This Year, It’s For Nashville’s Esteemed Josie Music Awards
Cecy Santana’s ‘Italia’ video nomination adds musical growth to a family tree with roots In three continents.
by Scott Adams
You never know what the day might bring.
Cecy Santana’s ‘Italia’ headlined January’s Rhythm & Romance Music Showcase, launching her new single in a spectacular way. “I think it might be my best Brazilian song yet,” she told me.
Fans agreed, and it wasn’t just the flowing melody and wistful lyrics that were capturing their attention.
Because, while performing in Italy for a Jazz Festival last summer, her production team was scouting the Calabrian countryside for shooting locations. The result was a video adventure that perfectly paired ‘Italia’s’ story with our imaginations.
Spring arrived with a nomination for ‘Italia’ as Music Video of The Year from the esteemed Josie Music Awards. It marks the second consecutive year that Santana’s Brazilian videos have been nominated by a major institution.
2023’s ‘São Paulo’ won Best Latin America Music Video from the International Video Music Awards.
But there’s more to ‘Italia’ than meets the eye.
Cultural Connections to A Generational Guide
In the 1920s, Cecy’s great-grandmother and her family made the difficult decision to leave Tuscany for a new life in the New World.
They came to São Paulo where Cecy’s father, Carlos built his reputation as one of Brazil’s most respected trumpet players. First trumpeter with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra. Performer with pop stars Gal Costa and Roberto Carlos.
His young daughter Cecy followed in his footsteps as a singer and flutist. When she reached high school age, Familia Santana left São Paulo for Chicago where Cecy has put down roots on her own.
So, I invited Cecy to talk about her Italy experience and the generational journey that began more than a century ago.
That’s when the young lady who was Cecy Santana’s great-grandmother traveled to Genoa, Italy to step onto the gangway of the ship that would shape the family’s destiny.
You never know what the day might bring.
Cecy Santana’s ‘Italia’ Video Nomination
Here’s our conversation.
What do you recall of your family’s Italian traditions during your childhood years in São Paulo? How did your family’s heritage influence your life during your childhood years?
My mother would tell me many stories of family members and their time spent there and through the love of food and recipes passed down from one generation to the next.
That’s how I learned to cook! I’ve always enjoyed Italian food ever since I was a child.
The Josie Music Awards
What are the Josie Music Awards and how did news of your nomination for Best Performance in a Music Video and Music Video of the Year reach you?
The Josie Music Awards is the largest music award show and the ultimate recognition for talents in the independent music industry. It brings in thousands from around the globe yearly to celebrate these international nominees and winners every October at Nashville’s legendary Grand Ole Opry Theatre.
The news reached me through my music director, Steven Kikoen. He received good news, too. His Beatles Cover Band, Abbey Road is nominated for Best Cover Band.
The invite for 2023’s International Tyrrhenian Jazz Festival surely triggered excitement. And it inspired you to pen ‘Italia’. The lyrics pull us into the story – your story – with the anticipation of discovery in a far-off land. How did this song come to you? And what were the feelings that brought the lyrics to you?
The lyrics came to me because I always wanted to go to Italy. For years, I have heard amazing things from my family and friends. Once I received the invitation, pictures, and videos of beautiful Italy helped me to place myself there, even before I left on my travels.
I felt an overwhelming desire to be there. And being there was a dream that came true! From the language to the land, and from the food to the people, Italia will always have a special place in my heart.
Cecy Santana’s ‘Italia’ Video – On Location
Shooting a video on location in Italy! Why not? What went into the planning and filming for ‘Italia’?
We just went with the flow. Before our arrival, my videographer Greg Bizzaro scouted locations in the countryside of Calabria. We wanted to stay away from the busy downtown areas such as Rome or Milan and focus on the beauty that most people never see when they think of Italy. With those thoughts in mind, Greg took our vision and found those unforgettable locations to shoot.
The clips move along quickly, generating a whirlwind of immersion. I also picked up a sense of awe with the balcony clip (at 2:21). Were you contemplating the vista, or was it something more?
I will never forget that view! That particular location was the most popular in the town, called Santa Domenica Talao. I was drawn to that view out of curiosity and it grabbed my attention as I was able to see the cascading views of the countryside. Time stood still…
Generations Removed
Was there a “generational connection” caught up in that moment?
Coming from the mega city of São Paulo and living in Chicago, it was like I was taken back in time, to old-world Italy. From the people, the architecture and even the food… It did not feel like it was 2023.
It felt like it was 1920 when my family was still there, and I was able to follow in their footsteps. To taste and enjoy the recipes and food that I remember from my childhood.
Composing any song is a personal experience. What is it about ‘Italia’ that sets it apart from the other wonderful Brazilian songs you’ve created?
The only answer is that it was an experience that I wrote about that came true. The video captured my feeling of walking around the true beauty that I experienced every day.
Connect with Cecy Santana
- Watch Cecy Santana’s award-winning video for ‘Sao Paulo’.
- Cecy Santana Charts A Latitude Adjustment
- 10 Questions with Cecy Santana
- Cecy Santana’s ‘Sem Voce’ – The Best of Brazil ’19
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Cecy Santana’s ‘Italia’ Video Nomination
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