Gigliola Cinquetti | |
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Cinquetti in 1966 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Gigliola Cinquetti |
Born | (1947-12-20) 20 December 1947 (age 76) Verona, Italy |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1963–present |
Spouse |
Luciano Teodori (m. 1979) |
Gigliola Cinquetti (Italian pronunciation: [dʒiʎˈʎɔːla tʃiŋˈkwetti]; born Giliola Cinquetti on 20 December 1947) is an Italian singer, songwriter and television presenter.
Life and career
Gigliola Cinquetti was born into a wealthy family in Verona, Italy. From the ages of 9 to 13, she studied and took piano lessons, taking exams in music theory. She loves painting and art.
At the age of 16, she debuted at and won the Sanremo Music Festival 1964 singing "Non ho l'età" ("I'm not old enough"), with music composed by Mario Panzeri and lyrics by Nicola Salerno. Her win enabled her to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 in Copenhagen with the same song, where she claimed her country's first ever victory in the event. Cinquetti became the youngest winner of the contest that far, aged 16 years and 92 days, beaten only by 13-year-old Sandra Kim in 1986.
The song became an international success, even spending 17 weeks in the UK singles chart and ending the year as the 88th best-selling single in the U.K. in 1964, something highly unusual for Italian-language material. It sold over three million copies, and was awarded a platinum disc in August 1964. In 1966, she recorded "Dio, come ti amo" ("God, How I Love You"), which became another international hit.
One of her other songs, "Alle porte del sole" (released in 1973), was re-recorded in both English (as "To the Door of the Sun") and Italian by Al Martino, two years after its initial release; "To the Door of the Sun" reached No. 17 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States. Cinquetti's own English version of the song was released as a single by CBS Records in August 1974, with her original 1973 Italian version on the B-side.
Cinquetti returned in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, held in Brighton, where she again represented Italy. Performing the song "Sì" ("Yes"), the music and lyrics of which were written by Mario Panzeri, Daniele Pace, Lorenzo Pilat and Carrado Conti, she came second with 18 points after "Waterloo", sung by Sweden's ABBA, who won with 24 points. The live telecast of her song was banned in her home country by the Italian national broadcaster RAI, as the event partially coincided with the campaigning for the 1974 Italian divorce referendum which was to be held a month later in May. RAI censored the song because of concerns that the name and lyrics of the song (which constantly repeated the word 'Sì') could be accused of being a subliminal message and a form of propaganda to influence the Italian voting public to vote 'Yes' in the referendum. The song remained censored on most Italian state TV and radio stations for over a month. Cinquetti later recorded versions of the song in English ("Go (Before You Break My Heart)"), French ("Lui"), German ("Ja") and Spanish ("Sí"). The English-language version reached number 8 in the UK singles chart in June 1974.
She graduated from the art school of Salerno, also obtaining the qualification to teach. She married Luciano Teodori in 1979, and they have two children together – Giovanni and Costantino. She has a sister named Rosabianca. Her parents are Luigi and Sara.
In the 1990s, Cinquetti became a professional journalist and TV presenter and among others she hosted the current affairs programme Italia Rai on RAI International. She later co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 with Toto Cutugno, who had brought the event to Italy with his victory in Zagreb the previous year – the country's first win in the contest since her own twenty-six years earlier.
In 2008, Cinquetti received an award as a tribute to her career in Italy and around the world. She published an autobiography in 2014.
Cinquetti returned to the Eurovision stage to perform "Non ho l'età" as an interval act during the final of the 2022 contest in Turin.
