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Rating: A slice of the great production of De Gregori, recorded live at the concert in Bologna on 9/11/93. The Roman author does not choose his most famous hits to have them sung in chorus by his most devoted audience, as is routine for many artists. De Gregori takes a handful of famous pieces and a bunch of lesser-known ones, combining them well together, creating an original and more than enjoyable concert.
It begins with "Povero Me" (from 'Canzoni D'Amore' 1992). A slow, misanthropic and desperate piece, really well done in this 'live' version, one of the most beautiful. Fantastic, dreamy, and surreal "300.000.000 Di Topi" (from 'Miramare 19/4/89' 1989) is one of the beautiful and lesser-known songs resurrected by the author for this concert. Then it continues, with De Gregori live more than in the studio (and especially in this concert), with the classic slung over his shoulder and the harmonica often between his lips, he is more than ever our own Bob Dylan. Much more abstract and much less 'social' in the lyrics, but the musical bases and the way of singing of the two artists are often really close. A song above all that represents the 'Dylanian' influence in this Bolognese evening is undoubtedly "Mannaggia Alla Musica", the story of 'Ulisse', a solitary street musician, who survives by singing and playing on the Gulf of Naples.
The best track of the concert is the rocking and solid version of "Sangue Su Sangue" (again from 'Canzoni D'Amore'), De Gregori's dark and cynical pessimism towards today's society, explodes in a disruptive manner:
"…You're not at all convinced by the program they're airing
How strange that no one can change it anymore with the remote
We're locked in a black box, star, no one will open us
locked in a black box, star, that no one will ever find".
He also includes some more famous pieces like the beautiful "Il Bandito E Il Campione" (by Francesco's brother: known as Luigi Grechi) and the concluding "Viva L'Italia".
Many of the great classics from the first part of the author's career are absent, many of the less famous songs are dusted off. This might not sit well with anyone looking for the best of the 'Roman Prince' in a 'live' version.
The result is a very homogeneous and extremely interesting concert, recommended for those who want to savor something more, from what everyone already knows, about the musical art of this author.
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