Gentile All Rep

Little Willy

Ich war noch niemals in New York

I decided to go out on a limb here. I find this song so pertinently important to our world situation today, I believe it should be understood for what it is ... a warning of war. Translating is no problem, but getting it to keep the stark simplicity of the original was. For instance ... "partisan"  ... is not really a word used often in English (at least, American English) as it is almost exclusively used in a way not really relevant to the way it is used here. I wanted to also try and "shape" the lyrics slightly to be more relevant to what is happening in the Ukraine, WITHOUT doing the song or the lyrics injustice.  The song should simply be understood for what it is trying to express. The madness of war, and the reality of waking up to a different world that you HAVE to fight for, because some madman is out to destroy you and all you believe in.   Viva Ukraine!

Bella Ciao - English version - Farewell my beautiful one

Dared to love

Beautiful as it is, 
Don’t want to admit it can’t go on
Every dream come true, 
Yet what does it matter without hope

Dared to love ... yeah we dared to love
Dared to love ... yes we dared to love

So much easier said than done, 
To let go of a love that is the only one
The only one you wanted ... or would ever need
Two worlds ... two realities ... too much to balance
No place for love to be free ... 
Not the way it needs to be

Still we dared to love ... oh yeah we dared to love
Dared to love ... yeah we dared to love

So here we are now, here we are now ... 
I have no idea; I have no idea ... how we move on
I just can’t imagine this world, can’t imagine this world ... 
Without you ... 

Well I know you’re hurting too
I know what it means to you
Lord knows what it means to me
For some things there is no goodbye
Only the tears that we cry
But nothing will change ... 
Because this love will never die (never die!)

So when will it come?
When will we have to say goodbye?
Well just can’t believe it ... 
Well I just can’t accept that there’ll be an end

Dared to love ... lord knows we dared to love
Yeah we dared to love ... oh ... we dared to love

We dared to love ... we dared to love
We dared to love ... we dared to love

Dared To Love

Normally, I try to release only the more quality recordings from my opera career, which spanned almost 40 years (and may still not be over!) While going through my massive archives I came along this little ditty ... and it’s just fun ... so maybe worth the presentation.

I had the pleasure of working quite often with one of the most excellent pianists available in Connecticut at the time ... Mr. Hugh Clay. A musician who’s repertoire was as massive as his talent. Hugh and I played many venues together. If my archives are correct, this was for some organization meeting at the Sheraton Hotel ballroom, 1980, in Hartford Connecticut. 

I was 22 years old. 

Now PLEASE take into consideration, that it was really a party atmosphere. Mr. Clay and I may have had a few ... “refreshments” ... before, during ... and after the performance. 

So yes ... there are some sloppy moments, bad Italian, questionable pitches ... yet ... it is a tribute to the fun Hugh and I used to have. I learned a lot from him, and he has remained an important pianist, currently at Loyola University in New Orleans. 

Enjoy!

Lou & Hugh Clay Sheraton Hotel Hartford Connecticut 1980

Your season

Another spring, another promise, anticipation in the air
Another miracle of nature, the reason why we’re here
Winter now slowly embraces the warmth
What else can it do?
There’s a new season coming ... 
The season is you

Just as the flower must open, to feel the love of the sun
So must you also be set free, letting go’s not easily done
Just because the world disagrees, doesn’t mean we have to too ... 
Yeah there’s a season coming ...
The season is you

Better dress for the occasion, anticipation of you near
As we celebrate the beauty, make your season my year
Yes of course summer will return, autumn and winter too
Yes there’s another season coming
That season is you

The phases of the moon and the stars I experience through you
The universe that I see in your eyes ... pulls me in
I travel it with you!

Better dress for the occasion, anticipation of you near
As we celebrate the beauty, every year our year
Yes of course summer will return, all the other seasons too
Yet there’s a season that I live for ... 
That season is you

Yes of course summer will return, with all the other seasons too
But there’s one season with the magic of all of them ... 
That season is you ... 
That season is you

Your Season

I have always idolized Tony Bennett, who sadly passed away today. This is a very humble tribute to one of the greatest vocalist of all time. RIP Tony ... what you gave the world will remain eternal

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The love song is you

Just another love song for you
And I hope you don’t mind ... if I ...
Can’t find anything new to say
What could that be anyway?
When words can no longer describe, what I feel inside
Cause every day, the love song is you

