Learn Italian With Arisa with these 20 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

Arisa
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning Italian with Arisa's music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. It is also great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning Italian!
Below are 20 song recommendations by Arisa to get you started! Alongside each recommendation, you will find a snippet of the lyric translations with links to the full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs!

Arisa, whose real name is Rosalba Pippa, is one of Italy's most beloved contemporary singers. She was born on August 20, 1982, in Genoa and grew up in Pignola, a small town in the southern region of Basilicata. Her stage name is a playful acronym made from the first initials of her family members' names.

She first won the country over in 2009, taking the newcomers' section of the Sanremo Music Festival with her song "Sincerità". In 2014 she returned to win the festival outright with "Controvento", cementing her place among Italy's leading pop voices. Known for her warm, expressive voice and heartfelt ballads, she has also worked as a songwriter, actress, and television personality. "La Notte", released in 2012, is one of her most moving songs about heartache and the hope that love endures.

CONTENTS SUMMARY
La Notte (The Night)
Non basta un raggio di sole
In un cielo blu come il mare
Perché mi porto un dolore che sale che sale
Si ferma sulle ginocchia che tremano
One ray of sunshine isn't enough
In a sky as blue as the sea
Because I carry a pain that rises and rises
It stops on shaking knees

"La Notte" by Arisa is a powerful torch song that turns emotional pain into vivid, almost cinematic images. The singer feels a wave of sorrow rising from her knees to her stomach, then pounding at her heart and head. In daylight a single sunbeam is not enough to brighten her sky-blue world, but when night falls the ache becomes louder: alone with her thoughts, she chases unanswered questions while her body reacts with trembling, nausea and headaches.

Yet the song is not only about despair; it is about the paradox of love that survives even when people drift apart. Arisa reminds us that in a breakup there are “no winners, no losers” both sides leave the battlefield only half defeated. Life might separate the lovers, but the feeling itself keeps beating, promising that it will go on. The result is an anthem for anyone who has ever spent a sleepless night fighting heartache, hoping that dawn and perhaps a new beginning will finally come.

La Cosa Più Importante (The Most Important Thing)
Dimmi che è un viaggio che rimane
La nostra storia insieme
È un'onda in mezzo al mare
Che va sempre più in là
Tell me it's a journey that remains
Our story together
It's a wave in the middle of the sea
That goes ever further

La Cosa Più Importante ("The Most Important Thing") is Arisa’s cinematic love letter to an unbreakable bond. She paints romance as an epic journey: riding waves that push ever farther, soaring in a one-way flight, and walking a glowing path that keeps the darkness at bay. Each line is a reassuring whisper that the two lovers still have all the time in the world, even if time itself can lie.

When the chorus arrives, the message becomes crystal clear: you are the most important thing I own. She begs her partner never to let go or betray their trust, promising in return to protect this treasure forever. The song blends vulnerability with fierce devotion, turning loyalty into a compass and love into fuel for endless exploration. By the final refrain you feel the wind of possibility—and the certainty that, together, they can sail beyond both dreams and reality.

Cuore (Heart)
Le due anime di panna e pietra tra le mie poesie
Nei tuoi occhi trovano la pace le mie ipocondrie
Ho cercato di evitare amore, ma strappavo carne
C'è meno paura nel lasciarsi che ad innamorarsi
The two souls of cream and stone among my poems
In your eyes my hypochondrias find peace
I tried to avoid love, but I tore flesh
There is less fear in breaking up than in falling in love

Have you ever been so scared of getting hurt that falling in love felt more frightening than breaking up? In "Cuore," which means "Heart" in Italian, Arisa sings about this very feeling. The lyrics describe a journey from a dark, painful past—like being in a "black well with dark water"—to finding peace and freedom. The singer tried to avoid love, believing it was safer, but this only caused more pain.

Everything changes with a new love. This relationship becomes a "sacred place" called the heart, where the soul can finally breathe and feel free. The singer finds healing not just from their partner's love, but also from time and their own inner strength. This powerful combination helps them overcome their deepest anxieties, and as they sing, "I'm not afraid anymore."

