Adriano Celentano (Italian: [adriˈaːno tʃelenˈtaːno]; born 6 January 1938) is an Italian singer-songwriter, actor, showman, and filmmaker. He is dubbed Il Molleggiato ('the springy one') because of his energetic dancing.[2][3]

Adriano Celentano
Celentano in 1961
Born (1938-01-06) 6 January 1938 (age 86)
Milan, Kingdom of Italy
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actor
  • film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • television presenter
Years active1957–present
Spouse
(m. 1964)
Children3, including Rosalinda Celentano
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • drums
Labels
Websiteilmondodiadriano.it

Celentano's many albums frequently enjoyed both commercial and critical success. With around 150 million records sold worldwide, he is the second best-selling Italian musical artist.[4][5] Often credited as the author of both the music and lyrics of his songs, according to his wife Claudia Mori, some were written in collaboration with others. Due to his prolific career, both in Italy and abroad, he is considered one of the pillars of Italian music.

Celentano is recognized for being particularly perceptive of changes in the music business and is credited for having introduced rock and roll to Italy. As an actor, Celentano has appeared in 39 films, mostly comedies.

Early life

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Celentano was born on 6 January 1938 in Milan, Italy, at 14 Via Cristoforo Gluck, a street close to the Central Station and this address later became the subject of the famous song "Il ragazzo della via Gluck" ('The boy from Gluck Street'). His parents, Leontino Celentano and Giuditta Giuvia, were from Foggia, Apulia, and had moved north for work.[6] His career as a singer started in 1959. Before his debut as an artist, he was working as a watchmaker.[7]

Career

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Celentano with an Eko Guitar

Heavily influenced by Elvis Presley and the 1950s rock 'n' roll scene as well as by American actor Jerry Lewis,[8] Celentano started playing in a rock and roll band with Giorgio Gaber and Enzo Jannacci. Along with Gaber and Jannacci, he was discovered by Jolly Records A&R Executive Ezio Leoni, who signed him to his first recording contract and co-authored with Celentano some of his greatest early hits, including "24.000 baci", "Il tuo bacio è come un rock", and "Si è spento il Sole". He first appeared on screen in Ragazzi del Juke-Box, a 1959 Italian musical film directed by Lucio Fulci with music by Ezio Leoni. In 1960, Federico Fellini cast him as a rock and roll singer in his film La dolce vita (1960).

In 1962, Celentano founded the Italian record label Clan Celentano (which is still active) with many performers such as Don Backy, Ola & the Janglers, Ricky Gianco, Katty Line, Gino Santercole, Fred Bongusto and his wife Claudia Mori.[citation needed]

As a film director, Celentano frequently cast Ornella Muti, Eleonora Giorgi and his wife Claudia Mori. He and Mori have three children, Rosita, Giacomo and Rosalinda Celentano. Rosalinda is most notable to worldwide audiences for playing Satan in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Celentano has also hosted several Italian television shows.

Celentano has retained his popularity in Italy for over 50 years, selling millions of records and appearing in numerous TV shows and movies. As part of his TV and movie work, he created a comic genre, with a characteristic walk and facial expressions. For the most part, his films were commercially successful; indeed, in the 1970s and part of the 1980s, his low-budget movies were top of Italian box office rankings. As an actor, critics point to Serafino (1968), directed by Pietro Germi, as his best performance.

 
Celentano (right) in 2012 with Gianni Morandi

He has released 40 albums, consisting of 29 studio albums, three live albums, and eight compilations. Among his most popular songs there are "La coppia più bella del mondo", which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc;[9] "Azzurro" (1968), written by Paolo Conte, "Svalutation" (1976), and "Prisencolinensinainciusol" (1972), which was written to mimic the way English sounds to non-English speakers despite being almost entirely nonsense.[10]

Celentano was referenced in the 1979 Ian Dury and the Blockheads song and single, "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3", as one of the aforementioned "reasons to be cheerful", and in Fellini's 1986 film Ginger and Fred.