Just another day longing for you
Just knowing you are in my life, the reality of a love
That’s gonna stay with me ... for eternity
So while I search my soul, so express something so true
In the end ... the love song is you

You are the words you are the music
The melody that I just can’t get out of my head
What this all means, I’d rather show you instead

You are the words you are the music
The melody that I just can’t get out of my head
What this all means, I’d rather show you instead

Just another love song ... that’s you
Just another inspiration, just another attempt ... 
To try and get closer to you ... 
It seems ... that’s all I do
I’ve waited my whole life long ... just to hear your song
This love song ... that’s you

The Love Song Is You

Nothing Compares 2 U

THE WINNERS

Faster, stronger, harder, longer
Maximize it, categorize it. Look at me! Look at me!
Sweeter, truer, softer, bluer,
Dramatize it, itemize it, let me see! Let me see!

Greater, better, bigger, wetter
Capitalize it, sensationalize it, look at me! Look at me!
Farther, deeper, wider, cheaper
Materialize it, globalize it, let me see! Let me see!

What we are, you`ll never be
Where we go, you`ll never see
We`re the ones that stop the show
Just one look at us and you`ll know

We`re the WINNERS! And everybody loves us we`re the WINNERS!
Nothing left above us to reach
We don`t try we just do, we`re simply not like you
And all the world loves the WINNERS!
The freak show of flesh and award
The best that your money can afford
We`re the WINNERS!

Higher, brighter, lower, lighter,
Scrutinize it, immortalize it, look at me! Look at me!
Fatter, thinner, prettier, WINNER!
Mechanize it, marketize it. Let me see! Let me see!

We know how you all must feel
Marveling at our mass appeal

We`re the WINNERS! And everybody loves us we`re the WINNERS!
Nothing left above us to reach
We don`t try we just do, we`re simply not like you
And all the world loves the WINNERS!
The freak show of flesh and award
The best that your money can afford
We`re the WINNERS!

Greener cleaner, leaner, meaner
Canonize it, purify it, all for me! All for me!
Worthier, richer, GET THE PICTURE?
Legalize it, fortify it, come and see, Come and see!

What luck to be born this way
Them`s the breaks, what can I say? 

We`re the WINNERS! And everybody loves us we`re the WINNERS!
Nothing left above us to reach
We don`t try we just do, we`re simply not like you
And all the world loves the WINNERS!

We`re the WINNERS! And everybody loves us we`re the WINNERS!
Nothing left above us to reach
We don`t try we just do, we`re simply not like you
And all the world loves the WINNERS!

The freak show of flesh and award
The best that your money can afford
We`re the WINNERS!

The Winners

ONE OF US

One of us is hard to find
Hard to find and hard to keep
One of us is hard to wake
Hard to wake and hard to sleep

One of us is helping the other through a hard time
One of us is falling asleep at the wheel
One of us is telling the story at the right time
One of us is learning the right way to steal!

One of us might make it
One of us might try
One of us might take it to the end of time

One of us wants all the strings
All the strings, and none attached
One of us wants everything
Everything, donation matched

One of us is forcing the other through a hard time
One of us can`t wait for a chance to attack
One of us is smiling while killing our high hopes
One of us is turning the knife in the back

One of us might make it
One of us might try
One of us might take it to the end of time

One Of Us

Weep for the children

Where have all the children gone?
Where are the sounds of laughter?
The sound of busy little feet, running down the street
Smiles that warm the day, and chase our sorrows away
What is this silence ... sadness ... emptiness ... despair?
Unnatural it is ... 

When all the children are gone ... 
Then who will be here to remind us?
What makes it all worth while, 
The hope behind the smiles of innocent youth
Our future and our truth ... 
Truth that we forget ... when we want war
Weep for the children

Weep for the lights that have gone out and will never shine again
Weep for the hope that we’ve denied this world
Weep as well for the hearts, incapable ... 
Of feeling any thing but hate

Please stop, before the children are gone
If you could look in the eyes of your victims
Instead of judging from afar,
And not caring who they are ... 
When you decide their lives are expendable ... collateral ... 
Sisters, brothers, family
Weep for the children

Words and music
Louis gentile
November 1 2023
Bonn Germany

Weep For The Children

You Needed Me

I WISH A WORLD

I wish a world of love, I wish a world of peace
I wish a world of hope, I wish the world release
I wish the flowers and rivers and animals, Joy and life that`s free
I wish a world the way the world was meant to be

