Andrea Bocelli is an absolute powerhouse of a vocalist. More than any other singer, he has brought Classical Music into the psyche of the masses with his exciting Pop/Operatic style. His voice is that of the angels. His expression and phrasing are virtually unparalleled. Having already sold a staggering 70 million records, he is on track to become one of the most successful Classical singers of all time.
Confining myself to just the top 10 Andrea Bocelli songs has been no easy task. However, I hope you like and enjoy my choices. But frankly, I’m sure you will agree that there is little out there Andrea Bocelli has put his name to that wouldn’t fail to impress.
So, let’s get straight to it and take a look at the best Andrea Bocelli songs.
24 Best Andrea Bocelli Songs of All Time
1The Prayer feat. Celine Dion
“The Prayer” was released in 1999 from his stunning album, Sogno. The single features two of my all-time favorite singers, so it could hardly but fail to impress. Although the single failed to chart, not unusual for Andrea Bocelli’s songs, the album was huge.
It went to #1 in Italy and #4 in the US and the UK. Sogno went multi-platinum and platinum in several countries around the world. And it sold more than two million copies in the US alone.
What about the song?
“The Prayer” is an uplifting Pop song with an operatic twist. It is basically a prayer for everyone’s safety in the world. When it was released, it was seen as a time of uncertainty. But, the song feels every bit as relevant today, if not more so, than it did then.
The song is sung as a back-and-forth between the two vocal powerhouses. Andrea Bocelli sings his parts in Italian, and Celine Dion sings hers in English. Although, I suppose she could just as easily have sung them in French when I think about it. I love this song, and it gives me goosebumps hearing it again.
2Somos Novios (It’s Impossible) feat. Cristina Aguilera
This was released in 2006 as the first single from the album Amore. The single, other than charting at #39 in Italy, failed to impress and didn’t chart elsewhere. In contrast, the album was a huge hit that went to #1 in Italy and #3 in the US. Additionally, it went platinum and gold in several countries around the world.
The song is a cover of the old standard written by Armando Manzanero. It was most famously sung and recorded by Perry Como in 1970. It’s a beautiful song that is done full justice by the partnership of Bocelli and Aguilera. Credit to Christina Aguilera for singing her part in Italian. It is a great contrast and partnership of voices.
3E Piu Ti Penso (The More I Think of You) feat. Arianna Grande
Andrea Bocelli has made some amazing recordings with some amazing artists. But I think this duet with Ariana Grande is up there as one of the best. They come from such different genres that you would naturally question if this would work. But it does, and brilliantly.
Arianna Grande brings purity to the song, which makes the message of self-belief all the more powerful. Bocelli’s performance is strong and passionate, allowing Arianna Grande the flexibility to compliment his voice in a moving duet.
The song was released in 2015 from the album, Cinema. Incredibly, for such a great record, it failed to chart as a single. However, the album got to #2 in Italy, where it went platinum, and to #10 in the US.
4Per Amore
I am moving away from duets to look at this passionate and emotional song. It is about being in love, as the title gives away, and all the associated emotions and feelings that entails.
The song is a little different from some of his others. Despite his incredible vocal performance, undoubtedly operatic at times, it feels less classical. The orchestra is much less involved, and much of the song is sung to a simple piano accompaniment.
It was released in 1995, in the early part of his career, from his second studio album, the self-titled Bocelli, and also featured on the compilation album Romanza. While outside of The Netherlands, the single failed to chart, but the album sold well. It went to #1 in Switzerland and Germany and also went four times platinum in both countries. Surprisingly, it only went to #10 in Italy with no platinum, gold, or even silver discs.
5Besame Mucho (Kiss Me A Lot)
This is a beautiful song released in 2018 from the album Amore. It is about the fear of losing someone you love. And, about the terror that the next time you kiss someone, it might be the last. Although this could well relate to a romantic partner, it could also be about a friend or relative.
Originally, it was sung by Consuelo Velasquez, so this is a cover. It was a risk to take on such a great song, but it became one of the biggest Andrea Bocelli songs, so it proved to be a risk worth taking. He also adapted the song by significantly slowing down the tempo, so it is fair to say he made the song his own. It is a wonderful interpretation of an amazing song.
6Perfect Symphony with Andrea Bocelli
We are back to duets now but this time with a male performer. The song was written by Ed Sheeran, but it would be remiss not to include it on this top 10 Andrea Bocelli songs list. That’s because the version is nothing short of stunning.
