With a provocative message, the pop tenor presents his new single "Speak slowly".
For many Italians living in America, the recent interview of the artist Jonathan Cilia Faro on the American broadcast "Good morning Nashville - WKRN" did not go unnoticed, during which the pop tenor, of Italian origin, stated in a provocative way: the Mafia doesn't exist and then add if you fight and are not willing to compromise you can do it.
The disputed phrase was uttered at the launch of his new work "Speak slowly” to be released worldwide on 7 July 2023, directed and produced by Vincenzo Fontes, Emanuele Giocondo, Vincenzo Cavalli with the co-production of Stradivari Classic Records and JPC1111 LLC.
A production that wants to pay homage to the film "The Godfather" 50 years after its release which sees in the cast actors of the caliber of Al Pacino, Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro.
Several Italians and Italian-Americans have accused the singer of "celebrating the Mafia" by choosing one of the cult films dedicated to this theme.
Too bad, however, that the interview transpires anything but this useless stance comes from those who unfortunately they have not crowned their dream of realizing themselves – underlines Jonathan Cilia Faro himself – and that I invite not only to review the interview but to work with enthusiasm and determination to achieve what they want. I wish they had a lot less hard feelings towards me since I, too, had to fight so hard to get to where I am today.
Those who know the tenor well, his history, his roots and above all his desire to be at times "breaking element", "a bell outside the pack" and above all his ability to provoke (resuming how he likes to say a little attitudes of the art critic Vittorio Sgarbi known for his jokes, for his enthusiasm in exposing his ideas, for the way he does it) has instead seen in this new work a way to encourage artists, in particular singers, to address even uncomfortable issues, to reflect without respite on such important issues, speaking about them openly so that even the new generations can get to know this type of topic.
I was born and raised in Sicily – explains the pop tenor – and whoever accuses me of this is just a "respectable" who speculates on the word Mafia to feel better. Contrary to what has been said, I celebrate family, respect, honour, certain values that have been lost "through the fault" of the liberals.
At 42 I'm tired of allowing anyone and for free to use the word Mafia to throw mud on people who work hard to achieve a professional goal.
Who knows me – concludes the artist – you know that I have not stooped to the Mafia and although I love the world of opera in Italy I have decided to leave it because it is managed by a lobby. My determination, passion, patience, lucky encounters have allowed me today to feel satisfied and to be able to say "I did it". The price I had to pay is high, only I know it, but what matters today is that I bring opera music to the world, I have the opportunity to demonstrate my "Italianness", to praise what is beautiful about our country given, to be able to share it with others in the hope that more and more people, including young people, can get to know this immense heritage. Today I finally feel free and able to manage my business the way I want.
And after these explanations, the pop tenor concludes with this thought about the launch of his new single: with "Speak slowly” I celebrate art, the great Nino Rota who wrote this recording masterpiece that still after 50 years moves many people. As a Sicilian, to exorcise the mafia stereotype, I recorded the version by Jonny Dorelli and Gianni Morandi.
