Italian Music for the Giro d’Italia!

Most of you know that I love doing Tour de France stages, but the Giro can be just as fun as the Tour; some might argue that it’s even better. One reason is that there is often more chaos with multiple circuits at the finish of some stages. Also, the climbs can be even steeper than you’ll see in the Tour de France (at least, they were until the Tour began adding steeper grades in the last decade). Sometimes, the routes go over the strade bianche, or “white roads” (meaning unpaved), adding difficulty and drama. For more information on the stages of the three-week Giro, check out the official Giro website.

While you certainly don’t have to make your Giro playlist all Italian music, it lends authenticity and excitement when you throw in some fun, cultural Italian music, perhaps a little cheesy Italian pop, or a powerful track or two from a movie like The Italian Job or The Godfather. Make sure to throw in Italian hip-hop, and of course, some Andrea Bocelli for your pre-class music or cool-down, and Dean Martin singing “That’s Amore” for your post-class music.

ICA members can access our bucket Spotify playlist at the end of this post, which currently has about 175 tracks to choose from. But first, let’s look at a few options I recommend for your Giro stages.

Tu Vuò Fà L’Americano, Chilled Legends, 3:27, 91 bpm
The famous track combining swing and jazz appeared in the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley. The original was written by Renato Corosone in 1956. There are many fun versions available, including a long dance (climbing) version by Lady Gaga and one sung in English by Brian Setzer. Use this song as a fast flat. 

Prisencolinensinainciusol, Adriano Celentano, 3:51, 107 bpm
This funny song, released in 1973, has a great story to it, and the video is priceless, featuring Adriano and his wife. “The song is intended to sound to its Italian audience as if it is sung in English spoken with an American accent; however, the lyrics are deliberately unintelligible gibberish with the exception of the word ‘alright’.” It was a popular hit all over Europe in the early 1970s, reaching the top 10 and even the top 5 in some countries. At 107 bpm, it’s a bit challenging in the cycling studio but it would work well as a climb if you ignore the beat. Another option is to do some leg surges on the chorus, as if you are in the peloton moving to the front of the pack, as a first or second song in your warm-up. 

Now let’s talk Godfather! Play just two notes of the score and everyone instantly recognizes the song and will understand the message. While it may be cliché, it screams Italian, and there’s nothing like “The Godfather” as a harbinger of the suffering that is about to go down in this race, making it perfect for a challenging Giro stage. You will see multiple versions of “The Godfather” in my playlist, including classical, trance remixes, hip-hop, and hard rock. 

There are numerous ways to use this well-known song. Serenade your riders as they set up their bikes with the symphonic version. The shorter remixes provide needed recovery. If you do a series of Giro stages, you can use a different version for each one, creating a theme that runs through all your stages.

Here are a few “Godfather” remixes:

1. First, a fantastic hip-hop version in Italian. Amore della Mafia (The Godfather Hip-Hop prod. Silkrhode). At 88 bpm this is perfect for a tempo pace approaching a more challenging segment. Unfortunately, it’s not available on streaming services (that I can find) but you can buy this song here for $1.50.

2. Here is a great climbing trance version at 137 bpm. The Sicilians ft. Angelo Venuto – Un Amore (Godfather Theme Remix).
I hear several attacks, beginning at 2:20.

3. This trap version is only a minute long—perfect for sliding between hard attacks when you need a short breather. 

4. How about metal rock? Don’t let the quiet start fool you…wait for it! This is by Burning Point.

4. This one takes rock to the highest level, courtesy of Guns N’ Roses!

This next track is not from The Godfather but is one of many high-energy songs from the movie The Italian Job. While there are no Italian lyrics, and it might be doubtful that someone can win a trivia contest by naming the movie (but if they do, they should definitely win something!), it makes for fabulous drama in a bike racing scenario. Make sure to tell your riders the source of the track.

The Chopper Chase/Face-Off

Enjoy your Giro stages and the song options in our bucket playlist below. If you have any other fun songs, Italian or otherwise, that you use in your racing profiles, please list them in the comments below. And if you do lead some Giro d’Italia stages, please let us know how your riders enjoyed them!