Herbert Pagani

The Profile

Versatile, cosmopolitan artist who grew up in Italy and gained major recognition as a singer-songwriter in France in the early 1970s; known for blending music with painting and cinema and for the 1972 concept album Mégalopolis.

Mégalopolis (1972) is a concept album inspired by an essay by Roberto Vacca (Medioevo prossimo venturo). Ivan Graziani collaborated on the album, co-authoring six tracks. Pagani's style on the record mixes chanson française with rock and progressive elements and uses spoken parts, fake advertising jingles and sound effects.

The available review praises Herbert Pagani's 1972 concept album Mégalopolis as his most significant work, blending chanson with rock and progressive elements. The album builds a dystopian vision of a cemented Europe and champions a nature-respecting regeneration. Musically indebted to Brel and Bécaud, Pagani mixes theatrical spoken parts, jingles and sound effects for a rich, ironic critique.