Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu (Volare)

by

Domenico Modugno

Album: Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu      Released: 1958

US Chart: 1     UK Chart: 10

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The lyrics are in Italian. The title translates to "The Blue (Sky), Painted in Blue" ("Volare": to fly). Modugno co-wrote it with Franco Migliacci after Modugno described a man's dream of flying through the air with his hands painted blue.

Domenico Modugno was one of the first Italian Pop music stars to gain international fame. This was his only US hit: it was #1 for 5 weeks in 1958.

This was the first foreign-language single to top the singles charts in the rock era. Billboard magazine declared it #1 for the year 1958.

Dean Martin (#12 in 1958), Bobby Rydell (#4 in 1960), and Al Martino (#33 in 1975) hit the charts with versions with English lyrics written by Michael Parish.

Domenico Modugno died of a heart attack in 1994; Dean Martin passed away on Christmas Day, 1995. (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for all above)

Modugno performed this for the first time at the Sanremo Song Festival in Italy, where he won first prize. (thanks, Orlando - Treviso, Italy)

This song won the first Grammy Award for Record Of The Year in 1959. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

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Comments:

Part of this song was used in the movie "The Hollywood Knights" ; where one of the boys of the Knights took a school bandleader's uniform and went on stage in a gymnasium , singing the song lyrics in Italian while farting in the microphone .
- Mike, Franklin County, PA

I was impressed with the way Domingo performed this song on TV...very exuberant he is on these old films...his personna was quite wonderful!
- steve dotstar, los angeles, CA

There is a family-run Italian restaurant in Rockledge, Florida named Domenico's. When I jokingly asked the waitress where was Modugno, she went and got her father, the owner. He was amazed that I knew who Domenico Modugno was and that I made the connection. They were first cousins, and the restaurant is named after him. I got extra-special service that night. . .
- Ol' Jim, Panama City, FL

The 1977-80 Plymouth Volare (replacement for the Valiant, same as the Dodge Aspen, replaced by the K car) was named after this song, and like the song (English version as well as Italian), it was appalling. Around my neighborhood, there is a pea-soup green 1980 Plymouth Volare Premier coupe that is held together by moss, fungus and dirt but still manages to get its roughly 90-year-old owner from point "A" to point "B".
- Darrell, Eugene, United States

Hello, l am trying to find the song Volare, Andrea Bocelli sings it. But l do not know how to get this music. I do not know what C.D. it is on. l belive it is also called Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu. Can you help me? Thank you. Landen.
- Landen Flear, lefroy, Canada

Even though there were a number of English remakes, I liked the original version in Italian the best. It's also one of the best songs of a male singer's vocal range.
- Howard, St. Louis Park, MN

Gipsy Kings made a rhumba version included in their 1989 album Mosaique. The lyrics are in spanish except the chorus where they sing in italian.
- Nestor, Barcelona

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