"My prescription: close down the gun factories, and produce grain and books."
Famous singer Al Bano is very much looking forward to the opportunity to sing in Donbass and on Red Square, "to perform and call everyone to peace", he said in an interview with Izvestia. The Italian pop star assured that his love for Russia, where he has given concerts many times since 1984, is "sacred and inviolable". Al Bano told our correspondent about what he is personally ready to do to end the conflict in Ukraine, why he believes in Donald Trump's peacekeeping mission, whether his ex-wife Romina Power is ready to come to Russia, and whether he ever thought about obtaining Russian citizenship following the example of other Western stars.
"I tried to do some kind of rap".
- You're wearing the hat again... Do you always wear them? Do you have a large collection of hats? Do you have a Russian hat in it?
- I even sleep with a hat on. I have hats from different countries. A Russian ushanka, very nice, was given to me after the show "Al Bano and His Lady".
- That's when you brought your daughter to Moscow. And she sang. What are her creative successes?
- She is involved in singing and teaching. The best gift for a father is to have a son or daughter who is doing a good job.
Italian singer Al Bano with daughter Jasmine Carrisi
- Did you advise her to become a singer?
- I don't give advice because nobody gave me any either. Once I asked myself what I wanted to do in life. And I decided that I wanted to do what I've always done, and I was good at it.
- You have a lot of experience in the vocal art. Did you ever think of leaving the stage and becoming a teacher?
- I'm not very good at teaching. People address me as a teacher, but I say I'm a student myself. I need to learn something new every day.
- In February, the Sanremo Festival will be held again. You have participated in it many times. How much do you think it has changed in the last 20 years?
- Music always depends on a certain period. First there was Beethoven, Bach, then Giuseppe Verdi, Puccini, then Carosone, Domenico Modugno, Celentano. This is an era when things are changing very quickly. And so is the music at the Sanremo Festival. I think that's a good thing. You just have to be able to adapt to the speed of the times in which we live.
- Would you like to try your hand at rapping?
- I've tried performing something like rap, just to experiment with a new tempo. But I prefer the classics. I also like pop rock.
Of course, for me, the times of Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson are unforgettable. I listen to them and it's like I'm energized. Pavarotti was just an outstanding singer, he had his own way of performing opera, when all the words became clear.
In classical music, the words are often changed. They change the "i" to an "o" or an "a". That's why I didn't really want to do opera singing. I knew the great Mario Del Monaco well. He once came to hear me perform Leoncavallo's Morning Serenade. And he said a phrase I'll never forget: "You've been stolen from opera." However, I decided to do what I loved.
- Can you mention any of the contemporary singers?
- In pop music, it's Lazza (Italian rapper, songwriter and producer. - Ed.). Everyone in Italy is crazy about him.
Italian rapper Lazza
- Can you single out any talented contemporary Russian artists?
- I haven't been to Russia for many years. I'd love to hear new talents - I'm sure you have some good and interesting performers.
- Who would you like to sing a duet with?
- With Ray Charles - that was my dream. With Adriano Celentano, but it's impossible, because now he has chosen a different path, and it's worthy of respect. I'd also like to sing with Mina. I used to sing with Romina Power. I'm always open to new options. Thank God, sometimes I get offered something.
- Are you recording new songs?
- I'm preparing a double album called "Mediterranean Air". On one disk will be my main compositions. On the other - one song for each people of the Mediterranean, which I love very much. It should be interesting.
- When do you plan to release it?
- Around the end of February or early March.
"I still remember the meeting with Putin in 1986 in Leningrad"
- There have always been strong cultural ties between Russia and Italy. Now, despite the sanctions and all that is going on, do you manage to maintain relations with Russian musicians?
- If there is love, there is always love. There are pleasant and not so pleasant moments in it. I am convinced that these sanctions and misunderstandings will end. The noise of shells will subside and the voice of reason and humanity will sound, because it is stronger. This voice will win. There has always been a great affection between Italy and Russia. I know this from my own experience.
It's night now, but after night always comes day. It will be brighter than before. I am waiting for this moment and I would be happy to perform at a peace concert on Red Square, like in 1985, when the first and only Western artists to sing in Russia were Al Bano and Romina Power. We performed the song Sempre sempre ("Always, always").
- You mentioned Romina. Can we expect your joint concert in Moscow or St. Petersburg?
- I can only speak on behalf of Al Bano. If Romina Power and I were offered to sing on Red Square, I would agree. I have to ask Romina's agent if she agrees. Although I'm sure she would agree. When we first came to Russia in 1984, she was crying. We had rusty water coming out of the tap. I told her: "Be thankful the water is red instead of green." There was no water, no oranges, nothing. And at the end she was crying because she had fallen in love with Russian people. She completely changed her attitude. I think she can't wait to go back. After all, our reunion on stage took place in 2013 in Moscow. If I'm not mistaken, we hadn't sung together for thirteen years before that.
