England? Ages ahead

I was in London this summer when the Glastonbury Festival was taking place.

It was everywhere: newspapers, radios, even on TV. Right, it’s the biggest music festival in Europe, an event anyway, also for no-music freaks.

And again this summer the fabulous Blur’s reunion…everybody was crazy about it; every morning on tabloids, but even on the Guardian, an article about last Blur’s gig or, Demon Albarn’s last interview, was published. I remember how I found out that they played less than two km from my place at Rough Trade for an unannounced concert.

I just thought to move all of this to the Italian context. Ok, we don’t have any Glastonbury, we don’t even have Blur’s alter-ego, alas! And maybe that’s the point. Pop and Rock were born there, that means that English people rock inside, so that now, what is underground in the rest of Europe, is mainstream in the UK or, at least, is not relegated at the bottom of the national cultural panorama. Of course, Anglo-Saxons are hegemonic in the worldwide music scene, and it helps, well, it’s fundamental. But still, it can’t completely explain the uncultivated music tastes of Italians. I'm pretty sure that if I ask my fifty-years-old uncle about some Italian rock bands, he wouldn't have an idea of what I am talking about, and he would ask me if I am talking about a kind of ham or a computer related thing.

So, here’s our international music delegates: Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti.

Could you imagine a national Glastonbury-like festival, broadcasting live on Rai1? and Radio1 playing pop-rock songs 24h/24? Naaah!

And yet, we do have good bands! But they are doomed to remain hidden in their national underground scene, or, if they are really motivated to get a brilliant career, well, they often have to come to compromises. (Few high hopes though…Vinicio Capossela is performing in one week at the Union Chapel in London, jo!)

It’s weird though that Italy is known as the country of singers and musicians…we should be inclined to music…

But it’s always so hard to have something new to be accepted and absorbed there… such a lazy country, reluctant to any change. Maybe it’s just the wheel of destiny: we played our cards in the past. They were pretty good indeed. But now it’s time to stay at the back and look at some other better players...

Thom Yorke deejaying @BBC Radio1

E.