Luciano Ligabue, known internationally by his last name only, and as “Liga” in his home country, is an Italian singer-songwriter, film director, and writer. In Italy he represents the most renowned and credible personification of rock music over the last 25 years. Born in Correggio, in the Italian region of Emilia Romagna, Ligabue premiered as a rock musician at the age of 30.
For the first time in his tenured music career, he booked a U.S. tour last October, to promote his 10th studio album, Mondovisione, which has been Number 1 on Italy’s Albums chart for nine weeks in 2013, and this year. Kicking off at Terminal 5, New York, on October 19th, he also performed at the Whisky a Go Go, in Los Angeles, on October 22nd, at the DNA lounge, in San Francisco, on October 24th, before landing in Miami’s Grand Central on October 26th.
During his U.S. tour, Italian author Emanuela Papini was also stateside. Emanuela hails from Torino, where she works as the Assistant CEO and Stage Director of the opera house “Teatro Regio”. A faithful and rambunctious fan of “Liga” for more than 20 years, she decided to write a book about his fans, and the special relationship between them and his music, as a token of gratitude.
As Papini writes in her book, “without you, all these years wouldn’t have been the same…your concerts are pure joy, happiness, lightness”. This book is her way of saying “Thank You” to Ligabue, and letting him know how important his music has been –and still is – for all his fans. Emanuela wanted to tell the story of her hero from the other side, the side of the people who for more than two decades have been screaming his lyrics back to him from the audience during his performances.
Emanuela Papini met Luciano Ligabue in 2011, before a concert at the theatre where she works. Having personally experienced the profound effect of his music and lyrics firsthand, Papini steeled herself, presenting him with a letter outlining her project. He enthusiastically embraced her proposal, and the year after, on two online fan multimedia channels, they published a letter to all of his fans requesting a personal story that would demonstrate the significance of his music in their lives.
The results were stunning! They received over 3000 e-mails which distinctly showed the immense fondness and gratitude toward the singer, who is now considered more than that by all of them. Emanuela read all submissions, carefully selected a handful, and personally met each and every single “character” for her book.
While writing, she realized that the book was not only a collection of personal experiences, but it was becoming a cross sectional study of Italy, made up of all the people who, despite the economic strains and personal struggles, “Hang in There” – or in Italian slang: “Tengono Botta”. It is a portion of Italy who never gives up.
In Ligabue’s music his fans have found comfort and a little bit of magic as well. Generazione Liga is a collection of moving testimonies that prove that Luciano’s songs have become the soundtrack to many of his fans’ lives.
Emanuela Papini’s book was published in March 2014. She decided to follow Ligabue on his U.S. tour, and also came to San Francisco to present Generazione Liga. On October 23rd, at the Museo Italo Americano, she told her audience about the creative process behind her book noting the special relationship between Luciano Ligabue and “his people”. Papini painted a vivid portrait of a country hanging at the precipice but anchored by a strong and enduring people.
Her message to the Italians and Italian Americans who live in the Bay Area is a message of hope: There is a large part of the country that still believes in fighting the good fight and music from troubadours like Ligabue can unite and embolden the people.
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