Benvenuto (song)

"Benvenuto"
Single by Laura Pausini
from the album Inedito
Released 12 September 2011
Format Digital download
Recorded Oliveta Recording Studio, Castelbolognese (Ravenna)
Genre Pop, latin pop
Length 3:56
Label Atlantic Records
Writer(s) Laura Pausini, Niccolò Agliardi, Paolo Carta
Producer(s) Paolo Carta
Laura Pausini singles chronology
"Donna d'Onna"
(2010)		 "Benvenuto"
(2011)		 "Non ho mai smesso"
(2011)
Music video
"Benvenuto" on YouTube

"Benvenuto" / "Bienvenido" (Welcome) is a song recorded by Italian singer Laura Pausini for her studio album Inedito. The song, produced by Paolo Carta, was written by Laura Pausini, Niccolò Agliardi and Paolo Carta.[1][2] On 12 September 2011, it was released to mainstream radios[3] and it became digitally available[4] as the lead single of the album.[5] It debuted at number one on the Italian Singles Chart and it was later certified platinum by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry.[6]

The song was also recorded in a Spanish-language version, titled "Bienvenido" and released as the first single from the Spanish-language version of the album, Inédito.[7] The music video for this version of the song received a nomination for Video of the Year at the Premio Lo Nuestro 2012, held on 16 February 2012.[8]

Release

Laura Pausini revealed the title and the artwork of the single through her official website on 11 August 2011.[9][10] On 10 September 2011, the lyrics of the song were released, together with a preview of the song.[11]

The full version of the song was published on Pausini's website on 11 September 2011. On 12 September 2011, the song was worldwide released as a digital single[12][13] and it was first aired by Italian mainstream radios.[3] In Italy, the single was also released in its Spanish-language version.[14]

During an interview following the release of the album Inedito, Pausini revealed that "Non ho mai smesso" was chosen by her label as the first single from the album, but she personally decided to release "Benvenuto" as the lead track from Inedito, explaining that she wanted to release a more optimistic and less melancholic song.[15] "Non ho mai smesso" was later released as the second single from the album.[15]

Composition

Song structure

Each verse of the song is followed with the chorus, giving the track a simple and traditional structure.[16] Together with the immediacy of its lyrics, this transformed "Benvenuto" in a radio-friendly song,[11] in the style of some of the latest Pausini's hits.[17]

The arrangement of the song is characterized by a drum-based incipit, followed by piano and then by Laura's voice.[16] After the release of the single, some fans claimed that the intro was plagiarised from Frida Lyngstad's 1982 song "I Know There's Something Going On".[18] However, Pausini later explained that, despite not being a sample, the intro of "Benvenuto" is an explicit tribute to Phil Collins, who produced Frida's single and played the drums in it.[19]

"I heard that he [Phil Collins] was going to retire from making music while I was with him for a concert in Geneva, so, together with my staff, during the same night we decided to pay a tribute to him with this drum-based intro."[20]

According to Allmusic's Jon O'Brien, "Benvenuto" is "one of the most anthemic tracks she's put her name to thanks to its clattering drums and soaring melodic chorus".[21]

Lyrical theme

Containing a few reference to current events,[16] the single is an anthem to the future,[1] written with the aim to inject courage and optimism to the listeners, despite the worldwide economic crisis that began in the late 2000s.[22]

The track is dedicated to the most authentic things and people, and wants to encourage them not to be afraid of being themselves.[23] Some lines of the song also refer to Pausini's private life.[16]

Music video

The music video for "Benvenuto", directed by Gaetano Morbioli,[24] was released on 27 September 2011.[25] It was filmed in the Arena Park in Amsterdam during late July 2011,[26] and the shooting of the video was interrupted by paparazzi.[27] The music video was released on September 28, 2011 on Warner Music's YouTube account.[28]

Pausini, who plays the main character of the video, wears hippy-style clothes by Roberto Cavalli.[29] Gaetano Morbioli declared about the video:

"We reconstructed a situation that somehow evokes the big gatherings of a few years ago, a sort of modern-day Woodstock. The music video shows a journey to a magic place, in which a unique concert will be staged."[25]

Commercial performance

The song debuted at number one on the Italian official Top Digital Download Chart.[30] The following week, the single dropped at number 6.[31] It later completed a nine non-consecutive weeks chart run on the Italian top-10,[32] receiving the platinum certification by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry for domestic downloads exceeding 30,000 unit.[6]

On 18 September 2011, the single also debuted at number 21 on the Spanish Singles Chart, and the following week it rose and peaked at number 15.[33] After the release of the album, the song entered the Swiss Singles Chart, where it peaked at number 49,[34] and the US Latin Pop Airplay chart, peaking at number 15.[35]

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[36] 8
Croatia (Airplay Radio Chart)[37] 50
Italy (FIMI)[38] 1
Italy Airplay (Nielsen Music Control)[39] 3
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[40] 19
Mexico Spanish Airplay (Billboard)[41] 7
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[42] 15
Spain Airplay (PROMUSICAE)[43] 4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] 49
US Latin Pop (Billboard)[35] 15
US Latin Songs (Billboard)[44] 41