After 18 years without live performances, Celentano's 2012 live concert was broadcast on Mediaset channel Canale 5, attracting over 9 million viewers.[11]

Personal life

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Celentano has been a vegetarian since 2005 and has defended animal rights.[12][13] A football fan, Celentano is a well-known Inter Milan supporter.[14] Although influenced by American culture,[10] Celentano cannot speak English; he told la Repubblica that for years he wanted to learn the language but could not commit, and not knowing English is a "real pain".[15]

Discography

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Albums

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Studio albums
  • 1960: Adriano Celentano with Giulio Libano and his Orchestra – Jolly LPJ 5008
  • 1960: Furore – Jolly LPJ 5017
  • 1962: Peppermint Twist – Jolly LPJ 5021
  • 1963: A New Orleans – Jolly LPJ 5025
  • 1965: Non mi dir – Clan, ACC 40002
  • 1966: La festa – Clan, ACC 40006
  • 1966: Il ragazzo della via Gluck – Clan, ACC 40007
  • 1968: Azzurro/Una carezza in un pugno – Clan, ACC 40011
  • 1968: Adriano rock – Clan, BF 501
  • 1969: Le robe che ha detto Adriano – Clan, BF 502
  • 1969: Pioggia di successi
  • 1970: Il forestiero – Clan, BFM 700
  • 1971: Er più – Storia d'amore e di coltello – Clan, BFM 602
  • 1972: I mali del secolo – Clan, BFM 701
  • 1973: La storia di uno... Adriano Celentano
  • 1973: Nostalrock – Clan, CLN 65764
  • 1975: Yuppi du – Clan, CLN 69120
  • 1976: Svalutation – Clan, CLN 86013
  • 1977: Disco dance – Clan, CLN 86026
  • 1977: Tecadisk – Clan, CLN 86033
  • 1978: Ti avrò – Clan, CLN 20053
  • 1978: Geppo il folle – Clan, CLN 20099
  • 1979: Il concerto di Adriano – Clan, CLN 22203
  • 1979: Soli – Clan, CLN 20150
  • 1980: Un po' artista un po' no – Clan, CLN 20201
  • 1980: Tu non-mi lascerai
  • 1981: Deus – Clan, CLN 20257
  • 1982: Uh... uh... – Clan, CLN 20324
  • 1982: Storia d'amore
  • 1983: Atmosfera – Clan, CLN 20380
  • 1984: I miei americani – Clan, CLN 20445
  • 1985: Joan Lui – Clan, CLN 20485
  • 1986: I miei americani 2 – Clan, CLN 20545
  • 1987: La pubblica ottusità – Clan, CLN 20699
  • 1991: Il re degli ignoranti – Clan, 9031 74439-1
  • 1994: Quel punto – Clan, 4509 97319-1
  • 1996: Arrivano gli uomini – Clan, CLCD 74321 381192
  • 1998: Mina Celentano – Clan/PDU, 90011 (by Mina and Adriano Celentano)
  • 1999: Io non-so parlar d'amore – Clan, CLN 13641
  • 2000: Esco di rado e parlo ancora meno – Clan, CLN 20482
  • 2002: Per sempre – Clan, CLN 20511
  • 2004: C'è sempre un motivo – Clan, CLN 20551
  • 2005: C'è sempre un motivo + L'Indiano – Clan, CLN 20551
  • 2007: Dormi amore, la situazione non è buona – Clan, CLN 2058
  • 2011: Facciamo finta che sia vero – Clan, CLN 2098
  • 2016: Le Migliori – Clan, CLN ?
  • 2019: Adrian – Clan, CLN ?
Collection albums
  • 1969: Pioggia di successi – Clan, BF LP 506
  • 1970: Adriano hits – Clan, BF LP 600 nostal rock
  • 1973: La storia di uno...Adriano Celentano – Clan, CLN 68215
  • 1975: Il meglio di Adriano Celentano – Clan, CLN 69133
  • 1978: Celentanando – Clan, 1978 CGD / CLAN
  • 1979: Antologia ('57–'80) – Clan, CLN 22504
  • 1980: Il tempo se ne va compilation musica
  • 1982: Il cinema di Adriano – Clan, CLN 25037
  • 1983: Le volte che Adriano è stato primo – CLN 20391
  • 1988: Antologia '57–'87 (6 discs) – Clan, CLN 77002
  • 1992: Superbest – Clan, 4509 91216-1
  • 1995: Alla corte del ReMix – Clan, CLCD 74321 331042
  • 1997: Le origini di Adriano Celentano vol. 1 – RTI Music, 11611
  • 1997: Und immer Azzurro – Seine 20 größten Erfolge 1962–1997 – Clan, CD 74314905623
  • 1999: Le origini di Adriano Celentano vol. 2 – Clan, 496155
  • 2000: Questa è la storia di uno di noi (cofanetto)
  • 2001: Il cuore, la voce – Clan, CLN 20501
  • 2003: Le volte che Celentano è stato 1 – Clan, CLN 20521
  • 2003: TRE
  • 2005: Una stella in mezzo al ciel
  • 2006: Le più belle canzoni di Adriano Celentano
  • 2006: Unicamente Celentano – Clan, CLN 20571
  • 2008: L'animale – Clan
  • 2010: Il ribelle rock! – Sony Music
  • 2010: Il meglio di Adriano Celentano – NAR International
  • 2010: Antologia Italian Style – Venus Distribuzione
  • 2021: MinaCelentano – The Complete Recordings

