Francesco Guccini loves cats and has three of them in his home in Pavana, on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. Two are foundlings whom the singer-songwriter, who is in the limelight these days for his new album Canzoni da intorto, greeted straight from the street. The third is his wife Raffaella’s cat. His relationship with cats is told in a video made in support of the “An animal as a friend” association that manages the kennel cat shelter in Marzabotto, in the Bologna region.
“Cats have always been the only animals in my life – says Guccini, recalling the first cats that were crossbred in my childhood at my grandparents’ mill, where they were a constant presence in an anti-rodent function –. They are fantastic and beautiful animals, irresistible when they lie down like a muff with their paws together in front”. The author speaks into the camera while the two cats hang around him. “One is a bit crippled and with an amputated ear – he explains –. Poor thing. He came out of the house to beg for food. It’s part of the house now.”
The other cat is also a foundling, “perhaps of a Norwegian breed”, all black, with long hair. She is practically the co-owner of the armchair in the living room: “When I’m there, she sits on the armrest, when I leave, she takes possession of the seat. We are often together and she falls asleep in my arms.’ She’s not doing very well either: «Her cock doesn’t rise anymore and she doesn’t have any teeth anymore because she’s old, she’s 16 years old. But I’m also old, I can bear it».
Announcing the release of the album on Instagram It’s not just mutual tolerance, whatever he says, but something stronger. It’s no coincidence that Guccini chose a photo with her in his arms to announce the release of his new album via social media. This is a collection of covers of songs that represented something for the singer, among which we can also find “El me gatt” written by Ivan Della Mea, which tells about a black and white cat killed by the neighbor interpreted in the Milanese dialect (as well as Strehler’s «Ma mì» on the same LP, sung by Enzo Jannacci and Ornella Vanoni).
And finally Stagno, the red tomcat that his wife brought as a dowry: «He’s younger, he’s 7 years old. And this cat simply tolerates me. When I’m at home he walks around cautiously: he never goes in the middle of the room, he walks under the furniture, he’ll think you never know… I wouldn’t hesitate to call him an asshole, but how all cats he is beautiful».
Then the most important thing, the appeal to help the Marzabotto animal shelter. “Actually, I don’t like the term gattile that much – emphasizes the author of songs that have become memorable thanks to the choice of words in the lyrics – I would rather speak of hospitalization or, better, of hospitable. It is a very beautiful and meritorious thing that the people who take care of these animals do. I invite everyone who loves cats to help them. And even those who don’t love her yet need to learn how to do it».
December 6, 2022 (change December 6, 2022 | 21:57)
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