Personnel

Music credits[16][45]
  • Niccolò Agliardi – backing vocals, composer
  • Prisca Amori – orchestra leader
  • B.I.M. Orchestra – orchestra
  • Paolo Carta – guitars, programming, composer, arrangements, orchestra conductor, backing vocals
  • Nathan East – bass
  • Steve Ferrone – drums
  • Marzia Gonzo – backing vocals
  • Laura Pausini – vocals, composer, backing vocals
  • Rosaria Sindona – backing vocals
  • Giuseppe Tortora – contractor
  • Bruno Zucchetti – keyboards
Production credits[45]
  • Riccardo Benini – executive producer
  • Renato Cantele – assistant
  • Paolo Carta – producer, engineer
  • Nicola Fantozzi – assistant
  • Marco Nuzzi – executive producer
  • Davide Palmiotto – assistant

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Laura Pausini torna con 'Benvenuto': l'assaggio sul web domani, lunedì in radio" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Musica/ Da Laura Pausini domani il nuovo singolo" (in Italian). TMNews. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Pausini, oggi il nuovo singolo alle radio". la Repubblica (in Italian). 12 September 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Benvenuto - Single di Laura Pausini" (in Italian). iTunes. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Arriva nuovo album Pausini, domani esce il singolo" (in Italian). Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Certificazione Single Digital dalla settimana 1 del 2009 alla settimana 8 del 2012" (PDF) (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  7. ↑ Jose Alvizures. "Bienvenido, nueva canción de Laura Pausini" (in Spanish). entretenimiento.starmedia.com. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Lista de nominados al Premio Lo Nuestro a la Música Latina" (in Spanish). Terra Networks. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  9. ↑ "Laura Pausini: Benvenuto" (in Italian). MTV Italy. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "Laura Pausini torna con il singolo 'Benvenuto'" (in Italian). Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 11 August 2011.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Il testo di "Benvenuto" cantato da Laura Pausini". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  12. ↑ "Nuovo album: la Pausini festeggia con i fan". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  13. ↑ Juan Carlos García (6 September 2011). "Fortalece Laura Pausini relaciones" (in Spanish). am.com.mx. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  14. ↑ "Bienvenido - Single di Laura Pausini" (in Italian). iTunes. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Andrea Conti (10 November 2011). "Con Inedito ho riscoperto la semplicità". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 "Laura Pausini, è 'Benvenuto' il primo estratto dal nuovo album 'Inedito'" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  17. ↑ Andrea Conti (10 September 2011). "Pausini lancia "Benvenuto" che sarà una hit" (in Italian). TGCOM. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  18. ↑ Grazia Cicciotti (13 October 2011). "Laura Pausini: il brano "Benvenuto" è un plagio" (in Italian). www.funweek.it. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  19. ↑ Andrea Grandi (11 November 2011). "Laura Pausini - Il ritorno inedito" (in Italian). www.newsic.it. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  20. ↑ "Laura Pausini torna con 'Inedito': 'Non riuscivo a stare lontana dalla musica'" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  21. ↑ Jon O'Brien. "Inedito - Laura Pausini - Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  22. ↑ "Pausini lancia "Benvenuto" che sarà una hit". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  23. ↑ Josué P. Camacho (17 September 2011). "Laura Pausini le canta a la libertad". El Mexicano (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  24. ↑ "«Benvenuto» è il nuovo singolo di Laura Pausini, in radio dal 12 settembre". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Pausini hippy nel video di 'Benvenuto'" (in Italian). Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  26. ↑ "Laura Pausini sul set del nuovo video: il backstage "rubato"". Vanity Fair (in Italian). 27 July 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  27. ↑ "Laura Pausini, da martedì il nuovo videoclip girato tra gli ostacoli" (in Italian). www.popon.it. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  28. ↑ "Laura Pausini - Bienvenido (videoclip)". YouTube. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  29. ↑ "Laura Pausini, il ritorno: le foto in esclusiva" (in Italian). Vanity Fair (Italy). 23 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  30. ↑ Carlo Antini (28 September 2011). "Laura Pausini cala l'asso". Il Tempo (in Italian). Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  31. ↑ Carlo Antini (5 October 2011). "Canzoni più scaricate Adele Adkins alla carica con «Someone like you»". Il Tempo (in Italian). Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  32. ↑ "Italian Charts - Laura Pausini - Benvenuto (song)". Italiancharts.com. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  33. ↑ "Spanish Charts - Laura Pausini - Bienvenido (song)". www.spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Swiss Charts - Laura Pausini - Benvenuto (song)" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Laura Pausini - Album & Song Chart History - Latin Pop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  36. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Laura Pausini – Benvenuto" (in French). Ultratip.
  37. ↑ "ARC, Issue Date: October 31st 2011" (XLS). HRT. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  38. ↑ "Top Digital Download - Classifica settimanale dal 12/09/2011 al 18/09/2011" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  39. ↑ "Classifiche, Music Control: Vasco ancora in testa, bene Jovanotti" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  40. ↑ "Chart Search Results - Mexico Airplay 2011-12-03". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  41. ↑ "Chart Search Results - Mexico Espanol 2011-12-10". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  42. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Laura Pausini – Bienvenido" Canciones Top 50.
  43. ↑ "Top 20 - Lista De Radio - Semana 45: Del 5 al 11 de Noviembre de 2011" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  44. ↑ "Laura Pausini - Album & Song Chart History - Latin Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Inedito (Media notes). Laura Pausini. 2011.