Patrizio Buanne: The Saviour of Romance?

By Sarah Williams

It's been a whirlwind 10 months for Patrizio Buanne, the tall, dark, handsome, self-confessed 'Ambassador of Italian romance' with the undeniably smooth captivating voice.

Since the release of his debut album earlier this year the Naples native, has seen 'The Italian' hit the top 10 UK album chart, not once, but twice, winning over the critics, the ladies and even the Queen along the way - all helping him to reach certified gold status. But It doesn't stop there, more recently Patrizio has been travelling the world. He has seen 'The Italian' go to No1 in Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. He is also making waves in Australia, Honk Kong and South Africa. All this from the 27 year old Italian who on first coming to London brought pasta and wine in his bag because he didn't realise you could buy it here, bless!This is the second time that Femalefirst has had the pleasure of interviewing the charming Mr Buanne. Since the release of 'The Italian' Patrizio's success has grown but his passion for his music, crooning and Dolce Vita is still is still very much alive.Femalefirst chats to Patrizio about his deluxe album, his thoughts on success and of course his favourite topic, romance.

After being away form our shores for a while you are now back in the UK to release the deluxe version of your debut album 'The Italian.' Tell us about that?

Yes it's a deluxe version of the album, with three bonus tracks. Il Monodo the Italian version, That's Amore and Winter Wonderland. Everybody always asks me why I never recorded 'That's Amore' and people kind of compare me with Dean Martin, which is an honour because I idolise him, so I recorded it a little bit different like a swing version, so I hope you like it!

Your album has been very well received in this country, how has your life changed with the success you have had?

I was always busy, I was always working. I am a workaholic, especially because music is my passion and it was part of my dream to achieve everything I am doing so, mentally nothing changed. I don't even think that I can change as a person because I was always dreaming and have always challenges. And somehow I always dreamed to win a Grammy and make movies and be in Vegas.
But a lot of things changed because I am constantly travelling. I was three weeks in Asia, and I didn't see anything. I was just sitting in the most beautiful hotels doing interviews in the morning till the evening so in the night we would go to the market or have gorgeous food. Three days in Malaysia, three days in Hong Kong, three days in Thailand and in Austria it is doing really well. The album is released in Holland and Germany, Italy and around Europe. We did the showcase in the states. Now I am in England. I am going to Poland for a few days and I am really excited because I am going over to Australia where the album is number 16 in the charts and after that I will be going to South Africa.

That's a hell of a lot of travelling, are you enjoying it?

Globally, I am very happy with what is happening. In Asia I am classed as a pop star and I even have teenagers coming to my showcases. But because I am not a pop singer it generally takes a bit longer and because I am not known for any reality shows or like G4 from X Factor or I am not from a Big Brother house or I didn't show anybody my arse or whatever it takes me longer.
I always thought that Asian people don't have temperament but whoo they have. They go mad. I was there and it was the first time that I felt myself in danger really, like Michael Jackson. Without bodyguards you can't move anywhere because people - they eat you.

Where are you based now?

I am based in Rome, but I have never been there (laughs) I don't really have time to go there. My mother still lives in Vienna in Austria so when I am off I will go to see my mother. She is not lonely or crying sitting their waiting for me but I am away a lot so it's good to relax and get in touch with my mother. So if I am not working I am in Rome but everything started from London.

Your mother must be very proud of you?

Finally, because it took me a long time. Before she was like "Singing is not a profession, you have to be a doctor or a diplomat." And I say mother "I am a diplomat; I am the ambassador of Italian romance!"

Femalefirst reported a while back that you were asked to perform at the Queens Garden Party how did that come about?

I was singing for the Duke of Edinburgh and I gave him a copy of the album and I said this is for your family (laughing) I wanted to say your wife, but? He might have given it her (The Queen) and I heard from a woman at Buckingham Palace that she was very enthusiastic about it. But there is the other event, the Royal Variety Show. So I might do that, fingers crossed.

How are you coping with all the female attention - when you perform do you have kickers thrown at you?

No, I am not Tom Jones. I am single so I enjoy the whole thing but I am not doing things that I was doing when I was 17, like courting hundreds of dates or every city a girl or the one night stands here and there or the boom boom bang bang! I am just really disciplined about my career. I didn't come to England to just make sex and be drunk but I am enjoying it. I am not dating anybody in particular and I have met some really sweet girls but I can't promise anything to anybody because I can't keep it.

