Jovanotti
Safari

THE REVIEW

With the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, it's normal to pause and think about the major events of the past year and, musically speaking, the albums that had the most impact in Italy.

In my opinion, I believe that among these is "Safari" by Jovanotti; which can't even get a review on a site where even Dari had their space (?). Yet the CD has sold almost 600,000 copies, delivering hits such as "A Te", but also "Fango", "Safari", and "Come Musica" (still on the radio): so I took it upon myself to fill this gap (you will say it was necessary...).

Three years after the release of the excellent "Buon Sangue," in January 2008 "Safari" sees the light, preceded by the single "Fango", with a sweet melody supported by Ben Harper's arpeggios at the end and lyrics dedicated to his recently deceased brother, which earned him the Mogol award (for those who don't know, assigned to the best lyrics of the year).

The album consists of 12 tracks, in which the influence of his travels, especially in South America, is strongly felt. The album opens with the already mentioned "Fango", followed by "Mezzogiorno", a song with a driving, almost rapped rhythm, culminating in an unlistenable refrain: beautiful, sunny but nothing more.

The third track "A Te" (second single released) I think needs no introduction: 8 weeks at number one in Italy and 20 in the top 10... "Dove ho visto te" is a somewhat banal and rather boring song like the following "In Orbita"... track 6 is the one that gives the album its name and, in my opinion, is the most beautiful: fast-paced, with a chorus reminiscent of "L'ombelico del Mondo" with Giuliano Sangiorgi from Negramaro's voice breaking the rhythm at the end with his higher-pitched voice: paradoxically, of the 4 released songs, it's the one that achieved the least success. It is followed by "Temporale" where Jova elaborates on his theories, at least for a moment, going back to the style of committed songs that made his fortune at the beginning of his career.... "Come Musica" (fourth released) is an "A Te" that proves more pleasant because it is heard less insistently: "Innamorato" is another sappy song, whereas "Punto" in collaboration with Sergio Mendez turns out to be a successful and pleasant love samba. The album continues with "Antidolorificomagnifico" where a shaman voodoo version of Lorenzo takes us back to places and feelings scattered randomly, and closes with "Mani libere", featuring Michael Franti: a reggae half in English without too many pretensions but fantastic to dance to.

In essence, a great CD that puts Jova directly back among the main Italian singers. It is evident how he is no longer the politically engaged kid who sang to the masses "Penso positivo" but a romantic who produces more tear-jerking ballads than social denunciations, but maybe that's just how it should be...