Mario

The song Mario by Jovanotti has a rhythm that feels like it escaped from a street rehearsal: the bass and drums intertwine in a pattern that makes you hum it without realizing. It's not a track you'd hear on the radio, but the moment it plays, it's clear why Jovanotti chose it as one of his most personal cuts. The song progresses with a cadence that blends the urban with an air of celebration, as if made to dance in a small space where the sound bounces off the walls.

The recording of Mario is part of a period when Jovanotti —real name Lorenzo Cherubini— was exploring more organic sounds, moving away from the synthetic keyboards of his early days. The artist had begun fusing funk with touches of world music, and in this track, there's even a nod to arrangements reminiscent of classical music. The lyrics, as in many of his songs, mix the everyday with reflections that go beyond the surface. It also appears on a live album where he includes a shortened version of Rapper’s Delight by Sugarhill Gang, showcasing his taste for connecting eras and styles. In 1998, he participated in Red Hot + Rhapsody, a tribute to George Gershwin where he performed I Got Rhythm, confirming his versatility beyond Italian music.