{{Infobox album | name = Chocabeck | type = studio | artist = Zucchero | cover = Chocabeck_2010_Cover.jpeg | alt = | released = {{start date|2010|11|3|df=y}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = EastWest Studios and Henson Studios, Hollywood | genre = *Blues rock *pop rock *folk rock | length = 43:30 | label = *Polydor *Universal | producer = *Don Was *Brendan O'Brien *Zucchero Fornaciari | prev_title = All the Best | prev_year = 2007 | next_title = La Sesión Cubana | next_year = 2012 | misc = {{Singles | name = Chocabeck | type = studio | single1 = È un peccato morir | single1date = October 2010 | single2 = Chocabeck | single2date = November 2010 | single3 = Vedo nero | single3date = April 2011 }} }}
'''''Chocabeck''''' is the eleventh studio album by Italian blues rock singer-songwriter Zucchero Fornaciari released in 2010.
== Overview == The term ''chocabeck'' derives from the Emilian equivalent to Italian word {{lang|it|schioccabecco}}, meaning the sound of empty beak.<ref name="LaGazzetta">{{cite news |title=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari |url=http://lagazzettaitaliana.com/zucchero-sugar-fornaciari.aspx |publisher=La Gazzetta Italiana |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="Rockol">{{cite news |title=Zucchero, nuovo album: 'Chocabeck' esce il 3 novembre |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-165861/zucchero-nuovo-album-chocabeck-esce-il-3-novembre?refresh_ce |date=10 November 2010 |publisher=Rockol |language=Italian |access-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> He heard it from his father when was very young, describing the social conditions of the time.<ref name="Dubito">{{cite news |last=Esposito |first=Claudio Pietro |title=Chocabeck, cos'è oltre al nuovo disco di Zucchero? |url=http://www.dubito.it/rubriche/musica/chocabeck-cose-oltre-al-nuovo-disco-di-zucchero/ |date=10 November 2010 |publisher=Dubito |access-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314044839/http://www.dubito.it/rubriche/musica/chocabeck-cose-oltre-al-nuovo-disco-di-zucchero/ |archive-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The dialectal term {{lang|egl|spicinfrin}} means a cute, but rebellious boy. He made this kind of album in rebellion against the current music industry system.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zucchero A L'Uomo Vogue |url=http://archivio.zucchero.it/news/ |date=1 December 2010 |publisher=zucchero.it |language=Italian |access-date=3 March 2016 |quote=dopo 50 milioni di dischi venduti, le regole del mondo discografico e il modo di fare e consumare musica sono cambiati radicalmente. «Regole alle quali mi sono opposto, facendo proprio un disco come questo. È l’inizio di una ribellione».}}</ref>
It is a concept album, describing a typical Sunday from dawn to dusk in a small countryside Italian village in the region where he grew up. It consists of an autumnal cycle of songs.<ref name="LaGazzetta"/><ref name="Allmusic"/><ref name="Rockol2">{{cite news |title=Zucchero, 'Chocabeck': 'Canto la domenica di paese dall'alba al tramonto' |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-173476/zucchero-chocabeck-canto-la-domenica-di-paese-dall-alba-al-tramonto?refresh_ce |date=31 October 2010 |publisher=Rockol |language=Italian |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> It's an album in which Zucchero returns to his roots,<ref name="LaGazzetta"/> and is introspective and allegorical about life, positivity, and hope.<ref name="Dubito"/><ref name="Rockol2"/> Each song was accompanied by a music video, with Francesco Guccini appearing in the video of "Un soffio caldo".<ref name="Rockol2"/>
Like his previous albums, it includes many notable collaborations.<ref name="Dubito"/> Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys sings backing vocals the title track.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The lyrics of the opening song "Un soffio caldo" were co-written with renowned Italian songwriter Guccini, while "Oltre le rive" was written with Pacifico. The lyrics of the last song "God bless the child" were written by Roland Orzabal from the band Tears for Fears, Chaz Jankel, and Derek Hussey. The English versions of "Alla fine" ("Too Late") and "Chocabeck" ("Spirit Together") were written by Iggy Pop.<ref name="Rockol2"/>
The collaboration with U2's Bono is Zucchero's third translation after translating into English the songs "Miserere" (1992) and "Blu" ("Blue"; 1998). The lyrics of "Someone Else's Tears" were written by Bono, while Zucchero freely translated them in the counterpart "Il suono della domenica".<ref name="Rockol2"/> The song in English is included as bonus track in the Italian edition in iTunes store.<ref name="Rockol2"/> According to Zucchero's interpretation of English lyrics, when Bono wrote the song he was probably inspired by something painful he saw or felt.<ref name="Rockol2"/> When he heard Zucchero's version before the U2's concert in Rome, Bono initially concentrated silently while it was played, and afterward cried. Zucchero considers the song to be the most representative of the album.<ref name="Rockol2"/>
== Composition == The album has many arpeggiated guitars, the winds were replaced by the brass, with English horn, harpsichord. Zucchero tried to diminish the rhythmic section, it has percussion but not real drum kit, neither bass, because they take melodic space, while for the album's tematic wanted to leave space for more suspended rhythms. The song "Chocabeck" although modern has 60's influence.<ref name="Rockol2"/> "È un peccato morir" is a stirring ballad with nostalgia of days gone by, "Un soffio caldo" is a lyrical adventure through the Italian landscape, "Vedo nero" is a joyous tongue-in-check romp about adolescent eroticism.<ref name="LaGazzetta"/>
== Release == The first single in Italy was the song "È un peccato morir", and in the rest of Europe "Chocabeck" and "Vedo nero". The first single was certified Gold by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana, and was #1 for six weeks at the radio Music Control Italia tracked by Nielsen SoundScan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Un Soffio Caldo |url=http://archivio.zucchero.it/news/ |date=27 January 2011 |publisher=zucchero.it |language=Italian |access-date=3 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Music Control: Zucchero e James Blunt sempre in testa |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-183158/music-control-zucchero-e-james-blunt-sempre-in-testa?refresh_ce |date=28 November 2010 |publisher=Rockol |language=Italian |access-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> "Vedo nero" was certified Platinum by FIMI.
