In 1984, Franco Battiato was at the zenit of his career, after massive successes like "Centro di gravita' permanente" , "L'era del cinghiale bianco", "Cuccurucucu"...His musical style and lyrics mixed arabic and western sounds, intellectual and operatic themes in a unique and never-heard-before fashion, with lines referring to "euclidean jesuites entering at the court of the emperor of the Ming dinasty" ,"Goddess, sing me of the afghan refugees". Think like a Francesco Gabbani of his time or, more correctly, Francesco Gabbani to be a post-modern Franco Battiato. All italian artists of the last thirty years, certainly Mahmood among them, owe immensely to such a maestro. On a personal note, in those years I was a young boy, but still remember when this song was promoted as the italian entry to a thing, totally new to me, called Eurofestival, and about how proud I was that a sicilian artist was able to express his style at a european audience..
I didn't know Franco Battiato sang in Eurovision. I don't think he is known in the UK, but in South Europe he was huge, especially in 80s in Italy and Spain. He did progressive rock in the 70s, pop in the 80s, opera. He has a very long and reputable artistic career. Love the song. Great reaction
It is a song about living at a slower pace than the one with have in the West. They choose the imagine of a train station in a town in Tunisia, Touzer, which used to be an important cultural and religious center. The "creepy" guy is called Battiato and is a very established musician in Italy with a career which spans almost 5 decades now. He is the author of the song and many of his songs have an "Arabic" feel to them since he is very interested in the cultural interactions between Sicily, his region, and Northern Africa. To oldies like me Mahmood's musical mix was nothing new: already in the 80s Italian music was looking South and enjoying Mediterranean/Arabic vibes intermingling them with our own musical tradition such as opera.
@@eurovoxx the inspiration for the title is the Fatamorgana mirage that you can see near the salt lake of Tozeur, it seems like there's a train but it's only an illusion... so, all this song is a metaphor, the lyrics are very evocative and strangely poetic. Only a genius like Franco Battiato could write something like that.
@@eurovoxx Hi Andy, no, they are not married, Alice is the stage name of Carla Bissi who is linked to Franco Battiato by a long friendship and several collaborations.
Thanks for this reaction video. I absolutely love this song. An amazing Italian entry. They both have great vocals but I really love her deep voice, so piercing and beautiful. This song is always on my Eurovision playlist.
The harmonies in "I Treni die Tozeur" are just mind-blowing plus the Italian language! A song like this only the Italians can do. They really feel it. Franco Battiato is a genius! I like that Franco has a pen in his jacket for the "Grand Prix d'Eurovision de la Chanson" presentation.:-) He looks like he has come directly from the Accountant's fair. The part that the chorus sings is in German by the way. They only achieved 5th place at ESC 1984 in Luxembourg, sad for this extremely great song. Sweden won with a bad song, in my opinion. One says "Ali-tsche", not "Alice (in Wonderland)" in English.
Oh Andy you made me laugh so hard with your take on the stage presentation and the storyline 😂🤣. That aside, it’s an all time fav of mine, the epitome of a classy italian song, with an ever matching music video to go with it. It elevates me! 👏🙏
And who won that year? Yeah... that's Eurovision for you. This is a pure materpiece, one of the most precious, most underrated Italian songs sung by a genius composer and just about the most beautiful Italian female voice ever. The song is about a melancholic return to the past in an old town where the trains are slow birthing a longing for a time when life was simpler and sweeter
I don't think the song was underrated. It was a huge hit in the Netherlands and also in the rest of Europe if I'm not mistaken. I still love it to this day.
Alice could be considered a sort of Italian Kate Bush due to her sophisticated music production. She And Battiato are great friends and he wrote for her her european smash hit "Per Elisa" that won Sanremo 1981. If you like the arrangements with arches check her album "Gioielli Rubati" from 1985, a tribute album to Battiato. You'll love it. She also worked with Morcheeba, David Sylvian and Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music. th-cam.com/video/Wv_9qsqMmok/w-d-xo.html About Franco he is a real genius, a great musician and all you hear in this song was created and arranged by him. his 80's discography is simply brilliant. Emi also tried to launch him on the american market with an english language album "Echoes of Sufi Dances" but his accent was so weird that it turned out to be one of the weirdest attempt from a non english singer to conquer the anglo/american markets.. th-cam.com/video/hFGz-t5R0BE/w-d-xo.html --- th-cam.com/video/riSxPRPmn1Q/w-d-xo.html (This last link is a recent duet in english with Mika) and this is one of his last concerts in Europe, London, before he started to have serious problems with his health. th-cam.com/video/ftf4VCvwyVA/w-d-xo.html
The part of the opera singers is from the magic flute k.620 by Mozart. And is re ensembled for this song. In the older days of the Eurovision, you only could sing in you own language. It was forbidden to sing in another language. Now you can sing in any language you like.