Sanremo performances
In the following occasions, Gigliola Cinquetti performed at the Sanremo Music Festival:
- 1964: "Non ho l'età (per amarti)" – with Patricia Carli
- 1965: "Ho bisogno di vederti" – with Connie Francis
- 1966: "Dio come ti amo" – with Domenico Modugno
- 1968: "Sera" – with Giuliana Valci
- 1969: "La pioggia" – with France Gall
- 1970: "Romantico blues" with Bobby Solo
- 1971: "Rose nel buio" – with Ray Conniff
- 1972: "Gira l'amore (Caro bebè)"
- 1973: "Mistero"
- 1985: "Chiamalo amore"'
- 1989: "Ciao"
- 1995: "Giovane vecchio cuore"
Discography
Studio albums
- Gigliola Cinquetti (1964)
- La rosa nera (1967)
- Gigliola per i più piccini (1967)
- L'orage (1969)
- Il treno dell'amore (1969)
- Cantando con gli amici (1971)
- ... E io le canto così (1972)
- Fidèlement votre... (1972)
- Su e giù per le montagne (1972)
- Stasera ballo liscio (1973)
- Bonjour Paris (1974)
- Auf der Strasse der Sonne (1974)
- Go (Before You Break My Heart) (1974)
- Gigliola e la banda (1975)
- Pensieri di donna (1978)
- Il portoballo (1982)
- Tuttintorno (1991)
- Giovane vecchio cuore (1995)
- I successi (1999)
- 20.12 (2016)
Charting singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IT |
BE (FLA) |
BE (WA) |
FRA |
GER |
IRE |
JAP | NL |
NOR |
QUE |
SA |
SPA |
UK | ||
1964 | "Non ho l'età" | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | 2 | 3 | — | 4 | — | 17 |
"No tengo edad para amarte" (Spain-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | |
"Il primo bacio che darò" | 11 | 16 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"El primer beso" (Spain-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | |
"Oh warum" (Germany-only release) | — | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1965 | "Ho bisogno di vederti" | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1966 | "Dio come ti amo" | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — |
1967 | "La rosa nera" | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1968 | "Sera" | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Giuseppe in Pennsylvania" | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Quelli erano giorni" | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1969 | "La pioggia" | 2 | — | 7 | 5 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"L'orage" | — | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Il treno dell'amore" | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Hello Nadine" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"La pioggia" (Japanese version; Japan-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"La lluvia" (Spain-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | |
"Come una foglia" (Japan-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1970 | "Romantico blues" | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Volano le rondini" | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1971 | "La domenica andando alla messa" | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Le bateau-mouche" (Canada and France-only release) | — | — | 48 | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Rose nel buio" | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Amarti e poi morire" | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Qui comando io" | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1972 | "Gira l'amore" | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Un coin de terre, un olivier" (France-only release) | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1973 | "El domingo yendo a misa" (Spain-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — |
"Tango delle capinere" | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"La spagnola" | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1974 | "Alle porte del sole" | 1 | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Dernière histoire, premier amour" (France and Belgium-only release) | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Si" | 17 | 30 | 6 | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Lui" (France and Belgium-only release) | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"A las puerto del cielo" (Spain-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | |
"Go (Before You Break My Heart)" | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | |
"Ja" (Germany-only release) | — | — | — | — | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"The Door of the Sun" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | |
1976 | "La primavera" (France and Portugal-only release) | — | — | 17 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Comment fait-elle, dis-moi?" b/w "La Joconde" (Canada-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 8 |
— | — | — | |
1985 | "Chiamalo amore" | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1986 | "Una donna distante" | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1964 | Canzoni, bulli e pupe | Herself | Cameo appearance |
1965 | 008: Operazione ritmo | Gigliola | |
Questi pazzi, pazzi italiani | |||
1966 | Blockhead | Angelina | |
Dio, come ti amo! | Gigliola de Francesco | ||
1968 | Il professor Matusa e i suoi hippies | Herself | Cameo appearance |
2001 | The Knights of the Quest | Superior Mother |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1965 | Ciao Italia | Singer | Television film |
1966 | Io, Gigliola | Herself/ Performer | Special |
1968 | Le mie prigioni | Zanze | Miniseries (4 episodes) |
Addio giovinezza! | Dorina | Television film | |
1972 | Il bivio | Lalla | Miniseries (2 episodes) |
1977 | L'amico della notte | Herself/ Presenter | Musical program |
1981–1982 | Linea verde | Herself/co-host | Tourism program (season 1) |
1981, 1986 | Castrocaro Music Festival | Herself/ Presenter | Annual music festival |
1987 | Unomattina | Herself/ Reporter | Talk show (season 2) |
1988–1989 | Via Telauda 66 | Herself/ Regular guest | Variety show |
1991 | Eurovision Song Contest | Herself/ Presenter | Annual music festival |
1991–1992 | Festa di compleanno | Herself/ Presenter | Variety show |
1995 | Napoli prima e dopo | Herself/ Presenter | Special |
1999–2002 | Commesse | Clara Massimi | Main role (12 episodes) |
2011 | Attenti a quei due – La sfida | Herself/ Judge | Variety show (season 2) |
2012 | Tale e quale show | Herself/ Contestant | Talent show (season 2) |
2022 | Eurovision Song Contest | Herself/ Singer (performing her winning song from 1964) | Annual music festival |
See also
- Bésame Mucho
- Sanremo Music Festival
- Eurovision Song Contest
- Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
- Eurovision Song Contest 1974
- Sì (song)
- List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters
Notes
- "No tengo edad para amarte" is the Spanish-language version of "Non ho l'età".
