Il Festival della Canzone

Nineteen-Fifty-Eight. In Sanremo
it is a beautiful day in the Spring
and the sky has been painted blue
as Modugno and Dorelli sing. *

"Nel blu dipinto di blu", is a song
that was adjudged to be the best
among many, at the music festival,
and one that has outlasted the rest.

Written by Modugno and Migliacci,
a very talented and  clever pair,
It was inspired by Chagall’s paintings.
"Le coq rouge", with a man in mid-air,

and "Le peintre et la modèle" which
showed a painter with a blue face;
surreal visions that are symbolic
but quite obscure for us to embrace.

The first title was “Dream in blue”,
a name recognised only by a few,
yet to the authors it didn’t ring true;
it was revised to “In the Sky, Painted Blue”.

It became better known as “Volare”
and was recorded by popular singers,
like Dean Martin and the great Pavarotti,
and its melody in our hearts lingers.

© Luigi Pagano 2015

* Domenico  Modugno and Johnny Dorelli gave different interpretations of the song at the contest.