•
Rating:
To the most popular musical group from the Alps to Pantelleria, pride of the seven notes Made in Italy, only one piece was missing in 1990 to be definitively consecrated: winning Sanremo. The Ligurian showcase had been snubbed by the fantastic four in the previous 24 years of their career, but in view of their quarter-century anniversary, they chose to participate. The song presented, "Uomini soli" is dry, simple, direct, said Giorgio Faletti, a friend of Dodi, "an arrow that hits the target exactly." A perfect song, committed but without falling into politics. It lists all the reasons why men are lonely. The discussion is limited to males, not men as human beings. The chorus is an invocation to the "God of cities" by the leader, the only one who could render it in that way, thus the hope of a religious redemption as an overcoming of the condition. Dee Dee Bridgewater represented the cherry on top of an immediate and still lasting success, singing the English version on the Ariston stage, Angel of the Night. Coming to the album, the pearls are certainly not over. As soon as the needle stops digging the grooves of the title and opening track, the listener's ears are greeted by Dodi's majestic guitar introducing "Napoli per noi," a special tribute to the Neapolitan city, perhaps the most beautiful tribute to Naples ever made because it's from people who are not from Naples and therefore free of that parochialism that can lead to defending one's land at all costs. And then the moment of another great success of this album, "L'altra donna," an authentic battle horse (indeed, it is sung by Dodi) of the group, always proposed again in subsequent years, delightfully arranged. The events of Tiananmen Square resurface in "Città proibita," demonstrating the engaged streak of the Poohs continued well after Brennero 66, despite those who think the four were always light and shallow after the Sixties. Then there are the "Donne italiane," "La luna ha vent'anni," where the anniversary of the moon landing is compared to a girl, the less successful "Davanti al mare." The rest are all jewels: "Non solo musica," a typical self-referential song about the band's difficult beginnings in the '60s, in the wake of "Banda nel vento"; "Giulia si sposa," delightful and at times moving, the most beautiful by Stefano D'Orazio along with "50 primavere," and the finale of "Tu vivrai" with the extraordinary participation of Eros Ramazzotti, Enrico Ruggeri, Raf, Umberto Tozzi. Practically a "Si può dare di più" even more choral. The cover with the naked child in a tie this time perfectly conveys the idea of the album that forcefully launched the Pooh back to the throne of the Italian Musical Empire, after almost a decade of decline.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Uomini soli (04:03)
Li incontri dove la gente
viaggia e va a telefonare
col dopobarba che sa di pioggia
e la ventiquattro ore
perduti nel Corriere della Sera
nel va e vieni di una cameriera
Ma perchè ogni giorno viene sera
A volte un uomo è da solo
perchè ha in testa strani tarli
perchè ha paura del sesso
o per la smania di successo
per scrivere il romanzo che ha di dentro
perchè la vita l'ha giá messo al muro
o perchè in mondo falso
è un un uomo vero
CHORUS:
Dio delle città e dell'immensità
se è vero che ci sei e hai viaggiato più di noi
vediamo se si puó imparare queste donne
e magari un po' cambiarla prima che ci cambi lei
Vediamo se si puó farci amare come siamo
senza violentarsi più con nevrosi e gelosie
perché questa vita stende e chi é steso
dorme o muore oppure fa l'amore
Ci sono uomini soli
per la sete d'avventura
perché han studiato da prete
o per vent'anni di galera
per madri che non li hanno mai svezzati
per donne che li han rifiutati e persi
o solo perché sono dei diversi
CHORUS:
Dio delle cittá e dell'immensitá
se é vero che ci sei e hai viaggiato piú di noi
vediamo se si puó imparare questa vita
e magari un po' cambiarla prima che ci cambi lei
Ma Dio delle cittá e dell'immensitá
se é vero che ci sei e problemi non ne hai
ma quaggiú non siamo in cielo e se un uomo
perde il filo é soltanto un uomo solo
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By hypnosphere boy
How not to be struck by the almost blasphemous invocation placed at the climax of the chorus, not to feel something that was already inside me.
The song succeeds in uniting the audience more than dividing the critics, because it speaks to everyone and has a courageously asserted foundation of truth.
By Bromike
Internationally known for its title track, winner of the 1990 Sanremo Festival, this album manages to clearly represent the symphonic/melodic pop side of Pooh.
An honorable mention goes to Dodi Battaglia for 'L'altra donna,' not only a great guitarist but also a great voice!
