Just perfect…

I heard this song sometime ago. I liked it and kept the song tucked in my memory bank with a flag marking it for a later visit. Recently I heard the recording of a collaboration between the Pop singer who wrote and composed the song with an outstanding tenor of our generation. That’s a unique piece of music, akin to Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney collaborating decades ago. I loved that one too.

Let’s listen to the first version by the original artist. https://youtu.be/2Vv-BfVoq4g

The song is truly my kind of song, more melody, less noise, meaningful and in a wonderfully slow tempo. Somehow, despite all the differences, it reminded me of “Beautiful Tonight” one of Eric Clapton‘s eternal songs. Strange are the ways of the human mind.

I found a love for me
Oh darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
‘Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was, I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you’re holding mine
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

Then I discovered Ed Sheeran sing the same song in a bilingual version with my favourite tenor (I adore the guy’s amazing vocal range and singing), the one and only Andrea Bocelli. English and Italian, somehow I loved it even more. https://youtu.be/eiDiKwbGfIY

The Italian version sung by Bocelli is awesome. Gave me goosebumps…. Sounded so sublime.

To top it all, I discovered an even more special cover if you could call it that, with Matteo Bocelli singing with his incomparable, legendary father. https://youtu.be/hVz0xPyWZG0

Matteo sings with a lone Piano, with Andrea just harmonizing faintly in the background, the tempo a tad faster than Ed Sheeran’s before Andrea weighs in with Italian lines. They close in the closing lines, just beautifully complementing one other.

I found a love for me
Oh darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
‘Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was, I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you’re holding mine
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

(You are my woman, the strength of the sea waves)
Sei la mia donna, la forza delle onde del mare

(Catch my dreams and my secrets and much more)
Cogli i miei sogni e i miei segreti e molto di più

(I hope one day, the love that accompanied us)
Spero che un giorno, l’amore che ci ha accompagnato

(You become home, my family, you become us)
Diventi casa, la mia famiglia, diventi noi
(And we are always children but nothing is impossible)
E siamo sempre bambini ma nulla è impossibile

(I won’t leave you this time)
Stavolta non ti lascerò

(You kiss me softly and I come back to being)
Mi baci piano ed io torno ad esistere

(And in your gaze I will grow)
E nel tuo sguardo crescerò
(I dance with you, in the dark, hold tight then)
Ballo con te, nell’oscurità, stretti forte poi

(Barefoot us, inside our music)
A piedi nudi noi, dentro la nostra musica

(I watched you laugh and whispered I said:)
Ti ho guardato ridere e sussurrando ho detto:

(“You tonight, see, you’re perfect for me”)
“Tu stasera, vedi, sei perfetta per me”
(I dance with you, in the dark, hold tight then)
Ballo con te, nell’oscurità, stretti forte poi

(Barefoot us, inside our music)
A piedi nudi noi, dentro la nostra musica

(I have always believed in us)
Ho creduto sempre in noi

(Because you are an angel and I have been waiting for you)
Perché sei un angelo e io ti ho aspettato

(How long have I waited for you)
Quanto ti ho aspettato

(Because you are perfect for me tonight)
Perché tu stasera sei perfetta per me

I’ve given both the English and Italian lyrics, interlacing the lines to help most of us understand. My own understanding of the language is very sketchy, a bit more than a typical tourist .

I loved the father and son version the most, actually. Simple, straight from the heart singing with such minimalistic instrumental accompaniment.

Do let me know which one you liked out of the three versions.

Have a wonderful evening, folks.

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