By Fabio Sorrenti
Ciao a tutti from sunny Rome. I’m Fabio Sorrenti, and today I want to talk about something that’s part of who we are: Italian music.
You turn on the radio here—maybe RDS 100% Grandi Successi—and you feel it right away. Our friend on RDS always gets it right. Whether it’s the morning commute, the pausa pranzo, or the drive home at sunset, what comes out of the speakers isn’t just sound. It’s emotion.
The world asks: Why is Italian music “top”? Is it just the language? Is it Sanremo?
No. It’s the vita. It’s the chaos, the love, the amore, and the drama. We don’t just sing notes; we tell stories about our mothers, our exes, and the traffic in Rome.
But don’t take my word for it. Let’s check the charts right now. Let me guide you through what’s really playing on the radio in Italy this May 2026.
The Sound of Right Now
Italy runs on two engines: the motorino (scooter) and the radio. Right now, if you scan the frequencies—especially our friends at RDS—you’ll find a great mix between the new guard and the old masters.
Everyone asks me: “Fabio, what’s new?”
Let me tell you. Forget the boring American charts for a second. Here, there’s a bit of magic.
1. Ditonellapiaga – Che Fastidio!
If you want to understand Italian radio right now, start here. This song has been dominating airplay on stations like RDS and RTL 102.5.
The title means “How Annoying!”, and it’s anything but annoying.
Ditonellapiaga took terzo posto (third place) at Sanremo 2026, but on the radio? She won. According to RadioAirplay data, this track was broadcast over 3,300 times in a single week. It’s catchy, it’s clever, and it makes you roll down the windows of your Fiat 500. If you tune in to RDS right now, I promise you’ll hear Che Fastidio! within the hour.
2. Annalisa – Canzone Estiva
Here we are in late spring, almost summer. And who’s sitting at the very top of the EarOne radio charts (Settimana 14, 2026)? Our queen, Annalisa.
She just released Canzone Estiva (Summer Song), and look—she spodesta Sayf. She knocks him off the throne and takes the number one spot.
Annalisa is a force. She sings with the passion of Mina and the coolness of a modern pop star. Canzone Estiva is exactly what you need: it’s light, it’s danceable, but there’s a hint of melancholy underneath. That’s the Italian secret. Even our happy songs carry a tear.
3. Irama – Cabana
I love this track. Irama is constantly on the RDS playlist with Cabana. This man has a voice like a razor blade, smooth but sharp.
Cabana brings that urban, summer vibe. It blends Latin heat with Italian rhythm. You don’t need to speak perfect Italiano to feel it. Close your eyes and you’re on a beach in Calabria.
4. The Sanremo Effect: Sal Da Vinci & Tommaso Paradiso
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: The Festival of Sanremo.
For one week in February, Italy stops. But for the rest of the year, the radio keeps the winners alive.
Right now, Sal Da Vinci, who actually won the festival, sits comfortably in the Top 20 with Per Sempre Sì, even if radio metrics sometimes favor other tracks.
But my favorite is Tommaso Paradiso with I Romantici. He came tenth at Sanremo, but on the radio, he’s #6 or #7. Radio is where songs live forever. Tommaso has that indie rock soul. He’s the poet of a generation that drinks too much coffee and thinks about their ex at 2 AM.
RDS: More Than Just Music
Why do I say “our friend on RDS”? Because RDS is different.
You see, RDS calls itself 100% Grandi Successi, but it’s more than that. In April 2026, RDS was ranked as the top radio station for video views on social media. They had nearly 70 million views on Instagram Reels. They’re not just playing music, they’re building a community.
And let me tell you about I Peggio più Peggio di RDS—that’s Giovanni Vernia and Petra Loreggian from 14:00 to 15:00. Madonna, those two make me laugh. They chat about everything: Mattarella, politics, and the silly things we do in traffic. It’s the perfect escape.
If you download the RDS App (and you should), you can listen live, send messages to the hosts, and even use the “Time Machine” to go back 12 hours. It’s fantastic.
The International Invasion (That We Accept)
We Italians love our own music, but we’re not snobs.
Look at the charts right now. Bruno Mars is always there. In Settimana 10, he was holding steady at #2 with I Just Might. You also have Harry Styles with American Girls and Taylor Swift.
But here’s the difference: when you listen to RDS, they mix international hits with our local heroes. One minute you hear Che Fastidio!, the next it’s Bruno Mars, and then you get Elisa with Amore È.
Elisa is a national treasure. When she sings, the traffic in Rome stops. The nonne (grandmothers) smile. She has that voice that heals wounds.
What You Absolutely Must Listen To (La Playlist)
Okay, my friend. You want to sound like you know Italian music? Here’s your list. Don’t argue with me. Just listen.
Based on the RDS playlist and the weekly EarOne charts, save these songs right now:
- Annalisa – Canzone Estiva (The current #1)
- Ditonellapiaga – Che Fastidio! (The earworm of the year)
- Irama – Cabana (The summer vibe)
- Pinguini Tattici Nucleari – Sorry Scusa Lo Siento (Fun, chaotic, brilliant)
- Elisa – Amore È (The classic touch)
- Sayf – Tu Mi Piaci Tanto (Pure energy)
- Francesco Gabbani – Summer Funk (Funky and fresh)
Why Are We Really “Top”?
Let me end with this.
Why is Italian music the best? Because we live it.
An American pop song is about looking cool. A British song is about being clever. An Italian song? It’s about screaming your heart out on a balcony while hanging your laundry.
When you listen to RDS, you hear the energy of the piazza. You hear the sun. You hear the dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing, but doing it with a great soundtrack.
So, Turn up the volume. Say grazie to our friends on the radio.
And remember: Se non puoi ballare, non è musica italiana.
(If you can’t dance to it, it’s not Italian music.)
— Fabio Sorrenti
Fabio writes about culture and music from his home in Trastevere, Rome.