Downloaded from YTS.MX
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
(VOCALISATIONS)
(Mahmood) # From the plane I can see the Sahara. #
(Mahmood) # Yesterday we were talking at the lake without worrying. #
(Mahmood) # You walk around and compete with those assholes to see who hates me more... #
# ..while I watch the TV inside of me. #
(Mahmood) # Tell me more, otherwise, I'll get angry like Majin Bu. #
# There's no one here who listens to me like you did. #
(VOCALISATIONS)
# I write all day, I go round the world... #
# You call, I don't answer,... #
# ..I drink because I just want to make some trouble... #
# ..like a child in a shop. #
# I'm a drifter, I bark but I don't bite,... #
# ..I swim, maybe I sink, I'm just tired,... #
# ..I just want to stay home. #
# Hugs and kisses from Tunisia. #
(VOCALISATIONS)
# Hugs and kisses from Tunisia. #
(Mahmood) I've never been good at talking about myself.
(Mahmood) Maybe that's also why I started writing songs.
("SOLDI" MUSIC)
(Mahmood) At times, I've written things I'm deeply embarrassed about.
("SOLDI" MUSIC)
(Mahmood) But deep down, I think the most real part of me is hidden among those words.
- (Mahmood) Hello! - (Woman) Hi! - (Mahmood) Here you are.
- Have you got it? - (Mahmood) Yes.
- Is that it? Just that? - No, I gave the other bag to Uncle Salvo.
Is that the meat? Let's put it over there.
- Let's make a running change. - A changing of the guard?
(INDISTINCT WORDS)
(Pietro Chessa) We followed him even when he was a child.
We often went to Milan. He always did something at Christmas and we went to watch.
We never dreamed he'd become what he is today.
("DEI" MUSIC)
("DEI" MUSIC AND CHEERS FROM THE AUDIENCE)
# Zeus above, Hera to the right, shining on the full moon. #
# Hermes flies, Hades falls, he wants to release the evil. #
# Venus is with Triton, Poseidon is among the abysses. #
# The sun goes down, Apollo trembles, if you get lost, ask Athena! #
("DEI" MUSIC AND CHEERS FROM THE AUDIENCE)
# I see a world within the pages. #
# You think about it, it's not that difficult to reach in a second,... #
# ..like a missile, further than Saturn. #
# You ask me what it's like, I don't answer, maybe I don't remember,... #
# ..I close my eyes and go back there. #
(chorus) # ..shining on the full moon. #
# Hermes flies, Hades falls, he wants to release the evil. #
# Venus is with Triton, Poseidon is among the abysses. #
# The sun goes down, Apollo trembles, if you get lost, ask Athena! #
("DEI" MUSIC)
Wow!
("DEI" MUSIC)
# The sun goes down, Apollo trembles, if you get lost, ask Athena! #
(CHEERS FROM THE AUDIENCE)
(INDISTINCT SINGING)
When I was little, I tried not to think too much about the real world.
(Teachers, from video) - Alessandro Mahmood. - Come on, Ale, come on!
The teachers were always telling my mother: "Madam, your son has his head in the clouds".
(Teachers, from video) Alessandro, can you look up a second for the photo?
(Mahmood) I took control of the cupboard where my mother put the cleaning products, sauces...
(Mahmood) I'd created villages.
(Mahmood) There was Casper's castle, right in the middle,...
..and it was linked to other houses with threads.
(Mahmood) I imagined up some incredible journeys.
Hello!
Here we are!
We were over there before and now we're here.
(Mahmood) Maybe I was rejecting reality.
I don't know if it was a kind of selfishness or if that's just how I was.
# Behold, the King of angels is born. #
(Mahmood) I sang at home every day. I really liked singing!
(Mum) One day, he told me he wanted to have singing lessons.
I didn't know if specific schools existed, I didn't have time because I was always working.
He looked for them himself.
(Woman) Alessandro Mahmood.
(Mahmood) I thought I was good. When I look at the videos now, I realise I really wasn't.
(Mahmood) I used to mimic my favourite singers.
(Mahmood) I realised that was the wrong technique...
..when I had my first singing lesson with Gianluca Valenti, in Baggio.
I learnt everything there, I did my first performances, consciously.
I started to feel nervous, anxious about getting on stage. I didn't have that as a child.
Alessandro...
- What are you singing for us? - "When you see nothing at all" by Ronan Keating. - Breathe though!
Your heart is beating like crazy!
I entered lots of music competitions,...
..the classic ones with three rankings.
There was actually a competition where we had to take original material,...
..I hadn't started writing yet, I was young, about 15-16 years old.
I bought a song off some writers, it was called "La notte ti adora".
# The night loves you, sat in that glass at 200 miles per hour! Per hour! #
# Tomorrow you'll be with me! #
# Goodnight, miss, wear leather and light, now's the time! #
# Again! Wear me! #
In spite of all these attempts, because you try, you always try,...
..I was embarrassed at times to do certain things.
I asked myself: "Will all this take me where I want to go? I don't know."
("INUYASHA" MUSIC AND CHEERS FROM AUDIENCE)
(VOCALISATIONS)
# When you say goodbye, you break my heart. #
# Going so far as to raise my hands... I don't like it any more. #
# If we argue around other people,... #
# ..there's no point asking friends who is right. #
# If who we are doesn't mean shit to you,... #
# ..to me we're worth more than an Ocean Drive. #
# If I ask how you are, the truth burns across your face, like Inuyasha's scar. #
# I don't know how... #
# ..we're still standing. #
(Mahmood) Together!
(Mahmood) # I'll never be one of those rich kids. You see me and understand. #
# Being with me will feel like gliding on go-karts. #
(Mahmood) And then?
(Audience) # I admit I didn't do everything... #
(Mahmood) # ..to tell you that saying goodbye doesn't mean it's the end. #
# I'll put the best of me inside a cocoon... #
# ..so I don't hurt you anymore, if you'll do it too. #
("INUYASHA" MUSIC)
I'd forbidden him to enter competitions.
He could study, but I thought competitions were a waste of energy.
And he promised me he wouldn't enter any. We even drew up contracts.
I need to find them. We wrote them, and he signed them. I was really... We were...
(APPLAUSE) Alessandro Mahmood.
(APPLAUSE)
- Did you like him? - (Woman) Yes! - (Man) No. - (Woman) He's got the X Factor.
He's like X Factor? He's got the X Factor? Who said that?
(PIANO PLAYING "SOLDI" MUSIC)
(Dardust) The first time I saw Alessandro was on "X Factor".
(Dardust) I was casually watching and I was overcome by his vocality,...
..by his stage presence, his energy, and his way of being.
Straightaway, I thought: "That's too easy, he'll go in and win 'X Factor'".
I think "X Factor" was one of the saddest times of my life. The biggest disappointment.
He came home and said: "Mum, I got through all the auditions for 'X Factor'".
There must have been six.
"I have to go to Olbia tomorrow because we have to do the last step to 'X Factor'."
"What do you mean you have to go tomorrow? Your exam's in three days and you haven't studied!"
(Mahmood) I'd passed all the auditions and got to the home visits.
(Mahmood) I'd prepared two songs, one in Italian and one in English.
(Mahmood) The choice was between me and another guy of who would proceed to the programme,...
..and they asked us to sing something in Italian a cappella, and I wasn't prepared at all.
(Mahmood) So I chose a bit of a strange song.
(Simona Ventura) I'm sorry, Alessandro, it's a no from us.
Well, she said "no". Never mind.
(Mahmood) I was in Sardinia, and having my dream shattered at home,...
..in the heat, in jeans and a shirt...
He came home, and his exam was the next day. He hadn't studied at all.
I have to be honest, I wasn't very gentle.
I said: "Well, you didn't get into 'X Factor', all you need is to fail and it's a full house!".
I passed my end-of-school exam with 62. The bare minimum and a kick up the ass.
Then I found a job. I worked, and studied at music school in the afternoon.
After not even a month of signing up to this school,...
..they called me and said that there was a chance...
..that one person from each category could be called back to the programme.
I thought: "Yeah, whatever!" But I had to try. And I passed.
