Cesare Cremonini
La teoria dei colori

I know I'll receive a flood of criticism, insults, and other epithets. But a review of this album doesn't exist, and I believe that doing it makes this site even more complete. Someone has to do this dirty job.

I believe that Cesare Cremonini is a guy who has something to say; sometimes he does it well, sometimes in a predictable way, sometimes pathetically, and sometimes poetically. So when I found myself listening to the leading single of the new album "La teoria dei colori," Il comico (sai che risate), I didn't know where to categorize it in my personal ranking where I divide music to listen to often from that to listen to sometimes and that to avoid entirely. It didn't grab me initially, but then, you know, the continuous music rotation, the video played by different radio-television stations, that saying "but if you laugh, then it means I'm doing something right" repeated by the girl I want more than any other at the moment (still haven't figured out if she was complimenting me for that matter) led me to give this CD a chance.

Meanwhile, I asked myself why "La teoria dei colori"...I asked myself, did some research, and then preferred to drop it, too complicated to understand and explain that the light passing through a white prism transmits colors etc... I don't care. Let Cremonini explain why he chose this name. Listening to the CD, it seems clear to me that the author wants to attribute a color to every emotion expressed in the songs making up the album. A color that could change depending on who listens to the song, of course.

It starts with the already mentioned "Il Comico"... by now we all know it, even the most hardcore punk rockers have unfortunately endured it, and therefore I find it rather useless to continue commenting on it. Color assigned by me: gray (it's tired me, and then this one who wants to die...ugh).

Next is "Una come te," a track dedicated to a mythical girl who seems like a mix between the girl who beats people up in Art. 31 and Rose from Titanic all naked but with a cat on the bed and fingers bleeding because of a rose. Anyway, I like it because it manages to talk about a failed relationship without rancor, on the contrary, like someone who, after digesting the farewell, can capture the positive aspects of a relationship and a person (Color assigned by me: pink like Rose).

The song "Stupido a chi" doesn't please me at all...Cesareeee, let it go, do the ballads because the more "noisy" music isn't for you!!! After a minute and a half of listening (I tried several times to hear it all...I admit it, I can't...) I decide to skip (color assigned by me: black...because at this point I don't think I'll listen to the entire album), and I find the piece that I don't know why, don't know for how long, goes straight to my heart.

"L'uomo che viaggia tra le stelle" takes me back in time, to childhood memories, to first love when we were too young to understand that there would be other girls to warm the heart, to when I died of fear just thinking I wouldn't have her close to me anymore... Cesare, you awful bastard, who gave you the permission to break down the door of my thoughts and fears I thought were overcome? But maybe you can...you are the man who travels among the stars...Will you come with me? Color assigned by me: midnight blue.

Then as we grow older, we get used to being a bit disastrous in love and even Cesare knows that in "Non ti amo più" captures well the idea, also thanks to the lighthearted rhythm of the song, that it now seems like we are entering a vortex, a funnel, it's a "déjà vu"...I love you, you love me, I don't love you anymore, and we will be nothing more for us and for others (but who cares what we will be for people!!). Color assigned by me: Vomit Yellow (does that exist?!?)

Then Jovanotti in "Amor mio" gives us the idea of what you feel loving someone now...how? It's not Jovanotti!?!? True!!! My goodness, it seemed like one of his songs... anyway, a potential hit that will plague the hearts of Italians in love. Color: red.

"I love you"... Madonna, 20 seconds and I change. See "Stupido a chi". Only that if that piece destroyed my nervous system because it wanted to be a bit tougher but the artist (artist?!?! but yeah, come on.. he does do something...) isn't suited for this thing, in "I love you" he puts a whole 60s atmosphere... yawn!!!

Ugh... I can't finish this review ... so, "Ecco l'amore che cos'è" is an anthem to love but not in the sense we all know but in the sense of what it involves, of everything that's behind it... he who survives is because he played dead... a bit like this CD... I'm struggling not to take it out of the stereo... but I'll hold on, I'm optimistic. Color: orange.

But noooooooo... I can't hit next and find another piece talking about love... no no no!!! How many colors does this feeling have?!!? "Tante cose belle"... what can I say, a bit too much love in this cd... but Cesare, there's more in the world too... and talk a little about war, crisis, Berlusconi... at least in the other CD you were going to prostitutes (Le sei e ventisei) like him, but in this one? Disappointment... only ongoing loves, loves ended, and then ongoing loves and then loves ended. And the gas prices? Anyway a nice song, it's a shame that an entire cd on these themes doesn't, in my opinion, allow it to stand out. Color: Blue. Cheers and male children.

Instead, Cremonini's narrative ability stands out in "La nuova stella di Broadway", finally a different piece that, always talking about love (no illusions) but at least tells a story that gives me good hope for the end of the album. Color: as you wish.

Last track (yess!!!!) and what does good Cesare do? He ends the album with a piece that completely breaks your legs, that if it were to be his last song it would be the end of his career... The sun, Captain Findus, the skin, the boat... I don't like it at all. Color: black and blue...

Ultimately, a CD that in my opinion offers some nice cues, but then it's always the same old story. Cesare Cremonini surely has some more ideas compared to many of his colleagues who consider themselves part of the category known as "artists". He is young, he is ugly, and he has a lot of sex... at least that's what they say. It's known, music has always led even the ugliest to have sex (right Jagger?!?). However, I would like to see this guy face something more serious, something more mature, more engaged. Without neglecting some of his ballads, of course.

I wait confidently. Until next time, man who travels among the stars.