Checco Zalone’s songs, beyond “Buen Camino”

The new film “Buen Camino”, which has just arrived at the cinema, has confirmed Checco Zalone as the king of the box office, with almost 20 million euros grossed in three days. In the film Luca Medici, this is the real name of the comedian from Bari, plays a character called Checco Zalone, a rich heir who leads a comfortable existence thanks to his father Eugenio Zalone, a rich sofa manufacturer. At the beginning of the story we see him spending his days either between the swimming pools of two luxurious villas on the Costa Smeralda together with his very young Mexican model girlfriend or on holiday on a yacht. Then, however, he is urgently called to Rome by his ex-wife Linda, to track down his teenage daughter Crystal who suddenly disappeared without a trace. The protagonist discovers that his daughter has set off to undertake the pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago in Spain in an attempt to give meaning to her life and to re-establish a relationship with the girl he also sets off along the route. The release of the film was anticipated by the video clip of a new song, “Prostata enflamada”, which once again reminded us that Zalone’s strength also lies in his music, which has always accompanied films, shows and iconic moments of Italian pop culture.

Satire that becomes a catchphrase

One of the best known examples is “We are a very strong team”a song which, way back in 2006 – the year in which Italy won the Football World Cup – gave him his first real chance of fame. Zalone transformed the language of sport into an irresistible parody of national support, using simple rhythms and immediate words to speak to everyone, making people laugh but also reflect on collective identity.

Irony on social issues

Songs like “Immigrant” (from the 2020 “Tolo Tolo” soundtrack) and “Love has no religion” (from “Che bella giorno” in 2011) show the most biting side of the comedian: music becomes a tool to deal with complex issues with lightness (“I’m from Puglia with a mother from Taranto / she’s French from a mother who’s bisexual / she’s with me / what’s the harm? / my little burkina / I want monogamy / and I don’t want those other three / I’ll only marry you / it’s not a clash of religions / it’s just eight in-laws among the idiots…”), without moralisms, but with a satire that remains imprinted. It is precisely this balance that still makes them highly sought after online today. And what about “The sexual men”, sung in the film “Cado dalle nubi”?

The parody of Italian customs

There is no shortage of songs that target national habits and vices, such as “Italian Boy” or “The Vaccination”released in 2021, in the midst of Covid, where the pop language and catchy sounds amplify the comic message. They are songs that also work outside the context of the film, becoming viral and always current. From the movie “Quo Vando?” instead it is the Celentanesque “The first republic”. It’s impossible to forget, then, that “Angela” sung in 2009 in “Cado dalle nubi”.

This is how he also conquered Francesco De Gregori

Zalone is truly a capable musician, quite esteemed by his colleagues, who often agreed to play along with him; as Jovanottiguest here at Zelig. Francesco De Gregori, on the other hand, even wanted to record an album with Zalone, “Pastiche”: “One day I was in Bari and I started asking every person I met if by any chance they had Checco Zalone’s number. I wanted to get to know him. In the end I found someone who had his number – said De Gregori regarding his friendship with Zalone – I couldn’t wait to have him alongside me as a musician on this strange and beautiful adventure.”

Because they still count with “Buen Camino”

With the release of “Buen Camino”, interest in Checco Zalone grows and also carries with it his musical production. Searching for his songs means preparing for his imagery: a mix of comedy, music and social observation that continues to speak to today’s audiences.