Article by Philip Grasselli
The warm sun outside, queuing in front of the “Giorgio Gaber” Lyric Theater Of Milangives us a respite on these November mornings in Scighera: all together for the press conference to present the new album of covers by Sugar.
The context
He speaks immediately Riccardo Vitanzaresponsible for Words and Surroundingswho will moderate the entire meeting, and who introduces us to ladder killer: always a river of songs, which represent an immense career that dates back to 1983 (but also much earlier, when he picked up the saxophone in the band at thirteen years old).
Seeing Zucchero in a more intimate, relaxed, but still professional context is something decidedly different compared to the concert we saw last July 4th at San Siro: everything is embellished by the artist's presentation video with a series of endorsements from world caliber, from Ray Charles to Miles Davispassing by Francesco De Gregori, Sting And Brian May.
Discover II: an excursus on the album
Basically “Discover II” it is an album, according to the singer-songwriter from Reggio Emilia, of covers that he was unable to include “Discover”released in 2021 in the middle of the pandemic. At the time he had selected well five hundred songs, a number obviously disproportionate to the final result – fourteen tracks.
Even in this context the filtering was not trivial, so the final result is a record of thirteen tracksmore five bonus for the deluxe box version. The album cover is very elegant and simple, despite the wild context: Zucchero and his dog Bardolino (to mention the gesture of drinking with his thumb and little finger when he was asked to repeat his name) in the middle of the woods.
Anticipated by the single currently on the radio “Love that moves the sun”cover of the song “My Own Soul's Warning” of the The Killersembellished with an adaptation of the Italian lyrics written by Zucchero, the standard version of “Discover II” also contains the song “Una come te” – Italian version with the lyrics written by Zucchero of the song “Chinatown” of the band Bleachers – and collaborations with Paul Young in “I See a Darkness” And Oma Jalivocalist and chorister who has accompanied Zucchero on tour all over the world for years, in “If you don't want me”. Furthermore, the deluxe box version includes collaborations with Jack Savoretti, Irene Fornaciari, Russell Crowe And Psalm and the song “I live (in you)”.
The anecdote about Russell Crowe
In addition to this excursus of the album, many anecdotes, like the one with Russell Crowe for the song “Just Breathe” of the Pearl Jam – track that is also included in the film “Into the Wild”.
We saw each other for the first time in February last year on tour in Australia, I played chair at the Opera House, and Jimmy Barnes was there. We know each other because Lisa, who was my initial backup singer, got married to a beautiful boy from Sydney and moved there and, not only that, she became Jimmy's backup singer. So he came to the Opera House and I invited him on stage to sing a Van Morrison song, after which he invited me for a drink after the show, also announcing that a friend of his was coming by: Russell Crowe. Furthermore, I saw him again this summer at Bocelli at the Atlantic, on his thirtieth anniversary: in the end he told me “we have to do something together!”.
Zucchero looking back at his first meetings with Russell Crowe last year
In short, the two had a lot of fun, between passing the tracks, mixing them and playing them remotely and here, in fact, is the cover of Eddie Vedder.
The summer stages
Finally, a special mention for the stadium tour, always under the umbrella ofOverdose of Lovewhich will continue during next summer with the following stages:
AnconaConero Stadium: 19 June 2025
BariSan Nicola Stadium: 21 June 2025
TurinStadio Olimpico Grande Torino: 26 June 2025
PaduaEuganeo Stadium: 28 June 2025
Tickets on sale at this link > https://tidd.ly/3NaRjB4
Small spoiler, between one date and another, Adelmo Fornaciari – at the registry office – also announced that he would like to produce another album, which however will be publishable in 2026. They will be two beautiful, intense years!
Sugar – Discover II
Love that moves the sun
Someone like you
Just Breathe
Sailing
Watercolour
With or Without You
Set Fire to the Rain
Agnes
Inner City Blues
Rhapsody
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
If You Don't Want Me (feat. Oma Jali)
I See a Darkness (feat. Paul Young)
Only in the deluxe version
Senza una donna (feat. Jack Savoretti)
Moonlight Shadow (feat. Irene Fornaciari)
Just Breathe (feat. Russell Crowe)
Overdose of Love 2024 (feat. Psalm)
I live (in you)
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
