"Flying" in Milan Cortina 2026 according to Mariah Carey: the truth pops up

Mariah Carey singing “Nel blu dipinto di blu” Domenico Modugno’s world-famous song that for many (including in Italy) is called “Volare” was one of the pivotal moments at the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games. One question that the many fans of the world queen of pop music may have legitimately asked themselves is: “But how does she do so well with ’Italian”. The short answer would be that she helped herself to a teleprompter. The real curiosity, however, concerns what was actually written on that teleprompter. Which Italian, at least in the literal sense, was not. And on the web someone noticed.

Marco Enzo Venturini

Standout among them is Tommaso Zorzi, who like many compatriots followed the first act of Milan Cortina 2026 directly from the stands. And it was from his privileged position that he spread on Instagram a shot of Mariah Carey’s fateful teleprompter. Where, word for word, indeed letter for letter, there’was written: “Ai een-comb-een-chah-voh, voh-lah-reh, nell chay-lo een-fee-nee-toe”. That is “And I began to fly in the infinite sky” but in such a way that an English-speaking person, even more so if American by birth, could pronounce the song correctly in Italian.

“Mariah’s teleprompter devastates me” is the comment Zorzi posted on the sidelines of her Instagram post that indirectly exposed Mariah Carey to the ironies of Italians. At the end of the day, however, the Milan Cortina 2026 technicians’ stunt prevented her from even worse potential trouble. And little harm if the show audience, instead of “by the wind rapt”, was “doll vehn-tow rapt”. The important thing, as they say in such cases, is the end result. Even if the means to achieve it have become public knowledge, along the Boot and around the world.

“Recognized worldwide for her unmistakable voice and a musical production capable of crossing generations and cultures, Mariah Carey fully embodies the emotional atmosphere that accompanies the path to the Games”, were the words with which the Milan Cortina 2026 foundation had announced her presence in a note.

“The Opening Ceremony of Milano Cortina 2026, created by Balich Wonder Studio, will be an’unrepeatable experience – the statement read further -: a big collective embrace that weaves together Italian Spirit, innovation, emotion and the participation of international artists. A one-of-a-kind event, designed to surprise, unite and leave an indelible memory in spectators around the world”.