Fabrizio De André: The Poet of the Marginalized

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Fabrizio De André was an iconic Italian singer-songwriter, widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in Italian music history. Often called 'Faber', he was celebrated for his profound, poetic lyrics that gave voice to society's outcasts, marginalized individuals, and rebels.Born in Genoa, De André initially studied law before dedicating himself to music in the late 1950s. He rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with albums like 'Volume 1', 'Tutti morimmo a stento', 'La buona novella', 'Non al denaro non all'amore né al cielo', and 'Storia di un impiegato'. His songs, often based on literary sources or historical events, tackled themes of social injustice, war, religion, poverty, and the dignity of the oppressed with unparalleled sensitivity and lyrical depth. His unique blend of traditional Italian folk melodies with chanson and progressive rock influences defined his sound. He survived a traumatic kidnapping with his partner Dori Ghezzi in Sardinia in 1979. De André died in Milan in 1999 from lung cancer.
  • De André came from a wealthy Genoese family but developed a deep empathy for the poor, prostitutes, thieves, and rebels, who became the central characters of his songs.
  • His anarchist political views and critical stance towards established institutions (including the Church and the State) often caused controversy and initially limited his mainstream radio play.
  • In 1979, De André and his partner Dori Ghezzi were kidnapped in Sardinia and held for ransom for four months by bandits. Surprisingly, De André developed a complex relationship with his captors, later stating he found more honesty among them than in 'civilized' society. This experience deeply influenced his subsequent album, 'L'indiano'.
  • His album 'La buona novella' (1970) reinterpreted the apocryphal gospels, focusing on the marginalized figures around the life of Jesus, causing significant religious controversy.
  • 'Non al denaro non all'amore né al cielo' (1971) is a song cycle based on Edgar Lee Masters' 'Spoon River Anthology', set in an imaginary cemetery in Genoa.
  • De André died on January 11, 1999, at the age of 58, due to complications from lung cancer. His funeral in Genoa was attended by tens of thousands of mourners.
  • His profound lyrics are studied in Italian schools alongside classical poetry.