„Do you speak music?“

„Do you speak music?“
"My initial campaign for the refugee children and youths connected with my new single
"Piccolo re (Make love not war)" and the album "Berlino reloaded" should upgrade
immediately and give a push: Not only the refugee camp, as it was thought, - actually where
I'm regularly active - should be equipped with modern music instruments and educational
material. No. ALL refugee children in Berlino - not least is the name of the album "Berlino
reloaded" - should become at least one music instrument and a German textbook
(translated into their mother tongue) thanks to the integration project "Do you speak
music?". It's a kind of a personal challenge that I'm ready to meet and solve! The album and
the first single release "Piccolo re (Make love not war)" ("little king", engl.) are being
accepted very good. It is still an ambitious intention but it's possible. I'm saying "thank you"
with all my heart to everyone for support and encouraging feedbacks. If there is a will, there
is a way! I'd like to point out the importance of a sustained integration (by music and
language). Music is the most international form of communication. We all understand each
other "in music". And why couldn't I, as a musician, believe this immense power? I've seen
and understand how it really works with kids and youths. Better than something else.
Without music I wouldn't have managed to get a hold of them, to transfer anything, to give
anything and to get back so much, too. This is the way to learn and teach the language
together. And that's what I regularly do in "my" refugee camp: the best and fastest way to
teach German through the language of music!
To speak German better than some Germans in a year is my second long-term goal with
kids and youths. That is another story. And this - as my current intention and it's also to be
said without irony - doesn't seem to be impossible, for sure."
When the child's eyes see a war - a new single "Piccolo re (Make
love not war)" of Nevio Passaro feat. Domenico Re
November 26, 2015 // The album "Berlino reloaded" is coming
out December 11, 2105.
I make music of what I experience. My very personal affairs are a part of it, too.
The older I get, the more often I should answer the question about my family life.
And I should admit that my desire to have children is getting stronger. I feel ready
to be a father. This confidence is the reason to feel happy and at the same time the
reason for a big doubt for me. I follow the news every day. After the terrorist attacks
in Paris the risk of terrorism is getting worse. Is it the right time and place to give
birth to a child? My former fellow student, music college and friend Domenico Re
become a father few months ago. He's got the same worries. We've discussed a lot
the responsibility of being a father nowadays. How do the parents feel? The parents
who have to raise their children in the country at war. And if two musicians think a lot
of something, their thoughts will become music. And this way the idea developed
itself to the duet "Piccolo re (Make love not war)" that is coming out on Thursday
and goes with the international situation today more than ever. The song shouldn't
wait any more for its turn!
As everyone knows, Europe is facing its biggest challenge. Few weeks ago I had a
chance to perform with my band live at the 25th anniversary of German Unity at the
Brandenburg Gate. I took one song out of my play list shortly to have more time to
speak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2oxybYdc_4
As a musician I often have a chance to be heard by many people on the stage.
Nowadays it is especially important to say aloud that there is no place for
xenophobia.
I'd like not only to talk and sing about it but to make a concrete contribution to a
colorful Germany. The people who are to leave their home because of war and
need are welcome.
A the moment I'm working voluntary as a German teacher in a refugee camp in
Berlin. As a simultaneous interpreter I'm close to the language. So one day I stood
before my class of adults, youths and children from Syria, Afghanistan and Albania.
There were no instruction for me how to hold the lesson. It demands on selforganisation. To prepare an interesting lesson for children and at the same time an
effective one for adults was a challenge for me. Music helped me. I brought my
guitar to the lesson and we found out that "Brother John" didn't only exist in
German. Everybody could sing along in his mother tongue.
It touched me deeply to see the enthusiasm of the children while they were signing.
With their heads branded with the pictures of death and destruction they have
nothing to do with the war which the world of adults causes..
This is the main idea of our song "Piccolo re (Make love not war)" that means in
German "the little king". My duet partner and me imagine a boy who is growing up
in a war zone and running along the road which doesn't look like a road any more.
He is not responsible for his destroyed home. I wonder how his parents would
explain to him why he of all people is to grow up in violence and danger? One of my
favorite films "La vita e bella" ("Life is beautiful") by Roberto Bengingi from the
nineties has inspired me so much. Would the parents of our little king try to explain
the war as a game? "You mustn't play outside because you are the king of the house
and you have to defend your subjects," so they say in our song. Und how will I
explain it to my children that terror and war are the part of our life?
We've made it one at the musical level: Domenico Re is a professional tenor in Italy.
He has a classical singing education and works at different opera houses in Bologna
and Milan. He sings, for example, "La traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi or the
masterpieces of Rossini or Puccini. My artistic home is pop music. During more than
ten years I've been making my living doing it. We have combined pop and classical
music in "Piccolo re (Make love not war)".
I wish everybody in Germany that what is so easy to happen in music - that
something unknown will become something new. The more colorful Germany is, the
richer we are in all sights of our life. Last but not least in music, culture, politic, first
of all, in human relations. And this development is very inspiring. We just need to
accept and want it, to be curious and brave.
Make love not war.
Nevio Passaro
Not only the revenue of the new single but also the half of the proceeds of the
album goes as a direct donation in the form of musical instruments and teaching
material to Nevio Passaros integration project "Do you speak music?". Every
refugee child in Berlin should become a musical instrument along with a German
textbook. It should become an impulse for a sustainable integration and motivation.
Nevio Passaro is going to visit every refugee camp together with his friends,
supporters and volunteers and to give the presents in person. The handoff will take
place in coming spring(on tracks).
Now Nevio is working on of the opening "Do you speak music?" school in close
cooperation with the European Education Center.
The new single, as well as all the other tracks of the album "Berlino reloaded" has
been produced by Nevio Passaro in his own Berlin recording studio (Studio Uno).
He commissioned with the mix of the album the studio legend Chris Porter in
London (including George Michael, Take That, Pet Shop Boys, Tina Turner). The
album was mastered by Metropolis in London.
BERLINO RELOADED ist...
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22 songs
12 original tracks
2 bonus tracks: "Too much information" & "L'uomo che sono"
5 exclusive (never published before) acoustic versions
1 exclusive live version of the song "You are the other me" live @ Berlino
including the duet of the year "Piccolo re (Make love not war)" - the new
single feat. Domenico Re
Instrumental version of the new single, "Piccolo re (Make love not war)" feat.
Domenico Re