It is one of the finest Eurovision songs and arrangements. Franco was a genius and a great one for experimenting with different styles . Alice has such a great voice . The sudden reveal with the three classical backing singers is a masterstroke. I guess for audiences who were not familiar with Franco or his work , like you Andy they might think he was fed up or angry , but that kind of 'alienated from everything' staring persona was part of a lot of 1980s video clips. Perhaps they are just staring at the train going slowly by !
Andy ascolta queste due: L'era del cinghiale bianco - th-cam.com/video/Ai14HRro0YM/w-d-xo.html Summer on a solitary beach - th-cam.com/video/SK6P2SlbAXM/w-d-xo.html
This is not too strange you know. Back in the 80s the contest wasn't that much of an event. Juries consisted of a small amount of people who gathered that Saturday morning of the event and by the evening they should just cast their grade to each song. The great majority of people voting, in spite of being music experts - at most, have never listened to the songs before. The whole project didn't matter enough and they actually didn't care anymore than that. So, under these circumstances, it was a bit difficult for people who were there just to have some fun time to spot a real masterpiece such as i treni di Tozeur. Later on people who have marked at the end of the song a score of 6/10 would have regretted this choice but it'd certainly have been too late then.
Battiato is a philosophic, conceptual, cryptic, experimental artist its need to know lyrics and vision of his art to understand better. . Not all Italians understand his expression but above all love and respect his art in music
The song is about the longing to live at another pace which begins to waken. There is also an English version of this song, where the lyrics are translated almost literally: th-cam.com/video/S29zVMSWnnM/w-d-xo.html
Alice is one of my all-time favourite Italian singers and I really love this song. This is a song by Alice (pronounced Aliche) which I love: th-cam.com/video/UyZRGQCCSYo/w-d-xo.html
Jesse Kuiper 😂😂😂😂 we didn’t even notice! He must have heard the beautiful Italian music and wanted to get involved! He’ll have his own reaction channel soon 😂😂
he's the zenit of italian high quality music. a pure genius
In 1984, Franco Battiato was at the zenit of his career, after massive successes like "Centro di gravita' permanente" , "L'era del cinghiale bianco", "Cuccurucucu"...His musical style and lyrics mixed arabic and western sounds, intellectual and operatic themes in a unique and never-heard-before fashion, with lines referring to "euclidean jesuites entering at the court of the emperor of the Ming dinasty" ,"Goddess, sing me of the afghan refugees". Think like a Francesco Gabbani of his time or, more correctly, Francesco Gabbani to be a post-modern Franco Battiato. All italian artists of the last thirty years, certainly Mahmood among them, owe immensely to such a maestro.
On a personal note, in those years I was a young boy, but still remember when this song was promoted as the italian entry to a thing, totally new to me, called Eurofestival, and about how proud I was that a sicilian artist was able to express his style at a european audience..
Ma noooo! "Il Francesco Gabbani!" , che paragone impietoso per uno dei più grandi artisti di sempre!!!
Italy should have won dozens of times
I didn't know Franco Battiato sang in Eurovision. I don't think he is known in the UK, but in South Europe he was huge, especially in 80s in Italy and Spain. He did progressive rock in the 70s, pop in the 80s, opera. He has a very long and reputable artistic career. Love the song. Great reaction
101mosquitos thank you! We will have to check out his stuff!
One of the most beautiful ESC songs ever!
It is a song about living at a slower pace than the one with have in the West. They choose the imagine of a train station in a town in Tunisia, Touzer, which used to be an important cultural and religious center.
The "creepy" guy is called Battiato and is a very established musician in Italy with a career which spans almost 5 decades now. He is the author of the song and many of his songs have an "Arabic" feel to them since he is very interested in the cultural interactions between Sicily, his region, and Northern Africa.
To oldies like me Mahmood's musical mix was nothing new: already in the 80s Italian music was looking South and enjoying Mediterranean/Arabic vibes intermingling them with our own musical tradition such as opera.
mimmi brontola thank you so much for the story of the song! ❤️❤️🇮🇹🇮🇹
and he's very known in Spain too.
