![]() Whether traditional tunes or more modern ones that have reached the ears of Italian youth in the diaspora through radio or cinema, every Italian song carries with it a little nostalgia for the country. If, among all the things that connect them to Italy, cuisine often occupies the impregnable first place, music - songs in particular - also plays a significant role. Wherever they are in the world, Italians always keep a strong link with their region of origin. Née Lo Presti, she left her native Sicily at the age of eight with her mother and three of her siblings to go and join her father who was working in the Walloon mines. This video is from 1958, the same year as the video above of Tu Vuo’ Fa’ L’Americano.As the name doesn't suggest, Laurent Doumont is Italian through his mother’s side. Just check out his raging guitar solos and you can almost imagine him smashing his guitar at the end of the show. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with crusted salt.Ī true pioneer of Rock and Roll, his songs and showmanship were a major influence on the future of rock. 5 oz fresh lime juice into a shaker with ice cubes. It originated in Mexico, but was popularized in the U.S. ġ950-1960: The “Margarita” and the Birth of Rock & Roll Recorded in 1938 by Big Joe Turner and pianist Pete Johnson, it is considered one of the most important precursors of what later became known as “rock and roll”. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a green olive or lemon twist. The original martini appeared in the very first cocktail books in the 1880s, but the version we drink today became popular around the 1950s.Ĭombine 2.5 oz gin with 0.5 oz of dry vermouth and shake or stir with ice. The classic cocktail of all time, shaken or stirred, has evolved much through the ages. This 1929 Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy song was covered by Led Zeppelin in 1971.ġ930-1950: The “Martini” and Rythym & Blues, Remove mint leaves, but continue to refrigerate. Pour mix over a handful of mint leaves, and gently crush the mint with a spoon. Simple Syrup recipe: Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig, sip and enjoy. Add one tablespoon of simple syrup (recipe follows) and one tablespoon of water. It’s performed here by Jelly Roll Morton, who went on to compose “Jelly Roll Blues” in 1915, which was arguably the very first jazz song.ġ910-1930: The “Mint Julep” and the birth of BluesĬrush a few mint leaves in the bottom of an 8-oz. Written by Scott Joplin in 1899, this was the most famous song of ragtime, which preceded the birth of jazz and blues. Pour in 2 oz of bourbon, fill with ice cubes, and stir. ![]() Muddle into a paste using a muddler or the back end of a spoon. Mix 1 tsp sugar, 1 splash water and 2 dashes if angostura bitters in an old-fashioned glass. Very old-fashioned indeed, this cocktail originated in the mid 1800s and appears, under various names, in all early cocktail books. So, in honor of these beloved traditions I’ve put together a little timeline combining the history of cocktails with the history of rock.ġ890-1910: The “Old Fashioned” and Ragtime ![]() Rock and Roll, too, was born out of the collision of cultures, and the American spirit of experimentation and unleashed expression. – The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America America was not about tradition it was about adventure, leaping forward and taking chances on all fronts.” “The Old World alcoholic beverage traditions are neat and settled, with thousands of years of history behind them… The New World was too big and too wild to be confined in a sherry glass. Obviously, this lack of social structure has had some drawbacks (we have a reputation for bad manners and serial killers), but has also led to some of the most creative outbursts in recent history. Immigrants brought a myriad of influences to a country that wasn’t bound by historical conventions, but defined by innovation, experimentation and risk. I stumbled upon this adorable video of the great old song, and it got me thinking about two of my favorite American inventions: the cocktail and rock & roll. Click here for an English translation of they lyrics. Tu vuò fà l’americano is a satirical song about a young Napolitan who tries to imitate American style, which is summed up by whiskey and soda, rock and roll, baseball and Camel cigarettes. I’m always intrigued by Italian perceptions of American lifestyle, and like to uncover what defines us as a nation in the eyes of others. ![]()
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