by Andrea Laffranchi
The singer speaks about the first stage in Paris and is waiting for the competition in Turin
From our correspondent
PARIS – It may be a question of DNA, a Sardinian mother and an Egyptian father, but the theme of barriers and borders that aren’t just geographical is a theme that recurs in Mahmood’s life and career. “Touring in Europe, singing songs abroad with an audience that speaks other languages gives me immense pleasure. Music travels across linguistic and cultural borders, it connects everyone and the exchange that takes place live confirms this,” he says at the end of the concert at the Bataclan in Paris, opening of a European tour that will take him to Antwerp, Amsterdam, Lausanne, Zurich, London and Madrid.
Immediately afterwards, the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Turin. He will represent Italy with Blanco and «Broglie», winners in Sanremo. Second place in 2019 offered Mahmood a passport to Europe. In the months that followed, “Money” became a hit with over 100 million streams, 57% of them from abroad. Bookmakers put them in second place. When the owl alone. “Italy can’t win two years in a row… That’s how football worked: 2020 win and this year out”. The focus is on Ukraine. “What happens is not worth 20 Eurovision victories. So if it could help, I would lead Ukraine to victory».
The organization has decided to exclude Russia and, like tennis, there is debate about the rightness of making artists (or athletes) pay for a government’s mistakes. «The highest levels are involved in organizing the event in Rai. I think that’s the case in Russia too, and maybe the same people don’t want to be there. And then … Russia vs. Ukraine? I want to say, aren’t you ashamed? ». Achille Lauro will also be in the running, flying the San Marino flag. “It would make me strange to think of facing our country, but I respect the decision to go with San Marino, also because as a result he has to endure everything they say behind him. All in all, it didn’t go so bad.”
The Bataclan is sold out, about 1700 people, including designer Christian Louboutin, mostly Italian, but the languages in the audience are mixed. The bullet marks from the 2015 attack, in which 90 people died, can still be seen on the stairs to the gallery. On stage he spoke of “music that connects and does not separate: immortal”. He deepens the subject: “During the rehearsals I felt a bit of fear and tension. But I also understood that music is used to overcome certain moments. In places like this, people make connections that cannot be broken.”
He goes on stage in a metallic dress, almost a superhero costume. A vertical screen and elegant lights make up the scenography that will also return on Italian appointments: “An experimental and minimal stylistic choice”. The use of voice is not minimal. Since “Dei”, the song that opens the set, he has been embroidering melodies with a character that seems to carry his Arabic origins. “I made this choice because I’m bored of singing the same way over and over again, but sometimes I think I’m more than just a muezzin, an American trapper.” From the front rows comes the request for a piece in Arabic: “They wanted “Sabri Aleel” by the Egyptian Sherine. I had done it at the Notte della Taranta 2020. It’s been a long time since I’ve practiced with Arabic and I apologized for the pronunciation. At that time I had learned pronunciation from Aziz, my hairdresser ».
The gods of ancient Egypt populate the images of «Dorado». «T’amo» is the song dedicated to the mother that contains the classic Sardinian folk «Non potho reposare». With papa, the feelings expressed in «Soldi» were rougher: «I haven’t heard it lately, I did it to Sanremo. When this all ends and I have more time, there will be a way to confront each other. Mom acts as a mediator, she always did, even when she let me go to Egypt at the age of 8, despite conflicting opinions in the family: they were afraid that she would not leave me behind. She never spoke badly of him. ‘
Autotune is there, but it’s a tool, not a trick, to cover up insecurities. The sounds look more electronic and on «Kobra» the synths have the same pulsating power as the electric thud of the guitar on «Icaro». The finale pushes with the hits: “Barrio” and “Rapide”. The audience sings the role of Blanco in “Chills”: “I never get tired, I thought listening to her on the plane coming here.” And in the encore “Soldi” an “exaggerated ending”.
April 24, 2022 (Modification April 25, 2022 | 00:23)
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