Mariano Apicella
Meglio 'na Canzone

Oh my God, give me the strength to analyze this round object. It was a dark night on 11/23 two years ago, the birthday of the one who wanted me as a daughter. So I (like the good daughter I am! ^^) decided to give her a nice Compact Disc.

Remembering that she is a die-hard fan of Neapolitan sentimiento songs, I decisively went to the neo-melodic/Neapolitan authors section, unfortunately, I was shocked: they were all works by Nino D'angelo, Gigi D'amplesso, (sorry D'alessio) and the like, people my mom used to listen to all evening and it made me sick, although sometimes during the umpteenth sentimental listenings, you could only hear the instruments, Nino D'angelo would go for a coffee in Mergellina out of depression. Anyway, suddenly everything changes, from afar I see a cover: it depicted a beautiful beach, a beautiful sunset with two human figures standing and looking at the sea as if to think "oh, amò turnamm a casa che sto murenno è fridd". What sentiments.

Without even looking at the author, driven by enthusiasm and armed with courage, I extracted my wallet and prepared to pay, and there was the first mini-heart attack: For a Neapolitan neo-melodic, 20€uros ??? Are they crazy??, I went out of the store and walked to the car. Before roaring the engine of my splendid Panda 700 with the door linings full of holes like a colander and a steering wheel that wouldn't turn even if you ate a whole ox, driven by curiosity, I took the CD, and soon after, I was about to have a diarrhea attack, the title read: Mariano Apicella "Meglio 'na canzone", the disc also had a yellow round sticker "Lyrics written by Premier Silvio Berlusconi"... O. O what??? Him??? Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! I immediately regretted what I did but you know, mom is always mom, even when He's involved. Finally, back home, I handed the misdeed to the one who forced a man to enter a small country church and make him come out a husband. She kissed me all happy as if she had won the lottery, but meanwhile, I was thinking about the horror I was about to witness a few minutes later. She took out the already worn-out "Anna se sposa" cd and carefully inserted the new round guest into the stereo.

My arms were about to fall, the usual sentimental Neapolitan guitar started, and then Mariano's first voice with "Il cuore in gola". Her eyes lit up like she had seen Padre Pio, while I was praying that the torment would not continue or at least ease. "Meglio 'na canzone" came and my hopes fell like snow on the ground. "Apicella is a poor copy of Murolo and Gagliardi," I thought. An increasingly dreamy guitar and an even more inspired Apicella singing the Premier's writings followed for me as much of nothing, my mom, meanwhile, was in a frenzy: she was now dancing with a broomstick. I don't want to talk about the other 11 tortures I suffered that evening of 11/23, but at least I was happy for my mom. I just want to say this CD is a meatloaf, let me explain: since even nowadays it's my mom's favorite album and I listen to it passively unfortunately (which hurts more than smoking) I notice the homogeneity of the lyrics. Basically, there's not a song that doesn't talk about love: love tender, love blind, love sick, love bitter, etc. etc., but at least it's not political propaganda as I expected!

The day after that exciting evening of November 23, I read in "Il Corriere della Sera" an interview with Mariano Apicella himself. I found out that our six-string hero used to play at weddings, in restaurants, etc., and even played in Dubai in the Middle East (??!??) I wondered: "I understand the Neapolitan spirit but this bringing Neapolitan music to the Arabs doesn't fit at all!" I paid attention to a statement by the Neapolitan singer who said: «The tram passes only once, and if you don’t catch it on time, goodbye and thank you. Am I wrong?» YES IT'S TRUE, IT'S RIGHT, BUT IF THE DRIVER WAS GOOD, HE'D THROW YOU IN A DUMP!!!

At this point, I have to say "Better 'na canzone?" no!, better 'na flebo!!!!