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Essentially, there were four of us at the concert: Dr. Manuel and Mr. Agnelli, Dr. Serena and Mrs. FatB. I left the house calmly but ended up arriving late. A sausage and pepper sandwich (huge mistake) eaten while talking, wrapped in impatient expectations. Okay, next time I'll leave the jacket in the car because the queue for the cloakroom is long and especially way too tight. We go inside and after a few minutes of chatting and killing time, a little man gets on stage, a very clever little man who receives the first boos after cheerfully telling us that smoking is not allowed... oh little man... what were you thinking!!
The crowd is not at all diverse. If you look around, you have a complete 360° view. From the rasta guy, to the preppy guy in a little jacket. There’s especially a couple in front of me that catches my attention. Two in their forties, maybe a bit younger, but she doesn't age well at all. He has a little beard like a true left-wing man, she in a red dress flower child style, but such an ugly model that not even an original flower child would have ever worn it. One of those who hasn't just never used anti-frizz cream, but is so oblivious that she's never even seen it in a commercial. While I'm there waiting, a piece of conversation reaches me: "but it's useless! They can't sing in English! They must understand it!" And I think: But couldn't you have stayed home, you and all those like you, so there'd be more space!
The lights go down, the adrenaline rises, they come in and inside I feel like exploding. The concert kicks off with "The Symphony of Rats“ and continues with some old songs and then moves on to the much-discussed English songs. Personally, I'm curious to hear this album live. I have to say that the translation and the CD version do not do it justice... The songs sound limper compared to the Italian version... but this is neither here nor there. I could never get angry going to see a concert. I couldn’t because I believe that an artist should express themselves as they see fit, because I can’t demand they perform as I desire, because an artist on stage is there to give you something, emotions, vibrations... and these things have no language... if you're able to grasp them (when they’re there) you don't stand there scrutinizing how...
It seems really silly to expect emotions to be packaged in molds. And unfortunately, the audience in Florence is not smart. Maybe not as much as in other nights... but they are. Because backlash against the language is for fools and there's nothing else to say. Yet I’m actually thrilled by those mixed songs that in Manuel's version sound in English, and that we sing in Italian. These linguistic patchworks excite me. Because while it is true that you can't force an artist, it's also true that you can't force an audience. And these two voices following a single music are beautiful, like two trains leaving together and arriving together following two different paths.
I get excited and sing my heart out. In front of me an absurd character. One of those who goes to concerts just to stand there with arms crossed. He doesn't dance, doesn't move and sings only the songs from Germi and little else. "This song is for everyone who came to the English Tour and wants to hear the songs in Italian" He starts "I Spit on Today’s Youth" and the idiot turns into a dancing worm. And I laugh at the irony that neither he nor those like him seem to grasp. He spits on you, if you didn’t realize. He continues with some old songs and softens a lot in many moments thanking the audience that explodes in genuinely warm ovations... He leaves for a moment... "Excuse me, I went to put my prosthesis back on.." Then two gems.. "I Want Glorious Skin" where he misses the high notes.. and leaves them for us to sing..
The first notes of “Rapace” kick in and the audience goes wild again. A Dr. Manuel lets us sing almost all the choruses. Apotheosis. And he seems to be having fun.. Beautiful. He continues with many "Thank you for coming tonight" and goes on for several songs in a delightfully sycophantic way. In these moments you understand that he's really on form... And it is wonderful. I dance and sing.. zu zu zu zu zu zu zu... More English songs, some whistles. I get pissed and shout “but stay at homeeee!” But no one hears me. I haven't lived there for ages. I've had a life Elsewhere. It’s just a stupid little house with a little patch of garden, but it will be the first thing I buy. When I've finally gotten away from here When the notes of "Bye Bye Bombay" start, the audience falls into Dr. Manuel’s trap again and he lets us sing again and it’s delirious once more. They leave for the second time. A few seconds of waiting and then the final series of songs begins. Goosebumps... you know it’s about to end and you don't want it to.. "I want to thank those who came tonight and who didn’t complain about the fact that we only sang SIX songs in English. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.” The lights come on and he leaves.
Personal considerations: I pity those of you who don't know how to appreciate, who get lost behind a thousand virtuosos and senseless reasoning with pseudo-ideological arguments that truly have neither logic nor truth. Art is a transmission of emotions.. and there are no languages and forms.. If you can grasp it, you grasp it, if you can't, you can look at the Mona Lisa or one of my doodles and you'll always only focus on criticizing. The setlist in Florence was really beautiful.. Manuel's split attitude was fantastic from certain perspectives.. perhaps it's not very convenient for him to be so contentious with the audience that loves him so much.. but I must say I like this dualism of his. I like that the human side of a Fantastic Artist emerges and yes I believe that the hits that guy took were entirely deserved... When you boo it’s one thing... when you throw things it’s absolutely right that you deserve a good beating.
Only note I feel like making: I think the marketing choice was completely wrong and poorly designed. They should have released the English album first and then the Italian one. It would have been the apotheosis.. But sometimes occasions don't happen in the most convenient order, perhaps.
Ps: the new "piper" is fantastic.....
Pss: I found the setlist.. and I must say mine is not very in line.. haha I'm terrible at these things..
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