Gianna Nannini
Profumo

In 1986, Gianna Nannini released the album "Profumo" after the commercial success of "Puzzle" in 1984 (thanks especially to the hit single "Fotoromanza") and the live album "Tutto live" in 1985. It is her third album produced by Conny Plank, after "Latin lover" in 1982 and, indeed, "Puzzle" in 1984. Success has certainly given Nannini more confidence in herself: while on the one hand, this could be considered a downside, as it may have led her to lose the genuineness and spontaneity of her previous albums, on the other hand, it can be seen as a positive, given the greater care put into the music and arrangements. And this album fully demonstrates that: she knows what she wants and manages to achieve it very well.

Plank's production makes the album's sound unmistakable: the music, in collaboration with Fabio Pianigiani, still carries an "80s style" as in the previous album, but with a more rock edge, especially in the very famous single "Bello e impossibile" and the equally famous "Avventuriera". In the latter, the rock becomes even more energetic, although there are interludes where only the keyboards accompany Nannini's voice. But beyond rock, the album also includes "gypsy-like" rhythms (Come una schiava), "70s disco-funk" (Seduzione, complete with electric guitar riffs), even a sort of bossa nova, although "interpreted" in a pop context (the beautiful "Gelosia"). But there are also many ballads, starting from the title-track, passing through "Quale amore" and landing, finally, at "Quante mani" and "Terra straniera". In particular, the latter three are the ones where Plank's imprint is most noticeable, especially due to their electronic arrangements.

As for the lyrics, once again, sensual-sexual themes prevail, always dear to Nannini (America, Vieni ragazzo, Latin Lover, etc.), starting right from the title-track, an ode to physical and "wild" love: "Dammi tutto il tuo sapore, no ti prego non ti insaponare se nella notte hai ancora un brivido animale. Voglio il tuo profumo". Or as in the single "Bello e impossibile" where the object of desire of a "she" is a "he", indeed, beautiful and impossible, somewhat overturning the traditional male and female roles that see a woman as the object of a man's desires, at least in most cases. But sensuality is also present in "Come una schiava" (Io ti porterò nei segreti del mare, ti accarezzerò, non mi stancherò mai. Io ti incendierò sul mio corpo bagnato, mi abbandonerò e allora vincerai. Come una schiava), "Gelosia" (Non è la gelosia se esci dalla doccia e poi ti annuso mentre bevi il tuo caffè. Non è la gelosia?), "Seduzione" (Seduzione in un bacio troppo breve, in piena luce lei scenderà, a piedi nudi ti chiamerà, col tuo vestito ti avvolgerà. Candida e oscura si spoglierà: seduzione dammi il tempo di morire, seduzione, in un bacio troppo breve). On the other hand, from the titles of these last two pieces, one could already guess where they were heading! "Avventuriera" talks about a fleeting story lived at high speed (L'ombra della moto azzurra contro l'autostrada). More melancholic tracks are "Quale amore", "Quante mani", and "Terra straniera", but also "Gelosia", a melancholy well accentuated by the respective music that accompanies them. "Terra straniera", in particular, is a hidden gem, in my opinion.

In conclusion, an excellent album, energetic and melancholic at the same time, with a lot of variety and inventiveness in the music. The album, moreover, was a huge seller not only in Italy but also in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Within it, there were at least three hits that would become Nannini's evergreen songs, still played in her concerts today: Profumo, Bello e impossibile, Avventuriera. I don't give it a full 5 because I find it slightly inferior to what I consider Gianna Nannini's best album, "Latin lover". In short, besides the smoke, there was the fire!!!