Mahmood: the first Forum in Milan is all voice, body and heart

Mahmood is a shape-shifting pop creature. Almost like one of his loved ones Pokemon. It can go from melodic and open songs, with a strength of language and a loving existentialism from the great Italian songwriting traditiona exotic urban piecesunleashed, who after hugs, tears and collective karaoke, push the audience to twerking and jumping in a group and in an animalistic way. It is Mediterranean and internationalin the same concert he can perform “Dorado” and “Rapids”the Arab “Sabri aleel” and the dedication to Sardinia “I love you”all with credibility because they are geographical and sound latitudes that belong to him. Mahmood contains multitudes. Its first Forum in Milan, sold out, brings together its various soulsexplored naturally through pictures, or sets in which different groups of songs are collected.

Some are more melancholic, with the artist in crooner version with black suit and red tie, or on the floor which, almost like a spaceship, rises towards the sky on pieces like “The Nile in the canal” and “Shooting Star”. Still other paintings immediately show themselves to be more energetic and physical with the all-male dance troupe and the choreographies by Carlos Diaz Gandia (who have nothing to envy of those of many international stars) called to make the block electric. The physicality, his and that of the dancers, is bewitching like that of the Riace Bronzes and visually fills the show, it is a true theatrical performance. In the center of the stage there is a sort of small pyramid with three stairs, behind a large LED wall that transmits the visuals. There are no mannerisms or scenographic gigantisms: Mahmood focuses everything on songs, voice and body. The only guest is international and it’s about Angeleon stage to sing “Sempre”. A courageous choice and in contrast to many shows conceived as infinite catwalks of guests. It is Mahmood’s Forum in the most literal and profound sense of the term: Blanco isn’t even there to duet on “Brividi”.

Mahmood sings the entire winning song of the 2022 Sanremo Festival, from start to finish, and the show is given by the audience who accompanies him, making the decibel meter skyrocket. The idea is to take a journey between dream and reality: the live show, in fact, starts with a video of the artist at the dentist who, to give him the grillzpersonalized tooth ornaments with writing on them “Nlda”, or “In the beds of others”, the title of his latest albumgives him anesthesia. From here begins “the flight” into his world and his discography. An important role in the transition from more intimate moments, with headlights and soft lights, to the more agitated ones, with rave lasersit has the light design by Douglas Green. The concert, as a whole, is a roller coaster of moods: one of the most intense moments is on “Love cocktail”with the visuals that tell of a flight among the clouds that really seems like that of “Wings of Pegasus”and with an ethereal Mahmood wearing a fluttering red bandana. The ending with “Ratata”, “Money” and “Tuta gold” it’s a long shock that remains with you even outside the arena where the fans, as they return to their cars and head towards the metro, continue to dance or sing, watching the videos made during the evening. The music magically took possession of their bodies.

Ladder:
Bakugo
Klan
All against all
In other people’s beds
Paradise
Inuyasha
Chills
Sabri aleel
Ghettolimpo
Snow
Medley: Dorado, Forbidden and Talata
Personal
Overdose
I love you
The Nile in the canal
Shooting star
In your sea
Love cocktail
Rapids
Always with Angele
Medley: Barrio and Kobra
Ratata
Money
Gold suit