Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)

Italy "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)"
Eurovision Song Contest 1959 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Language
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Conductor
William Galassini
Finals performance
Final result
6th
Final points
9
Appearance chronology
◄ "Nel blu dipinto di blu" (1958)   
"Romantica" (1960) ►

"Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)" (It's raining [Bye, bye baby]) is an Italian song written by Domenico Modugno and Eduardo Verde.[1] It won first prize at the 1959 Sanremo Music Festival, where it was performed twice, once by Modugno and once by Johnny Dorelli.[2] The song was chosen as the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 and Domenico Modugno was chosen to perform it.

The song is a dramatic ballad, with Modugno telling his lover that he knows their relationship is about to come to a close. He asks her for one more kiss and then tells her not to turn back as she walks away from him, because he still has feelings for her.

The song was performed third on the night, following Denmark's Birthe Wilke with "Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig" and preceding Monaco's Jacques Pills with "Mon ami Pierrot". At the close of voting, it had received 9 points, placing 6th in a field of 11.

It was succeeded as Italian representative at the 1960 Contest by Renato Rascel with "Romantica".

In 1959 the song entered the Hong Kong Hit Parade after being recorded by a local group - The Yee Tin Tong Mandolin Band - released by the Diamond Records Company ('B' side - Oh Marie) and must have been one of the strangest versions of the composition ever issued.

In 1961, this song was covered by Hong Kong female singer Kong Ling (江玲), on her LP album Off-Beat Cha Cha with the local Diamond Records.

Italio-American tenor, Sergio Franchi, recorded this song (as "Ciao, Ciao Bambina") on his 1966 RCA Victor album La Dolce Italy.[3]

Charts

Chart (1959) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 1
France (SNEP)[5] 14
Germany (Media Control Charts)[6] 12
Italy (Musica e Dischi)[7] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 29
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 97

References

  1. "PIOVE". ACE Title Search. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  2. "Festival di Sanremo del 1954" (in Italian). Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  3. http://www.discogs.com Sergio Franchi
  4. "Ultratop.be – Domenico Modugno – Piove (Ciao Ciao Bambina)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  5. "Tout les Titres par Artiste - M" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 7 February 2012. Select Domenico MODUGNO in the list, then press OK.
  6. "Chartverfulgong > Domenico Modugno > Piove (Ciao Ciao Bambina) – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  7. "Singoli - I numeri uno (1959 - 2006)" (in Italian). Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  8. "Domencio Modugno: Artist Chart History" UK Singles Chart.
  9. "Domenico Modugno Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Domenico Modugno.