In a previous post, almost five years ago now, I wrote about the rock band that I joined as a singer, Optimistic Sound, here in Nuoro in Sardinia. Well, with three other members of that line-up and a different drummer, Salvatore Pes, we are now called Nameless. Our usual set is almost exclusively British and American rock covers from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, covering classics from the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Cream, Depeche Mode, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors and Paul Weller.
Obviously, because of the lockdown we haven't been too active with regard to performing lately, but a week ago we did our first gig since just before Christmas at a beach bar in Orosei. It went reasonably well and we were advised before hand that there might be a famous Italian singer present, Malika Ayane. Sure enough, she was there with a group of friends and before we started my dear wife persuaded her to pose for a photo with me.
I actually said to her, "devo ammettere che non avevo sentito parlare di lei prima di tre giorni fa."("I must confess I'd never heard of you until three days ago.") Even though it was true I did wonder aferwards whether I should have said that and whether it sounded a bit disrepectful! She didn't seem to mind, laughed, and said she'd never heard of me either! No surprise there! Anyway, later I had a look at her youtube videos and realised that I had heard some of her music before but her name hadn't stuck with me. She has actually had a string of hit singles and albums in the Italian charts, and one of her singles, Senza Fare Sul Serio, has had 43 million views on youtube. A few more than the 1,500 views of the most viewed of any youtube musical videos that I've uploaded from my days of gigging in the Bristol area in England!
She did stay for half the set but had left by the time we had started our little tribute to The Rolling Stones. Maybe just as well, as I wasn't enthralled with the way my vocals sounded on Brown Sugar and Gimme Shelter! Here's a little taster: Rolling Stones Tribute