Controvento (Against the Wind)
Io non credo nei miracoli
Meglio che ti liberi
Meglio che ti guardi dentro
Questa vita lascia i lividi
I don't believe in miracles
Better free yourself
Better look inside yourself
This life leaves bruises

Have you ever felt like the world was against you for no reason? Arisa's powerful song "Controvento," which means "Against the Wind," perfectly captures this feeling. The lyrics describe life as a tough fight that can leave you with bruises and a deep, unspoken emptiness. The singer doesn't believe in easy miracles to fix things.

Instead of offering solutions, the song is a beautiful promise of support and friendship. The singer tells a struggling friend, "I'll be there" (Ci sarò). She offers to listen quietly, to be like water that can soothe the pain for a moment, and to journey alongside them, even when it means traveling "against the wind." It's a moving reminder that sometimes, the most important thing we can do for someone is to simply be present.

Non Vado Via (I'm Not Leaving)
Inutile guardare indietro
Quando il cielo era tinto di nero
Ogni sogno un profondo mistero
Chiusi dentro una gabbia di vetro
There's no point looking back
When the sky was dyed black
Every dream is a profound mystery
Locked inside a glass cage

In Arisa's "Non Vado Via," which translates to "I'm Not Leaving," the singer makes a powerful promise to stay in a relationship despite past difficulties. She describes a time when the "sky was tinted black" and they were trapped in a "glass cage," but insists it's useless to look back. Instead of running away, she declares her commitment, saying, "I want to stay in this story."

This isn't just about staying; it's about fighting for the future. The singer challenges the idea that everything is "already written" and believes it's worth taking a risk. She acknowledges that love can be a complicated journey, a "roundabout of maybes and whys," but she chooses to forgive past hurts and focus on the strength of their bond. The song is a hopeful and romantic anthem about choosing to love someone and believing that, together, they can fly away, because "time will not change us."

Nuvole (Clouds)
Nuvole di sogni come bolle di sapone nell'aria
La mia vita è scivolata nella tua
Amore che ammala
Labbra che non si baciano, ma inveiscono
Clouds of dreams like soap bubbles in the air
My life has slipped into yours
Love that makes you sick
Lips that don't kiss, but rail

Arisa's song "Nuvole," which means "Clouds" in Italian, paints a powerful picture of a difficult and painful love. The lyrics describe a relationship where dreams are as fragile as "soap bubbles in the air" (bolle di sapone nell'aria). The speaker feels her life has completely merged with her partner's, but it's a "love that makes you sick" (amore che ammala). Instead of affection, there are harsh words and even physical violence, with "hands that don't caress, but hit" (mani che non accarezzano, ma colpiscono).

Despite the pain, the song explores a repeating cycle. The speaker feels small and silenced, but then her partner returns, wants to go dancing, and shows affection. To keep the peace, she decides to "pretend nothing happened" (farò finta di niente), a phrase repeated throughout the song. The song ends with a glimmer of hope and strength. The speaker, who once felt like an angel but now doesn't know who she is, declares she will take her morning tears and "knead the bread for freedom" (ci impasterò il pane per la libertà), suggesting a desire to break free from this toxic situation.

Voce (Voice)
Voce, senti questa voce
Voce, voce, senti questa voce
Voce, in croce
Senti questa voce, voce, voce
Voice, hear this voice
Voice, voice, hear this voice
Voice, on the cross
Hear this voice, voice, voice

Have you ever felt like you've lost a part of yourself after a breakup? In her powerful song "Voce," which simply means "Voice," Italian singer Arisa explores this exact feeling. She sings from the perspective of someone who has "lost her identity" and feels that life now only has "half a meaning." The entire song is a desperate plea for a former lover to listen to her.

Notice how she describes her voice: it's suffering, as if it's been crucified ("in croce"), and it struggles ("arranca") because it knows "you are no longer mine." She begs, "Open this door, it's me," feeling that even freedom is useless when her soul is in so much pain. It's a raw and emotional look at how heartbreak can make you feel like you've lost your own voice.

Meraviglioso Amore Mio (My Wonderful Love)
Bene, sei entrato nel cuore
Però ci vuoi abitare
Mi chiedi il permesso
Ed io non so che dire
Well, you've entered my heart
But you want to live there
You ask me for permission
And I don't know what to say

Have you ever felt a love so powerful it was almost scary? That's the feeling Arisa captures in "Meraviglioso Amore Mio." The song tells the story of someone who used to tremble at the very word "love" but has now found a connection that feels as perfect as a masterpiece painted by God. This love is so bright it feels like there's "troppo sole anche quando piove" (too much sun even when it rains), turning every moment, good or bad, into something beautiful.

