Farewell to Pino D'Angiò, symbol of 80s music
The extraordinary success of 'Ma quale idea', considered one of the first rap songs in the Italian language. He was 71 years old
2' min read
2' min read
He was an icon of 1980s Italian disco music and had collected international hits. His best-known song was 'Ma quale idea', considered the first Italian rap song and which became a hit again in recent months after the remix by Bnkr44 with whom he had also duetted on the Sanremo stage in February. Pino D'Angiò (real name Giuseppe Chierchia) has died at the age of 71. He was originally from Pompei.
His wife Teresa and son Francesco broke the news: 'Sadly, dad left us today, struck down by a serious illness that took him away within a few weeks. He endured a lot, as he always did'. In various interviews after the successful Sanremo performance, D'Angiò himself had spoken of the many serious illnesses that had struck him over the years, including a throat tumour that forced him to undergo six surgeries, then a heart attack with cardiac arrest and finally another lung tumour.
International Achievements and Awards
Health problems to which he always reacted with courage, resuming his artistic activity - he was also a voice actor, actor and music producer - after forced breaks. 'Ma quale idea' (1980) was his biggest commercial success: the song remained at the top of the Spanish hit parade for 14 weeks the following year. In 1981, it was the turn of 'Un concerto da strapazzo' (1981), again full of irony and nonsense, in which he imagined himself duetting with the biggest names in song. A long career, many international tours, prestigious awards. In 2001 he was the only Italian to receive the Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in the USA. Among other things, he wrote a song for Mina, 'Ma chi è quello lì'.
The last goodbye
.In 2022 his 'Okay Okay' is chosen by Amazon for Black Friday commercials in the US and worldwide. In 2023, he is back touring between Italy, Switzerland, London and Paris performing in pubs and clubs. Young people, those not even born at the time of 'Ma quale idea' acclaim him, especially after the Sanremo remix becomes a radio hit. His name appears, with Bnkr44, in the cast of the episode of Tim Summer Hits to be aired tonight in prime time on RaiUno: a musical broadcast recorded in recent weeks in Piazza del Popolo in Rome, which becomes the occasion for a last farewell to his great public. The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, in Pompeii.
