In a special event hosted by New York Universitys Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, popular Italian singer/songwriter Lorenzo Cherubini (aka Jovanotti) will talk about music, videos, and cinema with Stefano Albertini, director of Casa Italiana, and Antonio Monda, NYU Tisch School film professor. A Conversation with Jovanotti takes place at Casa Italiana (24 W. 12th Street) on Friday, February 20, at 6 p.m., following his U.S. debut concerts on February 18 and 19. It is free and open to the public. For further information, call 212.998.8730.
Jovanotti launched his musical career in the late 1980s from a DJ stint on Milans popular Radio Deejay network. He incorporated international influences and synthesized a uniquely modern version of the traditional Italian singer/songwriter. As his music evolved, so did his lyrics, and he began to use his songs to address philosophical, religious, and political issues.
Delivering lyrics in a half-sung, half-spoken style that has something in common with a reading by a Beat poet, Jovanotti uses the rhythm and the ricochet of consonants and catchy melodic hooks to create songs that are instantly accessible to an international audience. His current album, the award-winning, multi-platinum Safari, was recorded in Los Angeles; Tuscany; Rio de Janeiro; Hannover, Germany; and Milan. The record dominated the Italian Top Ten Charts for most of 2008.