Is that one of the harder things about being in this business?

Yes I am alone but I am not lonely because 'lonely is the man without love' (laughing) but sometimes when I am watching a movie and I am sitting in a hotel and I am like 'oh it would be nice to have someone to talk to who is not just interested in you because you are Patrizio Buanne the singer or the crooner but somebody who just wants to hug you or give you a kiss and maybe have breakfast together. But then when I am busy and I am touring, I am happy that I am single because there is no place for a relationship. So I will probably have to work for another 3-4 years then concentrate on the relationship or I have to find a girl who is in the same business, who is not jealous with success. I didn't find until now, one that seems to be normal because they all seem to be divas and I can't go with somebody like this and have a normal conversation....The most normal people who understand what it is like in this business are the makeup artists. So if I would meet somebody who is a makeup artist then... Well they can always make sure you look wonderful! Well I hate wearing makeup, so?

What do you think about the way English men treat their ladies?

English men might say that the whole thing about being cheesy is Italian but what's cheesy about kissing the woman on the hand and being romantic; it's your own fault if you don't do it. But English men are very tough with the woman, everything has to be very cool and it's embarrassing to do this and that but I don't see any embarrassment in giving the woman a flower out of birthday, name day or valentines day because I think that men have to spoil the woman and the other way round.
Even though I am 27 I am not traditional but I like the old school way of treating a lady which doesn't mean that I am so stiff in everything. I am a new generation of being a gentleman. So Jamie Oliver convinced the men to cook. I am convincing the man to give the woman flowers and kiss her on the hand and I hope I can have success. Some people describe me as "the woman want him and the men want to be like him" but I don't want to be a sex symbol I will leave this job to Ricky Martin but I want to be somebody who sets a good example.
The whole thing is about making life enjoyable and complimenting, not just a cheesy way of convincing a woman to have sex it's just being kind with somebody and being friendly.

Do you find the lack of romance in the world frustrating?

No because I am doing it my way. I don't think that I am the best lover or anything. People ask me "Patrizio do you think that you are a good lover?" but I say, I can't think of this of myself you have to ask somebody else. But definitely I try to be, because for me as a man it's great to give a woman a feeling that afterwards she says, you know what I had a good time.
I can't promise a relationship with a woman, but I can promise a night that is unforgettable, a moment where a girl might say 'yeah that was great' but if the chemistry doesn't work then.. it's all about chemistry, so you just have to try and be yourself. But so far I am not complaining, I am having a great time!

Your debut album 'The Italian' has been out for a while now, have you started working on any other material?

Yes we are working on a second album and at the end of the year; there will be a DVD of me showing people around some beautiful places in Italy. We also did a concert in a coliseum for a couple of thousand people and its going to be released in November.

You also did the Saturday Night Swings show due to be shown on the BBC1 (Oct 1st), did you enjoy that?

Yes, I met my idol Paul Anka and performed with a real orchestra which is great. I love the real thing. I love to play with live musicians because you not only hear the difference but you feel it, it's all about feelings nothing else. Feelings are real and I want to do music that is real.

Is it true that you might get to realise another one of your dreams by staring a movie?

I have a proposition to do something in Hollywood for a movie. I did a showcase there because the album will be released in January and one of the guys out of the Sopranos, Danny Aiello and some agents from Hollywood were there to see me and they asked me if in the future, I could see myself doing some acting.
I don't know if I could be a very good actor but I think I could be a good character in a movie. If Frank Sinatra or Elvis were able to do it, I think I could also. I would like to try it. I also got to know a few very good songwriters in America. Paul Anka wants to write a song for me. It's really good and I am really happy. At the moment America is reaching for me which is great.

What is you motto in life?

Viva La Dolce Vita - people ask me 'what is La Dolce Vita' and I say its being aware of what you do, enjoy your life. If you smoke enjoy it, enjoy your glass of wine, if you have sex enjoy it, if you have a walk on the beach enjoy it. Live your life intense.
We have so much negativity in life; my philosophy is making the world a better place. I am not the one that says, 'in my day the music was better.' No, the music will be better, tomorrow...

The deluxe version of The Italian is in stores now