Marco Ligabue talks about himself to MOW, from his hymn to the climate crisis to the hot topics of these days. On the sauce-gate, Clerici criticizes: “It is not in the family style to make declarations of this type without first verifying them and having clarified in private.” On the trappers’ lyrics: “Money, drugs, swear words, they are gratuitously provocative.” On the cast of the Concertone: “It has become a commercial festival, the true essence of May 1st is in Taranto.” And about Måneskin and the alleged rivalry between Luciano and Vasco…
MLigabue arch54 years old on May 16, a life spent in bands, a solo career, a book (Say hi to your brother for me, in its third reprint) and a, let’s say, cumbersome brother. A few days ago (April 26), on the occasion of World Earth Day, he published his Toc Toc Ecological, a song that aims to raise public awareness of the growing climate crisis. This release was the opportunity for a wide and varied chat, touching on several hot topics. Among these, the so-called sauce-gate (which still rages online), the abuse of autotune and the often provocative lyrics of the trappers. Without forgetting the Måneskin and the Concertone lineup of May Day. In conclusion, a reference to the alleged rivalry between Vasco and Luciano…
Hyou wrote a song that reflects on climate change, how did the idea come about?
The idea was born from a deep personal reflection. To be precise, every day we are bombarded with alarming climate news, such as the record heat reached in March 2024. Yet this news quickly fades away, overshadowed by others of lesser importance. We seem to fixate on banalities, and not think about our home. With Toc Toc Ecological I therefore wanted to shake consciences by asking ourselves: are we doing enough for the earth? Am I doing enough?
You say we dwell on trivial matters, are you referring to something in particular?
But no, it’s a continuous succession of superficial news. Take, for example, Ferragni’s months-long obsession with Pandoro. For charity.
He knows that his brother Luciano is at the center of one of the most viral news stories of the moment, the well-known sugo-gate.
In reverse order, it would never have happened. It is not like me or Luciano to make such statements on TV, without first verifying them and clarifying them in private.
Antonella Clerici invited him on her show to “make peace”. Will Luciano accept the invitation?
I don’t know the answer to this, the slip remains.
What is it like to have a brother like him?
Having such a good and famous brother is a great privilege. He, being also 10 years older than me, blazed a trail that I somehow followed. Of course, I complicated my life when I chose the same career, due to inevitable comparisons and prejudices. However, I made my own journey, and I managed to make myself appreciated and known regardless of being the “brother of”.
UNineteen years of solo career weren’t a walk in the park?
They were not a walk in the park, especially given the route taken. Today everyone is aiming for streaming, I instead aimed for concerts, starting from bars, kiosks, small squares…
Does he sing without autotune, aware that he is now in the minority?
Music also lives on fashions, but music without artifice has spanned the centuries. I’m from the group of people who play an instrument. There can be modernization, but music must be played and sung. The new generations, however, have grown up with this language, with autotune, and with sometimes questionable lyrics. Songs that are provocative at all costs. Money, drugs, swear words. For goodness sake, there can be provocation, it’s not that we are saints, but it must be significant, not gratuitous.
Does your seventeen-year-old daughter listen to your songs or does she prefer trappers?
I can say that he has always had quality tastes. It’s true, he also listens to trap, but he mainly prefers international music. From Image Dragons to Coldplay, up to James Bay. Every now and then he also asks for pieces of mine.
Måneskin are not present in this playlist. She likes them?
I really like them in sound, and I would be really curious to see them live. But their repertoire is a bit limited…
HHave you taken a look at the lineup of the Concertone del Primo Maggio? Don’t you think it’s a bit like Sanremo?
It has now turned into a commercial festival, which has lost the spirit for which it was born. There is no doubt, however, that by calling media names you find yourself with a more important audience. This isn’t bad at all. For the rest, in my opinion, the essence of the true May 1st concert can be found in Taranto, both for the choice of artists and for the content of the songs.
Morgan is also in Rome, can you thank “TeleMeloni”?
It’s true that he had been missing on certain stages for some time, but he is a contradictory artist. Personally, I prefer to maintain a neutral position, as a citizen in search of truth. However, I would like RAI, if such interference were proven, I am thinking of the Scurati case and Amadeus’ departure, to shed full light on the issue, also considering his educational function in the country.
Allow me a provocation: will you go from Vasco to San Siro?
I doubt it, simply because I’m on the front lines too, especially in the summer. But I’ve already seen it on other occasions, and I’ve always liked it.
Does this rivalry between Vasco and Ligabue exist or not?
Absolutely not, it’s just a question of cheering, like in football.
