Music as a Cultural Identity and Local Dialects' Role in Italy

In an increasingly global world, music continues to be an extraordinary vehicle for cultural identity and local languages. A clear example is the near success of the talented Geolier at the latest edition of the Sanremo Festival, followed by the noted controversies over the use of dialect. Essential for a better understanding of the country's culture and especially of the individual regions, in today's music, dialects become a way to express one's personal and cultural identity. Preply, an online language course platform, reveals an interesting study on the most played dialect songs on YouTube, from Naples to Milan, passing through the wonderful dialectal nuances of all Italy. Obviously present on the podium of the ranking is the vibrant heart of the South, with songs that have not only garnered millions of views but tell deep stories, linked to the cultural roots of their interpreters. From the enchanting Naples, with the dialectal rap of Geolier, to the electronic dance of Liberato, this study sheds light on how Italian dialects continue to live and express themselves through music, becoming an indissoluble bridge between past and present. The investigation also highlights how the tradition at the dialectal level is stronger and more alive in the south of Italy compared to the north. The study explores how artists of different generations and Italian regions use music to preserve and celebrate their linguistic traditions. From the reggae sounds of Sud Sound System in Puglia that invite respect for local and distant cultures, to the romantic alleys of Genoa by Fabrizio De André, to the life of a homeless person uniquely represented by the irreverent Enzo Jannacci, each song reveals a piece of a rich and varied cultural mosaic.