I wish a world of trust; I wish a world that gives
I wish a world that shares, I wish a world that lives
I wish a world where people can learn to live in harmony
I wish a world the way the world was meant to be

Someday, we will see, just how little it takes
To believe in a future for you and me

I wish a world that will see, I wish a world that will know
I wish a world that can be, I wish a world that will grow
I wish the world would hear these words
And learn this philosophy
To make a world the way the world was meant to be
To make a world a beautiful world
For you and me

Wir wollen Frieden auf der ganzen Welt
(we want peace all over the world)

Wir wollen dass Menschen einander helfen
(we want people to help one another)

O hör unsere Worte o hör uns doch an!
(Oh hear our words oh listen to us!)

Dann haben wir eine Welt wie sie sein kann
(then we’ll have a world the way it should be)

Eine bessere Welt wie unsere Welt sein kann
(a better world the way our world can be!)


Copyright 1993 words and music Louis Gentile
Sung by Tina Gentile age 7

I Wish A World

NEW YEAR`S BLUES

Another revolution ... managed not to get shot
Spinning round in circles, being where you`re not
Another page to tear from your calendar on the wall
One more glass of champagne won`t change anything at all
Staring at the ceiling sure ain`t nothin new
New Years, got the New Years blues

Back to chasing money, another payment due
Back to wanting something, back to wanting you
Broken resolutions ... all tied up in a knot
Someone I remembered, and all those I forgot
Staring at the T.V. when there`s nothing left to do
New Years, got the New Years blues ... that’s right

Sun is always rising and setting on this game
Counting out the New year`s like droplets in the rain
I`m stuck on our existence and versions of the truth
Holding out for the big one and high hopes for our youth
Maybe we`ll get by now on the little that we do
New Years, got the New Years blues

Still draining all the life from this little rock in space
Still trying to control them all and keep them in their place
Still letting all the fruit cakes run the whole damn show
Still numb to the growing madness, pretend that we don`t know
Another 2000 - something, let’s hope we make it through

New year`s, got the New year`s blues
I said New Years ... got the New Years blues ... 

Copyright 1987 Words and music by Louis Gentile
Mönchengladbach Germany
Revision 2023 – Bonn Germany

New Years Blues

Time Peace

Time ... to make your peace with time
Please don’t let another day go by
There may not be another time

Time ... your companion from begin ... 
Against whom you’ve not a chance to win
Time to make peace with time

Rich or poor ... great or small
Time is the master of us all

Time ... knows not money or power
Deciding the fate of your final hour ... whoa yeah ... 

Time ... we never seem to find it
Time ... we never seem to have
if you try to hold it
it slips through your hands

Time ... we always seem to count it
Time ... just watching it pass by
when you try to take it
it will simply fly


Copyright April 07, 2004, 1st revision 2007, 2nd revision 2024
text and music by Louis Gentile
Bacher Mühle Eitorf
Germany
2024 revision Bonn Germany

Time Peace

Years ago, I was pleasantly obsessed with crossing classical music with rock and pop. I coined the phrases “Operrock” and “Popera.” My first released CD was called “The operatic experience” and although I recorded it at a time when digital sounds were young and kinda cheesy sounding ... there was some good material on it.

One song called “The operatic experience theme” was a combination of pop and classical. It starts off with someone banging on the walls telling a practicing soprano to shut up, and eventually ventures to a middle part where I tried to record some of operas most famous high notes. (high “Cs” and “Bbs” mostly) It was all intended as a kind of parody and for fun.

Totally unintentional, I recorded this at a time when I was in the prime of my vocal powers. The CD got good reviews (even compared to QUEEN! ... I can live with that) but needless to say, aside from being sold in excellent music stores in Munich, Hamburg, Berlin ... and the like ... the money was simply not there to promote it on any international level. 

That was back in 1994. Years have since gone by, and I have subsequently tossed and digitalized hundreds of my reel-to-reel tapes. I did however hold onto the original 8 Track Fostex tapes of the “Operatic Experience” ... I knew the vocals I recorded were all on a separate track, and I dreamed of replacing the antiquated and cheesy synthesizer sounds eventually with more sophisticated sounds.

