Is RPI sung in English - really RPI?

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   Very few of the original RPI bands sang in English. At that time, foreign language proficiency wasn't exactly common in Italy. The only example I can think of at the moment are Cherry Five, who were basically Goblin under a different name. Musically, their debut album is great, but the vocals (in heavily accented English) are definitely the weakest point.  Funnily enough, their new album - released after 39 years - is all in Italian, and inspired by the quintessential Italian literary work, Dante's Divine Comedy. In some ways, this is a recognition of the importance of the Italian language for the whole RPI scene. 

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Raff Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 29 2005 Location: None Status: Offline Points: 24440	Posted: June 30 2015 at 06:21
	Very few of the original RPI bands sang in English. At that time, foreign language proficiency wasn't exactly common in Italy. The only example I can think of at the moment are Cherry Five, who were basically Goblin under a different name. Musically, their debut album is great, but the vocals (in heavily accented English) are definitely the weakest point. Funnily enough, their new album - released after 39 years - is all in Italian, and inspired by the quintessential Italian literary work, Dante's Divine Comedy. In some ways, this is a recognition of the importance of the Italian language for the whole RPI scene.

Guldbamsen Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: January 22 2009 Location: Magic Theatre Status: Offline Points: 23199	Posted: June 30 2015 at 06:08
	^Very nicely put my friend. I was going to say something similar:) The Italian ingredient - that is the essence of the RPI sound - doesn't necessarily have to come from the vocals, although I vastly prefer that. The music surrounding the vocals is often what takes you directly into the heartland of pasta.
	“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams

Aussie-Byrd-Brother Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 12 2011 Location: Melb, Australia Status: Offline Points: 7951	Posted: June 30 2015 at 05:57
	There are some (by that, I mean a few) examples of English vocal RPI bands that still manage to convincingly come across as the `real deal', but you're right, singing in Enlgish does rob the music of a very vital factor of the identity of RPI. RPI is not simply `prog rock sung in Italian'....done properly, the Italian vocals are a specific theatrical, passionate characteristic itself of the music. Given the current industry, modern RPI bands would be very unwise to attempt to use English as a way to try and break big into international markets - it's simply NOT going to happen. Apart from that, often when they sing in English, the results are dreadful - pained, forced delivery of a language they're not totally comfortable with. Besides...I think the `faithful' RPI followers consider it a bit insulting when those bands sing in English. It instantly lessens the band in their eyes... Edited by Aussie-Byrd-Brother - June 30 2015 at 05:58

sleeper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: October 09 2005 Location: Entropia Status: Offline Points: 16449	Posted: June 30 2015 at 05:48
	Difficult to say, with the classic bands they would inarguably be still part of RPI, which I gather was as much a regional movement as a full fledged music style, though I don't think there were any who sang solely in English though. With modern bands it's much harder to say, but I'd be inclined to agree with you but I'd hope there was more to it than that, the classic Itaian bands had something about there sound beyond singiong in their native language that separated them from the English, German, French etc groups. I'm not at all well versed on modern symphonic bands, too many of those that I have sampled have come across as being a little bit sterile, but if this distinction still hilds true then I'd say it was more important than the language the singer used.
	Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005

Komandant Shamal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 02 2015 Location: Yugoslavia Status: Offline Points: 954	Posted: June 29 2015 at 22:36
	i dont think so. As a big fan of RPI as well [BTW Italia and ex-Yugoslavia were neighbouring and pretty friendly countries especially after Osimo agreements in 1975], i could accept that caprice of some of RPI bands who were recorded some songs or even the whole album in English, its OK although then its an inelegant RPI, but a marriage of whole catalogue with English language actually disqualified any Italian band for that sublime RPI categorie - then its just another symphonic prog, eclectic prog, etc., what could be [and very often it is] great stuff but then its not RPI at all IMHO. Whats your opinion?