Introduction to Bella Ciao
"Bella Ciao" – meaning "goodbye beautiful" in Italian – is a song that has come to symbolize resistance against oppression. The song’s origins are complex, with different stories surrounding its creation. Despite its unclear beginnings, "Bella Ciao" has become a global melody of resistance, used by groups of all stripes as an anthem.
Different Stories of Origin
The most widespread version of "Bella Ciao" tells the story of a partisan with non-specified political tendencies who dies fighting for freedom and asks to be buried "in the shade of a beautiful flower". However, some historians attribute the melody to an inclusion from 1919 by Odesa Klezmer accordionist Mishka Ziganoff. Others point to a separate folk song sung by female rice-paddy workers in northern Italy, which shares little with the partisan anthem beyond its title.
The Partisan Version
The partisan version of "Bella Ciao" known today was solidified in the early 1960s, particularly through the performances of French actor Yves Montand, who was born in Italy. Researchers have found that the song’s strength lies not in its permanent origin, but in its adaptability. "Bella Ciao" has been described as a "portable monument" – a cultural artifact that is remembered and rewritten, reused, and relocated to various contexts and media for different causes.
From Resistance to Remixes
Although "Bella Ciao" was not widely known during the Second World War, it defined how Italians resisted fascism after the war. Over the decades, the song was taken up by left-wing movements in Europe and beyond. It has been sung in protests against right-wing extremist parties, against the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and in support of feminist causes. The song’s appeal lies in its adaptability and melodic simplicity, making it a manifesto for freedom that represents apolitical values that everyone can understand and share.
Feminist Protests and Balcony Choirs
Feminist activists have also adopted "Bella Ciao" to fight for their causes. Pro-Choice activists in Argentina and Poland used the song in 2018 and 2020 to call on their governments to respect women’s reproductive rights. The song has also been used in other contexts, such as during the Covid-19 lockdown in Italy, where it was sung from balconies, and even revised by football fans to support their clubs.
Digital Revision
"Bella Ciao" owes a large part of its recent popularity to the Spanish crime thriller "La Casa de Papel", which introduced the song to a global audience. The series’ remix of the song has achieved over 200 million views on YouTube, and dozens of versions can be heard on Spotify. The song has also appeared in gaming culture, featured in "Far Cry 6" and used on TikTok to achieve highlights of "Call of Duty: Warzone".
A Legacy that Exceeds Ideologies
"Bella Ciao" has been used by movements across continents and ideologies – from anti-fascist and feminist activists to climate protesters and pop culture creators. Its adaptability has made it an integral part of disagreement, solidarity, and memory. Whether sung in protest, remixed online, or cryptically referenced, "Bella Ciao" continues to serve as a signal – not of a specific ideology, but of resistance itself.
