Zucchero has recorded with the likes of Sting, Bono, Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton and dozens of others. He's had numerous number one hits in Italy but still is relatively unknown in the United States. In talking to Zucchero we learned more about what the big name musicians have known for years, a talented musician who's changing the music scene.
DM) You've played with numerous popular English-speaking artists
(Sting, Bono, Sheryl Crow) and have received their recognition
and praise but Italian music doesn't seem to have caught on in
the American market. Why do you think that is?
Z) I think that the times are changing. I think that people
are more open now. The Americans are more open to, for example,
Italian music. There are more chances for us in America now.
And we are trying to do our best. I released this album in Italian
and in English for this reason. I think that it's something that
could be different. It could be a new sound. Because it's Italian.
Not because it's just in Italian, but it's not the typical Italian
songs of opera and folk, but it's pop/rock.
DM) In a lot of your songs, you use English lyrics too.
Z) Yes, sometimes. I do it for the same reason. Because otherwise
the radio in England or America will not play your music unless
it's sung in English. That's the main reason, because honestly
it's not easy to translate from Italian to English. Sometimes
it's ok, but sometimes it's very difficult because you lose the
poetry. You lose the harmony and the deep meaning of the lyrics
sometimes because it's not easy to translate into another language.
I personally prefer to sing in my own language but the radio
in England and America won't play the music if it's not in English.
But I also have great co-writers like Bono, Elvis Costello, Paul
Buchannan and Sting.
DM) When did you first meet Bono?
Z) I think it was in 1992. I wrote a song for me and Pavoratti
called Miserere and that was the first time that Pavoratti sung
with a non-opera artists. Bono liked the song so he wanted to
do the English lyrics. So there are two versions… one in
English, and one in Italian, with exactly the same melodies.
And then we met up with each other almost every year. The last
album I recorded was in his studio in Dublin, and we did Net
Aid together. We have been very close for a long time.
DM) You have a number of close relationships with a number
of famous musicians.
Z) I'm proud of that because you have to understand that it's not easy
for a European continental artist to get the respect from an American or
English artist. Successful names like Clapton,
Ray Charles, Miles Davis… I think it's because my music
is not typical Italian songs. It's a little bit different. I
have a lot of influences coming from the blues, soul, gospel
and Italian melodies. It's a mixture of things that they find
interesting.
DM) But that's not typical for children to hear the blues
and soul when growing up in Italy?
Z) No, I don't know why I did. It's not typical in Italy to
listen to such music. It's not usual, but I grew up with this
kind of music and I immediately discovered that it was my favorite
type of music.
DM) Have you ever had a chance to play or record with any
of those blues or soul artists?
Z) Yes, in 1989 I recorded an album in Memphis with the Memphis
Horns and numerous Memphis and New Orleans artists. With Eric
Clapton for example, we did a big tour in Europe in 1991. And
we're still in touch. Every summer we go on holidays together.
Or with Sting, he's my neighbor here in Tuscany. And I know Paul
Young from recording the song, "Senza a Donna" which
was a big hit in Europe and America. We are very, very good friends.
We can talk not only about music, but we talk about life and
this is the most important thing.
DM) What do you mean?
Z) Talking about more then music, but talking about life.
Because everybody has something to say… different experiences
and if you are friends you can help each other from these experiences.
DM) So what do you do when you're not recording? What is a
typical day for you like?
Z) Now that we've finished a tour one week ago, I'm at home
now and I still try to have a normal life. Nothing strange, nothing
unusual. I love to stay with my friends or go fishing, or playing
football sometimes. To stay with my family. Fortunately, I live
in a beautiful area, Tuscany, and the weather is very nice and
sunny. I try to clean myself here, of the pressure.
DM) Is it still possible to have a "normal" life?
Z) It takes time. We did a tour for almost 1 year and when you come back home, it takes
time to relax, to reset yourself in a normal life.
