Domenico Modugno was born in Polignano a mare, in the province of Bari, Puglia (South Italy) on January 1928 (died on 1994 in Lampedusa, Italy) and is one of the most important singer/songwriters of Italy’s history.

He gained notoriety in 1958 in Italy, and later worldwide, for presenting with Johnny Dorelli (another famous Italian singer) at Sanremo Music Festival the song “Nel blu dipinto di blu”, better known abroad as “Volare”. The song was a powerful hymn to what Italy is: its sky, its sun, its joyful atmosphere, its beauty.

The soundtrack chosen for DG SS13 was “Meraviglioso” (“Wonderful”), by Domenico Modugno too, a powerful crescendo song that starts talking about a man who wants to commit suicide and an angel who comes to speak to him about all the wonderful things that he has but cannot see.

These are all “ingredients” present in the Italian lifestyle, again the sun, the beauty of the landscapes, the love and happiness shared by people if only through a smile. This choice is not only an homage to one of the greatest Italian authors but a transposition in music of the acknowledgment of a worldwide crisis – that is hitting Italy very strongly – (the suicide) but at the same time a message of hope that sees a way out of it through all the beautiful things Italy has still and the need to capitalise on it in order to stand on its (economical) feet again. The message of the song and its use in the fashion show is also a metaphor for life in general that the two designers have translated into a triumphant collection, a beautiful and joyful declaration of love and life.  

A moving song that sounds like poetry, this time empowered by the beauty of Dolce&Gabbana creations.

 By Elisa della Barba