I’m astounded, amused and pleased at the same time. Emergenza’s world final has virtually finished a few minutes ago and what I see are musicians shaking hands and patting each other on the back…they are sad to part as they are saying goodbye to each other. Tomorrow somebody will have a 12-hour flight back to their own country and some only a few hour drive. Some have won and are happy and others did not win but they are still happy. They all seem like they come from the same college or university. At a glance, they look like they all grew up in the same neighbourhood. Same family background, same friends and same stories to tell. The question that I ask myself is this: what the hell do all these guys have in common? How can a guy that grew up in an upper-middle class area of Rome or a Bulgarian girl that migrated to Boston to attend Berkley have in common with a young musician from Berlin or Paris? I don’t know where the answer lies but these guys seem like they BELONG TOGETHER and most importantly they are enjoying each other’s company. The outskirts of Philly and Rome’s Spanish Steps, dozens of dark Scandinavian afternoons playing in tiny rehearsal rooms or the garage of a large house in Boston. Damp rooms in the historical centre of Florence, or the hi-tech studios in Munich. They are all here. All together. All saying goodbye. For once I am not going to talk about the bands and their efforts on stage. I won’t talk about winners or losers. For once, if you allow me, I will get emotional. These guys are good. Very good…they teach us something about friendship…not Bush, Blair, international companies and anti globalisation movements. These 120 guys show us that all you need is a common objective and we can be all at ease with each other. I am sure that if there were bands from Iran, China or Africa it would be no different. All those television campaigns, billions of dollars spent for ads, tonnes and tonnes of newspaper to spread paranoia and panic….all erased by 3 days of music and friendship. Not bad - almost dangerous I would say. It may be the music, it may be the fact that mankind is not as stupid as it is made out to be but we should not forget this very strong “signal” we are getting. These people have not suddenly erased all their different lives, backgrounds or musical tastes; in fact we have Metal, Rock, Pop, Rap and other styles (the list could go on forever). Differences? Yes, obviously, and very big ones I might add but it is this that makes it more interesting. Every single “difference” is lived like an opportunity; every single “distance” is lived like a new experience….like a perfect time on holiday. Every contrast or weakness is a challenge, a reason to overcome things with talent, skill or simple knowledge. Yes, this may not be the real world. Three days lived as a dream are in fact….a dream. But it would be a pity if we did not remember the atmosphere and the “vibes” that the last few days had created, when everybody; musicians, Journalists, stage technicians etc. go back to their turfs and barricade themselves in.