You broke the ice beautifully. Well done, Ale! Really, well done!
So for me you did doubly well!
I think your vocal tone reflects your physique.
When you're there, you're... believable!
Being funky means having groove, being cool and being sexy.
You've got all three of those characteristics.
They paid me loads of compliments in that episode... then they eliminated me.
Since the aim here is to launch a persona...
..who has the chance of achieving record success,...
..I think she's more prepared in that sense.
- So I'm going to eliminate Alessandro. - I'm eliminating Mahmood.
And that's when I started saying: "Never mind, it's not meant to be".
In hindsight, it was a good thing that Alessandro didn't continue with "X Factor",...
..that he didn't come out of that, because then he had the chance to create a strong identity,
to launch himself unprecedentedly, maybe unique in the history of Italian music.
Alessandro, I hope you have a long career in music because you deserve it.
You are ready for the music world.
PARIS BATACLAN
(INDISTINCT WORDS)
(Mahmood) Stefano, can you keep the monitors on?
I'm living this European tour as if I've been given another chance...
..to take my music out of my country.
One of the nicest memories I've got is of my first European tour, the 2019 one.
Hearing people sing my songs with different accents, throughout Europe, it was unique.
(Mahmood) This place has a bit of a special meaning.
(Mahmood) I think that in a place like this, in a concert hall, a temple of music,...
..people create connections that should never be broken.
I'm here to help music unite and not divide.
(CHEERS)
(in English) How are you, guys? I'm going to have a wash and come back, okay?
(in English) Super on fire for tonight?
(Fans) Yes!
(MAHMOOD MAKES VOCAL WARM UP SOUNDS)
(in English) When he's singing, I have to dance,...
..I don't understand anything because I'm not Italian, I can't speak the language,...
..but the sound makes me want to dance.
Hey!
- How are you? Tell me. Everything good? - (Fans) Yes!
I'm a bit frazzled because I haven't played a concert in Paris since...
- How many years, Fugazza? How many years has it been since we played a concert...? - Three years.
Three years, guys!
For three years, we've been saying: "Hey, that concert we played in Paris..."
Here we are, guys! (CHEERS)
His music is something else.
I really like Claudio Baglioni, but this music is different for people my age...
But he's got something... I don't know how to describe it. I really don't.
Okay, from the beginning! One, two, three!
(together) # Happy birthday to you! #
- (together) # Happy birthday to you! # - Fabiano! Fabiano!
# Happy birthday, Fabiano, happy birthday to you! #
Yeah, bro!
Like him, I'd like an identity that makes me feel exclusively Italian,...
..but I feel like I can't have that, because I've got roots.
I don't speak Arabic and I've never been to Egypt.
(Girl) There's this willingness to mix the past with the future and present,...
that makes me proud to follow an artist like this, so, hello, Alessandro!
SICILY - TAORMINA
(Carmen Consoli) Hi!
- Come on! - How are you? - I'm good.
- What have you brought? - We've brought some sweet things.
- Some? - Yeah, just a few bits... How many of us are there?
Hey, guy, welcome.
(Mahmood) This is a nice little house, hm?
(Carmen Consoli) He's brought just a few sweet things.
CARMEN CONSOLI'S HOUSE
Alessandro, this is my favourite moment.
I do this, I rinse it over there.
We pick it from here, we rinse it,...
..and we put it on the pasta.
Like when we put the keyboards on.
A basil leaf for you. Let's throw this basil on these semiquavers.
- My goodness. - (Carmen) There you go.
(in a French accent) - Voilà, our pasta with basil... - Is ready!
I heard about Alessandro, before he even went on Sanremo, before his launch,...
..as one of the best writers in Italy.
- Really? From who? - Yes. I heard rumours.
- I'd only written three songs. - People talk!
Whoever told me that was right though.
I was given some names of young writers to collaborate with.
- I was given some names, and yours was one of them. - (Mahmood) Really? - Yes.
As someone who was closest to my style.
I was really surprised to see him at Sanremo. The Sanremo he then won.
- (Man) Yes. - How strange! - Mauro Pagani was standing up, proud!
He was the one I auditioned for in 2016.
He helped me sign my first contract.
He called Sara Potente, who was my first record company.
He said to her: "Listen to this guy, he's just gone through to Sanremo".
And Sara listened to my song, "Dimentica".
# I'm alone... #
# ..in this blue room. #
"Dimentica"... I remember, there was the performance.
I didn't miss even one of them. "Dimentica" was the first.
It was traumatic for me, because he's talking about himself in "Dimentica".
Unfortunately, he never talks about any discomforts.
Any discomfort he has comes out through his songs. Even I found out lots of things from his songs.
# Forget... Forget! #
# Forget... bites on the pillow. Forget... #
(Francesco Fugazza) He started "Dimentica" with Marcello.
(Francesco Fugazza) Then he contacted me through Facebook...
..and came to me to continue with the production.
Then we went to Sanremo Giovani. And everything started from there.
He produced the song that got me the audition for Area Sanremo.
After that, the union between Francesco Fugazza and Marcello Grilli was created,...
..they started producing together.
(Mahmood) Us three were at the heart of everything.
- Hey! - (Paola) Hey, Ale!
- Paolina, how are you? All good? - Yes, good. How are you? - All good.
MILAN
(Paola) I remember when I saw you at the Universal restaurant.
- It was 2016. - In 2016, you'd written "Dimentica".
That day, you came over to me and you said:...
.."I've heard the track, and I have to say that...".
- It was the voice that... - You said something to me that I'll always remember.
You said: "Yeah, okay, I'll see you again in Milan. I'll call you".
- When you said that I thought... - Oh yes, there goes another one. - Exactly!
"There goes another one." But instead...
No, when I saw you, I thought you were so far from that genre...
You know how I've always struggled a bit with the Sanremo Festival.
- You told me: "You don't fit in here. Okay, you've done this, but now...". - "Enough!"
- "Focus on other stuff!" - (ironically) You really did take my advice!
For me, Paola has been a fundamental part of my journey.
I've never had a manager and artist relationship when working with her.
In this country, as far as my job is concerned,...
..there's always been something more authentic missing, something more real,...
..that allows you to enter into the mainstream...
..without doing something that isn't you.
And when I saw you, I said: "He's actually what is missing".
She got me to listen to songs, she sent me files,...
..she gave me the chance to collaborate with Fabri Fibra.
I was nothing. Nothing. I was no one.
Working out what they were telling me in my own style was the key. And I did it in the end.
One day, we went to Universal with "Uramaki" and Klaus said: "That's a hit!"
"You've done it, you've worked out how to start the chorus, Alessandro".
That's when I said to myself: "You've done it, after two years".
Then they made me sign a contract as a writer.
The first hit I wrote that was certified platinum, was "Nero Bali",...
..by Elodie, Michele Bravi and Gué Pequeno.
(Mahmood) That's when I realised I might be able to make money from this.
That was the first big reassurance I got.
Reassurance because I knew I could do something and reassurance from an economic perspective.
Anyway, up until I won Sanremo and even the year after, I always lived with my mum.
Hi, I'm Mahmood. I'm 26 and I'm from Milan.
I'm Italo-Egyptian because my mother is Sardinian and my father is Egyptian.
My mother made me listen to Lucio Battisti songs at home,...
..and I listened to Egyptian songs in the car with my father.
I was offered the chance to take part in Sanremo Giovani with "Gioventù bruciata".
I said no at first, because...
..because I'd already been to Sanremo Giovani and I'd come fourth, I remember.
If I took part in Sanremo Giovani again and didn't reach a higher place,...
..my career would've been over.
# What do they know about the Sphinx, I saw it with you when I was eight... #
In the end, I accepted. I couldn't get out of it, that was how it was.
What could I do? No one knew me.
At the start of the verse, with the first line, that was a slap in everyone's face. Well done!
Mahmood, my friend, it's as though the whole world has got together inside you.
(Mahmood) Usually, whoever wins the Critics Award doesn't win Sanremo Giovani.
That year, the winner of Sanremo Giovani would go on to the main Festival as one of the big artists.
That evening, they were giving out the Critics Award. "The Critics Award goes to..."
My record company and I looked at each other, and hoped we weren't the winners.
"Let's hope it's not us."
Mahmood, with "Gioventù bruciata".
(Mahmood) I thought: "I'm definitely not going to win". Look at the face on me.
(Mahmood) I remember I went up to get the Critics Award...
..with a face as though someone had just killed all my pets.
When I went home, everyone asked me why I looked like that...
..when I went on stage.
I didn't take it well.
(sarcastically) I'm very optimistic.
Good things just don't happen to us.
So I thought: "Even if he does his best...". I didn't think about him winning at all.
I couldn't believe it.
They gave me the Critics Award,...
..and then they said: "And the winner is Mahmood with 'Gioventù bruciata'".
And that's when I said "holy shit" in front of... Pippo Baudo.
Mahmood, with "Gioventù bruciata"! (APPLAUSE)
- (Pippo Baudo) Mahmood! - (quietly) Holy shit.
- (Pippo Baudo) Mahmood! - What a shock!
- What a shock, guys! - Mahmood! (APPLAUSE)
(Mahmood) Good morning.
(Mahmood) Guys, I've woken up with these awards,...
..it seems impossible to me, I can't believe it.
If that hadn't have happened, "Soldi" wouldn't have existed either.
So, I'll always be thankful... "Gioventù bruciata" will always be the best for me.
# There's something I don't understand,... #
# ..how to dive into the Red Sea,... #
# ..I forgot that too early on,... #
# ..but I remember you saying: "I'll stay". #
# Lost in a messy life,... #
# ..if you think about it, it's less complicated. #
# You always repeated the same phone call. #
# Damn this misspent youth of yours. #
("GIOVENTÙ BRUCIATA" MUSIC AND MAHMOOD VOCALISING)
I'd put a lot of notions into the song,...
..descriptions of my childhood and what I'd experienced.
And it was one of the first songs I'd written that spoke a lot about my childhood.
So I was scared of singing it in front of certain people.
Oh, my goodness... it broke my heart.
I'll never forget it. That's when I realised how much he kept things hidden.
Because he'd always been a happy child. At home, at the seaside, he was always happy.
I'd never noticed Alessandro being unhappy at all,...
..even if I did take him to a psychologist when his father left.
I was worried. He seemed so untroubled and I thought that was impossible.
# ..but I remember you saying: "I'll stay". #
# Lost in a messy life,... #
# ..if you think about it, it's less complicated. #
# You always repeated the same phone call. #
# Damn this misspent youth of yours. #
("GIOVENTÙ BRUCIATA" MUSIC AND MAHMOOD VOCALISING)
(APPLAUSE AND CHEERS)
(ARABIC DIALOGUE)
(Ahmed) Alessandro?
- (Ahmed) What are you doing? - A smile?
(Mahmood) It's always been a mess.
Even when I was little, I remember the relationship I had with him...
(MAHMOOD SCOFFS)
I don't know.
I remember good times spent with him.
But... they're a bit confusing, a bit strange.
I don't know, I can't work them out properly, because there's always that veil...
At the time, I thought it was good, but thinking about it now, I don't know if it was.
I mean, spending all day on the sofa watching TV, while he came and went.
And that was the day I was supposed to spend with him at the weekend,...
..when he'd come and pick me up from my mother's.
You can imagine, my mother didn't let me watch TV,...
..so sitting in front of Cartoon Network day and night was a dream for me.
But now, thinking about it, I don't know if it really...
I don't know.
I met Alessandro's dad, Ahmed, in the Porta Romana area.
I think I was 23.
I was there, in a café.
He was handsome, cheerful, very nice.
(Anna) We were together for three years and then we got married.
(Anna) I asked him if he wanted to get married in a church, and he was really happy.
(Anna) He stayed true to his religion and I did to mine.
(Anna) Then Alessandro was born. How lovely!
When you want something... That's what happens.
MILAN GRATOSOGLIO
ANNA'S HOUSE
(ESPRESSO MACHINE HUMMING)
Okay. Coffee...
- Do you want a biscuit? - Thank you.
(Anna) Go on, let's spoil ourselves.
- Oh, come on! - (Anna and Mahmood, together) This was Egypt.
That was a real waterfall!
- That was the first time we went to Egypt, my brother wasn't around yet. - Yes.
(SOUND OF SURPRISE FROM MAHMOOD) - Oh, honey, you're always smiling! - How ugly!
- You were always smiling. - (Mahmood) That's my cousin, Menna.
(Mahmood) She was drowning with the dinghy upside down and I saved her.
(Mahmood) Yes.
On this trip, when I was eight,...
I remember when they took us to the desert on camels.
- (Anna) Yes, the one with the horse that... - (Mahmood) We went to get you a present.
(Mahmood) We went to a perfume shop near the desert where they made their own perfumes...
..and I bought a gold bottle and gave it to you.
- (Anna) Yes, yes. - (Mahmood) I remember that.
(Mahmood) Alessandro! Are you going to say hello?
Hello! I'm making...
(Anna) You can tell your cousin's tickling you!
- They were so nice though. - Yes, that's true.
- Both of them. - You could tell they were so patient.
(Anna) Listen to what you say, listen.
They're singing in Egyptian. I don't understand a thing.
(Anna, laughing) Did you hear that?
(Mahmood) I said: "They're singing in Egyptian. I don't understand a thing". I was eight.
(Ahmed) We're at McDonald's at Athens airport.
Athens.
- (Ahmed) It's 06:30 in the morning. - And we have to go...
It's 06:30 in the morning and we have to get the aeroplane to go to...
(Ahmed) The funny thing is that Alessandro is eating chips at 06:30 in the morning.
(Ahmed, laughing) A hamburger and a huge Coca-Cola.
(AHMED AND ALESSANDRO GIGGLE)
- I'll say goodbye now. Bye! - (Ahmed) Bye, bye.
I remember the day my father left home.
He brought me this kind of family of teddy bears.
There was the daddy teddy bear, it was huge, and two smaller teddy bears.
I might still have one of those little teddy bears at my mum's house in Orosei, Sardinia.
Yeah.
But, from that day on, I never... (MAHMOOD GIGGLES)
It's weird to say, but it's as though I never missed him. I don't know...
It's weird.
(Ahmed) Ale, stay there a second. Look at me.
(Mahmood) I'm not angry or bitter. I don't resent anyone.
People simple make choices in life.
Life goes in different... directions.
Hidden places.
(Mahmood) I think he's been married other times anyway.
(Mahmood) So, anyway, he's hidden things in his life from me.
(Mahmood) There are things about my father that I haven't seen since I was born, many things.
(Mahmood) There are several.
(Mahmood) I don't have any regrets about my life...
..or about things I haven't let him see of me.
(Mahmood) At the end of the day, our lives are on completely different trajectories.
# Say goodnight. #
# Even if you don't know it, I need you. #
# You saw all the worst with me before the cash. #
# The cash was spent on rental cars. #
# It's not easy raising on your own... #
# ..the one who half reminds you of the man who left you. #
# Family means staying here. #
# As a couple, even if it's difficult. #
# Don't worry, mum,... #
# ..strength is for those who know how to survive. #
(in Sardinian dialect) # I cannot rest, my love. #
(in Sardinian dialect) # I think about you all the time. #
(in Sardinian dialect) # I promise you that I only want you. #
(in Sardinian dialect) # Because I love you lots, I love you. #
(in Sardinian dialect) # I love you and I love you. #
# Sorry if I haven't been honest. #
(Mahmood) # I promised you I'd be part of your life. #
(Mahmood) # I swear, I'll do it, I'll take you as far as New York. #
# What gift do you want? You say: "The thought's enough." #
("T'AMO" MUSIC)
(Mahmood) It wasn't that difficult to write a song for my mother,...
..it was more difficult to let her listen to it.
You've described everything I am.
(Anna) From saying goodnight to the fact that we were on our own.
(Anna) That we grew up together and... (ANNA SIGHS)
(Anna) You really reminded me of our life.
(Anna) You summed it all up in a few words.
(WAVES LAPPING)
Anna, here you go. The mother of the year award.
My goodness! (THEY LAUGH)
(BELL CHIMING)
(Anna) I grew up in Orosei. I stayed there until I was 18.
(Anna) Then, when I turned 18, I decided to go to Milan.
Come on! Alessandro, smile!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(Anna) Anna, as a mum, well, she's a pain sometimes.
She's a stickler. But I think she's the best mum I could ever have.
As far as I'm concerned.
But it's definitely not easy to live with me or her.
Because we're both hotheads. We clash a lot.
No! No!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING) (Anna) Hey, don't shout!
(Mahmood) We were a very close family. There was a birthday every weekend.
(Mahmood) My mum has a family of 13, with all her brothers and sisters.
(Mahmood) With their children and nieces and nephews, there was a birthday every weekend.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
I played with my cousins because we lived together, so my mother and I didn't feel alone.
(Mahmood) I think that was more her thing,...
..having to raise me on her own and work, it was difficult for her.
(Mahmood) I lived in my fantasy world.
Do these things happen on beaches in Sardinia?
(Carmen) Here, people set up camping tables,...
..they open parasols up.
They really do set up camp and stay there for the whole day on 15th August.
They put the mother in law at the head of the table on a director's chair, which is usually green.
- We do that in Sardinia too. - That happens?
Ours is green, red and white.
- These things happen? - You can't talk to me about these things because we're the masters.
- Really? - We've got land in a pine forest that was my grandfather's.
So we've got the fence, a cabin in the middle where we put the mattresses, chairs, tables...
- There are gazebos too... - There's a café, but we bring everything from home. - From home.
We cook there... All the aunties cook "seadas".
- It's a fried dessert, they fry them in the cabin. - In the cabin?! - Yes, in the cabin!
And then we...
If anyone sees us, we look like a cult.
My mum's family... There are 13 of them, with all her brothers and sisters, so just imagine!
(MACARENA)
(Michela Loddo) We're lucky to have a big family...
..because each of us has our own characteristics...
..and when you put them all together it's a wonderful union!
(Mahmood) I'll keep these here.
(Auntie Maria) Yes. Put it there. We've finished, haven't we?
Auntie Maria, everything all right?
(MAHMOOD HUMS)
When I was little, they took me to collect buckets of water from the sea.
- Heavy buckets that broke your back. - We didn't have water here before, so...
The children were this high,...
..they had to go and... and get buckets of water from the sea.
- (Mahmood) To clean the fish, the mussels... - We rinsed them.
(Auntie Maria) Sometimes just one person does all those things...
..and sometimes different people have different jobs.
It depends... The men cook the meat, they always do that.
(MAHMOOD HUMS)
- Let's hope we can do it tonight. - Of course you can.
LONDON 02 SHEPHERD'S BUSH EMPIRE
We've come from Ireland to see Mahmood.
(in English) - I'm from Cyprus. - I'm originally from India, and she's from Lithuania.
(in English) - London. - I'm from Spain.
Are you ready?
("SOLDI" MUSIC)
(in English) In "Soldi", there was also an R&B part...
..and I remember that a lot of R&B people,...
..wrote to me on Instagram, telling me:...
.."Oh my God, it's like you're talking about my story".
So I'm really happy about that.
# - Soldi... - Soldi! #
(together) # You asked me how's it going, how's it going, how's it going! #
(INDISTINCT WORDS)
(in English) We saw him at Eurovision, and we became big fans.
- Eurovision. - Eurovision, yeah. - "Soldi".
(in English) And then followed it up, tried to learn Italian for his songs as well.
(in English) Neither of us knows Italian, I don't really understand the lyrics,...
..but I found out about him on Eurovision, the first time he went.
(in English) I was obsessed with the song and I was just like: "I love him!".
(VOCALISATIONS)
(PIANO MUSIC) (Man, from phone) The low part, with an 'A'.
(Man) Your 'A', the one you use to sing.
(MAN DOES VOCALISATIONS WITH THE LETTER 'A' FROM PHONE)
(MAHMOOD DOES VOCALISATIONS WITH THE LETTER 'A' FROM PHONE)
(MAHMOOD DOES VOCALISATIONS WITH THE LETTER 'A')
(in English) - (Woman) Tickets out on the left! - (Girl) I like him because he's alternative.
(in English) I really like his vibe, mainly his style, I really like how he dresses as well.
(in English) - I think it's going to be a good one, I think it's... - It's going to be good.
(Woman, in English) So, yeah, that's basically how it's supposed to be and then like lower down, yeah.
(Woman, in English) That's how it's supposed to be worn.
(Man) But then when we starts to sing... (MAHMOOD SINGS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(Woman, in English) I think it's amazing, I think it's a great look.
(Woman, in English) And you can pull it down when you need, right?
(in English) - It's going to be really fun. - Yeah, I want a big show outfit.
(in English) First time Mahmood in London.
# I'm telling you love is like crime: it doesn't pay. #
# You make a scene and ruin the evening. You're the lookout when the raid comes. Loving you kills me. #
# They'll burn your curtains, if the family lies. #
# They'll ask for advice, but you shouldn't give it. #
# Away from me, away from me, away from me. #
# I'll call you back, stick around. Away from you, away from you. Golden Hour Daytona. #
# You only fire AKs when we are alone. #
# Midnight looks like daytime, standing on top of the bus. #
# I'm out of my mind if you fuck me, because I never told you that at night,... #
# ..at night, at night, at night, at night,... #
# ..at night, at night, at night the two of us are a Klan. #
# At night, at night, at night, at night, at night, at night the two of us are a Klan. #
(Anna) Alessandro is never alone. His house is always full of friends.
(Anna) He always needs to be surrounded so he doesn't have to think.
(Mahmood) If you have a safe haven, which for me is my friends, my family,...
..then you don't risk hurting yourself too much.
- Anna's in... - When I'm free, I want to see them. I get them all round my house.
- Dinner outside. - (Mahmood) They're the people I grew up with.
(Mahmood) So they're the ones who know me the best,...
..because they know how my thinking has changed over the years.
They're a bit like the diary of my life.
# At night, at night, at night, at night, at night, at night the two of us are a Klan. #
He's basically my family, everything.
Alessandro is absolutely a part of my family.
I consider him my brother.
- He's a huge pain in the ass. - He's such an important person.
(Sabrina Berardinelli) In every respect.
- He's a very generous friend. - (Davide Zirattu) He's a pain in the ass.
(Davide Zirattu) We're friends, but we argue.
He's appreciated by everyone anyway. I mean, really... That's how he is.
(Riccardo Schiara) What I love about him is that he's always stayed true to himself.
(Riccardo) He's always been humble, even if his life is so busy,...
..because one day he's here, then he's away for four days...
(Riccardo) But if you need him, he's there.
(Camilla Magli) He's become more empathetic ever since all this happened.
# The two of us are a Klan. #
("KLAN" MUSIC)
# The two of us are a Klan. #
("KLAN" MUSIC)
# The two of us are a Klan. #
("KLAN" MUSIC)
# The two of us are a Klan. #
(CHEERS FROM AUDIENCE)
(Mahmood) The first time I realised I had fans...
..was at one of my first concerts at the Ohibò with Marcello.
# There's something I don't understand,... #
# ..how to dive into the Red Sea,... #
When I took part in Sanremo Giovani and won with "Gioventù bruciata",...
..I had this concert at Ohibò before going to the main Sanremo Festival.
I went and sung there and this place gradually filled up, it was full of people!
Everyone was signing my songs. That was the first time I heard them being sung.
"People listen to them, people know them!"
# You always repeated the same phone call. #
# Damn this misspent youth of yours. #
It was really strange for me. I think that was one of the most moving concert moments.
MILAN GRATOSOGLIO
(Anna) Alessandro is leaving for Sanremo.
(Anna) Wow! Good luck, Ale!
The week of Sanremo will remain etched in my life forever,...
..because it was an unexpected crescendo, day after day.
Sanremo in 2019 was good because I was calm.
He had a low-profile attitude.
- "Yes, I'll try, I don't know... Maybe, we'll see. It's impossible, it won't happen." - And then...
# You only wanted money, money. As if... #
(Dardust) After the first performance, I started getting the feeling something was happening.
(Dardust) Something really big.
And I started talking about it with the record companies and team.
I said: "Guys, I think something big is going to happen here."
"Maybe he'll even get on the podium... I don't know, I can feel something happening."
But they all told me: "Keep your feet on the ground,..."
"..'Soldi' hasn't got the standard hit features,..."
"..it's too much of a unique track, he's too unique."
Whereas I kept feeling like he was having a huge impact.
(Anna) It's finally Friday evening, we're in Sanremo.
(Anna) This is Sanremo Casino...
(Anna) And now we're going to listen to Alessandro...
..who's singing with Guè Pequeno at the Ariston Theatre.
I remember Saturday night very well, the night of the final.
We were in the dressing rooms and the countdown from last position started.
(Dardust) It got to tenth position and Alessandro still hadn't been mentioned.
(Dardust) When it got to fourth position, Alessandro still hadn't appeared.
So I thought: "Man, we're on the podium! What's going on?"
(Claudio Baglioni) 03, Mahmood, "Soldi".
- Mahmood? - Oh my God!
One of the stage managers called me, and sent me to the cubicle behind the stage.
I was there with the orchestra conductors of the other two finalists.
The winning song of the 69th edition...
..of the Sanremo Festival is...
Then this girl with headphones came, one of the authors,...
..she gave me the music score, and said: "Here, you've won".
(Claudio Baglioni) "Soldi"! Mahmood!
(APPLAUSE)
(Anna) My goodness, he didn't know what was going on!
(Anna) Really, Alessandro showed what he was feeling. That's how he is.
"I've won?!" That's what he's like. That expression... that was him.
Even at home, when good things happen, he always has that surprised expression...
When he won... They said the name of the song, not "Mahmood".
I didn't understand straightaway that it was him.
I looked around and his mother was gone.
I don't know where she went, if she went over my head, or flew... She'd run away.
She'd gone to the Ariston entrance, from the back of the stage.
That's where she'd gone, maybe she was a bit out of it at the time.
A wonderful... A wonderful experience! Very touching, just beautiful.
(Claudio Baglioni) "Soldi"!
(Filippo Ferrari) I was in the press room and had to write the news.
(Filippo) I'd prepared an article that I had to publish.
(Filippo) I'd left a blank space and "has won the Sanremo Festival" written next to it.
(Filippo) Then when I put his name in, I kept saying: "Fuck! Fuck, he really has won!"
(Filippo) It was an incredible feeling!
Fucking well done!
(Paola) I thought: "That's the face of someone who never expected to win the Festival."
It really was a combination of... "What the fuck..."
It was a combination of "What the fuck" and "I'm sorted!" "I'm sorted for the next five years!"
It was a combination of "What the fuck..." and "My goodness..."
"What the fuck? I was hanging around cafés up until two years ago!"
(Filippo) Ale, we haven't got our whole lives to wait...
(Men) - Aim over here! - Over there... - Go, go! - Go! - Go, Ale!
(Filippo) Open it! (CHEERS)
(from radio) # I haven't got time to explain because only now do I know what you are. #
- (Anna) We're on our way back to Milan and what are we hearing on the radio? - I've got goosebumps!
- # I realised in a second... # - (Anna) Wow! Mahmood!
# You only wanted money! Money! #
(Anna) # As if... I had money! Money! #
(together) # You asked me how's it going, how's it going, how's it going! #
(CHEERS)
(Camilla) What lovely singers! Next year, we're all going to Sanremo!
(Camilla) How's it going, Ricky? How's it going? How's it going? How's it going?
Hey, Ale, the pizza was good. We owe you some...
(together) # Money, money! #
The first time I saw you and listened to "Soldi",...
..which I think is a very rock song, because it's all...
- It's really... - It's an appeal to the masses.
Wonderful.
Uhm, it's very rhythmic,...
..which then leads back to the concept of the song.
With "Soldi", I started with some rhythms, then separated them...
# Na-na-na-na-na... na! #
- That part lasted a bit longer. - Because you were following the lyrics.
The lyrics weave along with the tune, but if you have to prioritise something, it's the lyrics.
- It's always the lyrics. - What you have to sing. - Yes.
Until I find the right words...
I remember the afternoon I was writing the chorus for "Soldi", it came to me...
For example, I thought of the tune...
# Na-na-na-a... Na-a, na-a... #
I remember I was doing CrossFit with my auntie and my cousin.
We were doing something, we were working out.
At one point, a song came on the radio at the gym.
This tune played, I think it was a Post Malone song,...
..it was really punchy, very trap,...
..and this thing about money popped into my head.
I ran to the changing rooms, got my phone and I recorded a voice note.
# Na-na-na-a... money, money! #
I turned it off and went back to finish my workout.
I was embarrassed when I wrote "from me you only wanted money", I didn't want to write that.
It was a bit too strong for me, too... too imposing.
It was too raw.
I was anxious about that.
I tried to find a way to lighten that phrase,...
..but in a way that the message would still get across, but there was no other way.
- Only directly. - That was the only way. - In the end, I left it like that. - You did well.
("SOLDI" MUSIC)
I remember when Ale came here he already had an idea of the lyrics, and the track tune.
He had it all mapped out in his mind.
The structure obviously wasn't clear and neither was the musical part.
As well as the piano, I wanted to look into a few, very minimal elements,...
..that could show something of his roots,...
..some element of the Middle East, with arabesque notes,...
..and that's how I thought of using the bouzouki which doesn't play a real tune but a single note.
(INTERMITTENT NOTE FROM BOUZOUKI)
(Dardust) I put that together with the bass and piano.
("SOLDI" MUSIC)
Then I thought: "Let's put something rhythmic in, rather than a tune."
"We could put in a double snare drum hit. A double hit of the timpani, a 'clap'".
(Dardust) Then we got the idea of making the Sanremo orchestra "clap" too.
(Dardust) I think making the orchestra stop playing...
..and become part of the choreography, energising the audience,...
..was something really powerful that made this track iconic and unique.
("SOLDI" MUSIC)
(Dardust) I think "Soldi" was a turning point for Italian music.
(Dardust) Various movements were developing, like urban music,...
..and they came together in this song.
(Dardust) I think the song's format broke away from a conservative approach.
("SOLDI" MUSIC AND CHEERS)
# It's very hot in the outskirts, mum, don't worry, I'm coming. #
# You're angry because of a liar. It felt like love but it was something else. #
# He drinks champagne during Ramadan. Jackie Chan's on the TV. #
# He smokes a hookah. He asks me how's it going. #
And then?
("SOLDI" MUSIC)
# You already know how it's going, how it's going, how it's going. #
# I think quickly to work out if you'll fool me tomorrow. #
# I haven't got time to explain because only now do I know what you are. #
# It is difficult to be in the world when you lose your pride. #
(Audience) # You leave home in a day. #
# - (Audience) Tell me if... - You only wanted money, money! #
# As if I had money, money. # (CLAPPING IN TIME WITH MUSIC)
# Tell me if you miss me or you don't give a shit, a shit. #
(CLAPPING IN TIME WITH MUSIC)
# You asked me how's it going, how's it going. Now how's it going, how's it going. #
(in Arabic) # My son, my son, honey, come here. #
# You told me while playing, playing, proudly. #
(in Arabic) # My son, my son, honey. #
# It felt real... #
# ..the desire, desire, to go back to before. #
(Mahmood) "Soldi" comes from a bit of a sad moment.
(Mahmood) It comes from one of the last memories I have of my father.
(Mahmood) From one of our last meetings.
(Mahmood) At that precise moment, I doubted what his interest was.
(Mahmood) If he really was interested in me and our relationship.
I didn't feel like he was naturally interested in me, you know.
I felt like he was geared towards something more material, that's all.
Indeed, that's why, then...
I thought a lot about the song's chorus before writing it, before publishing it.
It could've looked really bad, right?
But, actually, if that's the way it came out, it's because that was the impression I had...
..and that's what happened in my eyes.
That's what... I thought.
And think. That's all.
(Woman, in Spanish) I've been listening to Italian music for many years.
(in Spanish) I saw him during the Sanremo Festival.
Then when I saw he was playing a concert here, I became a fan of his.
(GUITAR CHORDS)
(Francesco) We all feel lucky to still be us, together.
(Francesco) The same friends who used to go out at night and enjoy ourselves...
..and now we do this job all together.
We're a family.
And it's good like that.
(in Spanish) This is the first time I've come to see Mahmood live, I've seen lots of his videos.
(in Spanish) I watch Eurovision, so I found out about him years ago through that.
(in Spanish) I heard "Gioventù bruciata" and I became more and more interested in him.
(in Spanish) And now I'm in love with him.
(Elia Pastori) We played our first concerts in Brera, in a bar where his cousin worked.
(Elia Pastori) Friends, aunties, Anna Frau... That's how it was.
Even now that we're playing in completely different situations,...
..on the stage it's the same.
(Elia) He's obviously become more aware of technical matters...
..that are needed to create a live performance.
Because there are lots of us now, we're a bigger team and there's lots of work to do.
I've basically seen him grow, like we have too.
I've seen him grow from a work perspective, but also as a person.
- (Man) Ale, are you going to hold the microphone or do you want it on stage? - On stage. - Okay.
The best thing was when I got Covid before the last concert.
(THEY LAUGH)
I don't know, I like to think that maybe the bad things...
..make you remember the good things even more.
(Francesco) Hug, bro! Hug.
(Elia) Hi, honey.
- (Elia) We're ready. - (Mahmood) Someone's missing. - Yeah. - (Mahmood) He's got Covid.
- (Mahmood) Okay. - (Guy) Come on, guys!
(Man) Thanks, guys. Let me through, please.
- I'll play the piano. - Let me through. - Elia will play... - What do we do without Marcello?
- Why didn't you come to rehearsal? - Because I'd only slept two hours. - Guys, it's late.
Listen, Elia is going to play "Icaro".
- Beautiful. - He played it during... - Yeah, okay. - And I'll play the guitar.
- All right, guys, it'll be shit, but... - Go, go!
- Guys... - Are you talking to me?
(SOMEONE LAUGHS)
Assholes.
(INDISTINCT WORDS AND CHEERS)
I don't know if you've noticed, but today, here in Madrid, at our last gig,...
..there are people who have made it, despite a fever, a cold, Marta's been really ill...
Unfortunately, Marcello's not here tonight.
I don't know if you've noticed, so please give it up for Marcello.
(CHEERS)
(ironically) He's not well, poor thing, he's at home on death's door.
- I think he's taking vitamin C. - Tell them Elia's playing the piano.
(laughing) But today we've got a drummer who sometimes plays the keyboard.
Oh, what the fuck! Hi, Elia! Great!
Ale likes going to the audience, reaching out with the microphone,...
..like Beyoncé would in an epic video.
And... we've all got in-ears.
So Ale's voice is always with us.
Sometimes I'm concentrated on playing, maybe even with my eyes closed,...
..and then I don't hear Ale anymore but a child going...
Shouting, yes, exactly.
(Audience) # I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
(Audience) # I want to steal you a sky of pearls. #
(Mahmood) # I'd pay to go away. #
(Girl) It's like he's got this big heart but he doesn't know...
I don't know how to say it. He doesn't know how to express what he feels inside.
When I hear his songs they make me think, I imagine his life too.
I don't know, I really like him the way he is.
(in Spanish) He's created his own style and brought it here.
(in Spanish) I think he's influencing or could influence other Spanish artists too.
- Hi! - Hello, darling!
- (Mahmood) Did you cry? - Nearly. - Did you like it?
- Yes, but... - This time...
(ANNA LAUGHS)
The funny thing is you see him in the hotel before he comes here and he looks dead.
"I can't do it, I can't do it."
I had palpitations because he looked exhausted, then he comes here and turns into a beast.
Yes, I got my nipple out in Madrid. Everything that I...
No, I'm happy. I'm really happy.
I always start off a bit like this, run-down, no energy.
Then, on stage, I finish, and I'm all...
MILAN TICINESE
- (Filippo) So, how are you settling into this house? - It's nice.
I like it, but it's not like the other one, my first one.
- Why? - Because that was a bit like my treehouse.
It was my first home.
This one is cooler, but I don't know, I was more fond of the other one.
(Mahmood) Guys, the building's on fire. My home's gone. Bye, everything's burnt. Bye.
I was at home with Camilla and Riccardo, two friends of mine.
A guy buzzed us to say: "Guys, is something in your house burning?"
I looked at the oven and said everything was fine. And him: "Oh, okay, bye". And off he went.
(Mahmood) Riccardo and I were working out on the balcony.
We went inside and Camilla said: "Guys! Guys, look!"
And us: "What?". And her: "Look at the shadow of our building on that one in front".
You could see the tower with a huge flame at the top.
At one point, we said: "Let's go".
Then, because we're smart, we even took the lift because we were on the ninth floor. How dumb.
I went out in slippers, socks and shorts.
There was panic outside. Lots of people shouting.
(Camilla) Guys, thank goodness I said to come out straightaway!
(Camilla) And you were looking for that fucking phone!
Then we went out and saw all the smoke, the building... I was just...
(Mahmood) It was such a shock, I couldn't talk.
(Mahmood) I remember my friends took me to their house,...
..and, while they were talking, I got up and went out in my slippers.
I ran away in slippers and went to the park near Viale Tibaldi.
My phone kept vibrating the whole time,...
..but I didn't have any pockets, the only...
I had these on! Oh my God, I've got the same shorts on that I had when my house was on fire!
These ones. Obviously, you can't show this because my outfit is horrendous.
But I had these on.
And they don't have any pockets.
Camilla and Riccardo started calling me because I'd been at the park for an hour.
They were wondering: "Where the fuck is he? Has he gone to kill himself?"
(Mahmood) They were calling me but I wasn't answering, so they came looking for me.
(Mahmood) I read their messages but I wasn't bothered, I just wanted to be on my own.
(Mahmood) They went all over Milan looking for me, poor things.
(Mahmood) Then I answered and told them I was coming back.
(Mahmood) They came to meet me and I said: "Take me somewhere to drink".
(Mahmood) I think I cried for an hour.
With a glass of gin and tonic in hand.
(SIGHS) Wow, what good memories I have of that house.
I wasn't there for long, but I've got so many good memories.
My first independence.
My first anxiety attacks. Covid.
- I met you two days after your flat had caught fire. - That's right, in Verona!
You told me: "What I'm most sad about..." You'd bought some clothes.
- Your clothes. - (Mahmood) The shoes... - Yes, shoes! - I left my house in slippers.
And you told me: "What I'm most sad about is the memories I've lost".
- (Carmen) You told me about the photos. - Yes, we had Polaroid photos.
- I had all the photos of my friends on a shelf. - That was what you were most sad about.
I remember you were working out on the terrace.
- And you used the lift. - Yeah, ninth floor.
(ironically) Well done! Okay!
(ironically) - That was a sensible thing to do. - Hm, we were on the ball.
When something like that is happening you don't think about it.
But, you see, some things came out of that, I wrote.
At that time, I'm not saying music should've been the last thing on my mind,...
..but one of the things on my mind, in that case it was the first.
(TRUMPET PLAYS "NON POTHO RESPOSARE" MUSIC)
(Mahmood) I wrote my best hits here.
If you need the right inspiration, you need to touch the wood,...
..it can help a lot.
I haven't had breakfast yet, if you make me wait another 10 minutes, I'm going to kill everyone.
This obviously won't be shown in the film. But if it is, it might be nice.
- (Attilio Cusani) When are we going to stay on the boat until? - Until seven in the evening.
Get ready, it's going to be an adventure, a bit like "Celebrity Survivor".
- (Attilio) Until seven is a bit late. - But without the celebrities.
Bro, there's no escape, you can't get away because you're in the middle of the sea.
(Mahmood) Time stands still here.
(Mahmood) The cool thing about this town is that, although it can be good or bad,...
..I like the fact that it always stays at it is.
(Mahmood) I don't know, it's weird, but when we come back here,...
..we're the same people as last summer and the summer before that.
(Mahmood) So, for me, coming back to these coves is a bit like being a child again.
- You were obsessed with the acoustics in your bathroom. - Yes, that's right, my bathroom.
Bathroom acoustics are very important.
He'd be upstairs and sometimes I'd shout: "Ale!"
- Or I'd start... - He'd start singing and I'd carry it on.
"Rolling in the Deep" was difficult. I'd come down and they'd say: "That note was a bit off".
(EVERYONE LAUGHS)
Hi, how's it going? How are you? (GIRL CRIES)
- Is everything okay? - Yes. - So why are you crying? - (crying) Because I'm meeting you!
Honey!
There you go. Wait, don't cry, come on.
Ready... smile!
- There you are. - Thank you. - No problem. - Thank you.
- Have a good holiday! - (together) Thank you! - Bye, girls.
(PIANO CHORDS)
(Mahmood) Every time I come back to Orosei, I feel at home.
I have my rituals, I wake up in the morning and prepare pane carasau with Nutella.
(Mahmood) I go and do a food shop.
(Mahmood) I come back home, put my headphones on, grab my bike...
..and go to the seaside with my cousins.
(Mahmood) I stay there and swim in the sea a couple of times.
(Mahmood) I have my first swim before lunch, then I get dried and go and eat.
(Mahmood) Then, usually, we play cards or beach volleyball.
Then I have another swim at the best time, when the sun's about to go down.
(Mahmood) I can see the sky turn pink from the beach.
(Mahmood) I wait for it to go down, then before it gets dark, I grab my bike and go back home.
I find myself again in those moments, when I do those things.
(PIANO CHORDS)
(ironically) Nice! It's called "Frère Jacques", composed by Mahmood.
When you listen to his songs you realise how deep the lyrics are and you feel better.
(MAHMOOD VOCALISES)
I identify so much with his lyrics and words. It's like he's able to read inside of me.
He's one of the few artists able to do that.
Hello, Francesca!
Is this mine?
Come in, come in. No, you have to come in, this is real life.
We don't film anything fake, only real life.
MILAN
Frau Anna.
- (Anna) Hi! Where's Ale? - (together) Hi!
- Hi, Anna! - He's arrived. - (Anna) Has he disappeared? - He's in the other dressing room.
- (Anna) I saw you, I saw you. - Oh, you're here? - Don't say hi to your mum!
Guys, my mum.
Pleased to meet you.
(Mahmood) Guys, don't take any notice, rehearsals are always awful.
(EVERYONE LAUGHS)
(Mahmood) # I'm just tired... #
(Guys) Spontaneous, that's what comes to mind.
Even watching his interviews, he looks like someone without any superfluous elements.
He says what comes to mind, even if it means becoming an internet meme.
(Girl) I don't know, I think that brings him closer to the fans, because you see him for what he is.
- Genuine. A genuine writer. - The same words I was thinking of. - Yes. He's got a pure heart.
- This teddy comes from Tokyo, I got it from the Pokémon Center in Tokyo. - (Mahmood) No!
- It's even got the Japanese label. - It's beautiful!
- I was supposed to bring it two years, but then, because of Covid... - Well, thank you!
- You're welcome. - Thank you so much. It's wonderful.
- From the Ohibò to two concerts at the Alcatraz. - (together) Three!
(Mahmood) I think I'm one of the happiest guys in this city today.
(Mahmood) Because the second concert at the Alcatraz is sold out.
I took some mineral salts because I've got less energy today.
(in English) But it's not fucking working.
But I think I'll wake up as soon as I get on stage. I'll bounce back.
("KOBRA" MUSIC)
# It's hard to trust. It's never how you say it is. #
# When I gave you my hand you bit it. You hurt, it's fucking difficult. #
# To give your word, if when you turn around, everyone's a cobra biting you. #
# Mum said on the phone, do it yourself because they'll fool you. #
# I can't catch my breath. #
("KOBRA" MUSIC)
# I'll learn, I'll learn that clothes don't make the man. #
(together) # Oh, you laugh though, you lie though. #
# - (Mahmood) You bite like a cobra... - (Audience) And they believe you. #
# - Bite like a cobra... - And they believe you. - Bite like a cobra... - And they believe you. #
(Mahmood) # You bite like a cobra! #
("KOBRA" MUSIC)
(Mahmood) # You bite like a cobra! #
("KOBRA" MUSIC)
# You bite like a cobra and they believe you. #
# They're all cobras who bite. #
# Mum said on the phone. #
# Do it yourself because they'll fool you. #
# I can't catch my breath. #
(CHEERS)
"Ghettolimpo" is his metaverse. Alessandro is already in the future.
(Dardust) With regards to his appearance, image, he's already created his avatar.
(Dardust) I think it's an album that will stand the test of time.
- How nice! - Wait, wait! - Video it!
Three and four!
- (Mahmood) This is our favourite, right? - Yes. - Which one? - (Mahmood) "Soldi" too.
The second Sanremo was a necessary step for Alessandro...
..because he brought him back to a more classical dimension,...
..which was necessary after having been so daring, after having really gone beyond.
It took him back to a more empathetic setting, more romantic.
I think that was an essential step...
..to bring more people closer to Alessandro's world.
(Anna) I didn't think he'd win. I couldn't believe it!
He only went there to perform.
When you don't expect the victory... I was sorry! "My mum's not here!"
I felt like a neglectful mum.
- A hug for my mum. She's in the audience. - (Mahmood) I want to say hi to my mum too.
- Where are they? - I'm going to hug her. - Mine isn't here!
As soon as I got back to the hotel, I hugged her and said: "Ja ti la credias crasa".
Which means: "Could you have imagined all this yesterday?"
"Ja ti la credias crasa."
It's a phrase we always say to each other when things go well,...
..because it's always been us on our own.
Even though we had a big family, the two of us felt like one person.
(Anna) We were very much in harmony.
So we'd never have thought all this would happen.
No... Shit, guys, this is wonderful!
No, guys...
Anna will want all these, you'll see, she'll want them all in her house!
(together) # I dreamt of flying with you, on a bike made of diamonds. #
Whereas, with the same chords, after the first chorus, the other one goes like this...
# You wake me up in the morning... #
(Carmen) They're two completely different things.
And that shakes up the rules of pop,...
..the same verse should come after the first chorus, with the same melody and the same metre.
Whereas, what I like about this song is there are two visions, two writers,...
..who each write in their own way, on the same tune,...
..moving with the same harmony, but composing something completely different.
- Do you want to know the truth about that? - Yes, because it really struck me.
We only had the chorus, no verses.
Then we both went away, I went to Sardinia and Blanco had other work commitments.
So we sent each other the verses from a distance.
He'd written his verse before me.
I imagined the second verse to be the same as the first.
We'd decided that I'd do the first verse and him the second. And he sent me his.
- I remember saying to him... - (Carmen) "I've already written mine." - Worse!
I told him: "This verse is really good, Ricky, but I think you can do better".
I was terrible!
That's not what I imagined as an opening.
I then wrote my verse, I sent it to him, thinking that he'd redo his to match mine.
Then when we went to the studio, we listened to his again and said:...
.."Let's use it as the second verse".
(Carmen) Come on, teach it to me, this song's too good!
(together) # Naked with goosebumps, sometimes I don't know how to express myself... #
# ..and I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
# ..and I want to steal you a sky of pearls,... #
# ..and I'd pay to go away, I'd even accept a lie. #
# And I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
# - And I get... - ..goosebumps, goosebumps, goosebumps. #
- Oh, no, wait... # Goosebumps... # How many "goosebumps" are there? - No, it was right! - Oh!
# Goosebumps, goosebumps, goosebumps. #
(in Sicilian dialect) # You've come to my house to eat, why don't you go to sleep,... #
# ..you took my arm in your hand, soon I'll call you... #
- Turiddu. - How do you know that? - It's written...
- You peeked at my notes! - I peeked!
From now on, Alessandro will be called Turiddu.
Who's this, Saint Mahmood?
I used to be a saint, then I went downhill.
So... "Bro, get my sister to sing and I'll come out."
(Mahmood) Who's your sister? Come here, come. Come on.
