SCARLATTI IS DEAD:

Silvio Berlusconi tops the polls and the pops (Malcolm Moore, 04/04/2008, Daily Telegraph)

An ode to Silvio Berlusconi, written by a fawning fan, has become a hit in the run-up to next week's Italian elections.

The video of Meno male che c'e Silvio! - loosely translated as Thank God for Silvio! - features staff at an ice-cream parlour and women on treadmills singing: "We are the people of freedom, we are with you, President!"

Such has been its success that Mr Berlusconi has adopted it as his party's official song. It is played to rapturous crowds at campaign rallies.

Despite being a keen singer, Mr Berlusconi has so far refrained from joining his female admirers as they sing: "We are the folk who will never give up, who hold out our hands - what force you give us!"

Obamania for the chronically unhip.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 5, 2008 6:20 AM