Paolo Pa (1980). Song about transvestism. A complex topic
Hey, do you know who that Paolo was who walked across the yard with his heart in a hurry on Sunday ?
He had on some bold makeup and an awesome angel outfit.
This is the true story of the main character of the legendary 1980 song.
Big props to Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, an awesome example of progressive rock in Italy, along with Premiata Forneria Marconi, Area and Le Orme.
They took on a very sensitive issue with a lot of sensitivity and determination, showing unparalleled courage and creativity.
They did all this back in an era when culture and religion still had a lot of influence, and they did it without any hypocrisy.
We’re talking about the complex topic of transvestism (“the sweet, laughing look dressed as a killer angel and then that intrusive makeup“) and male prostitution (“what are you doing in the park on Sunday ?“).
And if we think about how innovative it has been before, with Renato Zero and Ornella Vanoni who, three years earlier, totally revolutionized the concept of transvestism with “Mi vendo” and “La storia di Marcello“, Pooh who, with “Pierre“, broke new ground, and even Pink Floyd who, in 1967, with “Arnold Layne“, made history.
But in Italy, people weren’t really getting it yet.
Meanwhile, Charles Aznavour had already talked about it in “Quello che si dice” back in 1972.
But the song was immediately censored from all RAI broadcasts (there were no private broadcasters yet) and didn’t reach the general public.
People often mention Paolo Pasolini when talking about this song, but the “Paolo” in question is actually a close friend of the group Banco del Mutuo Soccorso who lives with this secret (“But why didn’t you say so ?“).
The story takes place in a small town near Rome, where, as the song says, “it’s hard for us in the suburbs, here people don’t understand and they snitch“.
The singer had a habit of sneaking out of the country, and in the song, he hints at this lifestyle (“Step fast, heart in a hurry, when you cross the yard, someone maybe already suspects your April smile, and your friends little know where you go, what you do, your mother, after all, who knows“).
But the song was actually written about his inner identity as a gay man, which he chose to live out in Rome.
After his death, the lead singer of Banco, Francesco Di Giacomo, dedicated the song to him in a moving celebration of his memory.
