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Rating: Unfortunately, those who predicted this, I am now increasingly convinced, and I say this as a former fan of Jovanotti, were right. Why? Simple.
Even a stone knows that Cherubini has gone through a very particular evolutionary phase from the mid-'80s until today. From the beginning, under the wing of Claudio "fregatura" Cecchetto (the hilarious "Gimme Five", "La Mia Moto", and the like), he moved on to cheerful and fun rap, with some influence from other genres, thanks to albums like "Una Tribù Che Balla," "Lorenzo 1992," or "Lorenzo 1994." After the compilation released a year later, the turning point arrived. That turning point would split the audience in two. Those who still admired him and those who were starting to loathe him because maybe he was composing songs that were too childish or generic. A turning point that starts with "Lorenzo 1997: L’Albero" and ends (for me) with the excellent "Buon Sangue."
In January of this year, his new work, "Safari" was released. And it is disappointing. But seriously.
From the first listen, this shortfall is evident, due to the fact that in most of the songs on the CD, those extra touches that made Cherubini's works interesting seem almost entirely absent: a certain energy that sometimes spilled over into world music ("L’Albero," his only masterpiece, is concrete proof of this), the funky bass of Saturnino Celani (undoubtedly a musician with guts), or the class of drummer Pier Foschi.
But above all, what sinks the CD in question is exactly what I said at the beginning: trying a route that, in my opinion, does not really belong to Lorenzo, who now seems determined to become a real singer-songwriter. This is where it all falls apart.
Jova would like to try with pieces like the first single, "Fango" (with the good Ben Harper on guitar), "Dove Ho Visto Te", "In Orbita", "Come Musica", "Innamorato", and "A Te". Of these, the only ones that deserve more than one listen are the last three. Nothing transcendental, however. Not to mention the fake rock of "Mezzogiorno", a little song for two or three listens that is forgettable.
And then another question arises: why do I give three stars to this CD?
Well, there is still something salvageable, even if it's very far from the previous things. There's the ska-like "Temporale" (the song closest to the Jova that was), there's the title track which, all things considered, is not to be discarded, it’s quite lively, and strangely, even the ever-despised-by-me Giuliano Sangiorgi of Negramaro (second voice on the track) manages to handle it, there's "Punto", where you can hear echoes of samba, there's "Antidolorificomagnifico", which, even with a not entirely convincing chorus, has fairly catchy sounds, and there's "Mani Libere 2008", composed with African-American singer Michael Franti (the two had already collaborated for the excellent "Dal Basso" in 1999).
However, overall, the result is what it is, and it's obvious from a mile away that Mr. Cherubini has now almost completely thrown his ideas out the window, since this CD doesn't even seem like his.
Those who already considered "Capo Horn" and "Il Quinto Mondo" indecent (to me, anything but indecent, and surely not masterpieces) I believe will change their minds upon hearing this "Safari." Or maybe not.
It's appropriate to say: "No, Lorenzo, I'm not falling for it!".
I'll go listen to "L’Albero" again, then...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 A te (04:25)
A te che sei l'unica al mondo
L'unica ragione per arrivare fino in fondo
Ad ogni mio respiro
Quando ti guardo
Dopo un giorno pieno di parole
Senza che tu mi dica niente
Tutto si fa chiaro
A te che mi hai trovato
All' angolo coi pugni chiusi
Con le mie spalle contro il muro
Pronto a difendermi
Con gli occhi bassi
Stavo in fila
Con i disillusi
Tu mi hai raccolto come un gatto
E mi hai portato con te
A te io canto una canzone
Perché non ho altro
Niente di meglio da offrirti
Di tutto quello che ho
Prendi il mio tempo
E la magia
Che con un solo salto
Ci fa volare dentro all'aria
Come bollicine
A te che sei
Semplicemente sei
Sostanza dei giorni miei
Sostanza dei giorni miei
A te che sei il mio grande amore
Ed il mio amore grande
A te che hai preso la mia vita
E ne hai fatto molto di più
A te che hai dato senso al tempo
Senza misurarlo
A te che sei il mio amore grande
Ed il mio grande amore
A te che io
Ti ho visto piangere nella mia mano
Fragile che potevo ucciderti
Stringendoti un po'
E poi ti ho visto
Con la forza di un aeroplano
Prendere in mano la tua vita
E trascinarla in salvo
A te che mi hai insegnato i sogni
E l'arte dell'avventura
A te che credi nel coraggio
E anche nella paura
A te che sei la miglior cosa
Che mi sia successa
A te che cambi tutti i giorni
E resti sempre la stessa
A te che sei
Semplicemente sei
Sostanza dei giorni miei
Sostanza dei sogni miei
A te che sei
Essenzialmente sei
Sostanza dei sogni miei
Sostanza dei giorni miei
A te che non ti piaci mai
E sei una meraviglia
Le forze della natura si concentrano in te
Che sei una roccia sei una pianta sei un uragano
Sei l'orizzonte che mi accoglie quando mi allontano
A te che sei l'unica amica
Che io posso avere
L'unico amore che vorrei
Se io non ti avessi con me
a te che hai reso la mia vita bella da morire, che riesci a render la fatica un immenso piacere,
a te che sei il mio grande amore ed il mio amore grande,
a te che hai preso la mia vita e ne hai fatto molto di più,
a te che hai dato senso al tempo senza misurarlo,
a te che sei il mio amore grande ed il mio grande amore,
a te che sei, semplicemente sei, sostanza dei giorni miei, sostanza dei sogni miei...
e a te che sei, semplicemente sei, compagna dei giorni miei...sostanza dei sogni...
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Other reviews
By Enkriko
In this album, you won’t hear echoes of melancholy but only a great desire to fight against the progressive petty bourgeois invasion of melancholy tout-court.
Jova has studied man thoroughly, and you can feel it, seeking that emptiness of meaning which in everyday life brings us back to historical topics of little interest on a music review site.
By mondo.marco
"A Te" needs no introduction: 8 weeks at number one in Italy and 20 in the top 10.
"Safari" is a great CD that puts Jova directly back among the main Italian singers.
By DEMIAN
"Every scar is God's autograph."
His latest work is selling a ton of copies and has been charting for more than a year and a half.
