Franco Battiato
His unique sound, song-crafting and especially his lyrics, often containing philosophical, religious, and culturally exotic references, as well as tackling or painting universal themes about the human condition earned him a unique spot on Italy's music scene, and the nickname of "Il Maestro"[5] His work includes songwriting and joint production efforts with several Italian and international musicians and pop singers, including the long-lasting professional relationship with Italian singers Alice and Giuni Russo.[6] Battiato was born in Ionia, the former name of the town of Giarre-Riposto, in Sicily, southern Italy[7] After graduating from high school at the Liceo Scientifico "Archimede" in Acireale, and following the death of his father (truck driver and longshoreman in New York),[8] in 1964 he moved first to Rome, and then to Milan at age 19, and soon after won his first musical contract.In 1975, he moved to the Dischi Ricordi label, producing Battiato (1977), Juke Box (1978) and the experimental it:L'Egitto prima delle sabbie ("Egypt Before the Sands", 1978), which won the Stockhausen award for contemporary music.Songs such as "L'era del cinghiale bianco" (1979), "Prospettiva Nevskij" (1980), "Centro di gravità permanente" ("Permanent Gravity Centrepoint", 1981), "Bandiera bianca" ("White Flag", 1981), and "Voglio vederti danzare" ("I Want To See You Dance", 1982) established his reputatin in his own country.The album, considered by Battiato himself his best work for the balance between music and lyrics, contained the hit "Nomadi" ("Nomads"), originally recorded by Alice and written by his old friend Juri Camisasca, who in the meantime had retired to a Benedictine monastery.The album also included the songs "E ti vengo a cercare", which was performed by director/actor Nanni Moretti in his 1989 movie Palombella Rossa, and "Veni l'autunnu" with lyrics entirely in the Sicilian and Arabic languages.The movie won the Silver Ribbon for the best debutant director and was screened, out of competition as a Battiato request, with excellent critics in prestigious film festivals like Berlin, Cannes, Venezia, New York among others.
Sicilynew waveexperimentalmusique concrèteprogressive popelectropopnew-agefree jazzprogressive rockpsychedelicVocalsguitarpianoforteviolinsynthesizerharpsichordmellotronSony Musicpseudonymesotericphilosophicalreligiousexperimental popelectronic musicsymphonic musicmovie soundtrackoratorioIl MaestroGiuni Russo1984 Eurovision Song ContestI treni di TozeurGiarre-RipostoAcirealeJuri CamisascaminimalismPollutionDischi RicordiStockhausenGiusto PioL'era del cinghiale biancoNevsky ProspectLa voce del padroneCentro di gravità permanenteBandiera biancaVoglio vederti danzareMondi LontanissimiEurovision Song ContestBenedictine monasteryNanni MorettiSicilianArabicRoberto MancinelliSony/ATV Music PublishingManlio SgalambroL'ombrello e la macchina da cucireL'imboscataLa curaGommalaccaFerro battutoDieci stratagemmiLost LoveSilver Ribbon for the best debutant directorBeethovenAlejandro JodorowskyRosario CrocettaFleursvegetarianecumenismpolytheismMilo, Catanianeurodegenerative diseaseosteoporosiscancermultiple myelomaMadridL'arca di NoèOrizzonti perdutiFisiognomicaUna vita scellerataCome un cammello in una grondaiaCaffè de la PaixFleurs 3Fleurs 2Antony and the JohnsonsBandiera bianca / Summer on a Solitary BeachI treni di Tozeur / Le biciclette di ForlìTutto l'universo obbedisce all'amoreAllMusicCorriere della SeraLUMSA UniversityGiuntiAvvenirela Repubblicala StampaFederazione Industria Musicale ItalianaSky TG24BillboardFederation of the Italian Music IndustryDiscogsRiccardo FogliPer LuciaItaly in the Eurovision Song ContestAl Bano & Romina PowerMagic Oh MagicIl vuotoCuccurucucùSanremo Music FestivalEurovision Song Contest 1984AustriaBelgiumCyprusDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyIrelandPortugalNetherlandsNorwaySwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUnited KingdomYugoslaviaBelle and the DevotionsBeş Yıl Önce, On Yıl Sonra