Mauro
Balestri, the lyricist of Crisalide, the Sammarinese entry and this
year's fan favorite makes his Eurovision debut. Before that he sat down
and had a little chat with yours truly. Here's the English edited
interview (and here the original Italian version). How the song was born,
what he thinks of Mengoni and what does his surname has to do with San
Marino? Read it all here:
Mauro, first of all thanks for the interview. How excited are you for the Eurovision?
What is happening is extraordinary, I am experiencing a time of great enthusiasm for participation in Eurovision.
Mauro, first of all thanks for the interview. How excited are you for the Eurovision?
What is happening is extraordinary, I am experiencing a time of great enthusiasm for participation in Eurovision.
Are you familiar with the whole circus called Eurovision song contest?
It 's my first time as an author in Eurovision, a new experience for me even though I have often paid attention to what was happening as a viewer.
It 's my first time as an author in Eurovision, a new experience for me even though I have often paid attention to what was happening as a viewer.
Are you going to Malmö yourself and what do you expect from that experience? It's your first time, right?
Of course I'm going to Malmo and follow our Chrysalis, hoping that the butterfly can emerge from the cocoon and fly light in the sky all over Europe.
Of course I'm going to Malmo and follow our Chrysalis, hoping that the butterfly can emerge from the cocoon and fly light in the sky all over Europe.
Tell us a little how did the collaboration start with Mr Eurovision, Ralph Siegel?
We were presented by a dear mutual friend. In addition to being a serious professional Ralph has a great artistic and human sensibility, we were at the same wave lenght instantly and we started writing from the first meeting, which took place during the summer of 2011.
We were presented by a dear mutual friend. In addition to being a serious professional Ralph has a great artistic and human sensibility, we were at the same wave lenght instantly and we started writing from the first meeting, which took place during the summer of 2011.
How was the song born, and the idea of chrysalis that now seems to have become a metaphor for the growth of Valentina herself?
There was the urge to write something perfect for Valentina and try to play theSan Marino card again, I started listening to her character, I tried to understand what could be the feelings of Valentina, her story as an artist, as a woman and more generally as a human being of our time, because I strongly believe that a song that deserves to be successful must be like a bridge that shakes something inside of us and connects us emotionally. The most powerful idea was that of change, transformation understood as consciousness expansion, so Ralph made me listen to a beautiful melody, with the change of time from 6/8 to 4/4 ... I started to write the text, and I realized that the best theme music was inherent in "Chrysalis" and so I was baptized. There is a famous saying of a great sage: "What the caterpillar calls the end for the rest of the world is a beautiful butterfly." The concept of Chrysalis is a metaphor of great strength and meaning, the inspiration of noble sentiments. Valentina is a beautiful butterfly who wears this song with great character.
There was the urge to write something perfect for Valentina and try to play theSan Marino card again, I started listening to her character, I tried to understand what could be the feelings of Valentina, her story as an artist, as a woman and more generally as a human being of our time, because I strongly believe that a song that deserves to be successful must be like a bridge that shakes something inside of us and connects us emotionally. The most powerful idea was that of change, transformation understood as consciousness expansion, so Ralph made me listen to a beautiful melody, with the change of time from 6/8 to 4/4 ... I started to write the text, and I realized that the best theme music was inherent in "Chrysalis" and so I was baptized. There is a famous saying of a great sage: "What the caterpillar calls the end for the rest of the world is a beautiful butterfly." The concept of Chrysalis is a metaphor of great strength and meaning, the inspiration of noble sentiments. Valentina is a beautiful butterfly who wears this song with great character.
Chrysalis, butterfly ... the slogan We are one of Malmö and butterflies 2013. How come this lucky coincidence? What do you think of it?
