The lure of rock music, for me at least, is the grittiness of the lead singer’s voice. It’s that scratchy, gravely-sounding raspy quality that adds to the weight and appeal of the song. Would Guns ‘N Roses really be Guns ‘N Roses without Axl’s whiney, rocky vocals? And, could the Rolling Stones really call themselves the Rolling Stones without Mick’s recognizable rough-edged voice? It’s this quality that lends itself to that familiar rock sound. It becomes even more pronounced when this kind of voice is taken out of its rock ‘n roll environment and used to sing something out of context – like opera.
In this video, rock legend Bryan Adams, especially known for his scaly voice, joins forces with Luciano Pavarotti for a compelling duet that is totally different. It might sound like a half-baked idea before listening to it, but the whole thing actually comes together really well!
Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, and all-around artist Bryan Adams has been delighting fans since the late 70s. With many mega-hits from the 80s and 90s, including “Cuts Like a Knife,” and “Everything I Do, I Do It For You,” Bryan’s career has just kept unfolding throughout the years. A true artist, Bryan has always been on the quest to push himself and uncover new ways of growing. While he knows his roots and where he came from, the moves he’s made in his career prove that he’s not afraid to try something new.
It was for Luciano’s 59th birthday in Modena, Italy, that Bryan took the stage with the Italian operatic tenor to sing “O Sole Mio.” This is a well-known Neapolitan song, translating to mean “My Sunshine.” The two singers walk out onto the stage as the crowd applauses their entrance. The orchestra commences and Bryan starts first.
Considering Italian isn’t his first language, his pronunciation is pretty bang on. He’s giving it his all, singing into the mic like the rock star he is as Luciano looks at him with a big smile, almost on the verge of laughing, but not in a bad way. He looks impressed! The man is Happy to hear the beauty and dimension his duet partner brings to the classic piece.
Bryan has clearly studied and learned the tricky Italian lyrics, but he still remains true to his sound and image. Before Luciano performs his part, he actually bows to Bryan with his hands in prayer and takes over with his smooth and refined voice. Together, they both bring the best of their own two worlds to deliver a performance that was a resounding success!
Click on the video below to watch Luciano and Bryan sing together in harmony.
