Why don’t you sing Raffaella Carrà? A reader Childe to engrave a cover. Maybe, that song “about a closet” .
Dear Mina, I am a 33-year-old woman who has been living a long-distance love for five years now. I’ve been up and down Italy I don’t know how many times, often I’m out of money because traveling costs money. But I did it convinced that one day I could move in with him and start a family together. I waited for his graduation, waited for his first job. What about him? I found that he has a habit of chatting with separate women in their 50s. I figured out his password and dishonestly got into his emails! But now I don’t know what to do. LuLu
Ouch, ouch, dear LuLu. You don’t know how many such letters I get. I don’t want to tell you “misery loves company” because it is the most baseless statement of all sayings. What to do? Good question. The options, as you can well imagine, are three. The first: pretend nothing is going on, and in this case you have to be a perfect actress who leaks absolutely nothing. The second: like an acquaintance of mine did, you also get into the same chat room and, under another name, pretend to be a 50-year-old woman looking for “company” to see how far he wants to go and why. The third: you take him by the scruff of the neck, like a little dog that has pooped on the carpet, and put him out of the house without any explanation. I would lean directly toward the third option. But something tells me you will choose the latter. In any case, this gentleman, by hook or by crook, has to get out of your life. Sending you a kiss.
Do you like Billie Holiday?
I have been following her for years, having sixty not a few, then, but I have never happened to read her judgment of colleagues. Of course, I am not talking about gossip or critiques, but really about artistic judgments. And not, mind you, on anyone. I am referring to some great performers of international music. I think of Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday or, to stay in Italy, Piero Ciampi. Sandro Damiani
I can tell you, dear Sandro, who I like. Who I don’t like I won’t tell you even at gunpoint. I love, nay, worship Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sinatra. Then there are those who are not really pure singers, but they excite me very much. They are, of course, also authors of what they sing so they transfer to the performance a participation, an interpretive accuracy that is not everyone’s.
I saw you Simpson style
I am curious what you think about The Simpsons, the cartoon created by Matt Groening. I know, it’s a silly question, but I find them really cool, and after a morning of studying they always know how to wring a laugh out of you. Some time ago, I even found a Simpsons-style drawing of you on the Internet (not very similar, actually). I dream of an episode in which you voice some character (maybe singing). Hi Mina, a kiss. Giancarlo
I must confess that I have never seen even one minute of The Simpsons. I’d love to dub a cartoon character, dear Giancarlo, because I feel like I’ve never done that. Or am I wrong? Boh.
Come on, say yes
Has it ever crossed your mind to reinterpret some of Carrà’s songs? There are some that, sung by you, would be perfect. Come on, do a Mina sings Raffa … Barbara of Alghero
Why not, dear Barbara. I would really like some light-hearted ditties. There are several of Raffaella’s that I would like to remake: for example, one about a closet. I don’t remember who was in it, though. I’m going to go for a ride on youtube. Then I’ll tell you. Hello.
Anxious about children
I am a mom of two little boys, ages 14 and 10. Now, as they begin to come out of my protective wing, I am trying hard not to be too apprehensive, because they have to learn to be independent. But I am often overwhelmed by anxiety. I wonder: what will I do when they start going out in the evening? You have been through this before: can you give me one of your wise advice? Thank you. Tua Ansiosetta
What are you going to do? You will be holding your breath until they come back. Even when they are twenty, thirty, forty years old. And you will pretend that you are not apprehensive at all. Exactly as I do-let’s be brave.
Special C’è Mina per voi of FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Sick, who will love me?
Dear Mina, My name is Alessandra, I am very pretty by all accounts. Then, in life, events happen that one cannot even imagine, and all the dreams find themselves locked in a drawer that, as the years go by, becomes a five-door closet. Let me explain: I suffer from Cfs. What is it? A rather mysterious disease of the body that gives fatigue. This is also why I avoid suitors: what could I tell them, that I am sick? And be rejected and marginalized even more? A hug
Health has never been a reason for falling in love. Phrases like, “How I love you. You are so healthy…,” I just never heard them. You have a problem, but who doesn’t? And the most serious are the ones that we don’t see or hide. Dear Alessandra, don’t close yourself off, let yourself be approached. You will see that you will have surprises. Kiss.
Special C’è Mina per voi of FEBRUARY 18, 2011
I want a love freedom
Dear Mina, I am 17 years old and a very strong character. For two years I have been together with a guy, we see each other very little but I am fine with that, I don’t need to see a person every day because his constant presence in my daily life would suffocate me. For the past few days he has been scolding me that I am always too busy and that we can’t build a serious relationship, but dispassionately said, a serious relationship at 17 seems too much. I don’t want to lock myself into one of those obligation-relationships, but I would like a freedom-relationship. What do you recommend? Faith
Dear Faith, when “the masquerade one” arrives, you will see that it is you who will demand his continued presence. Basically, I think you are not really into this guy, even if your character, as you tell me, is autonomous and impatient it is obvious that this love does not burn much. Do some soul-searching and then let me know. Kiss.
