Francesco De Gregori
Vivavoce

THE REVIEW

I’ll steal a few minutes to talk to you about Francesco's latest album release.

This time no introduction! For a very simple reason: De Gregori you all know him, so, any reference to his biography, or the slightest mention of the "great works" would only make you yawn. This is because Vivavoce is a boldly selective album, as it remains destined for the circle of the most passionate "Gregorian" enthusiasts.

Now, whether it’s a commercial operation or not, it doesn’t matter. The fact is that the double album offers twenty-eight classics from the Roman singer-songwriter, re-released in a relatively unpredictable form. It ranges from the minor harmonic tweaks of Niente da capire (where a sugary whistle and a part for harmonica have been added), or even of La donna cannone (with even more pompous symphonic arrangements, thanks to the strings conducted by maestro Nicola Piovani); to true sound upheavals, like the folk that characterized the original version of Un Guanto, here transformed into a convincing and captivating melodic rock. Among the most striking transformations is Vai in Africa, Celestino which presents a change not only in rhythm but also in style: the lively rock/blues of its original form, has turned into a poetic and intense pop ballad. In the writer's opinion, it is the most successful experiment of this work.

In short, a disc for fans, who will enjoy comparing the rearranged pieces with the original versions, thus being able to decide whether to love/hate the new versions. Newcomers, however (if any still exist) will find in Vivavoce some excellent music, but it is certainly not the suitable proposal for understanding Francesco's music. That is why the advice is to recover a traditional collection. There is a three-disc anthology box set, which covers the first thirty years of the singer-songwriter's career; it's called Tra un manifesto e lo specchio: let the inexperienced start with this box set! All the others can keep in mind that Vivavoce is out there in the world…and it could be a nice experience: take it or leave it!

Tracks:

CD1

1 Alice (with Luciano Ligabue on vocals and acoustic guitar)

2 Atlantide

3 Un guanto

4 La leva calcistica della classe ‘68

5 Niente da capire

6 Gambadilegno a Parigi

7 Finestre rotte

8 Generale

9 Il panorama di Betlemme

10 Renoir

11 Natale

12 Caterina

13 Vai in Africa, Celestino

14 Battere e levare

CD2

1 Il futuro (Leonard Cohen: Italian adaptation)

2 Il ’56

3 La ragazza e la miniera

4 Il bandito e il campione

5 Buonanotte fiorellino

6 Santa Lucia

7 Il canto delle sirene

8 Stelutis Alpinis

9 Titanic

10 La donna cannone (strings by Nicola Piovani)

11 Viva l’Italia

12 La storia

13 Per le strade di Roma

14 Fiorellino #12&35

Federico “Dragonstar” Passarella.