“Gianni!” The scream was released by the over fifty Gianni Morandi fans who yesterday flocked to the arrivals hall at the Malta International Airport to catch a glimpse of the 62-year-old superstar whose flight had just landed.
Morandi will be in concert on Saturday at the Valletta Waterfront with fellow Italian heavyweights Claudio Baglioni and Riccardo Cocciante as well as Malta’s own Ivan Filletti, Ira Losco and Winter Moods. The concert forms part of an activity created by Baglioni called O’Scià, which aims to making political forces, the media and the public aware of the phenomenon of migration.
As soon as he was within his fans’ sights, the hall was gripped in the commotion created by the larger part of the crowd, the middle aged ladies. It took Morandi a good five minutes to enter the hall proper as he was immediately held by his fans who either asked him for an autograph or posed with him for photos. The singer obliged and totally won the crowd over with his trademark smile and charming persona.
Speaking to the media, Morandi said he was pleasantly surprised by the very warm welcome he was given. He would not disclose Saturday’s repertoire, especially which songs the trio will sing together. However, it is understood that Baglioni and Morandi will be singing their new duet in public for the first time ever.
Asked by this newspaper to comment on the concert and its aims, he said, “such concerts help bring together people regardless of race and creed, after all, music is a universal language.”
This is Morandi’s second visit to Malta, the first being 16 years ago when he played football along with a selection of Italian singers and personalities against a selection of their Maltese counterparts.
Gianluigi Morandi was born in a little village called Monghidoro on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines to a humble family. His father Renato was very active within the Italian Communist Party and little Gianni used to help him sell the party newspapers. At an early age he worked as a shoe-shiner, cobbler and as a candy vendor in the village’s only cinema. His vocal abilities led him to a number of small gigs, some of which were during the Communist Party’s activities.
In 1962 he was signed by RCA Italia and achieved national stardom with the song Fatti mandare dalla mamma, and remained Italy’s darling throughout that decade. During the 70s he experienced a period of decline, however, shot back to stardom during the 80s and won the San Remo festival in 1987 with Si può dare di più together with Enrico Ruggiero and Umberto Tozzi. Since then, Morandi’s star never faded away from Italy’s musical scene.
The concert organisers published the traffic arrangements for Saturday night. The road along Pinto Wharf shall be one-way, entering from near Crucifix Hill and exiting from the roundabout near HSBC Hexagon House. Public transport after the concert will be available from the Valletta Waterfront at Pinto 5 Quay, servicing the main night service bus routes to the main towns and villages across the island.
Water Taxis operated by Explore Malta shall be making trips from Senglea and Vittoriosa to the Valletta Waterfront and back. Costing Lm1 per person per crossing, the water taxis shall operate from 6pm till late.
Those preferring to make use of their private vehicles, are encouraged to park at the MCP car park, for the price of Lm1 per car. Access to concert area will be through underground tunnel at level -6.