About 5 years ago I noticed how classical karaoke arias were becoming all the rage. I figured ... what the hell ... maybe I would abandon the “Rock-Pop” idea a bit ... and find a way to mix and fit my vocals ... which were well recorded ... to a real orchestra.

This is what I did recently. I dug out my old Fostex R8 and ran the 8 channels directly into my discrete 8 channel Audio interface. Sadly, a fear was realized, as the Fostex (sitting idle on the shelf for over 10 years) stopped working. I disassembled the unit and found the problem ... which amazing ... I was able to fix. After 3 hours or more of pain staking recorder reparation ... I was able to retrieve the original tracks from years ago. I rearranged them somewhat after finding the matching karaoke orchestra background.

One of the last excerpts in the group, was the high “C” from “Di quella pira!” (which was located on another reel) While reviewing the track, I was amazed to discover I had actually recorded the entire aria! I must have later decided the background track I made for it was inferior, and therefore only used the last movement which included the high “C”!

Here is the end result of my efforts. Simply fun ... and a small documentation of my voice when it was in its prime! 
I tried to do as LITTLE as possible to my vocals, to preserve the honesty of the recording. Because it is TAPE ... and tape has a bit of a problem at times with speed accuracy, I di have to LOWER the vocal track .02% of a half tone ... so that it matched the true A440 of the recorded orchestra material! In NO WAY did I disturb or digitally change the length or original integrity of the vocals! 
 I did digitally manipulate the orchestra track so that the phrasing and musicality matched!
Enjoy!

Famous high notes

NEW VERSION! BETTER ORCHESTRA WITH CHOIR!

I was just putting away the reel-to-reel tapes when I checked through them one time. I was FLOORED to see there was a recording of Nessun Dorma! I used to LOVE to sing this aria ... but NEVER got a good recording of it! 

This “renovation” was not easy! Although the voice was in it’s own track ... there was a LOT of bleed-over from the main track, which contained extremely cheesy instruments! Sadly, this vocal was not as well recorded as some of my other vocals from that time, and there was a lot of “ROOM SOUND” in the recording! (Damn, damn ... and DOUBLE damn!)

Then, I had to try and match my vocals to a karaoke orchestra version. This final version may not be “perfect” ... but it is a decent representation of how I sang this aria bay in my heydays.

Hope you enjoy!

Nessun Dorma 1994 - 2024 edit

Because Of You

Missing Link

Hey is this my life now ... guess it is ... guess it is
Man the years just melt away ... don’t they ... don’t they?
But inside the fire still burns, 
Inside the need to learn has grown
I feel like ... the missing link, between the stars and the earth
Waiting for a sign ... where the rest of my time should go

Hey, was that my chance now ... guess it was ... guess it was
Maybe I could have done better ... but could have done worse
Yeah I may have a few more dreams
Although sometimes I’m sure it seems ... hopeless
But despite the odds I’m not giving up ... giving up ... 
At least not today

Well I know love is the answer, the love we share, 
The love we give
And so our lives are measured ... By the love we live

I feel like ... the missing link, between the stars and the earth
Waiting for a sign ... where the rest of my time should go

Hey, is that another detour in the road?
Was kind of hoping the ride would be smoother by now
But that’s the way it goes, 
Those are the cards that are dealt to you
And you’ve got to play them out
Fate has no favorites, though it might seem that way ... 
From time to time ... nothing to do about that ... 

Love is the connection, love shows the way through
Just open your heart
Let love be the missing link


Missing Link

Just like a river does

Empty spaces

You’re suddenly so tired, 
The light grows so dim
You want to give up ... can’t choose ... can’t win
You tried the best you could, 
You gave everything you had
So grateful for the experience ... 
Why do I feel so sad

There are no guarantees, 
No promises to be kept
The illusion disappears so quickly
So many reasons to regret

You got the whole thing worked out in your head
You chose the rules you want to break
Just don’t get caught and everyone will accept
The deception you wish to make

So you’ll pray to your God
And pray for one another
Main thing is you feel good about yourself
And the truth no one will discover

One life many journeys, 
So lucky if you get to choose
While so many others just circle in despair
Wait for it all to be through

So much to consider before the time runs out
And the time will run out ... 
Before you are ready to go
Did you have love, were you happy ... 
Are you happy now?
Did the role you play, convince them all, that you belong ... 
That you did what was expected of you to do?
To fill in all their empty spaces ... 

