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Franco Battiato
Italian musician (1945–2021) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francesco "Franco" Battiato (Italian: [ˈfraŋko batˈtjaːto, – battiˈaːto]; 23 March 1945 – 18 May 2021)[2][3] was an Italian musician, singer, composer, filmmaker and, under the pseudonym Süphan Barzani, also a painter.[4] Battiato's songs contain esoteric, philosophical and religious themes, and have spanned genres such as experimental pop, electronic music, progressive rock, opera, symphonic music, movie soundtrack, oratorio and new wave.
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Franco Battiato | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Francesco Battiato |
Also known as | Süphan Barzani |
Born | (1945-03-23)23 March 1945 Ionia, Sicily, Italy |
Died | 18 May 2021(2021-05-18) (aged 76) Milo, Sicily, Italy |
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Instrument(s) | |
Years active | 1965–2019 |
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Website | Official website |
He was for decades one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Italy. His unique sound, song-crafting and especially his lyrics, often containing philosophical, religious, and culturally exotic references, as well as tackling or painting universal themes about the human condition earned him a unique spot on Italy's music scene, and the nickname of "Il Maestro"[5] His work includes songwriting and joint production efforts with several Italian and international musicians and pop singers, including the long-lasting professional relationship with Italian singers Alice and Giuni Russo. Together with Alice, Battiato represented Italy at the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "I treni di Tozeur".[6]