Umberto Bindi
Bindi

I listen again to this album by Umberto Bindi, I get moved and saddened by the fact that such an artist was not rightfully recognized for his talent but only harassed for his homosexuality. Unfortunately, with his death, he was not consecrated, as is usually done with deceased artists, but in both television and most Italian music magazines, he is still forgotten. One of the few artists who still remembers him in his concerts and interviews is Gino Paoli, who worked hard to get him the annuity from the Bacchelli law, and Morgan, who can be an excellent means to introduce Umberto Bindi to younger generations. Even on the web, where there's a wide range of information offered, few words are dedicated to the pioneer of Genoese singer-songwriters, most of which were written on the occasion of his passing.

Umberto Bindi was always excluded from the Italian artistic circuit because he never wanted to conform, until his death, to the evolution of the Italian "canzonetta". And, in my opinion, the same fate would have befallen Rino Gaetano if he had lived a little longer. Musically, Umberto Bindi had enormous talent, he was extremely sensitive, fragile, and tender. Just take as reference a song from this album, "Il nostro concerto" ("Our Concert"), a very sweet piece written on the occasion of his partner's death ("Wherever you are/ if you listen/ next to you you'll find me/ you'll see the gaze that spoke for me/ and my hand that sought yours/ [...]/ wherever you are/ you'll find me close to you"). Another remarkable piece is certainly "Arrivederci" ("Goodbye") ("We challenged love almost for fun/ and now we pretend to leave each other/ just for a little while [...] Goodbye/ this will be a farewell/ but let's not think about it/ with a handshake/ as sincere good friends/ we smile to say/ goodbye"), recently jazzed up by Nicola Arigliano, and the affectionate "Se ci sei" ("If You Are There").

Umberto Bindi was a "singer from the heart", with a clear and powerful voice, who, as previously mentioned, shunned any label but, on the other hand, was labeled by the majority of Italians. He influenced many singers/authors, was a beacon of Italian light music along with Luigi Tenco, but above all, he was the most forgotten Italian artist, who did not receive from any politician or television personality the due tribute he deserved.