from Rinaldo Frignani
In Testaccio the embrace of the 18 year old invested in the Colombo and his family. The surviving friend Nicco: «That car arrived behind us, impossible to move in time. Francesco didn’t want to get his driving license, he preferred to travel by bus “
“For the last farewell to Francesco in church we will sing ‘Next morning’, the first piece he wrote for the band when it became our voice”. Niccolò Amodeo, Nicco for friends, appears serene. The pain is inconsolable, but the memories are clear. Present. This summer on vacation, the start of university. And Wednesday night on the Cristoforo Colombo. Because Nicco was there, next to Francesco Valdiserri, and saw him die after being run over by the car driven by Chiara Silvestri.
“We didn’t notice anything until the last moment – says the 18-year-old -. She arrived behind us, impossible to move. After the crash she got out of the car screaming, and also the other boy who was with her. That street, right next to my house, has always scared me. Especially at night. Francesco, on the other hand, felt calm around Rome, but he did not want to get his driver’s license, perhaps he did not feel ready: he preferred to walk aroundby bus or by tram ».
Francesco and Nicco had gone out to dinner and then to the cinema to see Niccolò Falsetti’s “Margini”. «It was Giulio’s birthday, our bassist, with us there was also Claudia, a friend of the Socrates high school and drummer in another band. We were curious because we had met one of the actors, Matteo Creatini, who was also a musician ”, explains Nicco.
Today at noon in the church of Santa Maria Liberatrice, in Testaccio, the neighborhood where Francesco lived with his parents Paola Di Caro and Luca Valdiserri, our colleagues from the Corriere della Sera
and with his sister Daria, the funeral will be celebrated. “We will play for him”, says Nicco, guitarist of Origami Smiles, a band founded last April which also includes Daniel Bevilacqua (drums) and Giulio Di Veroli (bass), but already a point of reference on platforms such as Spotify. «Francesco – he recalls – had made us change gear. Before the frontman it was me, we didn’t think he was that good. He surprised everyone with his deep voice. He had never had a band before. He wrote songs in English, he had started to think of some in Italian. The images were his source of inspiration, but not attributable to anything concrete. He was very good at this. And “Next morning” was born like this ».
Recently Origami Smiles took to the stage of the La Strada social center, for a project with Socrates, where Francesco graduated, and at the Ciampino Beer Station. “He was happy, a good time. He had integrated into the band but he had also enrolled at the Sapienza University, in Literature with a cinematographic address and musical. His dream was to become a critic », reveals Nicco, who instead attends Physics. “His model was David Bowie, his tone of voice remembered him. But he liked them i Depeche Modewhich we should have gone to see in concert in Rome, and i Cure: we had thought of following them to Florence. At school Francesco had approached rap, then rock in third high school. With us he was indie rock, but he was open to all influences – says his friend -. In June we went to Firenze Rocks, and then he was in London for a course of song writing
: he came back very satisfied, he met guys from all over the world ».
In the months when Italy was suffocating from the heat, Francesco and Nicco had decided to leave again. “For Bulgaria. A little bit as a matter of budget, really a surprise. He loved it, and it was his first solo trip. When we returned – the friend still remembers – we went to Santa Marinella, his holiday resort. There too he was surrounded by his world of him, who loved him ». The same one who today will cling to Francesco and his family in a single, huge embrace.
If you want to stay updated on the news of Rome, subscribe for free to the newsletter “The seven hills of Rome” by Giuseppe Di Piazza. It arrives every Saturday in your mailbox at 7am. Just click here.
“We will play your song” – Corriere.it
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer