From local idol to contested character, the step is short. The spark is an excerpt from an interview that Marco Mengoni gave to RadioZeta at the end of February, which has been posted on social networks in recent days. The singer, winner of Sanremo with "Due vite" , had spoken of the video clip of the song shot entirely in Piscinas , one of the most popular sites on the island, surrounded by unspoiled nature.
And it was precisely this wild landscape that had been at the center of Mengoni's statements: «We had problems getting to this place», these are his words, «because first you have to go through a kind of jungle . It had rained a lot and there was a lake that we had to cross with some Jeeps, and one of them stopped in the middle. So we had to get off and did a bit of walking in the mud».
Social media immediately split, but the mayor of Arbus, Paolo Salis , did not like it: "I think it was too superficial," said the mayor. The word "jungle" makes me think of an inhospitable place, and everything can be said about Sardinia unless it is inhospitable . Then I understand that, coming from the city, I don't know the difference between river and lake, but what they crossed was a small stream: a ford can happen on rainy days».
The fact that, in speaking of Piscinas, the attention was not focused on what the local workers did to put the artist at ease, but only on the critical issues encountered: "Initially he had to stay for a few days" did not go down well. , continues Salis, «then he decided to do everything in half a day, and he was put in a position to do it». But now the idyll between Mengoni and the community could be over: « We wanted to give him honorary citizenship, now it's difficult . Everyone always liked Piscinas, you can't call it a jungle. Among other things, through the funds of the Pnrr, we are trying to make the road passable, but precisely because the area is highly protected, we know the difficulties we will encounter».
So a feeling of regret remains: "I'm a little sorry", concludes Salis, "also because ".
