Volare
Believe it or not, this song is Noelle's favourite, as she loves to sing along in the O Oh O Oh parts!
"Nel blu dipinto di blu" ("In the blue painted blue"), popularly known as "Volare" (Italian for the infinitive form of the verb "to fly"), is Domenico Modugno's signature song. It is the only song ever by an Italian artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
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.
The song is a ballad in a dramatic chanson style, in which Modugno describes the feeling he has (which he likens to flying) when with his lover.
The song was performed first on the night (preceding the Netherlands' Corry Brokken with Heel De Wereld). At the close of voting, it had received 13 points, placing 3rd in a field of 10.
It was succeeded as Italian representative at the 1959 Contest by "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)", also performed by Modugno.
The song became widely known as "Volare", from its refrain, and reached the top of the charts all over the world through translations into 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 sinessä", 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. 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 initial success - partly in English, partly in Italian - by The McGuire Sisters and Dean Martin. Mitchell Parish also prepared lyrics in English. Bobby Rydell had a top-ten hit with it in the summer of 1960. A Spanish version (partly in Italian) was recorded by the Gipsy Kings.
Sergio Franchi sang the song, with modified lyrics, as the television spokesman for the Plymouth Volaré in the 1970s.
It has even been used in a 2004 Arby's TV commercial.
A version was used by fans of Arsenal to serenade the midfielder Patrick Vieira, and Manchester United fans have created versions for cult heroes Diego Forlan and Nemanja Vidic, as well as a parody of Arsenal's song for Vieira, mocking the midfielder's error in the 1999 FA Cup Semi-Final replay which led to Ryan Giggs' famous extra-time winner.
It is also present in the video game Counter-Strike, within the map "cs_italy".
When former New York Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca would bat at Shea Stadium, a small snippet of the song would play.
At RFK Stadium the phrase "Volare" is played over the PA system during Washington National games when the opposing pitcher throws over to first base (to check the runner).
In the first season of "Quantum Leap" in the episode Double Identity the title character Dr. Sam Beckett is shown singing the song.
Domenico's Modugno's recording of this song was the first Grammy winner for Record of the Year (1958). It is also the very first, and so far, only foreign-language recording (sung entirely in Italian) to take this top honor.
Lyrics
Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare)
Blue painted in the blue (Flying)
Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più
I think such a dream will never come back
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu
I painted my hands and my face blue
Poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
Then suddenly I was ravished by the wind
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito
And I started flying in the infinite sky
Volare, oh oh...
Flying, oh oh...
Cantare, ohohoho...
Singing, ohohoho...
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Blue painted in the blue
Felice di stare lassù
Happy to be up there
E volavo, volavo felice
And I was flying, flying happily
Più in alto del sole ed ancora più su
Higher than the sun and even higher
Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva, lontano laggiù
While the world was slowly disappearing, far beneath
Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me
A soft music was playing just for me
Volare, oh oh...
Flying, oh oh..
Cantare, ohohoho...
Singing, ohohoho...
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Blue painted in the blue
Felice di stare lassù
Happy to be up there
Ma tutti i sogni nell'alba svaniscono perché
But all the dreams fade away at dawn, because
Quando tramonta, la luna li porta con sé
While setting, the moon takes them away
Ma io continuo a sognare negli occhi tuoi belli
But I keep dreaming in your beautiful eyes
Che sono blu come un cielo trapunto di stelle
Which are as blue as a sky quilted with stars
Volare, oh oh...
Flying, oh oh...
Cantare, ohohoho...
Singing, ohohoho...
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
In the blue of your blue eyes
Felice di stare quaggiù
Happy to be down here
E continuo a volare felice
And I keep flying happily
Più in alto del sole ed ancora più su
Higher than the sun and even higher
Mentre il mondo pian piano scompare negli occhi tuoi blu
While the world is slowly disappearing in your blue eyes
La tua voce è una musica dolce che suona per me
Your voice is a soft music playing for me
Volare, oh oh...
Flying, oh oh...
Cantare, ohohoho...
Singing, ohohoho...
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
In the blue of your blue eyes
Felice di stare quaggiù
Happy to be down here
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
In the blue of your blue eyes
Felice di stare quaggiù con te
Happy to be down here with you
Translation by Cristina Giuntini.
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