Italian Singer Iva Zanicchi, 86, Speaks Out About Getting Older
Listen to the story
Italian singer Iva Zanicchi, who is 86 years old, has spoken about growing older and staying active.
She said she keeps going because she gets involved in everything around her. She likes to have an opinion on many things.
Zanicchi said she is not foolish, and that she knows old age brings pain, hot flushes, and wrinkles.
Her daughter has told her not to speak negatively about certain topics, but Zanicchi insists on saying what she thinks. She said that at 86 years old, she should be allowed to speak her mind freely.
The singer also talked about her future plans. She wants to do more work, including theatre and television appearances.
She is also writing a book of memoirs, which will include stories from her long career and life.
In the interview, Zanicchi mentioned other well-known Italian singers, Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni. She admitted she felt some envy toward them at times.
She also said that she misses someone called Pippo very much, though details about who Pippo is were not given.
The interview presents Zanicchi as a strong, honest woman who refuses to stay quiet just because of her age. She wants to remain active in her career and continue expressing her true feelings, even if that means disagreeing with her family sometimes.
Vocabulary10 words
- involved
- taking part in something
- wrinkles
- lines on skin caused by age
- appearances
- times someone is seen in public, like on TV
- memoirs
- a book about someone's own life
- envy
- wanting what someone else has
- hot flushes
- sudden feelings of heat in the body, often with age
- career
- the work someone does over many years
- honest
- telling the truth
- insist
- to say strongly that you will do something
- opinion
- what someone thinks about something
Quiz
Answer key
1. Because she gets involved in everything 2. Not speak negatively about certain topics 3. Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Italian singer Iva Zanicchi, who is 86 years old, has spoken about growing older and staying _____.
She said she keeps going because she gets _____ in everything around her.
Zanicchi said she is not foolish, and that she knows old age brings pain, hot flushes, and _____.
Her daughter has told her not to speak negatively about certain topics, but Zanicchi _____ on saying what she thinks.
The singer also talked about her future plans. She wants to do more work, including theatre and television _____.
She is also writing a book of _____, which will include stories from her long career and life.
In the interview, Zanicchi mentioned other well-known Italian singers, Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni. She admitted she felt some _____ toward them at times.
She also said that she misses someone called Pippo very much, though details about who Pippo is were not given.