The new materia (prism) of is (also) a political record Marco Mengoni And the singer himself makes no secret of his concern about the daily statements from the government and the majority representatives. And in the lyrics of the songs that make up the CD, Mengoni shows an ever greater – and nobler – attention to the (so-called) minorities, “we are all minorities,” he explains, “because each one is different from them other.” “.
An attention illustrated by the Lgbtqi+ flag waving alongside the tricolor in front of the organization’s cameraseuro vision From Liverpool. Perhaps the most powerful and incisive gesture seen on this stage, amidst many characters seeking visibility with bizarre costumes, hairstyles and gestures.
And in the album (released May 26) that he says he’s happiest with, is among three albums that pave the way that opened in December 2021 with Materia (Terra) – triple platinum – and continued with Materia (Pelle) in October 2022. he shouted to sing alongside him elodies, hernia, jeson. The overall effect is, in fact, a prism “which is a magical object,” he says, that filters the white light to return all the colors that make it up. I tried to do the same and bring in all the ideas and reflections that came to me in 34 years of my life and 13 years of my career: the ideas about society, about people, about relationships, about emotions. An album full of meaning and love.”
Among the eleven tracks that make up the tracklist are two lives with which he won the award San Remo Festival and finished fourth in theeuro visionand a reggaeton with a very summery rhythm like Pazza Musica con elodies. And there is the suffering of The damned of the Earth, a song that speaks explicitly of immigration, suffering and exploitation, with “the man who walked the desert / the wind that spits the open sea in his face” and ” the woman who hides”. she / and speaks to heaven and heaven does not answer”.
Desperate existences united by a “path to infinity” and opposed to “he who closes his eyes” who is “always in good faith”. And then “the sun-raped fields / the slum ghettos of the South” and “the songs that burn in the ranks / the corporals’ stomachs bloat”. Everything culminates in the talk of Nelson Mandela on February 11, 1990, when he was released from prison after 27 years in South Africa: “Our march to freedom is irreversible, we must not let fear stand in our way.”
Mengoni, do you feel like a revolutionary?
“I feel like a boy and now like a man who lives his society. I am an attentive person who has ideas and who has an experience. All these experiences, in some cases even a little screamed and shared with the others. Maybe that means being revolutionaries these days when sharing is no longer a priority. So from that point of view I can call myself a revolutionary.”
Are you worried about how things are going in our country?
“Italy can be proud, many people, everyone I meet, think inclusivity is a beautiful and positive thing; I wanted to remind Europe that we are not less and that many Italians think differently, they feel much more open-minded, I respect that. “Afraid of some issues that are being addressed and how they are being addressed in Italy.”
And the idea of bringing the LGBTQI+ flag onto the ESC stage?
“In Italy there are some things that I don’t really understand and that I would like to understand, anachronistic for me in 2023. And that was a very important step in reaching out to a lot of people and making it clear that inclusivity and definitely those who are considered minorities are an integral part of this society.”
So?
“I’m a bit scared of the way things are going, or at least some speeches where I hear the action I see, and that’s why you have to shout even louder. And when you have the opportunity to do so on such an important stage, you have to take the shouted comments negatively. Because otherwise, if you stay silent anyway, things will pass and maybe then they will change and obviously change in a negative way for me and my life experience.”
But what exactly are you worried about?
“Of course, the position of the current government on certain issues. I can’t understand this approach to some subjects. I believe that everyone should have their own opinion and can have a different opinion on anything. But I really can’t understand what’s behind it. It. What makes you say that, I’d like to understand. Then, of course, everyone can stick to their own ideas and opinions. I’m totally open to discussion because I think the most important thing is to understand why we didn’t come to the same conclusion, ultimately the same judgement.”
“This isn’t a government, it’s a daily excuse for fascism,” a Democratic Party member had said in one of the many controversies.
“This word (fascism ed) scares me… I repeat: I would like to understand why certain things are said if it is an exercise to remember something dictatorial, or maybe something to get people to do it bring to talk about these topics, then it would.” Be very positive if you express yourself and the company can understand. I don’t think that’s the right way to put them on the table and talk about certain things.”
But what scares you the most?
“It’s the fact that there’s an absolutism on these issues, that is, certain things are said as if they were safe, as if the people who say and speak a certain way about certain subjects wouldn’t live on the streets.” Go to It’s like someone who goes on holiday to another country, spends a week in a six-star hotel and then says: I’ve been to Cuba. People who are older than they lived? But of course I don’t do politics, I do music, so I bring some emotions and sentiments that I have.”
Upcoming engagements
“I feel like I’m never done. But I can’t wait to come back.” This summer, Mengoni will be performing live at the stadiums of Bibione (June 17th), Padua (June 20th), Salerno (June 24th), Bari (June 28th, already sold out), Bologna (July 1, already sold out) and Turin (July 5), Milan (July 8, already sold out) and on July 15 at the Circus Maximus for the grand finale. “Of course I can’t wait. And even though it’s the same tour,” he explains, “I’ve changed a few things since the last live shows, also because the songs from Materia (Prisma) were added.”
The live performances in Italy anticipate Mengoni’s first tour of major European venues scheduled for next fall in Barcelona (October 18 at Sant Jordi Club), Brussels (October 21 at Forest National), Amsterdam (October 23 at AFAS Live ), Paris (October 25 in the Zénith Paris), Frankfurt (October 27 in the Centennial Hall), Vienna (October 29 in the Gasometer), Zurich (October 31 in the Hallenstadion) and Munich (November 2 in the Olympiahalle). “Places that are greater than what has been achieved so far. It’s an exciting challenge,” says Mengoni, who determined important numbers at the Eurovision Song Contest: Due Vita is back, last place at the ESC, in the top 200 of the global Spotify rankings. The official video has been viewed more than 60 million times on YouTube and is the most viewed video of the songs presented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
The performance on stage at the Liverpool Arena is also among the most viewed across all Eurovision Song Contest social networks, including the event’s official YouTube profile. “But the most beautiful thing that the European fans repeated to me,” he says, “is that even if they didn’t understand the Italian lyrics, the meaning and the emotion of the song were clearly expressed.”
And when asked if he happened to have left an unreleased song to send to Amadeus for Sanremo 2024, he laughs: “Do you want me dead? I’m on vacation in the next Sanremo! I can connect from the Maldives.” “.