@@eurovoxx the inspiration for the title is the Fatamorgana mirage that you can see near the salt lake of Tozeur, it seems like there's a train but it's only an illusion... so, all this song is a metaphor, the lyrics are very evocative and strangely poetic. Only a genius like Franco Battiato could write something like that.
@@eurovoxx Hi Andy, no, they are not married, Alice is the stage name of Carla Bissi who is linked to Franco Battiato by a long friendship and several collaborations.
Grazie per il tuo commento che ha fatto giustizia del commento idiota di andy
Thanks for this reaction video. I absolutely love this song. An amazing Italian entry. They both have great vocals but I really love her deep voice, so piercing and beautiful. This song is always on my Eurovision playlist.
Eurovision Bubble our pleasure! Yes it’s a great entry! ❤️🇮🇹
Franco Battiato is for me the greatest Italian living songwriter! Try listen other his songs.
This song was more popular in the charts, also in my country the Netherlands than the winner.
❤️ From Italy
Best italian entry forever!From Italy
Before Alice finished her singing first full sentence on this song, I was already infatuated with her voice. I still am!
No wonder there. Her voice is something else. ♥
ALice is an Italian DIva a godess!!!
The harmonies in "I Treni die Tozeur" are just mind-blowing plus the Italian language! A song like this only the Italians can do. They really feel it. Franco Battiato is a genius! I like that Franco has a pen in his jacket for the "Grand Prix d'Eurovision de la Chanson" presentation.:-) He looks like he has come directly from the Accountant's fair. The part that the chorus sings is in German by the way. They only achieved 5th place at ESC 1984 in Luxembourg, sad for this extremely great song. Sweden won with a bad song, in my opinion. One says "Ali-tsche", not "Alice (in Wonderland)" in English.
Hahaha this reminds me of a comment of some other who wrote: They seem to be a flasher and her accountant.
Oh Andy you made me laugh so hard with your take on the stage presentation and the storyline 😂🤣. That aside, it’s an all time fav of mine, the epitome of a classy italian song, with an ever matching music video to go with it. It elevates me! 👏🙏
I love the music video for this! Definitely one of my favorite Eurovision songs.
The most famous song of 1984. More popular than the Herreys
Alice was a great star in the 80s. She was already well known before the ESC entry
And who won that year? Yeah... that's Eurovision for you.
This is a pure materpiece, one of the most precious, most underrated Italian songs sung by a genius composer and just about the most beautiful Italian female voice ever.
The song is about a melancholic return to the past in an old town where the trains are slow birthing a longing for a time when life was simpler and sweeter
I don't think the song was underrated. It was a huge hit in the Netherlands and also in the rest of Europe if I'm not mistaken. I still love it to this day.
Maestro Battiato sei e resterai il migliore di tutti per sempre
Alessandra Falchi ...hai proprio ragione 😘
Battiato era un genio !!!
Alice could be considered a sort of Italian Kate Bush due to her sophisticated music production. She And Battiato are great friends and he wrote for her her european smash hit "Per Elisa" that won Sanremo 1981. If you like the arrangements with arches check her album "Gioielli Rubati" from 1985, a tribute album to Battiato. You'll love it. She also worked with Morcheeba, David Sylvian and Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music. th-cam.com/video/Wv_9qsqMmok/w-d-xo.html About Franco he is a real genius, a great musician and all you hear in this song was created and arranged by him. his 80's discography is simply brilliant. Emi also tried to launch him on the american market with an english language album "Echoes of Sufi Dances" but his accent was so weird that it turned out to be one of the weirdest attempt from a non english singer to conquer the anglo/american markets.. th-cam.com/video/hFGz-t5R0BE/w-d-xo.html --- th-cam.com/video/riSxPRPmn1Q/w-d-xo.html (This last link is a recent duet in english with Mika) and this is one of his last concerts in Europe, London, before he started to have serious problems with his health. th-cam.com/video/ftf4VCvwyVA/w-d-xo.html
If you want to appreciate Franco Battiato as an author. I recommend you “Crisi Metropolitana” sang by one of the most insane Italian voice Giuni Russo
Franco was the nicest guy despite the appearance lol
Battiato + Alice = Magia Pura ❤
The part of the opera singers is from the magic flute k.620 by Mozart. And is re ensembled for this song. In the older days of the Eurovision, you only could sing in you own language. It was forbidden to sing in another language. Now you can sing in any language you like.
