Since the merger of Song of the Creatures of Saint Francis with one of the most loved songs of all time, My free singingwritten by Mogol and starring Lucio Battisti, was born My Free Songa contest aimed at young songwriters from all over Italy, which received over 150 applications.
A project conceived and coordinated by Giordano Sangiorgi, patron of the Meeting of Independent Labels, with the support of the San Francesco 800 National Committee and the SIAE.
After the extraordinary masterclass at the CET (the European Center of Toscolano) in Mogol, which took place at the end of April, and the semi-finals on 31 May and 1 June (with 24 participants), ten artists reached the final, they will perform on Saturday 26 September in Rieti, at the Teatro Vespasiano, together with guests Erica Mou and Omar Pedrini.
During the semi-finals, the intervention of Franco Fasano, who presented his, was particularly appreciated new song dedicated to Saint Francis, entitled Joywritten on a poem by Davide Rondoni. Patrizia Cirulli, on the other hand, proposed her version of the famous album Infinitamente piccolo by Angelo Branduardi, dedicated to Saint Francis.
Here are the magnificent ten finalists, in alphabetical order, with their respective songs: Anima with Seta, Martin Basile with Crepe, Felicity with Pianoforse, Frenesi with Nascosto, La Noce with Nuotare, Lospazio with L’arancio, Silvia Lovicario with Linfa, Francesco Rainero with Rosario, Susanna Reppucci with Disobbedisci and Nicola Roncaglia with Epoca.
Meanwhile, the Popular Vote Award goes to the 21 Rollers with the song La tua vita truly: they will receive a plaque at MEI 2026.
The 24 semi-finalists had also created the unreleased song A new life (present on all digital platforms), written collectively by the artists with the extraordinary collaboration of Mogol during the masterclass held at the CET. The song represents the official anthem of the project and will be presented by the group of finalists My Free Song the next one 27 September at the Franciscan Festival of Bologna.
«This is a huge success and a very important result», declared Giordano Sangiorgi. «In an era in which texts are increasingly turned inwards, here we have recorded a strong adherence to contents of social and civil commitment, accompanied by significant musical innovation. A true revolution.”
Mogul he recalled the value of the figure of the Saint of Assisi: «Saint Francis was a great saint and gave us a lot. I believe that today music can still transmit its values to the new generations: peace, respect, spirituality and love for others. Young people must be taught to communicate the truth through songs, and this is precisely the spirit of Il Mio Cantico Libero.”
Davide Rondoni underlined the universal value of Franciscan inspiration: «Francesco is an Italian of all and for all, a visionary poet who teaches to love without possessing. His figure unites wound and joy and proposes a peace based on forgiveness and freedom.”
