ThankYouTube

If you’ve been on YouTube much you’ll notice that they keep trying to recommend videos for you based on previous viewing. Sometimes I really have to scratch my head. “Seriously? You thought I might like to watch that?! Based on what, exactly?” But occasionally they get it right and hook me up with something unexpectedly good. I’m guessing that my interest in Tony DeSare last week made a connection somewhere that I like Jazz, coupled with evidence that I do like foreign music at times.

At any rate, it started recommending Simona Molinari videos. In spite of my interest in a few foreign artists (Nolwenn Leroy, Mickael Miro), I don’t jump on every European recommendation it throws up, as most of them have left me cold. But Ms. Molinari, it turns out, is one of the pleasant exceptions. She’s got a voice as clear as a bell, rather versatile, and inflective without overdoing it. And she and Peter Cincotti (an American of Italian descent) have good vocal chemistry on their duets, I think.

Sometimes I think the reason why I like foreign singers is because I don’t have to pay attention to what they’re saying and can just focus on their voices. But it takes more than that. She’s got an expressive voice that makes it sound effortless. She’s fun to listen to. Your mileage may vary, of course, but for better or worse, here’s Ms. Molinari to make her case: