Paolo Conte
Encyclopedia
Paolo Conte is an Italian singer, pianist
, composer
, and lawyer
notable for his grainy, resonant voice, his colourful and dreamy compositions (evocative of Italian and Mediterranean sounds, as well as of jazz music, South American atmospheres, and of French-language singers like Jacques Brel
and Georges Brassens
) and his wistful, sometimes melancholic lyrics.
, Piedmont
.
His performing career began as a vibraphone
player in local and touring bands (Saint Vincent Jazz Festival). He began songwriting with his brother Giorgio Conte early on and eventually began writing songs of his own. As a poet, painter and lawyer as well as a musician, he first earned attention during the late '60s and early '70s as the creative force behind hits from Adriano Celentano
and Patty Pravo
. Conte began his solo career with a 1974 self-titled LP, with subsequent efforts like 1987's Aguaplano and 1990's Parole D'Amore Scritte a Macchina enjoying considerable success throughout Europe. 1998's Paolo Conte, a greatest-hits collection, was his first U.S. release. His compilation album is titled The Best of Paolo Conte.
Some of his hits were used in many movies, for example "Come Di" in I Am David
(2003), and Mickey Blue Eyes
(1999), "Via con me" in French Kiss (1995) , Mostly Martha
(2001), Welcome to Collinwood
(2002), and the "Fritz" Coca Cola commercial
that was widely shown in US movie theaters in early 2006. As well as in No Reservations
(2007), "Sparring Partner" in 5x2
(2004) (French humourist Pierre Desproges
used both in his Chroniques de la haine ordinaire.)
One of Conte's greatest hits, Azzurro
(1968, performed by A. Celentano and later many other artists) was "appropriated" by the fans of the Italian national football team—affectionately called "gli azzurri" ("The blue ones")—as a sort of unofficial "anthem
" during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
.
In the movie "Carnage", directed by Polanski, husband and wife -existing in reality- call each other "doodle", ("toutou" in french) as a reference to Via Con Me from Paolo Conte "tu tu tu", one of their most preferred song.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
notable for his grainy, resonant voice, his colourful and dreamy compositions (evocative of Italian and Mediterranean sounds, as well as of jazz music, South American atmospheres, and of French-language singers like Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
and Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens , 22 October 1921 – 29 October 1981), was a French singer-songwriter and poet.Brassens was born in Sète, a town in southern France near Montpellier...
) and his wistful, sometimes melancholic lyrics.
Career
Paolo Conte was born in AstiAsti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
, Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
.
His performing career began as a vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
player in local and touring bands (Saint Vincent Jazz Festival). He began songwriting with his brother Giorgio Conte early on and eventually began writing songs of his own. As a poet, painter and lawyer as well as a musician, he first earned attention during the late '60s and early '70s as the creative force behind hits from Adriano Celentano
Adriano Celentano
Adriano Celentano is an Italian singer, songwriter, comedian, actor, film director and TV host.-Biography:Celentano was born in Milan at 14 Via Gluck, about which he later wrote the famous song "Il ragazzo della via Gluck"...
and Patty Pravo
Patty Pravo
Patty Pravo is an Italian pop singer whose career has spanned more than four decades. Her first single "Ragazzo triste", released in 1966, was the first pop song aired on Vatican Radio...
. Conte began his solo career with a 1974 self-titled LP, with subsequent efforts like 1987's Aguaplano and 1990's Parole D'Amore Scritte a Macchina enjoying considerable success throughout Europe. 1998's Paolo Conte, a greatest-hits collection, was his first U.S. release. His compilation album is titled The Best of Paolo Conte.
Some of his hits were used in many movies, for example "Come Di" in I Am David
I Am David
I am David is a fiction book written by Anne Holm in 1963. In the United States, the book was at first called North to Freedom, but it is now also being published as "I am David". It tells the story of a young boy who, with the help of a prison guard, escapes from a concentration camp in Eastern...
(2003), and Mickey Blue Eyes
Mickey Blue Eyes
Mickey Blue Eyes is a 1999 film directed by Kelly Makin. Hugh Grant stars as Michael Felgate, an English auctioneer living in New York City who becomes entangled in his soon-to-be father in-law's mafia connections...
(1999), "Via con me" in French Kiss (1995) , Mostly Martha
Mostly Martha (film)
Bella Martha is a 2001 German romantic comedy drama film directed by Sandra Nettelbeck. The American movie No Reservations is heavily based on this. It is about a skilled chef in Hamburg, Germany. When her sister dies, she is left taking care of her niece, who gives her problems...
(2001), Welcome to Collinwood
Welcome to Collinwood
Welcome to Collinwood is a 2002 American crime comedy film about five small-time criminals, from the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, who try to organize one last big job...
(2002), and the "Fritz" Coca Cola commercial
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
that was widely shown in US movie theaters in early 2006. As well as in No Reservations
No Reservations (film)
No Reservations is a 2007 American romantic drama film directed by Scott Hicks. The screenplay by Carol Fuchs is an adaptation of an original script by Sandra Nettelbeck, which served as the basis for the 2001 German film Mostly Martha.-Plot:...
(2007), "Sparring Partner" in 5x2
5x2
5x2 is a 2004 French film directed by François Ozon, which uncovers the back story to the gradual disintegration of a middle class marriage by depicting five key moments in the relationship, but in reverse order.-Plot:...
(2004) (French humourist Pierre Desproges
Pierre Desproges
Pierre Desproges was a French humorist. He was famous for his elaborate, eloquent and above all, virulent diatribes criticizing anything and everything....
used both in his Chroniques de la haine ordinaire.)
One of Conte's greatest hits, Azzurro
Azzurro
"Azzurro" is an Italian pop song composed by Paolo Conte and Michele Virano. Its most famous version was recorded by Adriano Celentano in 1968....
(1968, performed by A. Celentano and later many other artists) was "appropriated" by the fans of the Italian national football team—affectionately called "gli azzurri" ("The blue ones")—as a sort of unofficial "anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
" during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
In the movie "Carnage", directed by Polanski, husband and wife -existing in reality- call each other "doodle", ("toutou" in french) as a reference to Via Con Me from Paolo Conte "tu tu tu", one of their most preferred song.
Discography
- Paolo Conte (1974)
- Paolo Conte (1975)
- Un gelato al limon (1979)
- Paris milonga (1981)
- Appunti di viaggio (1982)
- Paolo Conte (1984)
- Concerti (1985, live)
- Come Di (1986, French release)
- Aguaplano (1987, double album - the Japanese release was issued as two separate CDs, the second titled Jimmy Ballando)
- Collezione (1988)
- Paolo Conte Live (1988, live)
- Parole d'amore scritte a macchina (1990)
- Wanda, stai seria con la faccia ma però (1992, compilation)
- 900 (1992)
- Tournée (1993 live)
- Una faccia in prestito (1995)
- The best of Paolo Conte (1996, compilation)
- Tournée 2 (1998 live)
- Razmataz (2000)
- Reveries (2003, compilation)
- Elegia (2004)
- Paolo Conte Live Arena di Verona (2005, live)
- Wonderful (2006, compilation)
- Psiche (2008)
- Nelson (2010)