Brigantony
A' Ciolla

"THE SOUTH-ITALIAN BARD, THE 2000s MICIO TEMPIO, WITH EYES OPEN TO THE TRAGEDIES AFFLICTING THE MEDITERRANEAN... BRIGANTONY!"

An artist like Brigantony is not rare in his genre, but of his caliber, no one can match. For the record, Antonino Caponnetto (Catania, 1950) is the legend of Catanese folk music, famous in Sicily, less so in the rest of Italy, and very well-known abroad. His repertoire is mostly based on very vulgar dialect songs that are sometimes parodies of very famous pieces.

What I find myself reviewing (A'Ciolla) is the eighth album out of 47 produced from 1976 to today (including compilations), and, let me say it, it is the masterpiece of the Sicilian artist. It is an exceptional album, a unique, extremely funny, biting, satirical, deliberately stupid, and vulgar work (well, when isn't it!). The first track "Stuppai Na Fanta" (Italian: "I Opened a Fanta") is nothing but a parody of the famous Europe song "The Final Countdown"; identical music, nonsensical and defamatory lyrics. Truth be told, this is perhaps the least important song on the album, even though it is the most famous. The real satire begins with the astounding "Mi Vulissi Maritari" (Italian: "I Would Like to Get Married"), a snapshot of Italian society (not just Sicilian!) that combines irresistible rhymes and choruses. The counterpoint (?!...actually spoken jokes!) is entrusted to the usual gay character (this happens very often in his songs).

Other bursts of satire in "Comu Ci Mangia" (Italian: "It Itches a Lot"), a ballad with the theme of today’s youth's sexual "urges" and in "A Machinedda" (Italian: "The Little Machine"). But the track that would convince Elio e Le Storie Tese and similar artists to retire from the scene (Their songs in comparison are musical pranks!) is the memorable "O Pa Cche Bellu u Cinima" (Italian: "Dad, but how beautiful is the cinema!"...obviously in Sicilian this title is filled with wordplay hinting at the usual female sexual organ!), an anthological piece, a sparkling, lively, energetic, improbable folk/rap, the classic song that you never tire of listening to for its impressive structure: one of the best pieces in Brigantony's entire repertoire.

So, until now I might have given the impression of having reviewed a dialect singer in the same vein as Gigi Finizio, Gigi D'Alessio, and various sappy acts. In reality, the only flaw that can be criticized in Brigantony's music is that it is not very... exportable!