Gatto Panceri: «I have the rights to “Vivo per lei” but no one knows that I wrote it. I’m not married but I have many animals and the dog Bocellina”

We are republishing Barbara Gerosa’s interview with «Gatto» Panceri, one of the most appreciated by our readers in 2025.

«Guitar and voice. During concerts I always dedicate a space to my songs brought to success by other artists: Mina, Giorgia, Morandi. When the moment of “I live for her” arrives I happen to catch amazed looks. I wrote it, but the authors now only mention them at the Sanremo Festival.” Luigi Giovanni Maria Panceriaka «Gatto», wrote the lyrics and part of the notes, together with a musician from the group Oro, of the best-selling Italian song in the world after «Nel blu rossa di blu»: 45 million copies for the single starring Andrea Bocelli and Giorgia. In Spain the recent version by Karol G and Bocelli (“Vivo por ella”) reached 50 million views in a few weeks. A global success.

«I composed it while I was in the car – says Gatto Panceri -. It was 1996, I already collaborated with Giorgia, the manager Torpedine calls me and tells me: there’s this really good young man, he has a lyrical repertoire, find something that suits his vocality. I thought about my love for music and “Vivo per lei” was born.”

From singer and author of million-selling songs to farmer. But is it true?
“Hand! I bought a house in Merate, in the Brianza area of ​​Lecco, surrounded by greenery and I built a stable because I love animals very much. Yes, perhaps it resembles a farm, in the garage there is always hay for my mare Libera and donkey Resta, but I also built a recording studio and opened a production company to help young artists.”

Which is called «Vivo per lei edizioni», it always comes back.
«The rights to that song allow me to write my music with more serenity, without the anguish of having to churn out catchphrases or bend to the fashions of the moment. “Stay standing”, released in 2021, written during the lockdown, has exceeded 700 thousand views in streaming. In June I released the single “Te volo” which will be part of my next album. And then there are concerts in Italy and abroad: Japan, Canada, Mexico.”

Let’s go back to country life.
“Still? – the laughter is amused -. My grandfather was a farmer, he worked under a boss. My father, on the other hand, was a decorator, I got my artistic streak from him. No sponsors, little help, once upon a time there were no talent, it was more difficult, but somehow more true. As for the rest, I like to play and then immerse myself in the greenery, take care of my mare, donkey and three dogs: Bocellina (in homage to Bocelli), Gasper and Kasa, a Central Asian shepherd who comes from Ukraine, saved from the bombings. I also had two sheep, but the male was too aggressive and I could no longer keep them. I turn on the computer, with artificial intelligence I caress the future, and then I put on my boots and take care of the animals, capable of giving you growing love. I am not married, I have no children, they are my loved ones. Now I would also like to have an alpaca.”

Graduated from the Milan conservatory, twelve albums, three times as a performer at the Sanremo Festival, seven more as an author. And the nickname “Cat”?
«They called me that as a boy, it was Pippo Baudo who chose it for me: he said my name was too long».

Do you miss television?
«No, not at all. I like working in my studio, helping promising authors emerge, even if the music has changed. And then once upon a time the apprenticeship was different. Can you see Ligabue at a talent show wearing the shirt with Luciano written on it? Today trappers are in fashion, and I also find them very good, but perhaps even “Vivo per lei” if it came out now would struggle to make it big. The contact with the earth, in what may appear to be a farm, but in reality is much more, helps me precisely in this: to maintain my roots, but always immersed in the notes”.

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December 30, 2025

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