Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

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IF ONLY I had the courage to confess my true feelings to her when we were younger. I wonder how our lives would have turned out? There’s always that one person in your life. That when you look back on, makes you wonder what would have happened.

That’s the premise of the song IF ONLY by Andrea Bocelli featuring Dua Lipa from the album Sî (2018). The song is poignant to Bocelli as the last work of lyricist Lucio Quarantotto. In August 2012, after a long bout with depression Quarantotto passed away by committing suicide.

Quarantotto, also penned TIME TO SAY GOODBYE (1996) with Sarah Brightman. Francesco Sartori is the composer for both hits.  Originally written in Italian – CON TE PARTIRO, (With you I will Leave) became one of the best-selling singles of all time. The English version was recorded in 1996 as TIME TO SAY GOODBYE and became a signature song for Bocelli, most identified with him.

After the success of CON TE PARTIRO, Quarantotto wrote more songs for Bocelli: CANTO DELLA TERRA (Song of the Earth) and IMMENSO (Immense) for 1999 album Sogno (Dream). From Italy Magazine.

The theme of regret for IF ONLY, is highlighted by the world’s loss of its talented lyricist. Bocelli himself, voiced his regret for not visiting his friend more often. He’s sure of the immortality of  Quarantotto’s work but just wanted him to enjoy the fruits of his labor with more success and fame, while he was alive.

Andrea Bocelli – If Only ft. Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa

The other side of the coin for IF ONLY is British sensation Dua Lipa. She won a pair of Grammys last year (2019): Best New Artist and Best Dance Recording – ELECTRICITY, a collaboration with Silk City. And in 2018 also won two British Awards: British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.

Born in London, Lipa is of Albanian descent and is the eldest of three kids. Her dad Dukagjin Lipa—was a former lead vocalist in the Kosovan rock band Oda. She started out with Youtube posting covers of her favorite artists Pink and Nelly Furtado. From wikiwand.

Andrea Bocelli – If Only

IF ONLY Videos

Understandably with Bocelli’s  world-wide acclaim, IF ONLY has several categories of its music video: First is what I would call the cinematic video where there’s a narrative. In this case, a charming summary of Bocelli’s life from childhood to his current state as father and husband. This has its own ‘Making of’ video, typically called BTS or behind the scenes. It includes an interview with director / cinematographer: Gaetano Morbioli etc.

Second category is the music video with Dua Lipa who is a star in her own right. The video takes advantage of Lipa’s stunning looks, who was a model before she became a recording star. Spectacular footage of solar eclipse, stars in the night sky are used as background for the two of them. Technology today allows the fact that they weren’t shot at the same time and it still looks fantastic.

There’s also a ‘Backstage’ version, of their recording sessions. Bocelli in his own recording studio at home while Dua Lipa recorded in London. It only seemed natural the video was shot that way as well. Their voices and video footage were perfectly mixed in both cases.

IF ONLY Translations

Anticipating a hit for this song was wise given Bocelli’s track record of success.  So a Spanish version was also recorded. TU ERES MI TESORO (You Are My Treasure) is a Spanish lyric adaptation by Diego Martinez Galindo. Producing this version is a genius move considering the millions of Spanish speakers from Latin America, Europe, worldwide.

There’s also a purely Italian version entitled QUALCOSA PIÙ DELL’ORO (Something More Than Gold). This may be the true original since lyricist Lucio Quarantotto’s native tongue is Italian. IF ONLY is a combination of both Italian and English lyrics.

P.O.V. Switch

The main cinematic video for IF ONLY has an ingenious visual style. Starting from his infancy in 1958, the angle takes a Point of View shot more commonly known as P.O.V.

More easily defined as the main character’s angle / point of view. The camera shows what the main character sees.

We ‘see’ the world as Bocelli sees it, through his eyes. Starting from infancy, we see a baby’s arm at the corner of the frame reaching out. The production design was of that period. We depart from that literal treatment to a more figurative one and a global frame of mind, going through different countries different activities like sky diving. Bocelli lost his sight at age 12.

Until we go back to Bocelli’s home and family where we witness the moment where son Amos introduces his girlfriend. And then a switch occurs, when 8 year old daughter, Virginia runs to Andrea’s arms. The camera pans to a mirror as he is picking her up and the angle switches to that of an observer seeing the whole family along with Bocelli.

Passione Per la Vita

The brilliant mind behind the lens, is director, cinematographer and editor Gaetano Mobili. In the ‘Making Of’ video mentioned above explains it perfectly, “The feeling the song evokes is more valuable than gold. With respect to his own child, his son. And in this case it is an explosion of sentiments and passion. Then it switches to a global view. There’s a series of images of affection and involvement.” From the video we see Mobili use a host of Canon L lenses: 24-70/2.8, 70-200mm/2.8 etc.

Mobili was able to encapsulate visually what Bocelli means to Italy and the world, “This video exemplifies real Italian values which are passions for life and a desire to live life, sharing their blessings. With this project Andrea has become, I think the true bearers of the Italian image to the world.”

The English translation for IF ONLY below is a combination of several versions. I paraphrased only a few lines along with the official lyric video.

IF ONLY featuring Dua Lipa

[Vers1: Andrea Bocelli]
Stai qui vicino a me

Stay here, near me

Quaggiù, quaggiù

Over here, right here

Vedrai, vedrai, vedrai

You’ll see, you’ll see, you’ll see

Tu vali si per me

What you mean to me

Qualcosa più dell’oro

Something more than gold

Qualcosa come un’alba

Something like the dawn

Che io aspetto

That I long for

[Chorus: Andrea Bocelli]
If only we could turn back time
Back to the day we said goodbye
Maybe your heart would still be mine
My love, if only

[Verse 2: Dua Lipa]
Don’t they say when you find love
Keep it close, treasure it like the sunset
Like something more than gold
And Did we almost know it
Did we almost have it all
Before we let go

[Verse 2 Italian]

Dove sei? Dove Sei Amore?

Where are you? Where are you, my love?

Nel Cielo C’e Qualcosa,

There it is in heaven,

Qualcosa Nel Cielo C’e

Something in heaven indeed,

Qualcosa Piu Dell’oro

Something more than gold

Qualcosa Come Un Canto

Something like a song

Che io Danzo Con Te
A song we can dance to

[Chorus: Andrea Bocelli & Dua Lipa]
If only we could turn back time
Take back the day we said goodbye
Maybe your heart would still be mine
My love, if only

[Bridge: Andrea Bocelli & Dua Lipa]

Ancora si la vita è

Life is unfolding

Sopra di noi, se sei con me

Now that you’re here with me

Il Cielo Che Riappare Qua

This is our paradise

Fino Alla Fine

Until the very end

Maybe your heart would still be mine

My love, if only

Maybe your heart would still be mine

My love, if only

[Outro: Andrea Bocelli & Dua Lipa]

Tu che muovi il mondo

The world turns with you

Tu che soffi forte il vento

The wind blows your name

E il grano

Moving through fields of gold

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