Alessandro Safina [Release 1]

• Artist: Alessandro Safina
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 18, 2001
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Latin

Review

The charismatic opera singer relies on a sweeping collection of amazingly passionate tunes to bring out his emotional depth, which is convincing and exciting even if you must know Italian to understand (thankfully the liner notes feature translations!). Unlike a lot of genre performers who seem removed from the general audience, Safina tries to find a happy medium between that and pop. The opening track "Only You (Luna)" features a cool, methodical drum groove and sweeping orchestral atmospheres, plus a haunting female vocal echoing in English in certain spots. As the tune builds in intensity, the groove kicks up, creating a little R&B flavor. "Insieme A Te (Together With You)" is a gentle ballad featuring a slower groove but still a bit of a pop sheen. Most of the tunes follow this pattern, his powerful voice caressed by the dramatic David Foster-like production of Romano Musammara. All good since it makes him more palatable to pop fans who would probably just assume he's singing about love. The disc also features two bonus instrumental tracks, "Ehyeh" (which blends atmosphere with a loping flamenco guitar riff) and "Diva Mea," whose new agey piano musings are accompanied by the occasional vocal touches of the same voice which haunts the opening track. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Only You [Luna]	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(4:32)
Insieme a Te (Together With You)	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(5:16)
Arrivederci America	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(5:11)
La Sete Di Vivere (Thirst for Life)	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(5:11)
Il Mirto and La Rosa [Myrtle and Roses]	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(5:25)
'Stu Bbene (Feeling Fine)	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(4:22)
Aria E Memoria (Breath and Memory)	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(4:25)
Siena	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(4:23)
Sarò con Te (I Will Be With You)	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(3:37)
Il Profumo del Cielo (Blue Heaven)	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(4:33)
Ehyeh [Instrumental]	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(5:27)
Diva Mea [Instrumental]	Romano Musumarra	Alessandro Safina	(4:32)

Credits

Linda Williams (Director), Lorenzo Agius (Photography), Augusto Cherubini (Technical Support), Orchestra Di Roma (Strings), Romano Musumarra (Piano), Romano Musumarra (Director), Romano Musumarra (Keyboards), Romano Musumarra (Producer), Alessandro Safina (Main Performer), Luca Leonori (Programming), Fabrizio DeCarolis (Technical Support), Eric Ghenassia (Executive Producer), Francesco Puglisi (Double Bass), Simone Rocchini (Programming)