Volare (song)
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"Volare" (Italian for "flying") is another popular name for Domenico Modugno's signature song "Nel blu dipinto di blu" (literally "In the blue painted blue").
Composition
Written by Domenico Modugno (music and lyrics) and Franco Migliacci (lyrics), "Nel blu dipinto di blu" was presented by Domenico Modugno and Johnny Dorelli at the 1958 Sanremo Music Festival, winning the contest and achieving instant popularity. It was then chosen to represent Italy in the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest and came third.
Popularity
The song became widely known as "Volare", from its refrain, and reached the top of the charts all over the world through translations in to various languages: "Dans le bleu du ciel bleu", France (translated by Jacques Larue in 1958); "En el azul del cielo", Spain; "Jouw ogen", Belgium; "Taivaan sinessa", Finland; "Azul pintado de azul", Mexico, Argentina, Brazil.
A year after the Eurovision the first Grammy Awards ceremony was held, and Modugno received awards for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. As of 2006, this is the only time an Italian artist has received a Grammy award. Billboard magazine also awarded Modugno a prize for best song of the year, and he received three gold records from the recording industry: best singer, best song, best-seller album.
The song's popularity endures, and it was voted as the second favourite entry in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest at the 50th anniversary concert in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2005.
The song has been covered dozens of times over the years. Versions were quickly recorded after the intial success - partly in English, partly in Italian - by The McGuire Sisters and Dean Martin. Mitchell Parish also prepared lyrics in English. A Spanish version (partly in Italian) was recorded by the Gipsy Kings.
Quotations
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, creators of ABBA’s "Waterloo", voted as "all times favourite song of the Eurovision Song Contest" so expressed themselves when they received the prize ("Volare" came second):[Congratulation - 50 years of the Eurovision Song Contest]
- "I myself voted for "Volare" but I am pleased that so many people voted for us"
- : ― Benny Andersson
- "I say as Napoleon: Waterloo can obviously not be forgotten"
- : ― Björn Ulvaeus
Recorded versions
- 101 Strings Orchestra
- Al Martino
- Albano Carrisi
- Alex Chilton
- Ambelique
- Barney Kessel
- Barry White
- Bill Jennings
- Bobby Rydell
- Brave Combo
- Captain Jack
- Caterina Valente
- Chet Atkins
- Connie Francis
- Cortijo
- Cyril Stapleton
- Dalida (as "Dans le bleu du ciel bleu")
- David Bowie
- Dean Martin
- Diego de Cossio
- Domenico Modugno
- Earl Grant
- El Gato's Rhythm Orchestra
- Emilio Pericoli
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Ferrante & Teicher
- Frank Zappa
- Gipsy Kings
- Gipsy Rumba
- Herman Foster
- Hit Crew
- Hugo Montenegro
- Ismael Rivera
- Jerry Vale
- John Arpin
- Joni James
- Jose Marcello and his Orchestra
- Julius LaRosa
- Kirby Stone
- Lionel Hampton
- Louis Armstrong
- Lounge Noir
- Lucho Gatica
- Luciano Pavarotti
- Marco Missinato
- Marino Marini
- Mario Peralta
- Melcochita
- Michael Junior
- Nelson Riddle
- Nino Rossano
- Orchestra Del Sole
- Oscar Peterson
- Petula Clark
- Ray Conniff
- Real Orquesta Filarmonica de Madrid
- Richard Clayderman
- Richie Cole
- Roger Williams
- Russell Watson
- Sergio Franchi
- Son Boricua
- Stefano Bollani
- Taxi Gang
- The Ames Brothers
- The Chelsea Strings
- The Jive Aces
- The McGuire Sisters
- The Platters
- The Romantic Strings
- The Sicilians
- The Starlite Singers
- Tiziana Ghiglioni
- Trini Lopez
- Violines de Pego
- Vitamin C
- Wayne Newton
- Youth Brigade
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References
External links
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