I think this kind of "coincidences" are fairly common for people who are used to working with the intuition. To compose something new you have to listen to what is in the air, when it is not yet clearly there. We have completed the writing of this song during the month of August 2012, from the beginning I had the impression that I had read something that was moving in the subconscious of many. I personally do not believe in the "coincidences" but rather in "synchronicity". Every time has its special quality when certain things happen. These qualities are represented by symbols, with a universal language that provide interpretations of that time. When referring to the same event, two or more completely independent and spontaneous creative acts perfectly converge on the same symbol, as in our case, it is to be understood as something more than a mere coincidence. It 's more like the reflection of a common desire, ready to become new desires, inspirations, vitality. Chrysalis wants to be a wish for everyone, and an invitation to look with optimism and courage beyond their own little cocoon, to a size that will suit your deep aspirations.
I think this kind of "coincidences" are fairly common for people who are used to working with the intuition. To compose something new you have to listen to what is in the air, when it is not yet clearly there. We have completed the writing of this song during the month of August 2012, from the beginning I had the impression that I had read something that was moving in the subconscious of many. I personally do not believe in the "coincidences" but rather in "synchronicity". Every time has its special quality when certain things happen. These qualities are represented by symbols, with a universal language that provide interpretations of that time. When referring to the same event, two or more completely independent and spontaneous creative acts perfectly converge on the same symbol, as in our case, it is to be understood as something more than a mere coincidence. It 's more like the reflection of a common desire, ready to become new desires, inspirations, vitality. Chrysalis wants to be a wish for everyone, and an invitation to look with optimism and courage beyond their own little cocoon, to a size that will suit your deep aspirations.
We are all delighted that San Marino will be singing entirely in Italian, as well as the Italian entry finally. In your opinion, why foreigners love the italian language?
Every nation has its own specific character, its own particular color and soul. That's the beauty of the world, its variety and the ability to integrate with mutual respect. I think Italy as country recalls in particular aspects such as Renaissance art, with all its magnificent luggage evocative of romance and spirituality, but also poetry and music in general. All this, which is the story of a country and a culture, is reflected in the sound of a language. Within us there is a kind of sixth sense that allows us to perceive the quality of a text without understanding the literal meaning of the words. In Italy most listen to songs with lyrics in English, although only few understand the words in the songs but theyare still popular. I believe that the Italian language has a very expressive musicality and it's pleasant to listen to.
Every nation has its own specific character, its own particular color and soul. That's the beauty of the world, its variety and the ability to integrate with mutual respect. I think Italy as country recalls in particular aspects such as Renaissance art, with all its magnificent luggage evocative of romance and spirituality, but also poetry and music in general. All this, which is the story of a country and a culture, is reflected in the sound of a language. Within us there is a kind of sixth sense that allows us to perceive the quality of a text without understanding the literal meaning of the words. In Italy most listen to songs with lyrics in English, although only few understand the words in the songs but theyare still popular. I believe that the Italian language has a very expressive musicality and it's pleasant to listen to.
Why a drummer in the end he began to write the lyrics? And now you've left a career as a drummer ....?
Since I already as a kid wrote over images, I felt the strong power of poems that they made us read at school and the power of the words. Later I got into drums but I have always grown the training in parallel with writing and composing. Then in 1996 something happened inside me that led me to see the world in a radically different way than before, and since then I had a strong desire to commit to transmit what I felt through the songs. I still play the drums even though at the time not as a profession.
Since I already as a kid wrote over images, I felt the strong power of poems that they made us read at school and the power of the words. Later I got into drums but I have always grown the training in parallel with writing and composing. Then in 1996 something happened inside me that led me to see the world in a radically different way than before, and since then I had a strong desire to commit to transmit what I felt through the songs. I still play the drums even though at the time not as a profession.
In your CV you have musical names like trumpetist Paolo Fresu, and producer Angelo Carrara, both important figures in the musical history of Alice, my absolute favorite singer as well as the Italian singer in Eurovision 1984 with trains of Tozeur with Franco Battiato! Do you know her?
