Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Alice released her Samsara album two years ago, her first album with original songs in 14 years and to the immense joy of her fans she's not taking another 14 years but the follow up Weekend will be released in a couple of weeks! Even Samsara included a cover and hommages to late Lucio Dalla and late Giuni Russo, while Tiziano Ferro and Franco Battiato among others wrote new songs especially for her. Alice herself also returned as an author (something she should do much more, if you ask this blogger as her self written songs are usually fantastic).  We know about the new album that it includes two songs by Franco Battiato - the big question is are the songs the ones she proposed to Sanremo 2014 and was not accepted? (And did she really propose after all?) The first single is out and it's another cover that fits her like a glove, almost like if it was written for her, Tante belle cose , originally by Francoise Hardy (more about that later when the video is released).  ...

Alice, who made a welcome comeback to pop world with her album Samsara (2012) with songs written by Tiziano Ferro among others, has been invited by Fabio Fazio to Sanremo 2014. And Franco Battiato should write one of her two songs! All this was revealed by Battiato himself today in a press conference about his latest album, a live one with Antony and the Johnsons featuring also Alice. He said he hasn't had time to write the song yet as he's been on tour and busy all fall, but on the other hand he takes no pressure on eventual success, nor Alice. "I only want to write a good solid song for her" he said. And he excluded his eventual presence in Sanremo along with her. Last time the couple collaborated for Sanremo they won with Per Elisa in 1981. Alice has also participated in Sanremo 1972 and in 2000. Now, first Sanremo, then Copenhagen?

Alice and Battiato together again on a record! Namely Franco Battiato's project with Antony and The Johnsons features also Alice as a special guest. This live recording from Arena di Verona on September 2, 2013 includes the concert they did together and for Alice & Battiato it's La realtà non esiste and their Eurovision 1984 classic I treni di Tozeur . The other songs are solos or duets by Battiato and Antony. La Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini is the "band" behind them. Battiato's collaboration with Antony started when he covered their Frankenstein in his Fleurs 2 album as Del suo veloce volo , that now gives the title to this special album. Cripple and the starfish (Antony and the Johnsons) For today I am a Boy (Antony and the Johnsons) You Are my Sister (Battiato/Antony and the Johnsons) Il re del mondo (Battiato) Tutto l'Universo obbedisce all'amore (Battiato) As tears go By (Battiato/Antony and the Johnsons) Crazy in Love (Antony and t...

Franco Battiato is ready for the concert in the United States as part of Hitweek , and at the same time has re-released his latest album Open Sesame with two songs translated in English: The will ( Testamento ) and The dust of the pack ( La polvere del branco ) .  The album is out in the USA, Canada and UK. Listen samples here . This is not the first time he sings in English as in 1985 he released album Echoes of Sufi dances . Judging the samples he still has his irresistible accent :-) Tomorrow October 9 he will perform in New York's Highline Ballroom and the day after in Toronto's Phoenix Theater . In November-December the Maestro is back on road in Italy under title Diwan - L'Essenza del reale : November 21 Montecatini, 23 Genova, 25 Napoli, 27 Trieste, December 6 Brindisi, 8 Ancona, 9 Milano, 10 Torino. In November the live album will be also released, recorded in the two concerts together with Antony & The Johnsons and Alice in Florence and Verona ...

Earlier this summer Alice and Battiato gave a joint concert in Latina, near Rome. It was such a success and they had so much fun singing together again that the reunion happened again in Franco Battiato's concerts in Firenze on August 31 and Arena di Verona on September 2 with Antony and The Johnsons and Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini . One of the duets they did on both occasions was an hommage to late Claudio Rocchi, La realtá non esiste . Of course they did also I treni di Tozeur .  The song seems to be having a real revivial almost 30 years after its release and making Italians proud in Luxembourg 1984. Alice did also Il vento caldo dell'estate from 1980, co-written by Battiato and her breakthrough hit that sounds amazing with the philharmonic orchestra! Battiato is also releasing a live album in November 2013 recorded in the Verona date, hopefully also I treni di Tozeur makes the cut for it! PS. Did you know Valentina Monetta is also a big Alice fan?