“Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare)”

“Nel blu dipinto di blu” is probably the most famous Italian song ever. It was released by Domenico Modugno on February 1, 1958. The song gained immediate success, winning the famous Sanremo Music Festival.

In the United States it arrived shortly thereafter, becoming the biggest hit of summer 1958. In August-September 1958, Volare was for five non-consecutive weeks on "Billbord Hot 100." It eventually became Billbord’s number one single for the year.

Additionally, at the 1959s first annual Grammy Awards, Modugno’s recording became the first ever Grammy winner for both Record and Song of the Year.

The song was also the Italian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958, where it placed third.

It was so successful that an English version was also made. The author of the English lyrics was Mitchell Paris, who partially modified the meaning of the lyrics, keeping in Italian the refrain "Volare, Cantare," but changing the following verses into "Let's fly up to the clouds/Away from the maddening crowds/We can sing in the glow of a star that I know of, where lovers enjoy peace of mind," in place of the Italian "Nel blu dipinto di blu/Felice di stare lassù/E volavo, volavo felice più in alto del sole ed ancora più su."

A copy of the English version of the song is now preserved and available for consultation at the Performing Arts Section of the New York Public Library.

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