But this incredible feeling also brings a little fear. The singer worries that something so perfect might fall apart. The solution? To take care of this love and hold each other close. She sings that when they are together, life's challenges become manageable, and fear disappears. It's a beautiful celebration of a love that is both divine and deeply human, requiring care, commitment, and closeness to truly flourish.

Guardando Il Cielo (Looking At The Sky)
Se tu mi chiedi cosa faccio in questa vita, amico mio
La sola cosa che so dirti è non lo so nemmeno io
Viviamo tempi troppo austeri
Siamo animali di città
If you ask me what I do in this life, my friend
The only thing I can tell you is I don't know either
We live in too austere times
We are city animals

Ever feel like you don't quite know what you're doing with your life? In "Guardando Il Cielo," Arisa explores this universal feeling. She sings directly to a friend, admitting, "If you ask me what I do in this life... I don't even know myself." She describes modern times as "too austere," especially for "city animals" like us. To find peace, she turns to a simple ritual inherited from her grandmother: a nightly prayer. This small act gives her "serenity" and a belief in a reality beyond our understanding, something she calls magic or simply, the universe.

Despite the uncertainty, the song's message is incredibly optimistic. Instead of worrying, Arisa chooses resilience, declaring, "I clench my fists and laugh again, because this life is the only one." Her philosophy is to take the "good" from each day and reject pessimism. After all, she sings, it's "too presumptuous" to wake up and predict that the day will go badly. It's a powerful reminder to embrace the present moment and find joy in the life we have right now.

Ho Perso Il Mio Amore (I Lost My Love)
Fate girare la voce
Scrivete sui muri
Mettete cartelli per strada
E se non basta la terra allora andate fino alla luna
Spread the word
Write on the walls
Put up signs on the street
And if the earth isn't enough then go to the moon

Have you ever lost something so important you'd ask the whole world to help you find it? In "Ho Perso Il Mio Amore," which means "I've Lost My Love," Italian singer Arisa describes a desperate, large-scale search. She wants people to "spread the word," "write on the walls," and even "search on Google." But she's not looking for a lost person; she's searching for the love she once felt for someone, a feeling that has disappeared.

The song paints a picture of emotional winter. The love wasn't lost in a dramatic moment, but slipped away quietly "in the folds of an ordinary day." Arisa uses powerful images to describe this emptiness, like when "winter has arrived" in the middle of August, a time that should be warm and bright. It's a song about that sinking feeling when your heart "surrenders" and stops believing things can get better. Yet, even as she asks everyone from poets to passersby for help, a small part of her still believes the feeling can be found again.

Sincerità (Sincerity)
Sincerità adesso è tutto così semplice
Con te che sei l'unico complice
Di questa storia magica
Sincerità un elemento imprescindibile
Sincerity, now everything's so simple
With you, my only accomplice
Of this magic story
Sincerity, an essential element

Sincerità is Arisa’s bubbly love manifesto that turns the spotlight on one simple ingredient: honesty. The lyrics invite us into a relationship that has gone from whirlwind passion to a calm, joyful partnership where truth is celebrated like magic. Arisa sings about how being open and real with each other transforms love from a fragile spark into a flame that can last all the way to eternity.

In just a few verses we see the full love story: fiery beginnings, misunderstandings, breakups every two weeks, and even little white lies meant to spare feelings. Yet, through shared dreams, playful moments, and heartfelt conversations, the couple discovers that revealing their weak spots actually makes them stronger. The song becomes a cheerful reminder that when two people dare to be sincere, they can plan thousands of projects, hold hands, and let the future unfold, confident their fairy-tale ending will stick around for good.

Stai Bene Su Di Me (You Look Good On Me)
Amore mio
Abbiamo vinto la guerra
E non c'è più niente al mondo
Che ci cambierà mai
My love
We won the war
And there is nothing left in the world
That will ever change us

In "Stai Bene Su Di Me," Italian singer Arisa paints a beautiful picture of a love that has triumphed over great difficulties. The song opens with the powerful declaration, "Amore mio / Abbiamo vinto la guerra" (My love / We have won the war), suggesting a couple that has overcome major challenges together. Their bond is now so strong that nothing in the world can change them. The lyrics describe a deep, protective love, filled with unforgettable promises, poetically described as "grandi parole che non ho dimenticato mai" (big words that I have never forgotten).

