Gino Paoli, the eternal poet of Italian song: a journey through his masterpieces

Italy bids farewell to Gino Paoli, who passed away at the age of 91. A songwriter with unmistakable charisma and a pillar of the "Genoese school", he leaves behind a artistic legacy of rare greatness.

Retracing his masterpieces means traversing decades of national history, filled with urban lyrics, tumultuous loves, intimate fractures, and turning points that have reshaped authorial song. His dazzling debut dates back to 1960 with "La gatta". That autobiographical page, evoking an attic by the sea and a black spot on a feline's face, initially sold very little, but thanks to an uncontrollable word-of-mouth, it became a triumph, opening the doors to an extraordinary career.

In the same year, "Il cielo in una stanza" was born, a true break from tradition of the time. Inspired by a fleeting encounter in a brothel, the composition exploded in Mina's interpretation, revealing Paoli's talent for transforming a physical space into an infinite emotional universe.

In 1961, "Senza fine" was born, a waltz written in just half an hour and dedicated to his then-partner Ornella Vanoni. The melody, essential and enveloping, and the lyrics that linger on hands and infinity marked the peak of their artistic partnership.

Two years later came the anthem of Italian summers: "Sapore di sale". Composed in an empty house in Capo d'Orlando, it was enhanced by the arrangement of Ennio Morricone and the sax of Gato Barbieri, quickly winning the Gold Record. Also in 1963, "Che cosa c'è" offered a minimalist waltz and an immediate declaration of love: the whispered version by Paoli himself dominated the charts.

Despite going through dark periods, his compositional vein never dried up. In the Eighties, he experienced a powerful resurgence thanks to "Una lunga storia d'amore" (1984), written for the soundtrack of the film "Una donna allo specchio" featuring Stefania Sandrelli: a tender and melancholic ballad about the fleeting nature of passion, which confirmed his status as an unparalleled chansonnier with international reach.

In the Nineties, he returned to the top with "Quattro amici al bar" (1991), the lead track of the album "Matto come un gatto" and winner of the Festivalbar, which became a true generational anthem.

Until the most recent jazz rearrangements, such as in the elegant “Notes from a Long Journey” (2019) created with Danilo Rea, Paoli has demonstrated that great music knows no age or boundaries.

His songs, built on clear melodies and a vertiginous emotional depth, will continue to resonate “up in the immensity of the sky”, touching and moving generations to come.