Giuseppe Cucé - 21grammi

​Giuseppe Cucé

21grammi
self-released; 2025

​​​By ​Dino DiMuro​

Giuseppe Cucé is a singer-songwriter from Catania, Italy. That means he sings in Italian! I myself am also Italian, but I don't speak the language so I'm pretty much at sea regarding the lyrics. But I do like music, so we'll start there! Cucé's new album is titled 21 grammi and is described as a concept album that veers between intimate songwriting, orchestral arrangements and Mediterranean soul influences.

When I saw the album's title ("21 Grams" in English) I suspected it had to do with the supposed weight of the soul that the body loses at death, and I was right! Cucé says that this album "delves into the invisible weight we all carry, turning this image into a reflection on everything that cannot be measured: emotion, memory, desire, faith and vulnerability. It also navigates global issues like emotional burnout and digital culture's impact on loneliness. It is not an album of easy answers, but one that chooses to live inside questions and their weight, turning each song into a poetic confession." 

Musically this album's intention was to "blend warm acoustic textures with subtle electronics, creating an intimate yet expansive soundscape, blending Italian songwriting with modern indie-pop elements and transforming Cucé's personal stories into a cinematic soundscape." Musically Cucé handles the vocals with a studio-full of backing musicians, among them Anthony Panebianco (Hammond organ), Riccardo Samperi (guitar), Claudio Allia e Giuseppe Furnari (piano), Alberto Fidone (bass), Enzo Di Vita and Gionata Colaprisca (drums/percussion) and Pat Legato (drum programming). There's also full groups of chorus singers and horns and a studio orchestra.

"È tutto così vero" ("It's all so true") is the wildly upbeat opening track, a surprisingly Latin-sounding song when I was expecting something more Italian. Memories of Santana, Malo and Los Lobos pinged within my brain. I also watched the video, which shows a confident Cucé strolling down Italian alleys, dancing with pretty girls and singing in front of his big band. 

"Ventuno" ("Twenty-one") immediately shifts to a more intimate vocal backed up by a smaller ensemble, notably electric guitar, keys, bass and drums. Cucé's press release notes that this song "showcases the album's emotional nucleus, capturing moments of vulnerability and strength." The following "Dimmi cosa vuoi" may be doing the same, literally asking (begging?) someone to "tell me what you want." The chorus is enhanced with the first appearance of female voices. "Fragile equilibrio" (you can probably guess what that means) has the sheen and disco-like beat of an ABBA single (and I say that as a fan!).

Based on the video, "Cuore d'inverno" ("Heart of Winter") appears to be an orchestral rock song where Cucé nurses a broken heart, sadly singing and writing notes at his home office (which happens to be out in a forest somewhere). Based on the video imagery, Cucé seems accepting of all gender relationships, which is good to know.  "Tutto quello che vuoi" ("Anything you want") first reminded me of Paul Simon (with and without Garfunkel) but the chorus definitely sparks memories of Britney's "Lucky." The final track "Di estate non si muore" ("You don't die in the summer") combines the musical adventurism of Brian Wilson (in the opening) to a celebratory Latin-disco hybrid for the choruses. 

This was an interesting album to review, since I obviously understood nary a word; it's like visiting a foreign country and taking in the sights without worrying about what anybody is saying! That said, I loved the songs and think you might too!​

Become A Fan

giuseppecuce.it

Tweet