The album “e²” (Eros squared) – due to be released on October 26th, two days before his 44th birthday – is a collection of some of the most famous songs by the Italian singer (from “Terra promessa” to “La nostra vita”, including “Adesso tu”, “L’Aurora”, and “Più bella cosa”), but it is also Eros Ramazzotti’s eleventh original work.  In addition to the 14 hits remastered in their original version, comprehensive of duets with Tina Turner, Cher, and Anastacia, the double CD “e²” contains 4 previously unreleased songs and 17 previously released “new songs”.  In other words, pieces from his repertoire which, although having already belonged to previous records, enjoy a second life thanks to the different sound Eros has instilled in them together with internationally renown artists and producers such as: Gian Piero Reverberi, Michele Canova, Dado Moroni, Jon Spencer, John Shanks, Wyclef Jean, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana, Pat Leonard, Rhythm Del Mundo, Take 6, The Chieftains, and Amaia from La Oreja De Van Gogh (listed in order of appearance on the second CD).

 «Releasing a normal Greatest hits album  – as Ramazzotti explains – made no sense whatsoever even ten years ago. The “Eros”: ‘The Best of’ CD dating 1997 was rendered unique by the duet with Tina Turner in “Cose della vita – Can’t Stop Thinking Of You” and the one with Andrea Bocelli in “Musica è”.  And it has been such a success that it sold 7 and a half million copies.  Recording this album has been even more complicated than preparing a CD with new material.  The task took an entire year, as we had to coordinate people living in Europe, The United States, and in South America.  Luckily, technology helped us diminish distances by interacting with all artists through the web and mp3 file exchanges.  The only moves I made were to go and see the Rhythm Del Mundo in Cuba and the Chieftains in Dublin».

Among the four unreleased pieces in the “e²” album, there is a new international duet.   The first single “Non siamo soli” – aired on radio from September 21st and on sale in music stores starting October 5th – is a reggaeton feature, a rhythmic and solar tune, which Eros sings along with Ricky Martin. «I still had to fully test the potential energy of my voice on a reggaeton arrangement.  I immediately thought about a duet with a South American artist and Ricky Martin was just perfect.  The lyrics of the song explain how, although living two distinct and distant realities, our emotions are the same: what gives you motivation isn’t money but the determination to change our world into a better place.  And all kinds of changes are possible if you have will power and determination.  What is important is keeping a positive attitude even when things go wrong and the world seems to be crumbling upon us».

Ricky Martin came to Milan to record the “Non siamo soli” single; Eros returned the visit by going to Miami to shoot the video by Wayne Isham, director of “Livin’ la vida loca”. «The single recording and the shooting of the video have also been opportunities to deepen our understanding, since in the past we had only had the chance to have a few chats in sporadic encounters at some musical events.  Besides being a great artist, Ricky is a good and positive person».

His collaboration with the producer and author of Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and with Robert Flack, music composer for the new song “Ci parliamo da grandi”, was just as prestigious. «I recorded this brit-pop piece in his London studio: working with Chambers has been a great experience that I will certainly repeat in the future; I must also say, I have had confirmation of the fact we Italians are just as good as the English when it comes to song technology and preparation».

“Ci parliamo da grandi” has autobiographical lyrics, though it is cast in the future. «I imagine the feelings I’ll have when Aurora will be older and I will have to let her fly away with her own wings.  Detachment from children, no matter how necessary and inevitable, is a time of hardship that every parent faces; one never gets over such an “ emotional trauma” ».

War and violence are the features of the third new piece “Dove si nascondono gli angeli”.  Unfortunately, children are involved: victims of horrors that should not exist in a society affirming to be civil and modern.  «It is inconceivable, as well as inhumane, that in the third millennium there are still African children who carry rifles and grow amidst all kinds of violence because of adults’ irresponsibility or for their cruelty.  Millions of adolescents die for absurd causes.  I try to contribute to improve their life conditions by sustaining the lay doctors from the association of “Il Buon Samaritano” (www.ilsamaritano.it) that helps African children ousted by their own families for ridiculous witchcraft stories.

The feeling that resists the test of time, even when a love story has come to an end, is the subject matter of the fourth new song “Il tempo tra noi”. «If the love that kept us together was intense, time may pass but the affection doesn’t and we are incapable of fully detaching ourselves from that relationship».

Eros squared.  The vocal talent of Eros Ramazzotti explores parallel sound-reverberating universes and moves with the same skill in a kaleidoscope of acoustics ranges from pop, rock, folk, jazz, gospel, Latino rhythms to classical music.  In the “e²” album, remastered original hits cohabit with other Ramazzotti repertoire songs (only “Adesso tu”, “L’Aurora”, and “Più bella cosa” are in both discs with different versions) that have been decomposed and reelaborated according to the talent and the inspiration of internationally renowned artists and producers.
 
Among Gian Piero Reverberi’s four interventions, the extraordinary performance of “Musica è” played by the London Session Orchestra stands out: Reverberi has given this piece an even more epic soul, by emphasizing its original classical trait and enriching it with a refined instrumental prelude and an orchestrated finale that has a strong emotional impact.  Just as breathtaking is the passionate piano-voice version realized by jazz player Dado Moroni for “Dolce Barbara”. Unmistakable, and as always ever precious, Carlos Santana’s guitar in “Fuoco nel fuoco”; also fascinating is the Cuban atmosphere in “Il buio ha i tuoi occhi” with Rhythm Del Mundo; as intriguing as is gospel choir a cappella by Take 6 in “Un attimo di pace”; harmonious contaminations between Eros’ melodic pop and the Chieftains’ Irish folk in “Un’emozione per sempre”; all-enveloping are the violent riffs of ‘Zappa-like’ guitarist Steve Vai in “Dove c’è musica” as well as the pulp sound of New York musician Jon Spencer in “Taxi story”.