Singles

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45 rpms
  • 1958: "Rip It Up/Jailhouse Rock" – Music 2223
  • 1958: "Blueberry Hill/Tutti frutti" – Music 2224
  • 1958: "Man Smart/I Love You Baby" – Music 2232
  • 1958: "Tell Me That You Love Me/The Stroll" – Music 2233
  • 1958: "Happy Days Are Here Again/Buona sera signorina" – Jolly J 20032
  • 1958: "Hoola Hop Rock/La febbre dell'hoola hop" – Jolly J 20045
  • 1959: "Ciao ti dirò/Un'ora con te" – Jolly J 20057
  • 1959: "Il ribelle/Nessuno crederà" – Jolly J 20063
  • 1959: "Il tuo bacio è come un rock/I ragazzi del juke-box" – Jolly J 20064
  • 1959: "Teddy Girl/Desidero te" – Jolly J 20068
  • 1959: "Pronto pronto/Idaho" – Jolly J 20069
  • 1960: "Nikita Rock/Blue Jeans Rock" – Jolly J 20079
  • 1960: "Rock matto/Impazzivo per te" – Jolly J 20080
  • 1960: "Impazzivo per te/Crazy Rock" – Jolly J 20080
  • 1960: "Personality/Il mondo gira" – Jolly J 20089
  • 1960: "Così no/La gatta che scotta" – Jolly J 20090
  • 1960: "Piccola/Ritorna lo shimmy" – Jolly J 20092
  • 1960: "Pitagora/A cosa serve soffrire" – Jolly J 20106
  • 1960: "Giarrettiera rossa/Che dritta!" – Jolly J 20107
  • 1960: "Furore/Movimento di rock" – Jolly J 20124
  • 1961: "24 mila baci/Aulì-ulè" – Jolly J 20127
  • 1961: "Non esiste l'amor/Basta" – Jolly J 20137
  • 1961: "Gilly/Coccolona" – Jolly J 20144
  • 1961: "Nata per me/Non essere timida" – Jolly J 20150
  • 1962: "Forse forse/Peppermint Twist" – Jolly J 20153
  • 1962: "Ciao amore/Veleno" – Caramba Jolly C 11000
  • 1962: "Si è spento il sole/La mezza luna" – Jolly J 20178
  • 1962: "Stai lontana da me/Sei rimasta sola/Amami e baciami" – Clan, ACC 24001
  • 1962: "24 mila baci/Il tuo bacio è come un rock" – Jolly J 20185
  • 1962: "Pregherò (prima parte)/Pasticcio in Paradiso" – Clan, ACC 24005
  • 1963: "A New Orleans/Un sole caldo caldo caldo" – Jolly J 20197
  • 1963: "Il tangaccio/Grazie, prego, scusi" – Clan, ACC 24009
  • 1963: "Serafino campanaro/Ehi stella" – Jolly J 20220
  • 1963: "Sabato triste/Le notti lunghe" – Clan, ACC 24012
  • 1964: "Una notte vicino al mare/Hello Mary Lou" – Jolly J 20228
  • 1964: "Non mi dir/Non piangerò" – Clan, ACC 24015
  • 1964: "Il problema più importante/È inutile davvero" – Clan, ACC 24016
  • 1964: "L'angelo custode/Bambini miei" – Clan, ACC 24019
  • 1965: "Ciao ragazzi/Chi ce l'ha con me" – Clan, ACC 24022
  • 1965: "Sono un simpatico/E voi ballate/Due tipi come noi" – Clan, ACC 24024
  • 1965: "La festa/Ringo" – Clan, ACC 24027
  • 1966: "Il ragazzo della via Gluck"/"Chi era lui" – Clan, ACC 24032
  • 1966: "Mondo in mi 7a/Una festa sui prati" – Clan, ACC 24040
  • 1967: "La coppia più bella del mondo/Torno sui miei passi" – Clan, ACC 24051
  • 1967: "Tre passi avanti/Eravamo in 100.000" – Clan, ACC 24058
  • 1967: "30 donne nel west/Più forte che puoi" – Clan, ACC 24063
  • 1968: "Canzone/Un bimbo sul leone" – Clan, ACC 24073
  • 1968: "Azzurro/Una carezza in un pugno" – Clan, ACC 24080
  • 1968: "L'attore/La tana del re" – Clan, BF 69001
  • 1969: "La storia di Serafino/La pelle" – Clan, BF 69013
  • 1969: "Storia d'amore/Straordinariamente" – Clan, BF 69014
  • 1969: "Lirica d'inverno/L'uomo nasce nudo" – Clan, BF 69030
  • 1970: "Chi non lavora non fa l'amore/Due nemici innamorati" – Clan, BF 69040
