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Azzurro
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Wikipedia article
"'Azzurro'" is an Italian pop song composed by Paolo Conte and Vito Pallavicini. Its most famous version was recorded by Adriano Celentano in 1968.
Background
Conte and Pallavicini wrote "Azzurro" especially for Celentano. The song describes a lonely summer in the city. Structurally it typically reflects Conte's writing style, combining simple and catchy melodies with unusual elements, like the military march music bit in the middle. Conte would record the song himself in 1985, ten years into his own solo career as a performer. Together with "Via con me" and "Sotto le stelle del Jazz", it is now one of his most popular songs.
Lyrics
The first line of the chorus goes: "Azzurro, il pomeriggio troppo azzurro e lungo per me . . ."Peter Benjaminson The Story of Motown 1979 -- Page 306"The first line of the song goes: "Azzurro, il pomeriggio e troppo azzurro e lungo per me . . ." Blue, the afternoon is too long and blue for me . . . ("blue," has no negative connotations of the depressing variety clouding the ..." (Blue, the afternoon is too long and blue for me...)Charts
Certifications
Cover versions
The song was covered by numerous Italian singers, like Mina, Gianni Morandi and Fiorello. Even the Italian football national team has sung the song on one occasion. German covers were done by Peter Rubin, Die Toten Hosen, Peter Alexander and Rummelsnuff. French cover by Rgine. Spanish cover by Gabinete Caligari. Czech cover by Waldemar Matuka, (lyrics by Zdenk Borovec). Hungarian cover by Lszl Aradszky (lyrics by Klmn Vndor). In the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, German F1 driver Sebastian Vettel sang a farewell song to his Ferrari team after the final race for them, which was based on the song.
Arik Einstein cover
In Israel, it is a famous song known for its Hebrew version by Arik Einstein "Amru Lo" (Hebrew: "They told him..."), which does not feature a translation of the original lyrics, and instead lampoons a young ne'er-do-well's inexplicable obsession with the color red and a failing soccer team of the same uniform color. It was also turned as a film with the same name.Die Toten Hosen cover
"Azzurro" (on many releases mistitled "Azzuro") was covered by Die Toten Hosen for the album 'Auf dem Kreuzzug ins Glck' as a tribute to 1990 FIFA World Cup.
The single was released with differently coloured covers: green, orange, pink and yellow.
Music video
The video was directed by Hanns Christian Mller.
The band drives around Italy in an Opel, having to push-start it every time. In the end it gets stolen right before them.
Track listing
# "Azzurro" (Conte, Virano/Conte, Pallavicini) 2:32
# "Herzlichen Glckwunsch" ('Sincere congratulation') (v. Holst/Frege) 2:03
# "Dr. Sommer" ('Dr. Summer') (Breitkopf/Frege) 1:57
# "Feinde" ('Enemies') (Frege/Frege) 2:20
Charts
References
Category:1990 singles
Category:Italian songs
Category:Die Toten Hosen songs
Category:Adriano Celentano songs
Category:Songs with lyrics by Vito Pallavicini
Category:1968 songs
Category:Virgin Records singles
Category:Number-one singles in Italy
Category:Songs with music by Paolo Conte
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