In 2021, the Bocelli father and son sang at the Spring Festival Gala of CCTV.
As Andre's youngest son, Mario undoubtedly inherited his father's musical talent, signing to legendary label Capital Records in 2019. The song "Fall on me" sung on the Spring Festival evening of the main station is included in Andre Bocelli's 2018 number one album "Si", and is also the MV and ending theme song of Disney's live-action animated film "The Nutcracker and the Four Kingdoms". In this MV that the father and son cooperated for the first time, they sang in English and Italian respectively, and for the first time, they sang double singing and piano duets, and their cooperation was called "the voice kissed by God" by many netizens, and it received more than 90 million views worldwide, becoming the most watched classical cross-border MV in the history of music. Mario has since gained a global audience base, singing at top venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York, O2 Arena in London and The Hollywood Bowl.
Mario Bocelli. Courtesy of Universal Music
On March 5, Mario surprised The Chinese audience with his first solo work: the Chinese and English version of Fall On Me. On the occasion of the release of this work, the Beijing News interviewed Mario Bocelli to listen to him talk about his growth and the story behind the creation of "Hold Me Tight".
Beijing News: Born in an artistic family, can you first talk about your personal growth experience in the family?
Mario: I had a great childhood, and at the same time, I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical atmosphere all the time. My house was never quiet because someone was always playing the piano. At a very young age, I was taught by my parents to be curious about music, so I began to learn piano at the age of six and soon learned to play guitar.
Beijing News: What is the influence of your father on the road of music on you personally?
Mario: Needless to say, my father had the biggest influence on my life, both personally and professionally. He taught me a lot about achieving my dreams through persistence, and he has always been my biggest supporter, encouraging me to be creative.
Mario with father. Courtesy of Universal Music
Beijing News: From the first work "Fall On Me" with my father in 2018 to the father and son duo singing to hundreds of millions of Chinese audiences at the Spring Festival Gala this year, what is the feeling of several cooperations?
Mario: It was the greatest honor of my life to be able to sing on the same stage as my dad, and it was a fun experience. There is a very wonderful sense of humor in his personality, which prompts us to have many very lighthearted and enjoyable experiences in preparing for the performance.
Before the show, we had a lot of fun together and it also looked festive and integrated into a fantastic party atmosphere. But this is definitely not the same as performing live in China, so we really hope to be invited to perform again next year, and then we can come to the scene and spend the Chinese New Year with the Chinese audience.
Beijing News: As a world-famous singer, my father is curious about how you get along in your daily life. Is there pressure to grow up under the aura of a father?
Mario: My father was always a guiding light for all of us in our family. Like the song "Hold Me Tight", it is about a father who tells his son that he will always be by his side when he needs help, and everything in the song seems to be my experience with my father. Whenever I feel uncertain, as long as I can get back to him, everything will pass.
So while being the son of a legend, I never felt the pressure. I also have my own dreams because when you like something, you become bold, and I am thankful that I have chosen the path of music and that I have a family that has always supported me.
Mario performs with his father. Courtesy of Universal Music
Beijing News: Why did you issue Chinese version of "Hold Me Tight"?
Mario: Admittedly, the original Fall on me was very powerful, especially when our performance at the Chinese Spring Festival Gala was very popular, so we decided to release Chinese version of "Hold Me Tight", which will be a great way to welcome the Year of the Ox, and also want to make a reward for all the friends who like us through this format.
Beijing News: "Hold Me Tight" because it is Chinese sung, how did you practice?
Mario: Chinese it was a big challenge for me, I had a language instructor, but at the end of the day, it was constantly, practicing, practicing, practicing!
I really enjoy listening to this song because Chinese makes the whole piece sound warmer. Although I experienced many challenges and difficulties during the recording process, the final result was perfect, especially for my Chinese pronunciation has been greatly improved!
Beijing News reporter Liu Zhen
Edited by Tian Kaini Proofreader Wu Xingfa