Enzo Jannacci
L'uomo a metà

LA RECENSIONE

Enzo Jannacci is like wine, the older he gets, the better he becomes. This CD titled "L'uomo a metà" is a perfect example of that. Perhaps not all of it is solely his own work, in the sense that some credit is due to his son Paolo and Mauro Pagani who produced the album, but in this record, you find all the Enzo we know, from the bitter beginning of "L'uomo a metà", which tells of the sadness of aging, to the playful "Sottotenente", to the critique in "E' stato tutto inutile", highlighting the futility of trying to believe that with a few bucks you can also purchase emotions.

Even "Maria" is a poignant piece about two people who meet after a long time and recall the good old days. At first listen, "Gino" might seem like a fun track, but listen to the lyrics, it's another piece of life. Another reflection on the meaning of life, "Niente domande", and in "Lungomare", it's about a romance from December 1986 experienced, indeed, on a seafront. "Il pesciolone" brings Enzo back to his playful side with "vengo anch'io e no tu no, ti vengo dietro col pedalò".

"Gente d'altri tempi" are the people who don't care about stupid TV programs or governments that pass thief-saving laws and try to connect with stronger things. Then there's a piece about the unfortunate lives of the poor, "Una vita difficile", the war between Israel and Palestine is a "Lungometraggio" that doesn’t make it to festivals, it's a feature with no backdrop. "Una storia" is another bitter song about an old love, and then the album closes with a tribute to Giorgio Gaber, to whom Enzo Jannacci dedicates "Arrivederci" by Umberto Bindi.