Irene proves equal to the top female artists in the world.

Irene Grandi's "Per Fortuna Purtroppo" is her third, and arguably her best album. Virtually unknown in the United States, she is "all the rage" in Italy. On this album, Irene blends her beautiful and passionate voice with influences from her native Italy, as well as the worlds of rap and soul to create an album that is at once both high in energy, yet refined. The album is both sweet enough to bring a tear to your eye, yet also rocks to cause you to get up and dance, play "air guitar", or "air drums", if you prefer.

You certainly don't need to speak a drop of Italian to appreciate her songs. It is true what they say about Italian being the most beautiful language in the world. Irene even sprinkles in some English lyrics into several of her songs to help you out!

There are ten songs on the album, and my favorites include the Rap/Rockin' #4. "Primativa" (Primative) which combines Irene and Dre Love, the Pop titl! e song, #1 "Per fortuna purtroppo" (For Fortune Unfortunately) and a very breezy Caribbean/on vacation sounding (I think of the white chalky beaches and blue sand when I hear this song) #6 "Otto e mezzo" (Half past Eight).

However, because Irene has a voice of an angel, my absolute favorite Irene Grandi songs are those songs which let her range and passion shine through, including, #3"Che vita e" (What life is), #5 "E possibile che noi" (It's possible that we), #7 "Fai come me" (You do as me), and finally, #10 "Un bagno in mar" (A bath in the sea), which brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it, just because...words cannot describe how beautiful this song is.

"Mi Scusi" to Irene if my translation of her song titles were not 100% correct.