I challenge anyone to say this is not basically the same song, with a different arrangement. Although the words are not the same, the titles are similar and the idea is the same: the Italian song speaks to a current love object and the (superior) Spanish song is addressed to a potential love object he is still seeking. Hearing them side by side like this makes it sound like a duo.
What's going on? Jovanotti denies having ever heard A la primera persona. Despite the fact that he has recorded in Spanish and Sanz is much better-known world-wide, having 17 more Grammy awards than the Italian "artist." To my knowledge, no legal action has been taken. Mind you that hyper-talented George Harrison had to pay a pretty penny due to a fleeting but real resemblance between his My sweet Lord and the Chiffons' He's so fine. If it's not a case of plagiarism here, it's a case of some shady deal within the music industry.
Now I never cared much for Jovanotti (starting with his stupid invented name) from the beginning. Since then he's jumped on the celebrity gravy train of the sensitive, politically and socially committed and self-righteous prick. All while singing songs about the rain ("it's raining, God how it's raining, listen to how it's coming down") and the present song ("to you who are, who simply are" and "You're my great love and my love great"). I'd like to smack his sensitive, politically and socially committed face. Albeit a rather handsome face, I must admit.
This song has had an enormous success, putting millions into the pockets of our pseudo-leftist. One of my father's favorite sayings used to be H.L. Mencken's remark "nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." Apparently this is now also true of Italy.
Update, Feb. 8, 2010. Monday morning. After writing my new post, I checked the previous ones to see if they were in working order. Lo and behold- YouTube video above replaced by the notice: "this video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Jovanotti."
You can't make this stuff up. Lorenzo: vatti a nascondere, bischero.
