Al Corsera: «The two concerts took place at the same time, we had a long argument. He introduced himself: “I’m coming too, nobody’s coming to me anyway””
Db Milan 11/11/2009 – Presentation of the book Lucio Dalla / Photo Daniele Buffa/Picture in photo Lucio Dalla
Gigi D’Alessio recounts when Lucio Dalla was queuing for the Mario Merola concert in New York. He does so in the interview granted to Corriere della Sera:
From 1989 to 1992 pianist for Mario Merola.
«A unique character, with great charisma, we were like father and son. A piece of bread, the best man in the world, even if he played the villain, the guapo, the prisoner, the mamma antissima in the film. Shooting with him in Naples was like walking in New York with Sinatra.”
And on a winter evening in the Big Apple…
«It was one of his concerts and at the same time one of Lucio Dalla, not far away. A mile-long line formed outside the theater with a foot of snow. Eventually Lucio came too. “Anyway, no one came to me.” Great Lucio, generous. He spoke well of me. “He can read music like no other”».
He recently told the Corriere del Mezzogiorno:
«Naples is a mother, but when you were born here it is difficult to establish yourself. When they called us “neomelodics,” they ghettoized us and turned us into a race unto themselves. When artists in Rome sing Roman folk songs, they don’t call them neomelodici. I had trouble shaking off the burden of prejudice: when the big radios didn’t play my songs or the national newspapers and the big ones didn’t talk about me. Over time it was me who forced her to take an interest in me. Napoli always defended me. In February 2014 I became the first Italian in history – after Modugno, with Nel Blue Painted Blue (Volare) – to take first place in the Billboard World Music Charts among the “best-selling world music albums” with the album “Ora”. If I’ve succeeded, it’s thanks to my city.”
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