Noborn on March 5, 1943a day away from Lucio Dalla, Lucio Battisti would have celebrated his 80th birthday right in these hours. He passed away in 1998 at the age of only 55, but the myth of the singer is more alive than ever. Also thanks to a series of initiatives to celebrate his birth.
Last but not least, the possibility of streaming on Netflix (and RaiPlay) the documentary I you we, Lucio which tells the artistic parable of the author of Ten girls. From the beginning, very young, as a guitarist for some bands until the triumphs of the 70s thanks to memorable albums as A woman as a friend.
I you we, Lucio: the documentary about Battisti
Made in 2020 for the 22 years since the death of the singer-songwriter, the film narrates with passion and skill the musical and human complexity of the greatest pop author that Italian music has ever known.
With the fundamental contribution of the presence of Sonia Bergamasco as narrator, of friends of the time – the Dik Dik, Edoardo Bennato, Mara Maionchi – and contemporary fans, such as Colapesce and Dimartino, I you we, Lucio unites valuable archival materials and today’s interviews.
Lucio Battisti. (LaPresse)
Returning all the poetry and creativity of the one who «He was certainly the greatest talent that Italian music expressed» as he declares Sonia Bergamasco in the first scenes.
A revolution in music
«England had the Beatles, we had Lucio Battisti» he declares Charles Verdone just before the opening credits. A comparison that perhaps will make someone turn up their noses but which is essentially true. Before Battisti the Italian musical panorama was in fact still at a standstill postwar, as well some protagonists of the time tell in the documentary.
Not by chance It will take Lucio years before establishing himself as a singerrejected by almost all record companies for His voice so far from the canons of the time. A rough and passionate timbre which, however, since the end of the 60s, will revolutionize the whole recording scene also thanks to the texts of Mogul. Modern and innovative from the point of view of both words and contents.
As the friend recalls Renzo ArboreLucio was also a innovator in the choice of musical genres. Passionate user of the funk of MotownBattisti will be the first in Italy to bring American rhythmscreating a unique union between Italian songwriting and soulful melodies.
A complex personality
Alternating personal anecdotes and technical analysis on the uniqueness of Battisti singer and musician, the documentary travels along the tracks of nostalgia for an unrepeatable era. Made of revfirst places in the standings and international success which will see him record songs also in English, French and German.
Focusing, in the second part, on the Battisti man and his uniqueness. Included the refusal, starting in the early 1970s, to appear on television and give interviews. «Lucio wanted only his music to speak», says Mogol, and the scarcity of archival materials of the time is certainly not to be blamed on the director.
Lucio Battisti in a photo from the late 70s.
Verdelli’s film tells very well the intrinsic contradiction between being the best known and most popular but at the same time unknown musical artist and lacking a public biography. A mystery to which Battisti himself still alive and his wife Grazia Letizia Veronese. Who in 2013 had Lucio’s remains cremated in a niche in the Molteno cemetery so that fans no longer had a grave to visit Lucio.
«If I realized that I’m about to be engulfed by the system, I’m sure I’d give up everything» he said. And so he did. Refusing to appear and give concerts, without however ceasing, like Mina, to make recordsuntil the day of his death.
And a pinch of bitterness remains due to the little space dedicated by the documentary to musical production from the end of the partnership with Mogol in the 1980s up to the 90s. A period in which he created, together with the lyricist Pasquale Panellasome extraordinary records but still too underrated today, such as Hegel And The Western Bride.
Celebrations and reissues
It is precisely the records made with Panella that are the protagonists of the beautiful initiative promoted by Sony Music. Which, for the occasion has reissued on vinyl and in special edition all five albums made together with the Roman poet and lyricist from 1986 to 1994. Veri collectibles which will be released for the first time in unedited (colored and picture disc) and numbered versions.
On Apple Music instead another unmissable event for all true Baptists. In fact, his entire digital discography is now available for streaming in Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos while from March 5th it will be available Lucio Battisti – book by Ernesto Assante.
A volume where not only the life of the singer-songwriter born in Poggio Bustone is told, but which also promises to shed further light on the many “mysteries” still unsolved of his human and artistic parable.
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