Ten children from four different women (the last one, Lua, was born a few days ago), a new single released on April 18th – the cover of E tu come stai? by Claudio Baglioni – more than one hundred concerts by the end of the year in Italy and in twenty-two other countries, a super event on September 14th at the Greek Theater in Taormina. He is not bored, Mario Biondi, 53 years old, from Catania transplanted to Parma, a black voice – and workaholic – increasingly appreciated in us and around the world.
And how is she?
«I play my game as a libero and without labels like that of the Italian Barry White. Nobody is happy if they tell him that he copies someone else. Even my wife gets angry when they tell her that she is identical to her twin sister… (she laughs) ».
He has always sung in English, except for a few unlucky attempts like in Sanremo in 2018 (with “Rivederti” he came second to last): do you want revenge?
“Partially yes. I love American music, but obviously also Italian music. An album will soon be released with the piece by Baglioni and La donna cannone by Francesco De Gregori, Sulla terra io e lei by Riccardo Cocciante and Pensiero stupendo by Patty Pravo.”
Is it true that in the past record companies wanted to push you to sing like Max Pezzali or even the Ragazzi Italiani?
«Yes, in the 90s. But I had nothing to do with that stuff. It was madness. I have to thank Zucchero, Giorgia and Alex Baroni who relaunched soul sounds at the time.”
Are you satisfied with how it has gone so far?
“Certain. I wasn’t handsome and I didn’t do pop, but at 35 I made it too. In my childhood dreams I knew it would end like this.”
And as in the more classic sliding doors without the English DJ Norman Jay who in 2004 on BBC 1 made his “This is what you are” known to half the world, what would have happened?
«I would have given up. I no longer tolerated going to clubs and being treated badly. In 2004 during an evening in Vicenza I argued with the “pierre” of the club, I smashed a microphone and I screamed as if I were Sandokan. Afterwards I told myself that singing should give me joy and sensuality, not anger and frustration. I decided to retire, then Norman Jay heard the song and my life changed.”
Your father, a clothing salesman and singer with the stage name Stefano Biondi, died at the age of 46 in a car accident: what is the first thing you would say to him?
«“You were right, dad”. He believed in me more than I did. And now he would be the happiest man in the world.”
Is it true that your grandmother also sang?
“Yes. At the Eiar with maestro Cinico Angelini. She called herself Tina Adolfi. Her voice was reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald.”
At two years old you moved with your family from Catania to Parma: in those years what was it like growing up as a Sicilian in a city in northern Italy?
«Sometimes difficult because there were so many prejudices. Sometimes you had to sketch. In Parma, where I still live today and feel great, in 1974 if you were from the South, finding a house to rent wasn’t very easy. To move forward I have toughened up a bit, even though I remain rather fragile.”
But when do you exercise prejudice?
«I become unpleasant towards rude people. Anyone who makes a joke about my children that I should watch more TV in the evening doesn’t make me laugh.”
By the way, a few days ago – after Marzio, Zoe, Marika, Chiara, Ray, Louis Mario, Mia, Milo and Maria Etna – Lua was born: what is the most important thing to teach them all?
«Becoming aware of yourself and accepting yourself for better or for worse».
Did she make it?
“I hope so. I have always worked a lot on my character, my father always told me not to pretend to be someone else.”
Above all, she sings about love and is a monument to the family: as a partner when he falls considering that he had ten children with four different women?
“Maybe I’m a little rigid, but I have to say that my wife doesn’t scold me much, maybe at least I’ve improved a little.”
Were the separations complicated?
«They are never simple, but then things get better»
I know you can’t see your nine-year-old daughter: how’s it going now?
“Very bad. I don’t like to think of my daughter’s mother as an enemy, but she has completely distanced the child from me and her brothers, who all frequent my house and she is the only one who doesn’t. Her mother tells me that the little girl no longer wants to come and we must respect her wishes… I fear there is no escape, but if she lets this principle pass, it will cause serious damage to her. The experts tell me that she manipulates her and I suffer a lot from this situation. Me and the rest of the family.”
Do you manage to meet her every now and then or is your relationship broken for the moment?
“I haven’t seen her for a few months.”
For the rest, does the extended family work?
«Thank God, yes. Apart from the mother of the nine-year-old girl, every now and then there is some conflict with one of the mothers, but our children together are adults so everything is fine.”
Two of your six daughters, Marika and Zoe, sing on tour with Renato Zero: how did you feel when they told you they wanted to make your career?
“Well. They are good and professional. They make me proud.”
What did it take to get to 53 years like this?
«Tenacity and courage».
The last brave thing you did?
«Bringing another child into the world. My choice and my wife’s, obviously.”
What do you instinctively say to those who for a thousand reasons don’t have children?
“Nothing. Everyone has to deal with themselves. I’m happy with my boys, they are my whole life, but if one doesn’t feel like doing the same, that’s fine.”
We often talk about adoptions for gay couples and wombs for rent: what do you think?
«I’m rather reluctant about renting a uterus and I think it’s a fairly violent practice. I don’t comment on adoption for gays. Of course, if nature, which is perfect, created man and woman there must be a reason.”
During the five years of Amadeus’ “reign”, how many times, after 2018, did you try to go to Sanremo?
“Only once. I didn’t go because he wanted me to do a duet with someone who wasn’t suitable for me. And so I refused. I can’t tell you who you are.”
Aim for Sanremo 2025, right?
«I don’t even know who will be driving it. I’ll let him know.”
What is the most important and urgent request that a citizen father of ten children feels he must make to the State?
«We absolutely must give mothers financial support because giving birth to children means working for the State. Without children there is no future.”
With such an intense and busy life, have you lost something, or someone, along the way?
«Something about my children’s growth. The older one recently told me that he would like to see me more. I told him he’s right. But either I worked or we went to eat at Caritas.”
Give some advice: what was the last thing you heard that thrilled you?
«I love Samara Joy, American, 24 years old. An original and exciting voice. The world is varied, thank God. There isn’t just what they want us to see in advertisements. There’s more out there.”
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