  • 1970: "Chi non lavora non fa l'amore /EA" – Clan, BF 69041
  • 1970: "Viola/Se sapevo non-crescevo" – Clan, BF 69051
  • 1971: "Sotto le lenzuola/Il forestiero" – Clan, BF 70000
  • 1971: "Una storia come questa/Brutta" – Clan, BF 70010
  • 1971: "Er più/Una storia d'amore e di coltello" – Clan, BF 70015
  • 1972: "Un albero di trenta piani/Forse eri meglio di lei" – Clan, BF 70018
  • 1972: "La ballata di Pinocchio/I Will Drink the Wine" – Clan, BF 70022
  • 1972: "Prisencolinensinainciusol"/"Disc Jockey" – Clan, BF 70026
  • 1973: "L'unica chance/Quel signore del piano di sopra" – Clan, CLN 1319
  • 1973: "Only You/We're Gonna Move" – Clan, CLN 1887
  • 1974: "Bellissima/Stringimi a te" – Clan, CLN 2443
  • 1975: "Yuppi du/La ballata" – Clan, CLN 3208
  • 1975: "Un'altra volta chiudi la porta/Do dap" – Clan, CLN 3633
  • 1976: "Svalutation/La barca" – Clan, CLN 4375
  • 1977: "A Woman in Love/Rock Around the Clock/Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" – Clan, CLN 5048
  • 1977: "When Love/Somebody Save Me" – Clan, CLN 5403
  • 1978: "Ti avrò/La moglie, l'amante, l'amica" – Clan, CLN 10089
  • 1979: "Che cosa ti farei/Geppo" – Clan, CLN 10120
  • 1979: "Soli/Io e te" – Clan, CLN 10174
  • 1980: "Qua la mano/Gocce d'acqua" – Clan, CLN 10251
  • 1980: "Il tempo se ne va/Non se ne parla nemmeno" – Clan, CLN 10252
  • 1980: "Innamorata, incavolata a vita/Se non è amore" – Clan, CLN 10305
  • 1981: "L'artigiano (1ª parte)/L'artigiano (2ª parte)" – Clan, CLN 10326
  • 1982: "Crazy Movie/Roma che fa...te innamora" – Clan, CLN 10371
  • 1982: "Uel mae sae/We're Gonna Move" – Clan, CLN 10393
  • 1982: "Uh...uh.../Jungla di città" – Clan, CLN 10442
  • 1984: "Susanna/Il cantante folle" – Clan, CLN 23001
  • 1987: "Mi attrai/La luce del sole" – Clan, CLN 10786
More singles
  • 1995: "Voglio prendere il sole"
  • 1995: "Prisencolinensinainciusol (Remixes – maxi single)
  • 1996: "Cosi come sei"
  • 1996: "Arrivano gli uomini"
  • 1996: "Solo da un quarto d'ora"
  • 1998: "Acqua e sale"
  • 1998: "Brivido felino"
  • 1998: "Che taggia dì"
  • 1999: "Gelosia"
  • 1999: "L'emozione non-ha voce"
  • 1999: "L'uomo di cartone"
  • 1999: "Una rosa pericolosa"
  • 1999: "Qual è la direzione"
  • 1999: "Mi domando"
  • 1999: "L'arcobaleno"
  • 2000: "Senz'amore"
  • 2000: "Le pesche d'inverno"
  • 2000: "Per averti"
  • 2001: "Apri il cuore"
  • 2001: "Ti prenderò"
  • 2001: "Quello che non-ti ho detto mai"
  • 2001: "Tir"
  • 2001: "Le stesse cose"
  • 2002: "Confessa"
  • 2003: "Per sempre"
  • 2003: "Più di un sogno"
  • 2003: "Mi fa male"
  • 2004: "C'è sempre un motivo"
  • 2004: "Marì Marì"
  • 2005: "Ancora vivo"
  • 2005: "Valeva la pena"
  • 2005: "L'indiano"
  • 2006: "Oh Diana"
  • 2007: "Hai bucato la mia vita"
  • 2007: "La situazione non è buona"
  • 2008: "Dormi amore"
  • 2008: "Fiori"
  • 2008: "Aria...non-sei più tu"
  • 2008: "Sognando Chernobyl"
  • 2008: "La cura"
  • 2011: "Non ti accorgevi di me"
  • 2011: "Non so più cosa fare"
  • 2011: "Ti penso e cambia il mondo"
  • 2012: "Anna parte"
  • 2012: "La cumbia di chi cambia"
  • 2013: "Ti fai del male"
  • 2013: "Io non-ricordo (da quel giorno tu)"
  • 2013: "Mai nella vita"
  • 2023: "Toscana Fanboys" (Peter Fox feat. Adriano Celentano)

