Francesco De Gregori
Rimmel Tour, Live@Arena di Verona, 22 settembre 2015

LA RECENSIONE

And I thought Sanremo was in Liguria!

On September 22, 2015, Sanremo was in Verona, more precisely inside the Arena. Francesco De Gregori decided to rewrite my geography with a "special" live performance that many will remember. The birthday of "Rimmel" (by the way, happy birthday, it's already forty, and, anyway, you don’t show it at all) turned into a great national-popular celebration where a grand parade of guests paid homage to the most national-popular creation from the Prince's repertoire of the '70s. It is with Rimmel that De Gregori becomes De Gregori.

The usual beautiful and fully-packed Arena of Verona, the usual long and boring lines in Verona to get there and then return home, the usual great and in-shape Francesco. A different De Gregori I’d say, less reclusive, cheerful and smiling, talkative and social, accompanied by a rich band (two backup singers, guitars, drums, saxophone, trumpet, strings, piano, and, most importantly, the accordion of Ambrogio Sparagna) and, as already mentioned, by many friends or colleagues. Finding him duetting with a very energetic Caparezza in an electric "L'agnello di Dio" or in a super-orchestral "Buffalo Bill" was a nice surprise. Touching were the female versions of "Piccola Mela" and "Pezzi di Vetro" with Malika Ayane or "Buonanotte Fiorellino" and "Bellamore" with the always wonderful voice of Elisa. Worth remembering is the exchange of courtesies with Fausto(ne) Leali with a double duet, "A Chi" and "La Valigia dell'Attore." And the presence of Liga couldn’t be missed, fresh from the Campovolo crowd, to gather applause with a monumental "Alice." Almost three hours of show for an "almost" perfect The Best of De Gregori (I say almost because Ninetto should never be missing in the setlist, Bene and Buonanotte Fratello too, Atlantide and Giorno di Pioggia likewise, but continuing like this I would still be on the steps begging for liters of coffee), three hours in which Kekko Zalone delivers an crazy version of Donna Cannone revamped in Vasco Rossi style, in which Giuliano Sangiorgi of Negramaro exalts (?!?) his voice with "Pablo." And Fedez? He was there, his voice was not.

A great party, a splendid and rich birthday, outside of the Prince's norms and mentality. An Italian party and in Italian style.

Long live Italy, long live singer-songwriters and our light music. Long live Rimmel and long live De Gregori.

Here's to another hundred of these days, congratulations again.