a rapper awakens contradictory passions for Naples

The Song Festival, organized each year in San Remo, is unmissable in Italy: the last of the five prime time evenings brought together 14 million people in front of Rai, or more than 70% audience share. All of Italy is in front of San Remo, and the smallest detail arouses controversy.

One of the songs competing in San Remo this year provoked a lot of reactions. First controversy: it is in the Neapolitan dialect, whereas in principle only titles in Italian are accepted. But the artist who performs this piece, IP’ Te, Tu P’ Me (“Everyone has their own way”), is also essential. His name is Geolier (real name Emanuele Palumbo), born in Naples 23 years ago. And his album Il Coraggio Dei Bambini (“The Courage of Children”) was the best-seller in Italy last year.

In San Remo, Geolier was a hit with her song: she won the public vote, but taking into account the critics’ vote, she only came second in the final ranking. A second controversy has therefore broken out between those who believe that the popular vote was disrespected and those who suggest that young people and southerners stuffed the ballot boxes. Geolier was whistled by part of the public, a third controversy for this artist whose clips and texts are sometimes violent.

Geolier celebrated in Naples

Upon his return from San Remo, the rapper received a hero’s welcome in Naples, with the mayor presenting him with a city medal and plaque of honor. Which caused a fourth controversy, because between the songs of the artists competing in San Remo personalities from all walks of life come on stage. This year, coming to make a plea against violence, there was the mother of another young Neapolitan, Giogio. He was a promising classical musician who was killed last summer in the city by a gunshot. A story of a poorly parked scooter turned into a tragedy. The news item was widely publicized. Geolier had come to Giogio’s funeral, at the request of his mother, who wanted to send a message to what she calls “bastard Naples”.

But the honors that the town hall paid to the rapper on Monday February 12 did not please Giogio’s mother: in summary, she believes that we only celebrate violent Naples. The day when the southern city will not arouse contradictory passion has not arrived. In the meantime, there are already no more tickets for sale for the three Geolier concert dates in June in Naples