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1959 Ragazzi del Juke-Box Adriano Supporting role
1959 Go, Johnny, Go! Himself Cameo appearance
1959 Juke Box: Urli d'amore Singer Cameo appearance
1960 Howlers in the Dock Adriano Leading role
1960 La Dolce Vita Singer Cameo appearance
1960 Sanremo - La grande sfida Himself Leading role
1961 Io bacio... tu baci Himself Cameo appearance
1963 The Monk of Monza Adriano Supporting role
1963 Uno strano tipo Peppino Leading role
1964 Super rapina a Milano Sergio Leading role, directorial debut
1964 I malamomdo Himself Documentary film
1966 Per un pugno di canzoni Singer Cameo appearance
1968 Serafino Serafino Fiorin Leading role
1968 The Most Beautiful Couple in the World Himself Cameo appearance
1971 Er Più: Storia d'amore e di coltello Ninetto Patroni Leading role
1972 White Sister Annibale Pezzi Leading role
1973 The Five Days Meo Cainazzo Leading role
1973 Little Funny Guy Peppino Cavallo Leading role
1973 Rugantino Rugantino Leading role
1975 Yuppi du Felice della Pietà Leading role; also director and writer
1976 The Con Artists Felix Brianza Leading role
1976 Lunatics and Lovers Sprint Boss Supporting role
1977 L'altra metà del cielo Father Vincenzo Leading role
1977 Ecco noi per esempio Clic Colombo Leading role
1978 Loggerheads Herman/ Gustav Leading role
1978 Geppo il folle Geppo Leading role; also director and writer
1979 Velvet Hands Guido Quiller Leading role
1980 Il Bisbetico Domato Elia Codogno Leading role
1980 La locandiera Ripafratta Knight Leading role
1981 Asso Asso/ Varesino/ God Multiple roles
1981 Madly in Love Barnaba Cecchini Leading role
1982 Grand Hotel Excelsior Taddeus Leading role
1982 Bingo Bongo Bingo Bongo Leading role
1983 Segni particolari: bellissimo Mattia Leading role
1983 Sing Sing Alfredo Boghi Leading role
1984 Lui è peggio di me Leonardo Leading role
1985 Joan Lui: Ma un giorno nel paese arrivo io di lunedì Joan Lui Leading role; also director and writer
1986 Il burbero Tito Torrisi Leading role
1992 Jackpot Furio Leading role; also writer

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kouvarou, Maria (2015). "American Rock with a European Twist: The Institutionalization of Rock'n'Roll in France, West Germany, Greece, and Italy (20th Century)". Historia Crítica (57): 75–94. doi:10.7440/histcrit57.2015.05. ISSN 0121-1617.
  2. ^ Engelmann, Jennifer (21 October 2015). "MINA e CELENTANO: la tigre e il molleggiato di nuovo insieme nel 2016 » » aLLMusicItalia". allmusicitalia.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  3. ^ Di Pasqua, Emanuela (21 December 2009). "L'inglese inventato di Celentano spopola negli Usa e su Internet - Corriere della Sera". corriere.it. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  4. ^ "L'inglese inventato di Celentano spopola negli Usa e su Internet – Corriere della Sera". Corriere della Sera. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  5. ^ Paolo Giordano (22 December 2009). "Toh, gli Usa scoprono il Celentano rapper – Spettacoli" (in Italian). ilGiornale.it. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  6. ^ "BIOGRAFIE: Adriano Celentano" (in German). Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  7. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "High Five: 5 European stars with first jobs you probably wouldn't have expected | DW | 24.06.2016". DW.COM. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  8. ^ Clancelentano.it Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 217. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  10. ^ a b "It's Gibberish, But Italian Pop Song Still Means Something". NPR Music. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Celentano a Verona: il pubblico fischia i sermoni – Il Gazzettino". Gazzettino.it. 8 October 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Adriano Celentano". Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  13. ^ "Adriano Celentano’s fake English song explained: What does Prisencolinensinainciusol mean?". thefocus.news. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  14. ^ Zullo, Leo (17 December 2021). "Adriano Celentano in Serie A: non indovinerai mai quale calciatore imita il cantante". CalcioToday.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  15. ^ Fallows, James (24 December 2009). "A musical Christmas treat". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
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