- In your last interview to Il Fatto quotidiano you said that you are ready to go to Donbass for the sake of peace. Could you comment on that?
- My music always sings the feelings that should be obligatory for everyone: peace, love and all the best. I advocate the pursuit of this. The history of mankind is full of disagreements and misunderstandings. But we should remember that any phenomena appear and disappear. These disagreements will also disappear, and in their place new flowers and songs will grow.
They will be songs about peace, which we all need. Even if the war is far away from us, psychologically it's still hard on people. I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to sing in Donbass and on Red Square. I want to perform and call everyone to peace. I still remember my meeting with Putin in 1986 in Leningrad. And I will never forget the words he said to me. I also remember meeting Putin and Yeltsin in 2004, when I sang in the Kremlin with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Those were special moments. We also saw each other in Budapest.
I realized then that Putin was oriented towards the West. His good relationship with Berlusconi, who was my best friend, speaks volumes. Wars should not be started because they bring harm to everyone, even those who start them. We know that from history. We shouldn't fall into that trap again.
"I want to create the conditions for peace to return."
- Are you ready to go to Donbass for free?
- Why not. Giving a free concert for peace is the right thing to do.
- Aren't you afraid? You have no experience of performing in hot spots?
- We should try to make war just a bad memory. I want to live as a man of peace, in an atmosphere of peace. That's my message, and it will remain unchanged. But at the same time, it's stupid to go in front of bullets. I don't want to be a crazy hero who died for nothing. I want to create the conditions for peace to return. I'm willing to use my voice for that.
- We have to end the war to get you to sing?
- Not to get me to sing, but to get me to agree to sing.
Donetsk People's Republic
- You often talk about your love for Russia, even now....
- Yes, my love for Russia is sacred and inviolable.
- Have you never thought about taking Russian citizenship, like Gerard Depardieu or Steven Seagal? Ornella Muti has also talked about it, but it's a different story there - she has Russian roots.
- I think not. I was once offered to move to Los Angeles, to Monte Carlo. I've had all kinds of offers. During all these decades I realized that my home is the south of Italy, Cellino-San Marco, where I was born. I don't feel like cutting off my roots and moving somewhere else, with all due respect to the offers I have received.
I am also a citizen of Albania. My name is linked to this country. My father participated in the Second World War. He said that he was helped to survive by Albanians. He told my mother, "Let's name our son Al Bano and he will bring us luck." My father was right.
- Italian singer and composer Enzo Ginazzi (Pupo) has also supported Russia in recent years. He took part in a contest where Russian patriotic songs were sung. Do you know any Russian songs?
- I know all the classics, but I think Russians sing them better than I do. I more often just listen to wonderful and unrivaled Russian music.
- You said earlier that you would not come to Russia. Therefore, have you changed your mind?
- I don't know if I've been able to explain well, deeply my thoughts about Russia today. I love the Russian people immensely. I didn't know that I was so famous in Russia, and when I arrived there, the love that the Russian people gave me moved me, it was amazing. Naturally, some things have changed in Russia, we all know that. I don't go into this topic not because I can't, but out of respect... I don't go into it not because of cowardice, but because I respect the ideas of others.
"My absurd prescription is to shut down gun manufacturing and produce grain"
- You said that Trump, by becoming president of the United States, will contribute to the end of conflicts in the world. What makes you think that?
- One thing I've noticed is that Trump is the only American president who hasn't fought wars with anyone. I see him as the American Berlusconi. During his presidency, I emphasize this important fact, he did not start wars with anyone, and I think thanks to him, this period of absurd wars will also end. Including the one between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Donald Trump
- Hence, do you believe Trump who said he will end the conflict in Ukraine in one day?
- Of course he will need time to realize this project, which is definitely already in the works. Because he shows the prerequisites and he does it quite eloquently and obviously. I believe Trump will bring some peace to the world and some prosperity that we all need.
- And if you were a politician, what would be your prescription to stop war?
- I was born in the south of Italy, in a place with a population of five thousand. My father was drafted into World War II. One day a grenade fell a few feet away from him and two of his friends were blown up. My father said to me when he came back: "I was in the war, but I didn't kill anyone. Because they did me no harm, I don't see why I should kill them."
I was born with the idea that in life one should always resort to the power of intellect. Because you only have to rely on the power of arms to advance the arms industry.
And it's always hungry, and that means destruction. And there is now the atomic bomb, and we already know what happened in World War II in Japan. Let's be human and not be subhuman. That's what I'm praying for.
- Therefore, your prescription is to shut down the weapons factories?
- My absurd prescription is to close the arms factories and produce grain, grain and grain. Because man has always needed food to live and books to be culturally enriched.
- I think what you said is beautiful. At the end of the interview, what would you like to give to all Russian fans?
- I wish you peace, prosperity and the return of all good things. I wish us to unite again thanks to the magic of our mother music. It is medicine in its purest form. Music is a magic carpet because it lifts you up. Our spirit needs it daily.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
