Preface by Giuliano Ferrara
Celentano is longevity, the “for good” entry in a compilation which today we would call a playlist.
Claudia Mori asked me to write about a song by Celentano, but I don’t know any of his songs, I only know him and his voice that together with the language of his body, makes him who he is and what he’s renown for throughout the world. He who has style doesn’t have songs but only one song. I also know Celentano the Man of Faith, the Political Rocker, the Television Performer who proclaims his deep-rooted beliefs with the impact of his pauses and speeches and makes them sound as universal truths. This also makes him unique. I never asked him the question he’s been asked by everyone, which is whether he invented “the pause” because of memory lapses.
He invited me the first year he conducted Fantastico, a Saturday night lottery that was more of an early Christmas celebration, and while I was backstage with him, I noticed that Adriano was reminding himself to forget some things. Because great actors rely on their talent rather than their memory, otherwise they risk sounding like weathered public speakers.
Also Celentano’s music is unforgettable, because he shares with Bob Dylan that oblivious, transient, wondering character that keeps their songs from becoming fashionable, trendy, and stuck in a marketable category.
Celentano is a Guru and Giorgio Bocca awarded him with a gratifying, commendable, anti-conformist and provocative definition: the “Talented Cretin”. And to choose to forgo a smart, acceptable, revered road in the Italian music business where academism and scholarly stupidity prevail, is the mark of a great Genius.