Valentina
Il Ritmo Della Tua Città

If you happen to pass through Naples for any reason, among the various things to do, like getting pickpocketed on the tram or buying the classic brick instead of the tech gadget, try to carve out a little time to watch TV in search of local shows. Do it absolutely. At a friend's house, in a hotel, at a bar, wherever you like, as long as you tune into local stations in search of new talents. Talents indeed, because our Neapolitan art, and I emphasize art (without the "h"), produces one a day (although to be honest, Mimmo De Rosa's latest hit, "La ragazza con la smart", didn't convince me much, too adolescent).

This time, to fill in the gaps of those who are not familiar with the neomelodic landscape made in Naples, I introduce one of the most famous voices of our underground, as well as a historic flagbearer of the movement: Valentina. So famous that Rosalia Porcaro has made a fortune with her parody Natasha and the hit "Sesso senza cuore" with the cry of "uh uh" which is actually an invention of our Neapolitan artist. The shout is a club anthem, which Porcaro never even cited, hell, a thank you for the inspiration received would suffice.

Valentina (the original) represents the frankness, the sincerity of a person who wants to be appreciated for what they really are, without paranoia or prejudices. Tell me, how many would have the courage to publish a cover like this, eloquent enough, the before and after, accept oneself and not be afraid to show the world who you really are. Truth and carnality ooze from every note and every verse of her songs, to the rhythm of disco music, in pieces like the renowned "OK":

"OK! If you want me the appointment is at six/I would be crazy not to come/and then you have the number, you will call." Certainly her most famous song, of which there is also an English dance remix (not to be missed).

Or "Ragazzo Gay":
"They will make you cry/drink your tears/everyone against you/and you will have to fight loneliness/against the prejudice that exists..."

Or again "Me Sento Femmena", with more distinctly Neapolitan and cryptic tones:
"Femmen me sent, femmen vicin a' te/nun aggia truvat mai chell c'a ddai tu a me
'Nsieme a te tutt'è permess nun esist niente ca nun se pò ffà/ Pure se mi manc a forza tu me dai o curagg p'e putè affruntà" (*)

Pillars of her unmistakable style that you can directly appreciate on the meticulously curated official website I linked to.

In conclusion, wish Valentina all the success she deserves and good luck, whose only misfortune is being labeled a "Neapolitan neomelodic singer" and consigned to the clichés of the genre, even though she/he never performed at weddings.

A circular hug to all the DeBasers, especially the Vesuvians and NickGhostDrake, who in a previous review of mine had written:
Valentina... who remembers Valentina? "Ok! If you want me, the appointment is at six...". What happened to Valentina? Let's set a bounty. How many memories, how many soft emotions left behind, emotions connected to parapsychologies of fear of the unconscious and a stuffing of beatings at charity square..."

(*) "I feel like a woman, a woman next to you/I never found what you give me
Together with you everything is allowed, there's nothing that can't be done/Even if I lack strength, you give me the courage to face it"