On June 8, 1985, Claudio Baglioni released "La vita è adesso," an album that would go on to become a cornerstone of Italian music history. With over 4 million copies sold and a record-breaking 27 consecutive weeks at the top of the charts, this album remains the best-selling record in Italy to date. To mark the 40th anniversary of this iconic release, Baglioni has announced a celebratory edition titled "La vita è adesso – Il sogno è sempre," which is available for pre-order starting May 6, 2025.
The announcement has sparked excitement among fans, as details about the project have been teased through evocative images shared on Baglioni’s social media channels, reminiscent of the original album’s aesthetic. The title "Il sogno è sempre" suggests a continuity with the past while also hinting at new interpretations. Speculations abound regarding a possible remastering with modern technology or even a complete reworking of the songs with updated arrangements that resonate with contemporary sensibilities.
Baglioni has assured fans that this new project is not merely a nostalgic exercise but rather a thoughtful reimagining intended for new generations, maintaining the poetic and universal essence of the original album. During a stop in Florence on his "Piano di Volo soloTris" tour, Baglioni indicated that this project would serve as an artistic dialogue between his past self and his present.
Originally recorded at Manor Studios in Oxford, The Town House in London, and Abbey Road Studios, "La vita è adesso" featured the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Celso Valli. Among the musicians was a young Hans Zimmer, who contributed to the groundbreaking sound of the album using a Fairlight, an innovative digital sampler. This technological innovation continued during the subsequent "Assolo" tour in 1986, where Baglioni performed solo using MIDI technology to control multiple instruments simultaneously, further solidifying his status as a pioneering artist.
The accompanying tour for "La vita è adesso" culminated in a historic concert at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome, which was broadcast live on television, attracting an audience of 95,000 in person and 12 million viewers at home. This event marked a significant turning point in Italian pop music.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary, two initiatives have been announced: a record project by Sony Music Italy and a publishing project by Edizioni Curci, both under the title "La vita è adesso, il sogno è sempre." The record project will feature a remake of the original album, which will be available on June 6, 2025. This new version will include eleven tracks, including the previously unreleased song "Il sogno è sempre," which embodies the universal message that dreams never die.
The remake will reinterpret the original tracks with current sounds and styles while preserving their original essence and artistic intent. Each song has been re-recorded and performed live in the studio, with updated arrangements that reflect a contemporary perspective.
The tracklist for the new edition includes the ten original tracks from the 1985 album along with the new song:
- Un nuovo giorno o un giorno nuovo
- L’amico e domani
- Uomini persi
- La vita è adesso
- Tutto il calcio minuto per minuto
- Andiamo a casa
- Amori in corso
- E adesso la pubblicità
- Un treno per dove
- Notte di note, note di notte
- Il sogno è sempre
The cover and booklets of this new project will trace the narrative that connects the past, present, and future, featuring photographs taken in the studio during the album's recording by renowned photographer Toni Thorimbert, who also created the original album cover.
In addition to the record project, Edizioni Curci will release a limited edition box set of "La vita è adesso, il sogno è sempre," which will be available starting June 11, 2025. This box set will be limited to 1,000 numbered copies and will include several special contents, starting with a book by Emiliano Ponzi, one of Italy's leading contemporary visual artists. This exquisite coffee table book will capture, interpret, and redesign the themes and insights of Baglioni's songs, transforming his lyrics into equally intense imagery.
This collectible item will blend visual art and music, offering a fresh perspective on the themes explored in the album. Each illustration will invite readers to rediscover the spirit of "La vita è adesso," which resonated with the dreams of 1980s Italy and continues to speak to the hearts of listeners today.
The box set will also include the double black vinyl version (180 gr) of the album, complete with a booklet, and a signed postcard from Claudio Baglioni, merging the artistry of Ponzi with Baglioni's signature in a symbolic fusion of the two artists and their crafts, united in a message of gratitude to their audience.
As the release date approaches, anticipation builds among fans eager to experience the new interpretations of Baglioni’s timeless classics, ensuring that "La vita è adesso" continues to inspire and connect generations.