- "El primer beso" is the Spanish-language version of "Il primo bacio che darò".
- "L'orage" is the French-language version of "La pioggia".
- "La lluvia" is the Spanish-language version of "La pioggia"
- "El domingo yendo a misa" is the Spanish-language version of "La domenica andando alla messa".
- "Dernière histoire, premier amour" is the French-language version of "Alle porte del sole".
- "Lui" is the French-language version of "Si".
- "A las puerto del cielo" is the Spanish-language version of "Alle porte del sole"
- "Go (Before You Break My Heart)" is the English-language version of "Sì".
- "Ja" is the German-language version of "Si".
- "The Door of the Sun" is the English-language version of "Alle porte del sole".
References
- Casarini, Enrico (31 July 2021). "Gigliola Cinquetti: «La mia vita spericolata e il bisogno di normalità»". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- Blissmer, Robert H. (August 1988). Who's Who in Italy, 1988. Bernan Assoc. p. 454. ISBN 978-88-85246-08-9.
- O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest – The Official Celebration. Carlton Books, 2015. ISBN 978-1-78097-638-9. Pages 32-33
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 107. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- "The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1964 (in the UK)". Sixtiescity.net. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London, UK: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 173. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History. Carlton Books, UK. 2007 ISBN 978-1-84442-994-3
- "Webmaster's Countdown". Keithm.utvinternet.ie. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- "Gigliola Cinquetti". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Roberts, David (2002). British Hit Singles (15th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 145. ISBN 0-85112-187-X.
- Spinetoli, John Joseph. Artisti in Classifica: I Singoli: 1960-1999. Milano: Musica e dischi, 2000
- "ultratop.be – ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". ultratop.be. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- "ultratop.be – ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". ultratop.be. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- "InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque Artiste commençant par C". infodisc.fr. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- "Suche – Offizielle Deutsche Charts". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- "Dutch Charts – dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- "norwegiancharts.com – Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- "Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes (chansons francophones)" (PDF). banq.qc.ca. pp. 441–442. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- "South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (C)". rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "GIGLIOLA CINQUETTI | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
External links
- Gigliola Cinquetti at IMDb
- grattia.com Gigliola Cinquetti Videos
- Russian page about Gigliola Cinquetti
Awards and achievements | ||
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Preceded by Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann with "Dansevise" |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 |
Succeeded by France Gall with "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" |
Preceded byEmilio Pericoli with "Uno per tutte |
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 |
Succeeded byBobby Solo with "Se piangi, se ridi" |
Preceded byMassimo Ranieri with "Chi sarà con te" |
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 |
Succeeded byWess and Dori Ghezzi with "Era" |
Preceded by Helga Vlahović and Oliver Mlakar | Eurovision Song Contest presenter (with Toto Cutugno) 1991 |
Succeeded by Lydia Capolicchio and Harald Treutiger |
Eurovision Song Contest 1964 | |
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Eurovision Song Contest 1974 | |||||
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Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest | |
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Sanremo Music Festival winners | |
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Discography | |
1950s |
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1960s |
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1970s |
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1980s |
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1990s |
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2000s |
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2010s |
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2020s |
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- 1947 births
- Living people
- Musicians from Verona
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants for Italy
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1964
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1974
- Eurovision Song Contest winners
- Sanremo Music Festival winners
- Spanish-language singers of Italy
- Mass media people from Verona
- Italian women singer-songwriters
- 20th-century Italian women singers
- 21st-century Italian women singers
- Celebrities in popular culture