"There had been dancing by the lake to toast the sweat, there had been a scent of mint, of ice and liquor, of liquor" so sing Bandabardò in their song dedicated to the Mojito: from De André to Lady Gaga, from Zucchero to the Croockers there are many singers in their discographies who have dedicated at least a verse or an entire song to one of the timeless international classic cocktails IBA.
And yes, because good drinking like good music is a common language and a Margarita is a Margarita both for the Rio who sing "Life you know here revolves around bars, some people wonder if that's all there is, because they know it won't be enough" and for Cocciante who for her would build a silence that no one ever heard, wake up all the lovers, talk for hours and hours then with buckets of paint colored all the walls, houses, alleys and buildings, ...ah no it was for Margaret.
Returning to our days it is Emis Killa who reminds us to be like Martini, "no Killa no party "and confirms that Gin Tonic is always miraculous " I see everything more special at the tenth Gin Tonic, even your fat friend looks like Nina Moric." yay Killa originality travels fast but both Croockers and good old Max Pezzali would burn you in speed with these lines" You have to tell me if you really would prefer me if I were one of those assholes dressed up for a party that you see everywhere you go in bars or in clubs leaning against some pillar drinking a gin and tonic like it was a good story, come on ..". Gin is a major player in homegrown and international music: from the Rolling Stones "I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis" to Katy Parry to the nostalgic and grandiose Rino Gaetano in the song "The Straight of Chicago," there are many artists who could not resist it.
And for those who don't remember the Vengaboys and only the refrain "bum, bum bum bum...." comes to mind, know that they, too, sang a nice phrasing in cocktail mood: "Would You Like A Drink Of Me? Bikini On The Left, Daquiri On The Right, Come And Give Me Lovin' All Through The Night"
If by typing Negroni the first song that comes up is by a certain Eleonora Crupi, an almost famous girl who came out of Maria's school different is the result for the Bloody Mary cocktail: in fact even the overseas pop queen Lady Gaga is brought into trouble for him, although reading the song well, we deduce that perhaps it is more referring to the Bloody Mary to whom the cocktail is inspired than to good drinking...lo and behold, the math adds up, much more in keeping with the rebellious Lady.
To Brandy Alexander, John Lennon's favorite cocktail, the band The river 68's dedicated an entire song of the same name, while for whiskey - the absolute protagonist of many pieces - we cite two homegrown songwriters with a capital C: who has never hummed " between a glass of whiskey and a coffee, you would bring out your whys and propose your wills" that famous "Four friends at the bar "by Gino Paoli and who has never shouted at the San Siro " and then we will find ourselves like the stars drinking whiskey at the Roxy Bar.. "feeling a bit like an outsider à la Vasco Rossi.
In short, whether it is a simple Campari, which De André celebrates in Don Raffaè, or a Sambuca sung by Samuele Bersani in "D.A.M.S.," up to even a "Polar Macedonia" defined as a deadly cocktail by Luca Carboni, national and international music has had to yield to the timeless charm of good drinking and what it can represent in every single song.
One drinks for fun, to be in company, to drown sorrows, to forget a love affair, to stop thinking, to interrupt monotony, for a rebellious evening, to disobey schemes or parents, and then, more banally and simply, one drinks to drink something good, and Zucchero reminds us of it this way "I like the night in Havana and then I like you, but I dream of a cuba libre my love, under the blue sky..... The blue sky."
Giorgia Canevarolo