The central idea of the song is captured in the chorus: "E stai bene su di me" (And you look good on me). This isn't about fashion; it's a metaphor for a perfect fit between two people. The singer compares her partner to a favorite dress, the gentle light of the moon on skin, and the overwhelming joy of "felicità che piove su di noi" (happiness that rains down on us). It's a celebration of finding someone who complements you so perfectly that your love feels as natural and beautiful as the world around you.

L'amore È Un'altra Cosa (Love Is Something Else)
Ridere
Adesso manca il nostro ridere
Rimane solo un quieto vivere sterile
Il cuore mio non ce la fa
LAUGH
Now our laughter is missing
Only a quiet sterile life remains
My heart can't take it

Have you ever felt a relationship change from a vibrant fairytale into something quiet and empty? Arisa's song "L'amore È Un'altra Cosa" captures this heartbreaking moment perfectly. The lyrics describe a love that has lost its most important ingredients: the shared laughter is gone, replaced by a "quiet, sterile living." The singer feels that something is missing, the "spark" has gone out, and the "star has gone out." It's a sad realization that what they have now is no longer the love they once knew.

This isn't an angry breakup song. Instead, it's a moment of painful honesty between two "fragile souls." The singer points out that there is no one to blame, which makes the situation even more tragic. The chorus repeats the title, which means "Love is something else," suggesting that their current state isn't true love anymore. A piece of their heart will always be suspended, quietly waiting for the "ray of sunshine" they used to be for each other, even if they know it may never return.

Una Notte Ancora (One More Night)
Mi muoverò lenta
Ti guarderò attenta
Mi fiderò di te ma adesso aspetta
Fatti desiderare
I'll move slow
I'll watch you carefully
I will trust you but now wait
Make yourself desired

Have you ever been in that exciting but nervous stage of a new relationship, where you're not sure if it's just a crush or the beginning of real love? Arisa's "Una Notte Ancora" captures this feeling perfectly. The singer is hopeful but cautious, telling her partner to wait and make themselves desirable. She sings, "Io voglio credere / Che questo sentimento possa diventare amore" (I want to believe / That this feeling can become love), expressing a deep desire for something more meaningful.

This isn't a song about rushing into things. The singer sets clear conditions for moving forward. She promises, "Ti concederò una notte ancora" (I will grant you one more night), but only if her partner proves their commitment by never leaving her alone and holding her close. It's a test of devotion, a special moment she will grant not only to him but also to herself, reserved "Solo per te" (Only for you).

Ci Sei E Se Non Ci Sei (You Are There And If You Are Not)
Tararararata, tarararara
Tararararata, tarararara
Le mie parole le ho prese e poi stese nell'aria
Per fargli sentire un po' delle tue
Tararararata, tarararara
Tararararata, tarararara
I took my words and then spread them in the air
To make him feel a little of yours

In "Ci Sei E Se Non Ci Sei," Arisa sings about a love that feels eternal, even when it's facing a difficult and uncertain time. The lyrics describe two people as the "protagonisti di questo inverno" (protagonists of this winter), suggesting they are at the center of a cold and confusing period in their relationship. They are searching for answers and don't know the full truth of their situation, feeling like they're on the edge of an "abisso" (abyss).

Despite the confusion and distance, the song's core message is one of unwavering love. The powerful chorus repeats, "Ci sei e se non ci sei / Comunque ci sarai" (You are here and if you are not here / Anyway you will be here). This beautiful line expresses the idea that someone can remain a permanent part of your life and heart, regardless of their physical presence. It's a touching declaration that true love is "qualcosa che / Non muore mai" (something that / never dies).

Scivola Veloce (Slides Quickly)
C'è qualcosa che non va via
Io lo sento che non va via
È l'amore
Quel dolore
There's something that doesn't go away
I feel like it's not going away
It's love
That pain

In "Scivola Veloce," Italian singer Arisa explores a powerful and lasting feeling that is both love and pain. She describes it as something that "doesn't go away" (non va via), a timeless sensation that feels like "a taste of eternity" (un assaggio di eternità). This emotion is deeply connected to a specific person whose presence is felt everywhere, like a light in the sky that warms her soul.

