When he debuted with “Alucinado” back in 2002, Tiziano Ferro was set to become yet another successful Italian import following the steps of fellow crooners Laura Pauisini and Eros Ramazzotti. His career seemed to be soaring, even more so after the release of his sophomore album “111” which spawned a couple of number one hits and delivered an overall great pop album. The Latin American market, specially the Mexican market embraced his talent and supported his music- after all, Tiziano Ferro possesses a unique strong and emotion filled voice, charisma, stage presence and undeniably star quality. Everything was looking peachy for Ferro’s career, that is until he showed up at an Italian talk show and jokingly mentioned something about Mexican women and mustaches. That was the beginning of a long lasting slump not only with Mexican audiences, but with Latin American audiences as well.
Thanks to that infamous dissing, Tiziano Ferro was strongly criticized, prosecuted and almost lynched for apparently “biting the hand that feeds”. His third album “Nadie Está Solo” was a major flop. It was not a bad album, todo lo contrario, it took Ferro’s music to a new more experimental territory; however, the Mexicans were not having any of that and not even endless apologies and tears helped his once #1 audience embrace his music and talent once again.
A Mi Edad
{sidebar id=186}With the release of his fourth Spanish-language album “A Mi Edad”, Tiziano Ferro delivers yet another mea culpa and a ton of apologies.
The buzz and pomp & circumstance surrounding “A Mi Edad” were rather blown out of proportion. Some even called it a “comeback”.
Hoping to redeem himself, he filled up the album with songs along the style of those that made him popular: emotional, bleated and saccharine filled ballads. He also enlisted the help of Anahí and Dulce María (!) from RBD, Franco Battiato and Kelly Rowland.
There are a few highlights and a glimpse here and there of how talented Tiziano Ferro is and the potential he has to be on top. However, he falls flat yet once again with “A Mi Edad”.
For starters, half of the album is in Italian, the outstanding tracks are either in Italian or English, and there are too many filler ballads.
Tiziano Ferro doesn’t get tired of apologizing- proof of that lies on the title track “A Mi Edad”, which turns out to be the biggest musical apology since Akon’s “Sorry (Blame It On Me)”.
There are also a couple of self-help, motivating, encouraging sappy ballads more fit for a Jonas Brothers/ Miley Cyrus album.
To say “A Mi Edad” is not Tiziano Ferro’s best work to date is not saying that it’s a bad album, sino todo lo contrario. However, after two albums of having “la cabeza entre las patas” for his slurs, it’s time to move on.
When Tiziano Ferro shines, he knows how to shine; now when he falls, he goes six feet under. Here’s to hoping “A Mi Edad” is the last of his struggles and next time he delivers something worth the hype and that utilizes his talent and drive to the max.
A Mi Edad Outstanding Traxx: Breathe Gentle Feat. Kelly Rowland, La Travesía Del Verano, Per Un Po’ Spariro.
