Vasco Rossi is a phenomenon in Italy. Probably the exact opposite of Marco Masini , although the Italian knows everyone loves but by far not all. Laura Pausini has many "too American", Ramazzotti "too small", Masini "too depressing," Gianna Nannini "too gay" Tues De Andrè "too arty" - Vasco Rossi, however, knows and loves everyone. Vasco can walk on water, make-filled concert halls with only one tired of bread and certainly turn water into wine. Vasco played any concerts, he celebrated masses. Virtually every Italian Vasco revered, almost everyone has several CDs in the cupboard and practically every one can ask, when in the 70 years he has visited since his first concert as "Il Blasco" was still relatively unknown. There are numerous cover bands that are so successful because the master is not everywhere can be simultaneously and there are many fans of these cover bands because they are so their weekly dose of "Vasco" you can pick them before using the withdrawal symptoms. And so I also wanted to look again at close range, what is the insanity of it.

"Songs are like flowers | it grow by itself | are like dreams | and we are left with nothing but | they quickly write | because otherwise they disappear. | And forgotten"
"Le canzoni sono come i fiori | nascono as sole | sono come i sogni | ea noi non resta | che scriverle in fretta | why poi svaniscono. | E non si ricordano più"
("Una Canzone Per Te", 1983)

This phenomenon is strictly limited to Vasco Italy. I know in Germany exactly one person who can start with the name of the 1952-born singer anything. Suffice here in Italy a few hours to sell out the 100,000 tickets for a concert at the "Olimpico" in Rome or Milan, "San Siro". To say nothing of his mythical "Vasco Stock", as in 2004, 400,000 people gathered in Catanzaro, to pay homage to the master. Each newly recorded CD, now there are about 24 sets, a whole country in motion. Vasco is how well it succeeded almost any other singer of singers in the richly blessed country, the lifestyle, the problems, concerns, hopes and wishes of the Italians to put into words with which many can identify with. His music is technically excellent but by no means innovative rock. His lyrics are unverschnörkelt refer back to one common usage in everyday life and draw their strength from images and metaphors with which one can identify. And each generation of 12-year-old girls in baggy chemise up to Vasco in ecstasy screened tendencies older folks around the 60 who have lost their tie to celebrate the day.

"Mozart is the Vasco by a few centuries ago. Great talent, ironically, with its contradictions and its follies. "
"Mozart è il Vasco di qualche secolo fa: Grande talento, ironico, con i suoi Contrasti e le sue follie."
(Cosimo Damiano Damato)

The people of Vasco's songs plagued worries and fears, do not use print-like expressions, when fate once again unfairly strikes, they tell of moments we have all probably experienced it before. Consequently, many Vasco speaks from the soul. And he meets a criterion that is sought by virtually every "superstar", but only achieved by few: authenticity. Take the man from simply that he torments himself with the same inanities about that concern us all, rejected love, a holiday by the sea, afraid to make a decision ... the usual hurdles of the "italiano medio". Much more is there not more and not need it: You take a man from just that he knows what he is talking about when he's sweaty up there on stage, is flirting with the audience, one after another of his famous fiddle- Castro caps in the crowd raises his or bare torso imperfect, because the first series of demanding his shirt. And you can feel childlike amazement still alive when he around albert been flown for several minutes with a red thong. He, who could still have it all.

Vasco Rossi - Alba Chiara - San Siro Live 2003

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hor89yVIyvw

This year, Vasco pulls through - by his standards - small, enclosed venues, 13 years after his last indoor tour. And we managed to arrange for one of his five (!) Mediolanum Forum in Milan concert tickets. What can I say? Whopping two and a half hours, the aging happily with his Dervish otherwise excellent book on the stage, as it would be his farewell concert. The atmosphere is like a football stadium with flags, banners and chants. Text and the audience is certain: His well-known ballads, he need only the lips move in sync as well as new songs like "Ad ogni costo ', a cover of Radiohead's hit" Creep ", echoing against him ten thousand times. A block of interspersed hits he accompanied solely by acoustic guitar, provides just such enthusiasms as many minutes of excellent guitar and drum solos, when introducing the band without their lead singer. Two and a half hours flight from Italy Berlusconians with unemployment, economic crisis, war deaths in Afghanistan Ista and the effort to sgen the friend what you think.

Vasco Rossi - Vita Spericolata - San Siro Live 2003

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ivDvE14WIk

As I said, Vasco is a phenomenon. It is also a phenomenon that his earthy rock and roll has not yet managed to go abroad, but even celebrate where sorely average representative as Eros Ramazzotti, Laura Pausini success. Until then, the old warhorse, but continues to bathe in the cultic veneration of his countrymen and mischievously at each rejoicing storm like a little boy grin that still does not understand why worship him, people, if he is still plagued with the same stupid needs like all there before him in the audience. Because this is how the "family Vasco". He deserves it, "Italia ai tempi di Vasco."

And here are a few blurry photos: