Manifesta 9 - Marina

If you are Belgian, you are familiar with the name and the song. If not, there is always YouTube:

What does this have to do with Manifesta 9? As you can read in yesterday’s introduction, there was a connection between the art project and the history of this building, it being a former coal mine complex. And the singer of this song is connected with this past.

I think all Belgians know him. His name is Rocco Granata. He was born in Italy and came to Belgian when he was about 10 years old. And his father, like many other Italian immigrants, worked in this coal mine. Rocco himself didn’t want to do this kind of work and became a singer. “Marina” (1959) was actually the B-side of a single, but it became a number one hit in Belgium and many other countries. It was covered by some famous people like Louis Armstrong. Rocco Granata wrote and sang other songs, which were however less successful. In 1989 a dance remix of “Marina” was released, which also became a hit. In the meantime Rocco had become a successful producer as well.

So in a little corner on the ground-floor there was a small exhibition to this singer and his “Marina”. The posters, the records, music sheets and other objects put a smile on my face. I hope you enjoy this bit of nostalgia!

About these ads