(Mahmood) Come, come.
(Mahmood) I'll give you a hand, come here.
(Mahmood) This is an important moment.
- I'll take my shoes off. - Can you manage?
(CHEERS FROM AUDIENCE)
- Hi, lovely, what's your name? - Sofia.
- Sofia. How are you, everything good? - I don't know actually.
- What song do you like? - Any of them...
For example, do you like "Zero", "Asia occidente", "Uramaki"... Which do you prefer?
- You decide. - Shall we do "Zero"? - I know them all.
- I swear, I know them all, you decide. - Guys, give it up, she knows them all!
(APPLAUSE) (Mahmood) Shall we do "Zero"?
- Can you do it? - # Because it's already night outside, our voices are broken. #
# Dark is a dog who doesn't bite, I promise to be stronger. #
# Because you're everything to me even if... in this world we're nothing, nothing, nothing... #
(together) # Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. #
(together) # Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, eh. #
(CHEERS FROM AUDIENCE) Amazing!
Guys, she's amazing!
You have to sing, you're amazing!
Now it's up to your brother though!
TURIN PALA ALPITOUR
You're here to represent Italy, are you pumped?
Er, yeah, I'm pumped to the max.
(MAHMOOD VOCALISES)
(Mahmood) Hello, Riccardo, welcome to this interview. Let's start with our first question.
When did you meet Alessandro?
- Have you ever listened to "Gioventù bruciata", his first album? - Yes.
- Did you like it? - I liked it, yes.
(MAHMOOD VOCALISES)
(VOCALISATIONS)
- Now that I know him, I have to say he's a good guy. Really. - A good guy.
A good guy.
What impressed you or moved you the most about working with Alessandro?
He's unpredictable.
- The only predictable thing is that he's always pissed off. - No, I'm not... Whatever!
I've heard people talk about him...
..and they said he's more reflective than pissed off.
- I think he's pissed off. - No, no... - Knowing him... I know him now.
- I've read lots of interviews... - Yeah, but you don't know him.
I've already rehearsed, so I kind of remember it, but I got it wrong too the first time.
Ricky, remember the last chorus, okay?
# I want to love you, but I'm always wrong and I get goosebumps, goosebumps, goosebumps. #
# I dreamt of flying with you, on a bike made of diamonds. #
# You said: "You've changed, there's no light in your eyes anymore". #
(together) # Naked with goosebumps, sometimes I don't know how to express myself. #
What was it like writing "Brividi" in your eyes?
In my eyes, writing "Brividi"...
I wrote the verse that is still in the song, and I sent it to Ale.
- Ale said to me: "I'm not convinced". - (Mahmood) Come on! Come on!
- I said: "For me..". - He said!
- No, he called me... - (Blanco) He called you? He called me. What the fuck are you...?
This game is hard. Wait.
I heard in another interview...
..that he said he wanted it to be a bit stronger.
Bullshit, obviously, because your verse is very good, Riccardo.
- Thank you, I'm very pleased. - Thank you, it's been a pleasure working with you.
- Are you going to sort the... - Oh, I'm with Blanco!
Look at me, guys!
- (Girl) Mahmood! - (Mahmood) Hi!
(INDISTINCT WORDS)
(Girls, together) Thank you! Bye!
(Man) Let's go! Let's go! Guys, away from here!
- (Woman) Thank you! Bye, Mahmood! - Bye!
(CHEERS)
# I dreamt of flying with you... #
# ..on a bike made of diamonds. #
# You said: "You've changed, there's no light in your eyes anymore". #
# What are you scared of? A sea where you can't touch the ground. #
# Even if sex isn't the way out from the bottom. #
# Come on, don't run away from here. #
# Don't leave me... # How?
(together) # Naked with goosebumps. #
(Audience) # Sometimes I don't know how to express myself. #
# And I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
# And I want to steal you a sky of pearls. #
(Mahmood) # And I'd pay to go away. #
# I'd even accept a lie. #
# And I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
# And I get goosebumps, goosebumps, goosebumps. #
(CHEERS)
# - You... - (Audience) ..wake me up in the morning. #
# You stain the bed with wine. #
# You bite me,... #
# ..with your viper-like eyes. #
(Audience) # And you're the opposite of an angel. #
# - (Audience) And you're... - ..like a boxer in the corner. #
# And you run away from here,... #
# ..you leave me like this. #
How? (together) # Naked with goosebumps! #
# Sometimes I don't know how to express myself. #
# And I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
# And I want to steal you a sky of pearls. #
(Audience) # And I'd pay to go away. #
(Audience) # I'd even accept a lie. #
# And I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
# And I get goosebumps, goosebumps, goosebumps. #
(Mahmood) # Tell me I'm not right. #
# And I'm living in a prison. #
# And I try to stay close to you, but sorry if I fuck everything up. #
# I don't know how to tell you how I feel, it's a limitation of mine. #
(Mahmood) # To say "I love you" I mixed drugs and tears. #
(together) # This poison we spit on each other every day,... #
# ..I don't want it on me anymore. #
# See me, I'm here, on a bike made of diamonds... #
(Mahmood) Together!
(Audience) # Naked with goosebumps. Sometimes I don't know how to express myself. #
(Guys) # And I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
(Guys) # And I want to steal you a sky of pearls. #
(Guys) # And I'd pay to go away. #
(Guys) # I'd even accept a lie. #
(Guys) # And I want to love you, but I'm always wrong. #
(Guys) # And I get goosebumps, goosebumps, goosebumps. #
(CHEERS)
We can't be subjected to time. We've governed time.
Time has been kind, it gave us this job.
We're lucky. We live by creating music, do you realise that?
Our dream has come true, but how much time did we lose dreaming?
I remember whole days of dreaming about playing on stages,...
..creating something, hours and hours in my little room.
My mum would say: "Go out with your friends." "No, mum, wait a moment."
"Why are you wasting time? Study!"
And I was always there with these damn songs.
I dreamt, but I put so much into it.
How nice is it when we can rest after these tours.
It's nice touring again and seeing all these people,...
..like Marina Rei says, "barefaced", watching us.
Finally going back to... That's what it's all about.
- All those people who come to see you. Those people... - It's what you get back.
You go to the other side of the world and find people who are singing your songs,...
..the ones you wrote in your little room.
(CHEERS)
(Dardust) I think that certain pain, wounds and cracks...
..have turned out to be a gold mine.
(Dardust) The concept of "kintsugi" comes to mind,...
..that broken things can be repaired by covering them with gold.
(Dardust) I think his past has become something very powerful compared to others,...
..and allows him to express himself so deeply.
Today, being able to make a living from music allows me to,...
..I wouldn't say give back, because that's not nice,...
..that almost sounds like you can't wait to pay your debts back.
I don't have debts with my mother, she raised me and that's part of life,...
..so it's an exchange more than anything.
I can finally say that I can help out, after she did that for me for so many years.
(Anna) I remember when he came fourth at the Sanremo Festival with "Dimentica".
I said: "Alessandro, you were great, if you didn't win that's how it's meant to be."
"It means your time hasn't come yet, but don't worry, it will".
It just came to me. You know, those things that...
I'm not good at saying things like that, I'm too strict. I was taught...
You know, it just came to me... Stop!
It just came to me. Those things that just come out like that.
He wanted to win, and I knew he'd get there, and...
("BACI DALLA TUNISIA" MUSIC)
(Mahmood) Although I haven't found a place...
..that represents that cupboard I had,...
..I think I now find refuge in my lyrics, in my songs.
(Mahmood) It's kind of a way of creating a new world.
(Mahmood) Of moving between reality and my world in the clouds.
(Mahmood) I like comparing these new worlds to new doors and new keys.
(Mahmood) There are people who need to put all their suffering...
..and happiness into songs, into lyrics.
(Mahmood) I hope I can continue doing that for a long, long time, because it makes me feel better.
("BACI DALLA TUNISIA" MUSIC)
("INUYASHA" MUSIC AND CHEERS)
("INUYASHA" MUSIC)
(together) # When you say goodbye, you break my heart. #
(together) # Going so far as to raise my hands... I don't like it any more. #