Franco Battiato

I strongly disagree. And FB would disagree, too.

"...la musica ha la priorità nel campo della musica, non c’è niente da fare." - parlando dei testi di Sgalambro ("music has priority [over lyrics], there's nothing to do about it")

"Because I'm a musician"

F.B.

You are right.
I meant one misses a lot of Battiato's greatness if he doesn't get the meanings of the words.
For example, I liked SOYCD even when I didn't know what it is about because I like the music over all. I think it's not the same for Battiato's songs.
By the way, tomorrow he will hold a concert at the Teatro dell'Opera of Rome, backed by the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra of London. Are you going?

No, too much complications. I'll wait for the Dieci Stratagemmi Tour in january/february.

For all of you interested in some great Italian music here is the current playlist of David Byrne's Web Radio. It's dedicated particularly to my two favourite artists: Franco Battiato and Fabrizio De Andrè.

http://www.davidbyrne.com/radio/index.php

Enjoy!

You can also listen to it on iTunes, should the DB player not work.