero’s “Blue” featured on the album Blue Sugar.
  • In 2010, Bono contributed lyrics for the song “Someone Else’s Tears” for Zucchero’s album Chocabeck.
  • In 2016, Zucchero released Black Cat and Bono wrote “Streets of Surrender (S.O.S.)” about the terror attacks in Paris, which Zucchero recorded for the album.
  • Both “Blue” and “Miserere” were released as singles.

For more information in Italian on the song “Let Your Love Be Known” as well as this new version with Zucchero, you can find information at U2360gradi.it.


VIDEO: will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and Yoshiki join Bono for #SingForLife


VIDEO: Bono’s original version of “Let Your Love Be Known”

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