zaireeka

@[123asterisco] Ah, I almost forgot that the first gymno is such a simple piece (not to mention beautiful) that I used to play it fairly well on the pf (digital) and it was fantastic.

The truth, for me, is that beyond the first gymnopédie, a true musical miracle, a "thing" of immense beauty yet (apparently) immense simplicity, like only certain things in nature can be—a leaf, a flower—his other works (starting from the other gymnopédies) are merely faded copies of his masterpiece. I have tried several times to change my mind but have never succeeded.

Listen to this passage that I find wonderful, as it is both hilarious and deeply profound... "Here’s the plot: the pilot of a flying saucer named Zog arrived on Earth to explain how to avoid wars and create cancer. He brought this information from Margo, a planet whose inhabitants communicated by farting and tap dancing. Zog landed at night in Connecticut. As soon as he set foot on the ground, he saw a house on fire. He ran inside, farting and tap dancing, to warn the inhabitants of the terrible danger. The homeowner smashed his head with a golf club”…

Ivan Graziani was a great artist. He had a unique and unmistakable voice. He wrote great masterpieces. Some of his lyrics hold literary value. Many of his songs are unforgettable to me. He was also a great guitarist. As far as I know, he was a free man and an anti-conformist. I think I've said it all.

The review is very nice, very professional, but I have one remark, and it's not meant to be polemical... Maybe it's a personal issue, but I've never liked the term “italietta” (strictly with a lowercase “i”). I think it's a derogatory term overused by those who, not so unconsciously, feel superior, in general and without any distinction, to the rest of the inhabitants of this damn country. Perhaps it can be justified for Italy in the last thirty years (although I don't agree with that in any aspect), but for post-World War II Italy, it seems unfair to me, if only because that “italietta,” even if it listened to Claudio Villa, had the ability to rise from the ashes of a war. Fellini belonged to that people, and I'm sure that, unlike you, who I get the impression doesn't feel that way regardless, he was proud of it, even if he joked about it. I’m sorry, but I had to say it; everything else is perfect.

Look, I have to give 5 for the first paragraph. I felt like I was there. The images you used are beautiful. Then I read the rest.

In my opinion, it’s a real shame that he’s somewhat unknown, apparently. I, as mentioned, am truly glad I gave him a chance and went beyond appearances and prejudices. For me, he is, indeed, capable of being, a Poet.

@algol Hi Alg, since I've learned to appreciate, and continue to do so, your straightforwardness, I just wanted to add a few justifications in my defense... I believe that this album, as well as Pica, are excellent albums with masterpieces within them. While I don't want to compare De Andre's artistic greatness to Bernasconi's, I don't think it is honestly blasphemous to compare some of his lyrics to those of Faber.. Otherwise, years ago, when De Andre wasn't yet hugely famous and "mythologized", someone might have thought it was blasphemous to compare Faber's songs to those of Dylan or Cohen. That said, sometimes one becomes passionate about an author, or an editorial, or a review... because they find a bit of themselves in it, I think it has happened to you too. In certain songs of Bernasconi from this album, I found myself perfectly. Do you remember my editorials on colors that don't exist? When you told me you weren't following me anymore? Even then, I appreciated your sincere judgment. And to show you how much I appreciated that judgment, I’ll share this part from Il libro del mago, a part in which I perfectly identify myself, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. 🙂.. Until next time “But when I was thirteen I ran naked like a horse
I breathed the universe with my heart in the midst of the hay
when I was dumber I was much kinder
in the arms of the universe and not in its prison“

There are Greek words of absolute beauty, Mnemosyne is one of them... I’m reminded of the scene in Amarcord where the professor exalts the musicality of the Greek language, and I agree with him. The review is very beautiful and scholarly without being heavy, which is not easy. Truly well done. I will definitely give the album a listen.

"Fluid concepts and creative analogies," as my friend Doug would say, my favorites.. Well done.