NELLA FANTASIA
Today is one of those days when I wish I had photographic memory. I am trying to remember when I first hear Nella Fantasia. Why do I know this song?. I do recall being at a Sarah Brightman concert years ago. Was she the one that introduced me to it?. Although, I do remember Tim loving this song, and that's probably why it means something to me.
Nella Fantasia began its life as “Gabriel’s Oboe,” an instrumental piece composed by Ennio Morricone for the 1986 film The Mission. It’s one of those melodies capable of making even the most skeptical listener pause and feel something tender. Years later, Chiara Ferraù ruined it by adding lyrics that dream of a just and peaceful world - a place where honesty isn’t just an empty promise and "souls are as free as clouds drifting in the sky". "Sigh..." It’s a vision so idealistic it almost feels like a polite dare to us skeptics, those of us who don't buy into the idea of a soul living inside our physical bodies but can tolerate a bit of poetic nonsense.
Now, here’s a thought: maybe Chiara Ferraù was once a contestant in a beauty pageant. After all, isn’t world peace exactly what all those ladies want?... Oh relax!, I'm just stirring the pot with a smile, but it fits the tone of the song, does it not?. The lyrics don’t try to hide their idealism; they wear it like a ribbon, unapologetic and proud. However, the song’s beautiful melody make it impossible to mock without feeling a little guilty.
I supposed that’s the magic of Nella Fantasia. It doesn't convince me that the world is already good, on the contrary, it only invites me to imagine what could be. In a reality often dominated by bad news and broken promises, this song offers a fantasy of freedom, peace, and that’s almost too beautiful to resist. So go ahead, hum along (even if your Italian is questionable), and let yourself believe in a better world, if only in your imagination.