An endless revolution

When an artist decides to leave in the night, it makes everything louder

Fate has decided this way for Gino Paoli, who just passed away in Genoa, his true city that adopted and adored him, since he was born in Monfalcone 91 years ago, but only for the sake of official records. And it is obvious that it is Genoa that artistically marks, but not only, Paoli’s life, among the beloved caruggi, the sea, and the tramontana, but also lovingly endowing him with that grumpy demeanor that is only apparent. He starts as a graphic designer and painter but it is immediately clear that his beach is elsewhere, and at the sunset of the fifties and the beginning of the sixties, here come the first creations, the first successes, and the first glory, with “amicizie” of the caliber of De André, Lauzi, Tenco, Bindi and with songs like “La gatta“, “Senza fine“ and “Il cielo in una stanza“, which Mina turned to gold with her stunning interpretation. Then comes the Year of Our Lord, 1963, with “Sapore di Sale“, a manifesto that not only marks an era but still crosses entire generations today, wrapped in that brilliant purity and simplicity. The women of his life begin to peek out, starting with the whirlwind Vanoni, who met Gino shortly after Strehler. And here enters the perfect duo, the loving and artistic partnership that smiles upon “Senza Fine“ and an unforgettable love story that comes to a halt when Paoli meets the very young Stefania Sandrelli, with their love story leading to the birth of Amanda and the scandal, given Stefania’s very young age. There is room for everything in Paoli’s life, accompanied by his eternal denim shirt, leather jackets, and tinted glasses, cigarettes, alcohol but also a suicide attempt, with the bullet that remains forever in the singer-songwriter’s body, the underground period between the seventies and eighties, aided by the temporary decline of Italian light music of the time, the rendezvous with Vanoni, pieces like “Ti lascio una canzone“ and “Quattro amici al bar“, but it is understood that the magic has at least faded, with the twist that is yet to come and can also be found with that reverberation of creativity and exuberance that will come from Jazz in all its forms. Endless, with the sweet company of Paola Penzo, his last life partner and his bittersweet, brilliant talent.

Zero Biscit by Mauro Lama