Alice and Franco used to be very closely friends.
They've have been history ❤❤❤❤
It is one of the finest Eurovision songs and arrangements. Franco was a genius and a great one for experimenting with different styles . Alice has such a great voice . The sudden reveal with the three classical backing singers is a masterstroke. I guess for audiences who were not familiar with Franco or his work , like you Andy they might think he was fed up or angry , but that kind of 'alienated from everything' staring persona was part of a lot of 1980s video clips. Perhaps they are just staring at the train going slowly by !
Che capolavoro di Battiato bravissima alice . E oggi? BUIO TOTALE della canzone. Beati noi che c'eravamo in quella GENERAZIONE.
Words, words, words, too many words... Just one and it's enough. A masterpiece.
Andy ascolta queste due:
L'era del cinghiale bianco - th-cam.com/video/Ai14HRro0YM/w-d-xo.html
Summer on a solitary beach - th-cam.com/video/SK6P2SlbAXM/w-d-xo.html
Remember Giusto Pio also is one of co writer of many songs Battiato was Maestro from latin Magister
RIP Maestro
Grazie maestro Franco Battiato
Alice voce stupenda, bellissima e sensuale
Il nostro grandissimo MAESTRO BATTIATO!
I stil can't understand how this got beaten by Diggiloo.. (and I know 3 other songs)
r1riesj we feel you!
This is not too strange you know. Back in the 80s the contest wasn't that much of an event. Juries consisted of a small amount of people who gathered that Saturday morning of the event and by the evening they should just cast their grade to each song. The great majority of people voting, in spite of being music experts - at most, have never listened to the songs before. The whole project didn't matter enough and they actually didn't care anymore than that. So, under these circumstances, it was a bit difficult for people who were there just to have some fun time to spot a real masterpiece such as i treni di Tozeur. Later on people who have marked at the end of the song a score of 6/10 would have regretted this choice but it'd certainly have been too late then.
Battiato is a philosophic, conceptual, cryptic, experimental artist its need to know lyrics and vision of his art to understand better. . Not all Italians understand his expression but above all love and respect his art in music
Great Song ❤
I'm very sorry to inform you that the great Franco Battiato has recently left on our earth his mortal remains, for another dimension, at age 77. 😢
I suoi testi sono filosofia. così poetico, mistico ed evocativo. Un genio.
Try to listen center of gravity in english version and il sentimento nuevo
The song is about the longing to live at another pace which begins to waken.
There is also an English version of this song, where the lyrics are translated almost literally: th-cam.com/video/S29zVMSWnnM/w-d-xo.html
Love it!
Alice is one of my all-time favourite Italian singers and I really love this song. This is a song by Alice (pronounced Aliche) which I love: th-cam.com/video/UyZRGQCCSYo/w-d-xo.html
Rip maestro
You have to react to "no time no space" "via latttea" "la cura" my favoritues three
03:31 There is a fly in your room!
Jesse Kuiper 😂😂😂😂 we didn’t even notice! He must have heard the beautiful Italian music and wanted to get involved! He’ll have his own reaction channel soon 😂😂
Hi Andy! A very special song from Italy indeed. Would love if you can react to Cyprus 1992. Cheers! Kobi from Israel :)
Kobi1111111 hey Kobi! It’s on the list! Andy has lots to get through so it will be as soon as possible
❤️❤️
@@eurovoxx I am glad you are getting many reaction requests and that your reactions are very popular! :)
I'm italian i liked the song they look miserable as they didnt want to be there x
RIP
5th place finish (tied with Belgium).
No, 4th place!
@@luigiferdani5116 5th place together with Belgium.
Is that a very young lesley garret singing background vocals?!?!?
GARETH BOWEN we don’t think so 😂😂
Franco Battiato died few weeks ago
Did this win a Grammy?
See the original video please
Please review GERMANY 2009 eurovision song 🇩🇪💋💋🇩🇪
Thank you for your reaction. Beautiful song indeed. I hope you will react to France 1991 soon, that is my favourite song ever.
Watch the video
if today the Eurovision song contest is exponentially growing even among young people it is also thanks to your work.
topolottto thank you so much! That comment has really made our day! Thank you for your support ❤️❤️
@@eurovoxx 🤗👍
Battisti, Dalla,Venditti,Carboni,Pino Daniele, Nomadi,,Fiorella Mannoia, Litfiba, end Rimani qui scende la sera,,🤗