Samarcanda (album)
Encyclopedia
Samarcanda is an album by Italian singer-songwriter
Roberto Vecchioni
, released in 1977. The work was highly successful, mostly thanks to the title track, and established him as one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Italy.
As usual for Vecchioni, the lyrics mix autobiographical themes such as love life, nostalgia with literary and poetical ones.
"Samarcanda" is inspired to an Oriental fable (sometimes called "Appointment in Samarra") about a soldier who, in a feast to celebrate the end of the war, sees Death in the form of an old woman amongst the crowd. He madly rides to Samarkand to escape, and finds her there waiting for him.
"Vaudeville" is a reference to the "process" suffered during a concerto held in the previous year by Vecchioni's colleague Francesco De Gregori
, as well as the time's perception of the singer-songwriters in Italy.
"Due giornate fiorentine" is about the betrayal suffered from his first wife, Irene Bozzi.
"Blue(e) notte" tells the meeting with the poet Sandro Penna
.
"Per un vecchio bambino" (meaning "For an old child") is dedicated to Vecchioni's father.
"Canzone per Sergio" is instead entitled after Vecchioni's brother, a notary in Lipari
.
"L'ultimo spettacolo", is a long ballad beginning with a slow motif about Homer
's heroes, but finishing with more dramatic lyrics describing the departure of Vecchioni's wife to meet her lover. The episode of the singer accompanying her to platform of the train to Turin
will reappear in several of his future songs, such as "Vorrei" (in the album Robinson) and Montecristo (in the Lp with the same name).
Angelo Branduardi
, also a popular singer-songwriter, appears as musician in the LP.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Roberto Vecchioni
Roberto Vecchioni
Roberto Vecchioni is an Italian singer-songwriter and writer.-Biography:Vecchioni was born in Carate Brianza, province of Milan, to a family of Neapolitan origin. In 1968 he graduated in Classical Literature at the Università Cattolica of Milan, where he remained for two years as assistant...
, released in 1977. The work was highly successful, mostly thanks to the title track, and established him as one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Italy.
As usual for Vecchioni, the lyrics mix autobiographical themes such as love life, nostalgia with literary and poetical ones.
"Samarcanda" is inspired to an Oriental fable (sometimes called "Appointment in Samarra") about a soldier who, in a feast to celebrate the end of the war, sees Death in the form of an old woman amongst the crowd. He madly rides to Samarkand to escape, and finds her there waiting for him.
"Vaudeville" is a reference to the "process" suffered during a concerto held in the previous year by Vecchioni's colleague Francesco De Gregori
Francesco De Gregori
Francesco De Gregori is an Italian singer-songwriter. He is popularly known as "Il Principe Poeta" , a nickname referring to the elegance of his lyrics.-1970s:...
, as well as the time's perception of the singer-songwriters in Italy.
"Due giornate fiorentine" is about the betrayal suffered from his first wife, Irene Bozzi.
"Blue(e) notte" tells the meeting with the poet Sandro Penna
Sandro Penna
Sandro Penna was an Italian poet.-Biography:Born in Perugia, Penna lived in Rome for most of his life....
.
"Per un vecchio bambino" (meaning "For an old child") is dedicated to Vecchioni's father.
"Canzone per Sergio" is instead entitled after Vecchioni's brother, a notary in Lipari
Lipari
Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, and the name of the island's main town. It has a permanent population of 11,231; during the May–September tourist season, its population may reach up to 20,000....
.
"L'ultimo spettacolo", is a long ballad beginning with a slow motif about Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's heroes, but finishing with more dramatic lyrics describing the departure of Vecchioni's wife to meet her lover. The episode of the singer accompanying her to platform of the train to Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
will reappear in several of his future songs, such as "Vorrei" (in the album Robinson) and Montecristo (in the Lp with the same name).
Angelo Branduardi
Angelo Branduardi
Angelo Branduardi , is an Italian folk singer and composer who scored relevant success in Italy and European countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.- Biography :...
, also a popular singer-songwriter, appears as musician in the LP.
Track listing
- "Prologo" - 1:04
- "Samarcanda" - 3:42
- "Vaudeville" - 1:46
- "Due giornate fiorentine" - 6:45
- "Blu(e) notte" - 4:14
- "Per un vecchio bambino" - 7:41
- "Canzone per Sergio" - 5:24
- "L'ultimo spettacolo" - 8:27