Francesco De Gregori
Alice Non Lo Sa

THE REVIEW

Olsen Olsen doesn't know... that three reviews of the Prince's solo debut are already out there.

So he will write the first (fourth). Driven by the fact that he first listened to the digital version and then the analog one (a nice game to play with many records). Olsen Olsen at the crossroads. Like Marianna. Trust me, they are two different records. Much warmer and more enveloping on vinyl, like a Linus blanket. I like to think of this album as a Linus blanket. An object you never want to part with...

After the collaboration with Antonello Venditti the previous year, to which "Il Ragazzo", placed third on the second side, makes more than one reference, De Gregori launches his first work on his own. A first masterpiece work.

It opens with "Alice", for which spending words is, perhaps, unnecessary. Very well-known, beautiful but violated by the many radio airings of the past thirty-five years. "1940" is a stunning depiction of our nation’s entry into war, seen through the eyes of a mother (he says it’s his own). The feeling that the woman understood the tragic mistake of the powerful figures of the time is very clear. Both from how De Gregori sings and from the soundscape beneath his lyrics. An incredibly nervous, almost prog, drum and bass beat. And the strings are melodically icy. They herald defeat... "and the river watches them pass by".

The zenith of the album, however, is "Buonanotte Fratello". A schizophrenic acoustic with a schizophrenic lyric. Dedicated to his brother? At the beginning of his career, Francesco was indeed encouraged by his brother Luigi. He was the one who introduced him to the world of music. The lyrics seem to reveal a sort of resentment, even though his lyrics have always been difficult to interpret. At least until "Buffalo Bill" in 1976.

In the second half, the three songs at the album's tail end stand out. "Irene", "Marianna Al Bivio", and "Saigon". The first is a brief folk ballad with very bitter lyrics. A woman on a ledge. The second is foggy, describing relationships between people with almost incomprehensible metaphors. "Saigon" closes the album. This time the war is Vietnam. When the album was released, America had just withdrawn its troops from the Asian country. Not even two years later, North Vietnam invaded the South and bloodily established power. "Free land, dark land, this autumn you will change color, with the wind, and it will be the rain that falls without wetting your heart."

All this at twenty-two years old. Yes, 1973. Also released were Guccini's "Opera Buffa", De André's "Storia Di Un Impiegato", Battiato's "Sulle Corde Di Aries", and many others.

Today, gigidalessi, franceschirenghi, ligabui abound... but Alice doesn't know any of this.