Make no mistake, it is an incredible song that is brilliantly written and sung by Ed Sheeran. It is a song that I thought could never be better, but boy, oh boy, how wrong I was. Andrea Bocelli brings out a whole new dimension to “Perfect Symphony” and makes a great song even better. And talk about the perfect wedding song.
7Because We Believe feat. Marco Borsato
“Because We Believe” was released in 2006 from the album Amore. The single went to #1 in The Netherlands and #4 in Belgium. Surprisingly, it failed to chart in Italy, which you would have thought would have been its strongest market.
It was composed for the 2006 Olympics closing ceremony. The song is sung in part English and part Italian. Although, sometimes, it is sung all in Italian when performed live.
It is a wonderfully inspiring song that perfectly captures the mood of endurance and persistence that many of the athletes at the games would have to routinely live by. Of all the duets he has sung, this one stands out as one of the greatest Andrea Bocelli duet songs.
8Time To Say Goodbye feat. Sarah Brightman
When I knew I would be making a list of the Top 10 songs by Andrea Bocelli, I knew this would be included. It was released in 1996 and was part of the compilation album Romanza. The album was huge, going to #1 in Italy, Austria, The Netherlands, and Belgium. It earned a diamond disc in Italy and platinum discs in several countries around the world. Plus, global sales topped over 20 million copies.
Pretty impressive…
“Time To Say Goodbye” was initially written in Italian. But, then changed and tweaked to include Sarah Brightman so it could be sung as a tribute to the retiring world champion boxer, Henry Maske. What a song to end your career with at your final fight.
Andrea Bocelli’s fans are not much of a single-buying crowd. However, this song found a large audience and became his best-selling single. It went to #1 in Sweden, Austria, and Germany, as well as #2 in the UK. Additionally, it went platinum in Switzerland, the UK, and Austria. Yet, the Italians were again conspicuous by their absence at the record stores.
“Time To Say Goodbye” is a highly moving and rousing song that starts quietly and slowly builds to a crescendo towards the end. The contrast between Bocelli’s power and Brightman’s sweet voice makes a fantastic combination.
9Nelle Tue Mani (Now We Are Free)
This song was released off the album Cinema. Many of you, though, will recognize the song from the movie, Gladiator. It was also included on the Gladiator Movie Soundtrack released in 2000. It went platinum in several countries, including the US and the UK.
“Nelle Tue Mani” is a wonderfully moving song that deals with the subject of freedom. It’s passionate and heartfelt. So much so that even if you don’t understand the words, the sheer power and emotion of the song somehow help to convey the meaning.
“Nelle Tue Mani (Now We Are Free)” can best be described as a Pop/Operatic song. In this respect, it is a genre in which Andrea Bocelli has excelled. The song is very much within his comfort zone and is doubtless why it was so popular.
10Vivo Per Lei (I Live for Her) feat. Georgia
This is the last song on my list. It was released in 1996 and featured on the phenomenally successful compilation album Romanza, which I looked at a little earlier. “Vivo Per Lei (I Live for Her)” was one of the rare singles that charted in Italy, peaking at #34. However, it topped the charts in Belgium and France, where it earned platinum discs on both counts.
The song is interesting because, although it is a love song, it is about the love of music rather than the love of an individual. It is sung with the kind of passion and feelings that we have come to expect from Andrea Bocelli.
The song features a second female part that Bocelli has sung with several different female singers. However, my favorite version is with the featured artist, Georgia.
11Romanza
12Canto Della Terra
13Il Mare Calmo Della Sera
14Vivere
15La Voce Del Silenzio
16Io ci sarò
17Un amore cosi’ grande
18Can’t Help Falling in Love
19L’abitudine (feat. Helena Hellwig)
20Si volto’
21Ave Maria (Schubert)
22Turandot: Nessun Dorma
23Le Tue Parole
24Gloria in Excelsis Deo (feat. Aida Garifullina)
Want More Incredible Singers?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Most Famous Opera Singers Of All Time, the Best Female Singers, the Most Famous Male Country Singers Of All Time, the Most Famous Spanish Singers Of All Time, the Most Famous British Singers, and the Most Famous American Singers Of All Time for more incredible song selections.
Top 24 Andrea Bocelli Songs – Final Thoughts
I haven’t listened to some of these songs in quite some time. So, it has been fun listening to them again and compiling my list of Andrea Bocelli’s Top 10 songs.
Hopefully, you have also enjoyed the journey, and I also hope at least a few of your favorites made the cut. If not, which songs would you have included, and which would you have left out? Also, do you have any interesting stories about Andrea Bocelli and his music? If so, let me know in the comments below.
Until next time, happy listening.
