Francesco Baccini
Nomi e cognomi

Genoa is one of the cities that, musically speaking, in my opinion, has produced some of the best songwriters of the last 30 years. Above all, De André, an unsurpassed poet, followed by former rocker Ivano Fossati, who with "La Pianta Del Tè" began a progression towards more experimental sounds.
In third place, I would put him, Francesco Baccini.

He debuted in 1989 with the good "Cartoons", recognizable by the cover depicting a painting of a character very similar (or is it her?) to Betty Boop. The songs on that album, in my opinion, are all very entertaining, and sometimes the lyrics can seem nonsensical (but they have a meaning underneath) precisely because of their humor.
Next came "Il Pianoforte Non E' Il Mio Forte" in 1990, containing tracks that I think are among Francesco's classics, like "Le Donne Di Modena", "Ragazza Da Marito" and especially "Genova Blues" sung with De André!
1992: it’s the year of this "Nomi E Cognomi".

This album presents us with portraits of various characters, famous and not, real or invented, funny or sad, and there's also a self-portrait in the various songs. The first song, with a melodic line that cites "Baba O' Riley" by The Who (actually, it doesn’t cite it, it IS that melody!), is dedicated to Antonello Venditti, and it's no coincidence that the lyrics include quotes from "Buona Domenica", "Sotto Il Segno Dei Pesci", and "In Questo Mondo Di Ladri".
Followed by a track dedicated to the good Diego Armando Maradona, which from the beginning of the lyrics ("tutti tirano, lo sai...") you might guess was composed when the crisis started for the good Golden Boy... but it's still a great piece!
The atmosphere becomes "mysterious" when a tribute to the terrible Jack the Ripper emerges... piano, violin, and a sort of Gregorian chant are the right music when talking about characters like this… "non sai chi è / il mostro che c'è in me / non so cos'è / ma hai liberato un mostro, dentro me!"

Next track... here's the first invented character: Mago Ciro, sung between Neapolitan and Italian, and there's laughter, oh yes there is!
And what about Molleggiato? Well, our Francesco dedicated a piece to him too... also done brilliantly, and there's even a quote from his "Suzanna Mon Amour"!
Not to mention Lupo De' Lupis, the gentleman wolf from Hanna & Barbera, who is emulated with an English accent that's hilarious too... great Baccini!

But more serious themes return when talking about Renato Curcio, the famous ex-terrorist... a song of just voice and piano... spine-tingling. "Mi pento, ma questo non può aiutarmi lo sai / adesso nel vento mi piace pensarti qui..."
And Andreotti? Yes, him... he’s been dedicated a sort of "defensive argument" full of irony ("Chi ha baciato Cicciolina? Andreotti... / Ma perchè non ho marito? Colpa di Andreotti! / Giulio ti salverò uoh uoh / Sarò il tuo Don Chisciotte / Le malelingue io lapiderò / e con le mani io ti difenderò") as typical of him.

The last three tracks are respectively: Margherita Baldacci, the second character invented by Francesco, the story of a woman who jumps out the window after seeing her lover run away with a friend of hers he had fallen in love with at a party they all attended...
Then a self-portrait of Francesco, where no introduction is needed: it’s well known, self-irony is never optional for him... these verses are proof: "Io sono un amante fallito / non mi telefoni mai / io sono un marito deluso / combino solo guai..."
Finally, a dedication to Radio Maria, also with a Gregorian chant, this time at the start, and an ending in "Bohemian Rhapsody" style (you can even hear the verse "Anyway the wind blows...", great Frà... could it have been a little thought for Freddie Mercury, who died a year before this album’s release? I hope so, that would make it even greater in my opinion).

And here the album ends.

What can I say? Well, in my opinion, it's one of Baccini's best works, who until "Nostra Signora Degli Autogrill" (I don’t know the later works well) will be able to produce consistently high-quality work, also thanks to the charm that has always accompanied him... Certainly, thinking about how Dolcenera (whom I honestly don’t hate, but don't adore either) has altered him… you could waste a river of words…

But it’s better to talk about music. And here, it’s well spoken of.