If they were English or American they would embody the ideal boy band

Today turns 25 the only album by Lùnapop “…Squérez?” which was released by the band composed of Caesar Cremonini (voice, piano), Nicola Balestri (Bass), Michele Giuliani (guitar), Gabriele Gallassi (guitar) e Alessandro De Simon (drums) on 30 November 1999. The album reached first position in the sales charts and in 2000 it was the third best-selling album of the year in Italy. What you can read below is our review of the Bolognese group’s album.

If they were English or American, and didn’t know how to play, they would embody the ideal boy band. But that’s not the case. Ninety years in five (as they like to remember), a life spent riding a Vespa on the hills of Bologna, the Lùnapop (note accent on the “u”) of Cesare Cremonini & co, former schoolmates, have “made a bang” thanks to “50 Special”. That is, nothing more and nothing less than a single born almost by chance and which, over the months, reached and surpassed the greats of pop in the Italian charts. And they, who didn’t even dare to dream of number 1, were so pampered, requested and pampered that they came out with an entire album. Which – as if that wasn’t enough – has an enigmatic and difficult to remember title: “… squerez?”

Question That Arises Spontaneously: Will it serve “… squerez?” to project our heroes into the empyrean of the great stars, of those who have you heard the debut album, let’s hope they make another one soon? Hard to say. First reflection: it really played. Each of the members of the group knows the instrument in front of them well: above all, the example of ” Questo piano “, the penultimate song in the track list, in which the hands that we assume belong to Lùnapop Michele Giuliani slide gracefully over the keyboard, as well than with ease.

Second reflection: the singer Cesare Cremonini deals with the lyrics and music, aided here and there by Alessandro “Lillo” De Simone, the group’s drummer who, moreover, didn’t really enjoy the success of “50 Special”, as it was due in the meantime leave for military service. And by getting together, the two manage (often) to avoid tragic banalities such as “heart-love” rhymes, and to tell something that makes sense as well as is pleasant to listen to.

Third reflection: someone explained to the kids or perhaps they thought about it on their own that to make a record you need to include rhythmic songs that transmit energy, but alternating them with romantic-like ballads.

Corollary of the third reflection: Lùnapop give their best in songs like “50 Special”, cheerful sunny vital colorful songs, and rightly so. Especially if you consider that they themselves are like this: cheerful sunny, vital, colorful people. For this reason, we highly recommend “Metrò”, with a captivating intro and clever lyrics, crossed by interesting Beatlesian echoes and ad hoc choruses, but also “Stay with me”, which starts slowly and then accelerates just enough to induce l listener to tap his foot on the floor, to keep time.

Final reflection: if you are (or feel) young, and Lùnapop seemed nice to you, buy “… squerez?”. It’s true, in the cruel world of recording it’s very easy to vanish into thin air like soap bubbles. But people who, like good Cesare, sing with determination “If you want me / tomorrow will be a better day” deserve (at least) a little trust.