During the time that I was under contract with Target of Angelo Carrara Alice was no longer part of his artists, I have not had the pleasure of meeting her personally, but I also have great respect for her, I especially share her original character as a musical researcher, never being banal and having aas an addition that very beautiful tone of voice.
During the time that I was under contract with Target of Angelo Carrara Alice was no longer part of his artists, I have not had the pleasure of meeting her personally, but I also have great respect for her, I especially share her original character as a musical researcher, never being banal and having aas an addition that very beautiful tone of voice.
Who are your favorite artists? Who would you like to write a text?
I do not like to name names, I like all or none depending on what's on offer. In general I like people who have something to say beyond the vocal abilities. I see several singers who can not really emerge because they do not expose who they really are inside. I could be of help to many people in this task, so if I am to be the author, it is not only to write a text, but to build a suit for the soul of someone.
I do not like to name names, I like all or none depending on what's on offer. In general I like people who have something to say beyond the vocal abilities. I see several singers who can not really emerge because they do not expose who they really are inside. I could be of help to many people in this task, so if I am to be the author, it is not only to write a text, but to build a suit for the soul of someone.
And the best Italian text in a pop song ever?
So without much thought I would say Nel blu dipinto di blú (Volare) by Domenico Modugno. It 'a song that in its simplicity and depth at the same time has become one of the most famous Italian songs in the world. I like the innocence and the lightness of it, it being very naive.
So without much thought I would say Nel blu dipinto di blú (Volare) by Domenico Modugno. It 'a song that in its simplicity and depth at the same time has become one of the most famous Italian songs in the world. I like the innocence and the lightness of it, it being very naive.
What do you think of Italian song, L'Essenziale? And the lyrics? Marco?
It 's a formally functional song, with pleasant melody, well built on the potential voice of the singer.
The text is in a style that I feel quite far from mine, personally I always try to avoid general images like the kind that the world is falling apart or anything like that, but I want emphasize that it is a highly personal account, there are various ways to stimulate the audience's emotions.
L'Essenziale is a song that works well and Marco Mengoni is a performer of undoubted talent, and I send a big “bocca al lupo” and wish that his great national success would expand also abroad.
It 's a formally functional song, with pleasant melody, well built on the potential voice of the singer.
The text is in a style that I feel quite far from mine, personally I always try to avoid general images like the kind that the world is falling apart or anything like that, but I want emphasize that it is a highly personal account, there are various ways to stimulate the audience's emotions.
L'Essenziale is a song that works well and Marco Mengoni is a performer of undoubted talent, and I send a big “bocca al lupo” and wish that his great national success would expand also abroad.
Let's talk about Valentina. You've written more songs for her and for her album in the works. Tell us a little bit.....
Ralph and I have already written some songs for Valentina, we will have to write others and then evaluate the project as a whole. For the moment there is nothing definite except that Valentina is a very talented singer and deserves the opportunity to prove it with suitabel songs.
Ralph and I have already written some songs for Valentina, we will have to write others and then evaluate the project as a whole. For the moment there is nothing definite except that Valentina is a very talented singer and deserves the opportunity to prove it with suitabel songs.
How Sammarinese do you feel now?
This question has a funny answer. I discovered that San Marino has a great tradition in the construction of crossbows (balestri) and crossbow, I think my name has its roots in San Marino at this point! Joking aside, I'm really happy that San Marino has chosen Chrysalis and I can feel that all Sammarinese support us in this adventure as brothers, as well as anyone else who opens their heart to our crysalis.
This question has a funny answer. I discovered that San Marino has a great tradition in the construction of crossbows (balestri) and crossbow, I think my name has its roots in San Marino at this point! Joking aside, I'm really happy that San Marino has chosen Chrysalis and I can feel that all Sammarinese support us in this adventure as brothers, as well as anyone else who opens their heart to our crysalis.
Thank you very much for the interview and ... good luck in Malmö 2013!
Comments