The story of "Un giorno all'improvviso"

"Un giorno all'improvviso" is the anthem of the city of Naples, not of the Napoli team. Whether you feel in "Curva B" or from a balcony in front of the marvelous gulf of Naples - as Insigne did on the occasion of the flash mob of a few nights ago - remains one of the cultural symbols of the city under which all the Neapolitan tied people gather to the blue shirt.

The choir is a reinterpretation of the piece "L'estate sta finendo" by Righeira, the duo formed by Michael and Johnson Righeira - who make Stefano Rota and Stefano Righi respectively. The song is an absolute hit of the mid-80s, the ninth best-selling single of 1985 and winner of the Festivalbar in front of songs such as "Live is life" by Opus (which has something to do with Naples) and "Una nuova canzone per lei" by Vasco. The very first to readjust the lyrics of the Righeira song were not the Napoli fans but the fans of L'Aquila in 2014. The original version of the choir, therefore, belongs to the Abruzzese fans which sounds a little different from what is heard today at San Paolo.

If it is true that there is a dark side behind everything, even in Neapolitan-style "Un giorno all'improvviso" there is something that clashes with the ideals of a hot fan like the Neapolitan one. The song published in 1985 was written by Johnson, or rather Stefano Righi. In an interview with Sky, the singer admitted to being a big Juventus fan and did not hide the embarrassment of being in some ways on the mouth of the main sporting enemies. After this poisonous declaration, the Napoli fans were not affected and continued to sing the chorus. In the city there is someone who tries to make himself heard, considering it unworthy and inappropriate to sing a song written by a particular opponent. No force, however, can stop a river in flood, a motivated one that involves not only the fans but also and above all the players. Insigne is only the last case - and it doesn't make any text because we are talking about a Neapolitan DOC - but many Napoli players have made the choir a real religion: from Gonzalo Higuain to Ciro Mertens, from Jose Maria Callejon to Allan, passing for an irrepressible Pepe Reina.

Just the Spanish goalkeeper, during his unconvincing period with the colors of Napoli, has always been one of the first to fall under the curve to follow the rhythm of the song with his hands together with his companions. He was also among the most daring in defending the group and the group's choices in this regard. Zvonimir Boban during one of his post-match speeches from the San Paolo stadium, openly stated that he did not share the celebrations at the end of each match of the Napoli players, defining them as "exaggerated" and adding "that make you lose sight of the target". These words were followed by those of the leader of the blue locker room Pepe Reina, who dismissed the now former Milan manager explaining that the union between the team and the public is fundamental, especially in a square like Naples and he reiterated as after every victory should honor their fans.

The curves of the Italian stadiums have always tried to differentiate themselves, trying to impose their own style and trying to be creative both in choreographic and in singing terms. For some years now, however, there has been a certain flattening, probably caused by the unfortunate accidents (which have decreased over the years but have not yet disappeared) among fans that have followed one another in recent times. A sort of conformism of the curves, an identity that cannot be consolidated and paradoxical dynamics that are not very well explained. One example is “Un giorno all’improvviso”  the symbol of a historically hostile Juventus supporters who, however, makes a song written by a Juventus fan an anthem. Or, conversely, the Juventus Stadium which during each match intones a revisited version of the famous piece of the Neapolitan tradition as “O surdato nnammurato”  Beyond any logical and illogical explanation that one wants to find, the Neapolitan version of the Righeira made the San Paolo, the "Curva B" and now also the balconies of one of the most beautiful cities in Italy sing.

Finding a total definition of Naples is impossible. Naples, as the great Pino Daniele sang, is "in the voice of children", the most genuine part of a people. A people made up of "thousand colors" to stay with Pino, from the voice of those who never tire of supporting a city that is often mistreated and mortified. And that same voice, on Sunday, becomes a choir that makes the "Curva B" something special. There is something that makes that choir special, that slice of San Paolo. It is an unofficial hymn, something that has quickly become the symbol of Napoli's ultras, a reason that is now catchy in all stages, at any latitude. Yes, because "Un giorno all'improvviso" is not simply a choir, but a poem that tells the love of the fans towards a city, even before a football team.