Grazia Di Michele
Le Ragazze Di Gauguin

LA RECENSIONE

"Degas' ballerinas /white clouds the wind will not disperse them/ Renoir's girls /yellow flowers in Montparnasse".

This is the opening of "Gauguin's Girls", whose verses flow into the memorable chorus, later parodied by Elio e le Storie Tese in the song "Cassonetto differenziato per il frutto del peccato".

"Pure women /women who surrender/women in love /love will forgive them/magic women /women who smile/sweet mystery /time will not change them/for us, for the world".

The popular track, which is the leading piece of the album, is musically original compared to the trends of the time (1986), played with real instruments, with a lively and ethnic rhythm, accompanying the lyrics that depict an impressionistic tableau in which unique and diversely fascinating female figures revolve.

Even today, "Gauguin's Girls" is the song with which the author is identified. The rest of the album never reaches these levels of inspiration: the lyrics of the other songs, well-thought-out but meant to be fresh and immediate, are nonetheless original, as are the music, ranging from South American sounds in "Manuela" to Mediterranean in "Rosa" reaching the dark and nostalgic atmospheres of "Sanghai Moon". There are quite "unsettling" psychological aspects of the woman emerging, as in "Carrier Pigeon", aimed at a man (not exactly the nicest compliment), presumably a lover: "What day is it today/I added another knot to this story/naturally, right at the last moment, the scene changes".

Among the standout tracks is "Mama", where the rhythm is marked by a heartbeat on the synthesizer and the delicate melody, like the lyrics that tell a woman's childhood memories, is gently highlighted by violins. A music video was made for this song, directed by Gabriele Salvatores. "My Voice", referred to as "her first solo" in the lyrics, is calm and soothing and pleasant in the final vocal harmonies, with Grazia's distinctive tone singing as if suspended in a flight of fantasy, an ethereal melody over the piano's grounds.

Ultimately, the album is lighthearted and cheerful with the genuine gem of the title-track, produced by Lucio "Violino" Fabbri and the singer-songwriter herself, and it's the only one in her discography to enter the top 100 best-selling albums of the year, in 1986.