Why change if you made it this far?
No one will notice but you
Fitting in ensures there’s always someone
Expecting something of you

So that’ll keep you busy
Maybe some dreams won’t come true
So good at ignoring the empty spaces
Especially the ones in you

Words and music
Louis Gentile
March 26 2024 Bonn


Empty spaces

All these tracks are home made. Meaning, I play all instruments and sing all vocals! (joined sometimes by my talented children!) No Karaoke Tracks here.

Octopuses Garden

This song describes my last phone call with my father dying in hospice in the states. His mind riddled with Alheimer's ... did he understand?

Last Phone Call

Lucie wrote some lyrics in French about our family, kids and lives back then. (circa 1986!) and I wrote this song to them. It ended up a duet (with me singing the English translation of her texts) It is a song I have always returned to to remix and re-record my vocals ... which I was never satisfied with. Here is the 2022 version of the very special ... and I believe beautiful song. Lucie's vocals are from circa 1988 or so. I'm finally satisfied with the track.

Main dans La Main

I was always trying to merge classic with rock ... or other genders. This is the closest I came. It was my first commercial CD called "The operatic Experience!" I played this track to Pavarotti ... and he loved it! Here is the video to the arrangement! https://youtu.be/fy7MSm44nHQ?si=Ijf0zF2xocjJqvgh

Vesti la giubba - Rock/Rap Version

Ich wünsche Eine Welt


Ich wünsche eine Welt voller Liebe, eine Welt voller Vertrauen
Ich wünsche eine Welt voller Freude, auf die können wir bauen
Ich wünsche eine Welt, wo Menschen leben ... 
... in Frieden in jedem Land
Ich wünsche eine Welt wie unsere Welt sein kann

Ich wünsche eine Welt ohne Angst, ohne hass, ohne Krieg
Wo Grenzen geöffnet werden, wo Verständnis und Freiheit siegt
Eine Welt, wo Kinder aller Farben zusammenspielen und dann,
Dann haben wir eine Welt wie sie sein kann

Eines Tages werden wir sehen
Wie schnell das alles geht
Wenn wir einmal für allemal zusammenstehen

Ich wünsche eine Welt ohne Leiden, 
Ohne Krankheit ohne Schmerz
Ich wünsche eine Welt voller Wissen, voller Gefühle, voller Herz
Ich wünsche eine Welt, 
Wo wir endlich sehen wie einfach alles sein kann
Dann haben wir eine Welt wie sie sein kann
Eine bessere Welt, wie unsere Welt sein kann

Wir wollen Frieden auf der ganzen Welt
Wir wollen, dass Menschen einander helfen
O hör unsere Worte o hör uns doch an!
Dann haben wir eine Welt wie sie sein kann
Eine bessere Welt wie unsere Welt sein kann

Sung by Alma Gentile ... circa age 7

Gentile Xmas

Ich wünsche eine Welt (Alma Gentile)

This has a story. I have been trying to merge classical and rock/pop my whole career. Over 30 years ago (jeesh) I recorded the vocals for "Vesti la giubba" (a role I have sung around the world) for a work I wrote called "The operatic experience!" The vocal track was good. I always wondered if I could edit the vocal into the original orchestra background. This is what I have done here. My voice of 30 years ago ... singing vesti la giubba ... now with the original orchestra arrangement.

Vesti La Giubba

The Operatic Experience

Let No One Sleep

Excerpts from Gentile Event's Oldies collection! Ausschnitte aus Gentile Events Oldie Set!

Pretty Woman

Another lock down in Germany, another chance to work on a few over due projects. I came across this jewel. My old friend and colleague Randi Lamb singing a medley from a concert we did together in 1978 as soloists for the SNETCO choir. (southern new England telephone ... don't even know if it still exists!) Anyway ... Randi Lamb was one of the most gifted singers you can find anywhere, with one of the most beautiful voices in the world. Conducting the orchestra ... Dr. Lou Negri

Randi Lamb Medley

Born in West Haven Connecticut, International Opera singer, composer, actor, entertainer, musician, cartoonist, author, director of stage and film. All these tracks are home made in his recording studio in Bonn Germany. Meaning, all instruments, arrangements and vocals are by Louis Gentile! (joined by his talented children!) No Karaoke Tracks here. Enjoy!

Gentile Event

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks