Beirut
The Rip Tide

Beirut, Lebanon. Yes, I knew it was in the Middle East. I knew that a cedar tree was drawn on the flag of Lebanon. I knew that Beirut is the capital of Lebanon. Even an elementary school child, a somewhat curious child, could say all this. There was a book in the library, rather voluminous. "Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War" by Robert Fisk. For over a year it stayed on the shelf for a few moments, just long enough to put it back in its place before someone else (it could have been another reader or another library) took it from my hands. Summer came, this summer.

Some might argue that it's not the right time, dedicating oneself to a book on war during the season. Yet it was the right moment. I read it: since then I have a fondness for Robert Fisk who risked his life, fought through airports and cars to be able to tell the story of Lebanon. He fell in love with that place, just like the Lebanese fell in love with all the armies that came to "save" their nation and their capital. Beirut has seen French, Americans, Syrians, Israelis, Palestinians die but it has never belonged to any of them: Beirut welcomes everyone and denies everyone because no one can claim it. Even in "Romanzo Criminale" it is written that no one can take Rome but it’s not the same thing: no one wants Beirut for Beirut, everyone wants Beirut for somewhere else. Do I love Lebanon? Who knows, you need to know places. I would like to become a journalist and tell their stories. I dream of South America, but if they told me "go to Beirut" I would go, not before stealing the book by Fisk from the library.

Beirut, Lebanon. Beirut, Zack Condon. Yes, there is a band called that. Zack Condon, this young guy invented it. It was his dream, his project, then he gathered some great people and turned it into a band. The people who were there four years ago are no longer there. Now there are other guys with him but they are good, damn good. Also Zack is damn good. In this album, he reminded us of that, also because it had been a while since he was seen around. It came out in August, this summer. While I was reading the words of Robert Fisk. When I finished the book I came home, put the album on in my room. I closed my eyes, opened them. I was inside an armored vehicle, next to me a Lebanese boy was driving. Bombs were flowing around me. This album does not evoke bombs but I have seen again and relived the words of Robert Fisk. Beirut, Robert Fisk. Beirut, Zack Condon. I care for both. Reading books and listening to music matter when they touch people.