The song is filled with sensory details. The singer feels the memory of this person's hands and words, which she hears "inside the wind" (dentro al vento). This connection brings a sense of peace and hope, making her heart feel "clear and serene" (limpido e sereno). While she looks forward to a future of walking among the stars, her main desire is for the present moment: to feel that person close to her right now, for as long as time allows.

Malamorenò (Bad Love, No)
Può scoppiare in un attimo il sole
Tutto quanto potrebbe finire
Ma l'amore, ma l'amore no
Marzo del 2087
The sun can explode in an instant
Everything could end
But love, but not love
March 2087

Imagine a world in the not-so-distant future, March 2087. The picture Arisa paints is pretty bleak: the sky is heavy with clouds, flowers have lost their color, and the narrator's great-grandson has even moved to the moon to find a better life. It feels like a world where hope is fading and everything could end in an instant, even the sun itself.

But don't worry, this isn't a sad song! It's a powerful anthem about the one thing that can survive even the end of the world: love. The singer repeats that while everything else might fall apart, love will not. The simple presence of a loved one is enough to bring back smiles and find a safe path forward. It’s a beautiful reminder that even in the darkest of times, love is the most resilient force we have.

Tornerai (You Will Come Back)
Attito, in un attimo se ne andò
Splendida così pallida disse no
C'ero a quell'appuntamento
Lì dove non c'è il tramonto però
Attito left in an instant
Gorgeous so pale she said no
I was there at that appointment
Where there is no sunset though

Have you ever felt like you and someone you care about are like the sun and the moon, destined to never be in the sky at the same time? Arisa's song "Tornerai" paints a beautiful and sad picture of this very idea. The lyrics tell a story of a missed connection, a celestial romance that can't be. One person, perhaps representing the sun, says, "Sorry but I have to shine a little," leaving the other behind because *"In the sky there is no room for two."

The narrator, who seems to identify with the moon, feels this separation deeply. She sings, "I may be the moon / But with love I have no luck." The song is filled with the lonely feeling of waiting for the night, when the sun has gone away. It's only then, under a "tired sky," that she can dream and feel a sense of connection, confessing, *"I confess that I am waiting for love."

Io Sono (I Am)
Le sette e già mi alzo, poi
Mi preparo il pranzo perché
Non mangio a casa mai
Ed anche il mio ragazzo si
Seven o'clock and I'm already up, then
I prepare lunch because
I never eat at home
And my boyfriend does too

In "Io Sono," which means "I Am" in Italian, Arisa paints a beautiful picture of her life, celebrating both its challenges and its simple joys. She describes the daily grind of waking up early and working hard, just like her boyfriend. She acknowledges the financial struggles her generation faces, like paying rent for a lifetime and the uncertainty of retirement. Despite these difficulties and moments of doubt, she refuses to feel sorry for herself.

Instead, the song is a powerful declaration of optimism and resilience. Arisa finds happiness in the small things: a fun evening with friends, Christmas celebrations, and long Sunday lunches by the sea with family. She holds onto her dreams, which she calls "needs that fill my life," like having her own family and a home with a small balcony. At its core, "Io Sono" is about appreciating life as a gift, accepting compromises, and never giving up on the dream of a happy, love-filled life.

Abbi Cura Di Te (Take Care of Yourself)
Ma se l'amore non torna
Presto chi mi salverà
Ed io lo so, di questi giorni
Che conto ad uno ad uno
But if love doesn't come back
Soon who will save me
And I know it, these days
What a count one by one

Have you ever felt lost after a breakup? Arisa's "Abbi Cura Di Te" captures that feeling perfectly. The song begins with a heart-wrenching question: "Ma se l'amore non torna / Presto chi mi salverà" (But if love doesn't return / Who will save me soon?). The singer looks back on a relationship where she gave everything and got little in return, even blaming herself. She realizes her partner was the "re di tutti gli egoisti" (king of all egoists), and this painful truth helps her stop crying and find the will to laugh again.

This song is a powerful journey from heartbreak to healing. The title, which means "Take Care of Yourself," starts as a message to her ex. But then, in a beautiful moment of self-discovery, she looks in the mirror and makes a promise to herself: "avrò cura di me" (I will take care of myself). It’s a declaration of independence and a reminder that the most important love story is the one we have with ourselves.

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