The album was on the FIMI Italian album charts for 89 weeks, peaking at #1 for three weeks.<ref>{{cite web | title=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari: Chocabeck |publisher=italiancharts.com |date=2013 |url=http://www.italiancharts.com/search.asp?search=Chocabeck&cat=a |access-date=29 May 2013}}</ref> The album was certified 5× Platinum, and already sold over 500,000 copies in Europe before the start of the tour.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zucchero Chocabeck Tour Mondiale 2011 |url=http://www.musica10.it/zucchero-chocabeck-tour-mondiale-2011-14645.html |publisher=Musica10 |language=Italian |access-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207230719/http://www.musica10.it/zucchero-chocabeck-tour-mondiale-2011-14645.html |archive-date=7 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As has been the case with Zucchero's previous albums, it was released in Italian, European and American edition. The European edition ''Il Suono Della Domenica'' includes instead the original English version by Bono, while the American edition (also titled as ''Zucchero Who?'') is sung entirely in English, i.e. including the lyrics by Iggy Pop.<ref name="Allmusic"/> In 2011 was also released a deluxe edition with both CDs, and a DVD collection of the music videos.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chocabeck Deluxe Edition |url=https://www.discogs.com/Zucchero-Sugar-Fornaciari-Chocabeck/release/6086961 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
Fornaciari toured to promote this album in 2011–2012 with Chocabeck World Tour, with over 120 concerts in Europe, Australia, North and South America, almost all sold-out in presale,<ref>{{cite news | last =Giudici | first =Gioia | title =Zucchero tour, in valigia tutto Chocabeck: Debutto a Zurigo, dedica a Pavarotti e frecciate a berlusconismo | newspaper =Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata | location =Rome | date =10 May 2011 | url =http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/spettacolo/2011/05/10/visualizza_new.html_871840813.html | access-date =29 May 2013 }}</ref> notably with five consecutive concerts at Arena in Verona.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zucchero Chocabeck 2011: il tour mondiale |url=http://www.musica10.it/zucchero-chocabeck-2011-il-tour-mondiale-16048.html |publisher=Musica10 |language=Italian |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Music ratings |rev1 = Allmusic |rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0002062582|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref> |rev2 = Rockol |rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RockReview">{{cite web |author=Franco Zanetti |title=Chocabeck |url=http://www.rockol.it/recensioni-musicali/dischi/4419/zucchero-chocabeck?refresh_ce |date=2 November 2010 |publisher=Rockol |language=Italian |access-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310050335/http://www.rockol.it/recensioni-musicali/dischi/4419/zucchero-chocabeck?refresh_ce |archive-date=10 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |rev3 = Rolling Stone |rev3score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="RollingStoneReview">{{cite web |author=Frank Lähnemann |title=Chocabeck |url=http://www.rollingstone.de/reviews/zucchero-chocabeck-2/ |date=19 November 2010 |publisher=Rolling Stone |language=German|access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> |rev4 = PopMatters |rev4score = {{Rating|3|10}}<ref name="PopMatters">{{cite web |author=Jonathan Sanders |title=Chocabeck |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/149042-zucchero-chocabeck/ |date=3 October 2011 |publisher=PopMatters |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> }}
The album has generally met with positive reviews. Mariano Prunes from Allmusic gave the (Italian edition) album 4/5 stars, praising "its stylistic and thematic consistency and, of course, Zucchero's emotive singing". The "first three songs, for instance, constitute almost a mini-suite of quiet, hymn-like ballads that set the mood for most of the album", and it "is only when the day reaches noon that loud guitars and soul background vocals come back to announce a double dose of old-school Zucchero", with "the last three tracks progressively slow things down, drawing closed a perfect circle". He concluded that as "the list of collaborators is both impressive and key to the album's success", Zucchero "looks like an artist capable of reinventing himself in a poignant and dignified manner".<ref name="Allmusic"/> The experienced Italian musical reviewer Franco Zanetti from Rockol also gave the Italian album 4/5 stars, and praised the production, musicians and Zucchero's singing.<ref name="RockReview"/>
Frank Lähnemann from German ''Rolling Stone'' reviewed the European edition and gave it 2/5 stars, noting that there few outliers, not enough for the market and entry in the books of innovations, and questioned why Brian Wilson was only used in the choir.<ref name="RollingStoneReview"/> Jonathan Sanders from PopMatters reviewed the American (English) edition and gave it 3/10 stars, ignoring the concept and approaching the album with a stigma Zucchero being Italian Bruce Springsteen, resulting with disappointment, concluding that the "bulk of its appeal" is "lost in trans-Atlantic translation", and that "some of the best songs are the ones Zucchero doesn't even bother translating: "Oltre Le Rive" ... full of melodies that fail to resonate coupled with vocals that fail to define Zucchero as anything but an Italian-rock curiosity".<ref name="PopMatters"/>
==Track listing== ;Italian edition {{Track listing | all_writing = Zucchero Fornaciari, except where noted | title1 = Un soffio caldo | lyrics = Francesco Guccini, Zucchero | length1 = 5:02 | title2 = Il suono della domenica | length2 = 3:36 | title3 = Soldati nella mia citta | length3 = 3:19 | title4 = È un peccato morir | lyrics4 = Pasqualle Panella, Zucchero | length4 = 3:41 | title5 = Vedo nero | lyrics5 = Mimmo Cavallo, Zucchero | music5 = Mimmo Cavallo, Zucchero | length5 = 3:53 | title6 = Oltre le rive | lyrics6 = Pacifico, Zucchero | music6 = G. Cancogni, L. De Crescenzo, M. Marcolini, Zucchero | length6 = 4:39 | title7 = Un uovo sodo | length7 = 3:14 | title8 = Chocabeck | lyrics8 = Pasquale Panella, Zucchero | length8 = 4:42 | title9 = Alla fine | length9 = 3:43 | title10 = Spicinfrin boy | length10 = 3:50 | title11 = God bless the child | lyrics11 = Chaz Jankel, Roland Orzabal, Derek Hussey | length11 = 3:47 }}
;English edition {{Track listing | all_writing = Zucchero Fornaciari, except where noted | title1 = Life | note1= Un soffio caldo | length1 = 5:02 | title2 = Someone Else's Tears | note2 = Il suono della domenica | lyrics2 = Bono | length2 = 3:36 | title3 = Soldati nella mia citta | length3 = 3:19 | title4 = Glory | note4 = È un peccato morir | length4 = 3:41 | title5 = Devil In My Mirror | note5 = Vedo nero | length5 = 3:53 | title6 = Oltre le rive | length6 = 4:39 | title7 = Gotta Feeling | note7 = Un uovo sodo | length7 = 3:15 | title8 = Spirit Together | note8 = Chocabeck | lyrics8 = Iggy Pop | length8 = 4:42 | title9 = Too Late | note9 = Alla fine | lyrics9 = Iggy Pop | length9 = 3:43 | title10 = In the Sky | note10 = Spicinfrin boy | length10 = 3:49 | title11 = God bless the child | length11 = 3:47 }}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2010–11) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Austria|7|artist=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari|album=Chocabeck|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|47|artist=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari|album=Chocabeck|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|53|artist=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari|album=Chocabeck|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|31|artist=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari|album=Chocabeck|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|France|112|artist=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari|album=Chocabeck|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Germany|16|id=142908|artist=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari|album=Chocabeck|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Italy|1|artist=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari|album=Chocabeck|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari|album=Chocabeck|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2010) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2010|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2010|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> | 26 |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2011) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2011|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2011|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> | 14 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|award=Gold|access-date=31 August 2013|type=album|relyear=2010|artist=Zucchero|title=Chocabeck}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|number=5|access-date=31 December 2013|type=album|relyear=2010|artist=Zucchero|title=Chocabeck}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|award=Platinum|access-date=31 August 2013|type=album|relyear=2010|artist=Zucchero|title=Chocabeck|domestic=true}} {{Certification Table Bottom}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == *[http://www.zucchero.it/chocabeck/ Chocabeck] at Zucchero's Website *[http://www.zucchero.it/zuccherowho/ Zucchero Who?] at Zucchero's Website *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160308034049/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chocabeck-italian-version/id464109611 Chocabeck] (Italian version) at iTunes *[https://music.apple.com/us/album/chocabeck/465200347 Chocabeck] (English version) at iTunes
{{Zucchero Fornaciari}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chocabeck}} Category:2010 albums Category:Zucchero Fornaciari albums Category:Albums produced by Don Was Category:Polydor Records albums Category:2010s concept albums Category:Folk rock albums by Italian artists