Who better than Massimiliano Pani can summarize mine, nobody else. «He hasn’t done a concert for 45 years, television for 47, he hasn’t done promotion and interviews, he’s not social. Yet we are here for her, demonstrating her uniqueness: there is no other artist in the world who is consistent with her choices and has remained contemporary». “I love you like crazy”, where the title lends itself to both male and female variations, is the new chapter of the quintessential interpreter of Italian music.
Mina, the new record: the photo-novel album of a visionary of today and yesterday
A album dressed to evoke the prototype of the photo novel in 12 tracks (10 on the LP) which become “love stories for musical images”.
Atmospheres reminiscent of the 45 rpm of “Trenodia” (1967). Right from the cover which – «inherent in the content of the tracks» – recalls the “Bolero Film” magazines, at the time of the late 1940s and Cesare Zavattini. The photo is also by Mauro Balletti, with whom «Mina anticipated Bowie or Renato Zero, Lady Gaga and Madonna». Precursor of his time, «in a moment in which there is an obsession with a continuous presence – explains his son, who is the producer of the disc, as well as arranger with Ugo Bongianni – Mina is the authoritative figure, arouses interest and is credible without having to forced to appear”.
The interpretation is the leitmotif of a series of multifaceted worlds, «from the dramatic and intense love song to ironic pieces, from the refined ballad to the rock song and the bolero». “Until tomorrow” (by Federico Spagnoli, the same as “You deserve hell”, “You don’t love me”, “This unbearable woman”), “ZUM PA PA” (by the Tuscan actor Alessandro Baldinotti, who has already written for Mia Martini), “Come la luna” (by Philippe Leon and Luca Rustici) together with the pieces by Sergio Cammariere “Tutto questo che un uomo” and by Enzo Avitabile “Don Salvato'”, and the divertissement “L’Orto” (chosen before Mattia Lezi took him to “X-Factor”). Pieces wanted directly by Mina, «that she only does what she likes and she will do it as long as she wants out of intellectual need. She is an interpreter and not a songwriter, artistic director of herself. You do a job that no one does today.”
5,000 pieces arrive every year (“we are 3 years behind in listening”), many come from the new generation. As Blanco with “A bit of joy”. «The interlocking with Mina’s voice made the song change its face – says Michelangelo who acts as co-author – It would rock if Mina sang it, we said to each other one day. It’s magical that this really happened.” And it is Pani who places the accent on the relationship with young people: «She is the only artist who gives them satisfaction, singing pieces even by strangers, curious and attentive. It is in Blanco’s world that Mina enters, and not vice versa». There is also “Poor love”, chosen by Ozpetek for his new film (out on Netflix between autumn and Christmas): «Mina is my casting. I am lucky to have an exchange of ideas with her. She tells you where the flaw is and where the advantage is.’ The Sanremo chapter, as artistic director, would seem (at the moment) closed: «When the proposal arrived, she said“ I’ll do it, but I choose ”. And at this sentence everything vanished. The record industry has its needs, TV and sponsors as well. It is therefore right that others do that job». Too bad, because it would be an indelible cultural and historical page. «Mina has not arrived today only because of her voice, but above all because she has a beautiful head». And on what Pani says, undeniable is the most appropriate adjective.
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