Given the question: Facts:   - instrument: vocals , piano , guitar    - years active: 1967 -- present    - caption: battiato in 2005    - birth name: francesco battiato    - origin: riposto , sicily , italy    - label: ricordi emi sony music    - genre: beat , progressive pop , electronic pop , pop , new-age , , opera , free jazz new wave , experimental , musique concrète      - birth date: 23 march 1945    - name: franco battiato    - background: solo_singer    - image: f_battiato . jpg    - associated acts: alice , juri camisasca , giuni russo , milva    - occupation: musician , filmmaker , painter   Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of franco battiato .
The answer is:
francesco `` franco '' battiato -lrb- ; born 23 march 1945 , riposto , sicily -rrb- is a italian singer-songwriter , composer , filmmaker and , under the pseudonym süphan barzani , also a painter .battiato 's songs contain esoteric , philosophical and religious themes .he is and has been for decades one of the most popular pop singer-songwriters in italy .his unique sound , song-crafting and especially his lyrics , often containing philosophical , religious , and culturally exotic references , as well as tackling or painting universal themes about the human condition - unusual subjects for pop songs - earned him a unique spot on italy 's music scene , and the nickname of `` il maestro '' -lrb- `` the master '' or `` the teacher '' -rrb- .his work includes songwriting and joint production efforts with several italian and international musicians and pop singers , including the long-lasting professional relationship with italian singer alice .together with alice , franco battiato represented italy at the eurovision song contest 1984 with the song `` i treni di tozeur '' .