«The sky in a room» by Franco Simone in the commercial of Jennifer Lopez

The sky in a room it was sung by countless great voices. We remember Mina, the author Gino Paoli, Giorgia, Riccardo Cocciante, Gianna Nannini… but these days this famous song is heard all over the world by the evocative and unmistakable voice of Franco Simone.

All of this takes place during a television commercial, which is also widely seen on the net, which is making people talk about a real world event, due to the presence on the screen of what is considered by many to be the most beautiful woman of the moment, the stupendous singer -actress Jennifer Lopez, who even, listening to Simone’s voice, synchronizes her lips to the song of our songwriter, with the air of one who is enjoying a special listen. The commercial was commissioned by the famous lingerie company Intimissimi, which has declared that this time it wants to create the most impressive advertising campaign in its entire history. It was about expressing with images and sounds the beauty of that Italy that Lopez says she loves madly.

The elements chosen to synthesize this beauty are the landscape of Positano, the song by Gino Paoli, the voice of Franco Simone. The direction of the commercial was entrusted to another high-sounding name: Gia Coppola, nephew of the legendary Francis Ford Coppola. Once again the international dimension of Simone’s career amazes, the Salento singer-songwriter from Acquarica del Capo (today Presicce-Acquarica), punctually achieves great results without fanfare and without following any fashion. We recall that a few months ago he was awarded the title of Cavaliere al Merito to the Order of the Republic by President Sergio Mattarella.

Rarely has such a humble Knight been seen! In 2022, to celebrate his 50-year career, he also started the creation of a triple album, for a total of 50 songs, including the novelties and the numerous hits rearranged with the collaboration of maestro Alex Zuccaro, who, also a worthy friend of Simone, he started from the simple provincial reality of his Nardò, to then get to be often referred to as one of the best arrangers around. The titles of the three albums are also interesting and ironic: the first two, Franco… is the name

And Simone… is the surname, have already reached #1 on Amazon Music’s indisputable sales charts. The third album, Francesco Luigi… at the registry officewill probably be published before the summer and the few who have heard some previews, we are among the lucky ones, swear that it is something surprising in terms of quality and originality.

For example, there will be a duet with a, for now secret, American superstar, a sort of overseas Laura Pausini, who has recently received the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement. Speaking of commercials, while in her one with Jennifer Lopez he appears as a singer, in another Latin American commercial, Simone appears as an author, because his song Landscape is the soundtrack of a very important commercial, which continues to air for a total of 16 months. Lover of artistic collaborations, Simone continues to create many.

His duet with Rita Pavone (Dancing on the lawn), the one with Donatella Pandimiglio (Water and light), the one with the Inti Illimani (Bread) and there will certainly be a lot of talk about the duets that are in the works. From time to time they have defined him as a poet with a guitar, an artisan of love, a passenger of emotions, a dream worker, but for us Salento he will probably always remain lu Francu nosciu!