Contrary to the those who "sing" the praises of "Il Canto della Malavita", as academically as I can phrase it, ICdM  is VOMIT !!!!

No, I haven't heard it. But neither do I need to personally hear an album, proudly self described as "tunes traditionally performed chiefly by members of the society and delivered at feasts celebrating..., the release of a member from prison or a particularly successful act of vengeance... are filled with lyrics in Mafia slang that expound on its bloody code...". "Whoever took the liberty to neglect their duties, I'll slaughter him like an animal," goes one song. "And if someone dares to talk, I'll whet my knife for him."... 

Serious questions are raised..."(of) performance of music that glorifies the Mafia... (and) has earned the ire of many social critics in Italy,... which are worried about another glorification of Mafia folkways..." 

One questions how much those who admire this music have in common with ... "(M)any of the fans of this music (that) can be found... in Italian prisons..." ?? 

There is a further statment, "yes, there's some glorification of the lifestyle," and and then rather embarrassingly attempts to justify it on the basis of : "...in Italy the Mafia (or 'ndrangheta or camorra) is NOT a media creation - it's a significant fact of life.

Yes, and in the USA there is an epidemic of "Spouse beating", and it is NOT a media creation- it's a significant fact of life, and therefore by the previous reasoning, justifiable in glorifying?????

And in an example of extraordinary "cheek" it was stated: "Perhaps it would be an overstatement to say that the guy who pulled this music together has provided a public service..."  Yes. I would reply, A GROSS Overstatement!!!!! More like exploitive, self indulgent, selfish, commercialism.

The German Record Co. obvious evades the question of whether the 'Ndrangheta" benefits financially, .... by stating "Whether at the end of the day they have to pay any of that money back to the Mafia, I do not know. I pay (Scalari)."

Our colleague reassures us with "I don't think the proceeds of your purchase help the Mafia". Really? And on what basis did they arrive at that conclusion?? ANY Facts???? ANY facts at ALL????

The statement is made: "I urge readers who want to get some feeling for the place of the Mafia in Italian culture to get a copy."

I really look forward to an explanation as exactly how one "get('s) some feeling for the place of the Mafia in Italian Culture",.... by merely listening this ode to violence. 

But most important....These are NOT Folk Songs, BUT are ONLY in the FORM of Folks Songs!!!  as the LA Times CLEARLY Points out!!!!

These were songs SUNG SOLELY AMONG THEMSELVES that were in FOLK FORM.That does not make them FOLK SONGS!!!!!!! 

Anymore than me singing in the shower and giving tribute to my sexual prowess and virility, is a Folk Song, even if it was a sing-a-long with lovely companions, and I become a cult figure in the community [;-) 

To pretend that these "Malavita" songs are educational or a reflection of regional culture is either naive, disingenuous, or terribly misguided!

Dona De Sanctis, the deputy executive director of the Order Sons of Italy in  America, a 700-chapter philanthropic organization for Italian-Americans, also speaks for me when she says "This is...a very crass attempt to  cash in on America's love affair with the Mafia myth... It is clearly not an attempt to help people understand the southern Italian traditions."

One of the far most laughable statements that was quoted was: "You have to read the lyrics not like a Mafioso does, but like a Christian does." 

That would be akin to telling people not to read those lyrics extolling violence against women, gays, & cops like a Rapper does, but like a Christian does!!!

HOW does one DO that??????

Malvita songs are NO more Folk Songs, and have No more Merit than: 

Marching Songs of Nazi SS Troops...
Songs of the Red Brigades....
Melodies of Concentration Camp Guards....
Man and Boy Love....

It's not suprising to me that the same people who defend "The Sopranos", are advocates of "Il Canto di Malavita". How interesting. 

Now there is something WORTH evaluating. Why do THEY feel the need to so consistently and almost singularly keep FOCUSING on, and PROMOTING those issues that present Italians and Italian Americans in Negative and Unfavorable terms? Why? Why? Why??

With Great Disappointment,
Richard Annotico

Excerpt from LA Times:

For over 100  years members of the Calabrian Mafia has developed and sung Malavita songs among themselves. The tunes were traditionally performed chiefly by members of the society and delivered at feasts celebrating the admittance of a new member, the release of a member from prison or a particularly successful act of vengeance. The songs, a mix of more sedate strummed FOLK FORMS and fast accordion-laced tarantella dance, are filled with lyrics in Mafia slang that expound on its bloody code of honor and respect. "Whoever took the liberty to neglect their duties, I'll slaughter him like an animal," goes one song. "And if someone dares to talk, I'll whet my knife for him." Despite questions in Italy over the legality of the distribution and performance of music that glorifies the Mafia, this little known and highly gory FOLK FORM ....