Negramaro
Mentre Tutto Scorre

...I was saying, this is another story.

If I had to review this CD when it came out (March 2005), I would have given it 5 resounding stars, such was the joy and pride of seeing that they had made it, and the surprise of listening to a well-played and polished product in all aspects.

Then, after two years, everything settled down and even the enthusiasm cooled off. This isn't even a review that can be called a review; it's just the little story that continues, with the paradoxes becoming more pronounced, so much so that it's impossible not to notice them. They stepped off the stage in the city of flowers with their tails between their legs, the critics' award ringing as a bitter consolation. We all shouted "booo" at the jury that, unfair, had deprived that beautiful song of the spotlight. Too unconventional, indeed. Our guys returned home, and for a moment, it seemed the dream was breaking.

Then "Mentre tutto scorre" came out, the promotion nights overlapped, and the TV appearances too. Everyone went crazy for the green rabbit with a thousand funny faces, and Salento was invaded by reporters from all over Italy who wanted to know the roots of the phenomenon. Despite this, it seems they remained down to earth. On May 25, 2005, they performed at the university for the closing of the academic year (in past years it had been the turn of Après la Classe and Modena City), and the concert was absolutely amazing. Well over two hours of free music, where they played ALL the pieces from BOTH albums. Open applause, those from the Gorillaz bottle-throwing incident went to protest elsewhere. Silvio Muccino scripted and shot the video for "Estate" in Porto Cesareo, and they were the hit of the summer of 2005.

On August 14, another free concert in Gallipoli and the city was paralyzed: lines of cars on the highway to reach the port where the stage was. In the end, it was a human sea, which would praise them as prophets of a country moved to see that the whole world praises its "children." In September, honorary citizenship was conferred upon them in Copertino (Giuliano's town) and another free concert. In December, new single "Solo3min" (one of the best pieces of the album) and two dates at the Lecce sports hall. The second was added because the tickets for the first evaporated in a few hours. Megatour everywhere sold out, rave reviews, in April a new single, "Nuvole e lenzuola" and DVD of the closing date of the tour in Milan.

Summer 2006 as protagonists, and on August 11 they conquered the largest stage in Salento that before them had hosted Subsonica and Ligabue: they returned to the arena of the caves from where it all started, where the audience of CocaCola live@Mtv buried them with whistles, and they triumph with Jovanotti as a surprise guest. This is the story so far. To make it short, every time they return home, people kiss their feet and they have become a model for the small bands that play at festivals and fairs. If they made it... and the bottle throwers? And the whistlers? Why doesn't anyone have the courage to say that they are now overexposed? I am a bit ashamed to admit it, but now when I see them, I change the channel. If I happen to listen to their CD, I skip almost all the tracks and stop only on "Ogni mio istante", "Musa", "Scomoda-mente" (the only link with the 'incomplete' sounds of "Negramaro"), "Solo3min" (because you never forget your first love and all the memories connected to it), and especially "Solo per te". All pieces that, coincidentally, haven't been spoiled and thrown to the screaming crowd.

The last time I saw them was at the tragic Cornetto Freemusic and there I saw (or maybe I seemed to see) a certain bewilderment in Giuliano's eyes who no longer smiles as before, no longer dances wildly on stage, caught as he is to play the part of the perfect successful singer. Right now, I wouldn't bet they are still down to earth. I feel sorry for the guys, obviously, I will continue to defend and support them because I too am a child of a land that, having seen too much darkness and too much pain, nourishes itself with these little lights to continue to fight and hope to exist beyond the ugliness that surrounds it. This is why, at every date they have, wherever they are, there is always some giallorossa flag waving. They are the pride of a province once known only for atrocities; if they had been from Milan, would it have been the same?

Now go ahead and keep calling them crap and sorry if I rambled on.