There are several talented individuals in Fernie that are gaining recognition for work in music. One of those is Rosanne Anselmo whose body of works has been accepted for publication world-wide under the title of Rosanna Anselmo, Musical Works.
Born Rosanne Ungaro to a family with long roots in the Elk Valley, her grandfather Eugenio Ungaro owned several businesses including the Kootenay Hotel, several apartment blocks and a grocery store in Natal and for a time also the Fernie Hotel in Fernie. Her father Emilio was well known for his musical talent on the mandolin accompanied at times by his daughter on guitar.
Rosanne Anselmo has always loved music since a being a child and singing in concerts and plays. Her musical journey has taken her in many different directions. Rosanne is a topline writer, writing lyrics and melody and writes for briefs. What you will hear is her very eclectic songwriting, she writes in many genres from pop to folk, faith-based, and country. When asked she will tell you her heart is in folk writing. Rosanne has written hundreds of songs and has collaborated with many musicians. Her love for telling stories in her writings are her gift.
Rosanne’s first song was written in the 1980’s titled ‘I Believe in You’. Rose, as she’s known to friends, said, “I just wanted to try it, it was a way to express feelings, I was sitting at the kitchen table, it was quiet, no one was home and so I wrote, ‘Life at times is lonely and friendship hard to find, that feeling of emptiness way down deep inside.’ But I can hear your voice whisper softly in my mind, I will always be there walking by your side, and I believe in you Lord, I believe in you.”
Catechism taught by nuns led Rose to write faith-based songs to play in church. She moved on to secular numbers challenging herself to write about separation and unity of country and world wars and was then commissioned to write a song for the Michell reunion titled “Together as One”. The soul of every living thing responds to music, imagine a world without the intensity of those that have melodies and lyrics tumbling around in their minds as Rosanne and others experience.
Recently I listened to the recording of her latest song. It’s an uplifting and melodious tune that stays in my mind. Speaking with Rosanne she said the song, “There is Hope” was written in 2020 after hearing of the vaccine.
Rosanne commented, “I had been a member of The Songwriting Academy for about a year and each week we get a challenge to write about something. The song was one of those ones that just flowed out of me and was written in about 10 minutes. It doesn’t happen that often, but when it does, you know there’s nothing else that must be said or done. No re-write, only a key change for the vocalists. I wrote it on my guitar, there’s the original acoustic sound clip of it on soundcloud and on my website, it’s fun to hear the demo and then the full production. I approached Patrick Byrne, a producer from the UK, he is Scottish, has a podcast called the Daily Do, (you must listen just to hear his accent, love it) his messages are positive, and he is a mentor on the Academy. I had envisioned some of the Academy singers to participate. We all have gifts in this Academy, some singers, some producers, some topline writers, (which is what I am) some lyricists some melody writers and we team up to create. Paddy accepted and now you have the full production with singers from all over the world. We had 14 participants; Paddy has my vocals in there somewhere. I am hardly as gifted a singer as the rest of the participants. Unbelievable singers who went above and beyond. Some provided three-part harmonies, some heard echoes. You can search them; they are on other platforms with their music. Brilliant vocalists. I am so happy that they were a part of this project. We could have had more as well, maybe another time. I envision other countries doing an adaptation of the song in their language, that would be so cool, all parts of the world need hope. It was so exciting to see it all come to fruition. I cried, yup, I did. There are always reasons for hoping constantly in all our lives. Right now, my heart goes out to our First Nations. It’s hard to listen to these atrocities, yet some have hope, hope that the wrongs will be righted. If we don’t have hope, what do we have? We need to always have hope in every circumstance, or we have nothing. Hope that I can become that teacher, hope that she or he likes me, hope that we can survive the hurdles in our lives, hope that someone will listen to my song. We bloom where we are planted, and we work towards those hopes because we believe they can be achieved.”
Rosanne takes a breath and adds, the song is on youtube https://youtu.be/sSm1KbpCcnk and my website, rosanneanselmo.com. Here are the lyrics:
There is Hope
Look, looking out looking out looking out
it may seem kinda grim But just trust just believe
sun will shine even though it seems dim
Yes there is hope there is hope don’t ever no don’t ever give in
there is hope there is hope just believe it and you can win
Open your eyes open your eyes see the good in all that it can be
I’ll show you how show you how To dance and sing and always dream
Follow me blindly trust it will be alright
I will show you it can be I will lead to the light
Take my hand in yours it will be alright
I will show you it can be I will lead you to the light
Well there is hope there is hope don’t ever no don’t ever give in
there is hope there is hope just believe it and you can win
Follow me blindly trust it will be alright
I will show you it can be I will lead to the light
Take my hand in yours it will be alright
I will show you it can be I will lead you to the light
Well Let’s bring joy let’s bring faith happiness is just a wonderful state
and just smile at that someone Let’s take them to that happy place
Follow me blindly trust it will be alright
I will show you it can be I will lead to the light
Take my hand in yours it will be alright
I will show you it can be I will lead you to the light
Well there is hope there is hope don’t ever no don’t ever give in
there is hope there is hope just believe it and you can win
Oh there is hope there is hope don’t ever no don’t ever give in
there is hope there is hope just believe it and you can win
(c) 2020 Rosanne Anselmo, All Rights Reserved
Never lose hope! Congratulations Rosanne, you make Fernie proud.
