365 Days of Mike Patton: “Ore D’Amore,” Mondo Cane (2010)

Out of everything on Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane album—where he sings covers of Italian pop songs from the 1950s and 1960s—“Ore D’Amore” is my favorite. It’s Patton at his crooniest best, and there are a few occasions in the tune where his voice just absolutely soars.

There seem to be two separate versions of this song from 1967: one by Ornella Vanoni and another by Fred Bongusto. I like Vanoni’s version a little better, probably because Bongusto’s song sounds a little too similar to Patton’s version (and yes, I know Patton’s version came 43 years later, so it’s technically Patton that sounds like Bongusto).

The quality of Patton’s recording is obviously much better than those from more than 50 years ago, and his voice goes a little deeper, gruffer, and richer than the previous two versions, which I dig. Clearly, Patton’s talent is more than sufficient to compete with the earlier versions.

Especially if you listen to one of his live versions.

As Consequence of Sound noted in its review of the album, “You do not have to be fluent in traditional Italian speech or opera to fully experience this music. Mondo Cane is a time machine, guided by Mike Patton, a backing band, and a 40-piece orchestra into contemporary Italian pop music, with the usual avant garde flare that makes Patton what he has been and always will be.”

The website also wrote that “Ore D’Amore” was a song of “mobster swagger circa 1950.” Considering the suits Patton wore when he gave his Mondo Cane concerts, that’s perhaps not a bad description at all.

Previously from Mondo Cane:

• “Scalinatella” (Day 7)

To follow along on the 365 days of Patton, click here for a list of each day’s post.