Italian lyricist Franco Migliacci has died at the age of 92, journalist Clemente Mimunsaid via X on Friday.
The composer Franco Migliacci, author of classics of Italian music that spanned the frontiers such as Volare and Una Rotonda sul Mare, died today at the age of 92 in a clinic in Rome.
In 1958, Migliacci co-wrote ‘Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu’, also known as “Volare”, one of the best-known Italian songs around the world, with Domenico Modugno.
Migliacci became a star in the European musical industry as a record producer, talent scout and composer for artists such as Mina, Rita Pavone, Gianni Morandi and Domenico Modugno.
Volare – San Remo winner
‘Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu’, popularly known as Volare, was born at the San Remo Festival in 1958. It represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest, where it was placed in the third position. Despite not winning, the song gained international success.
The song hit number one on the US magazine Billboard. Modugno and Migliacci also won three nominations in the first edition of the Grammy Awards.
Many versions of the song
The song is a song of liberation and spontaneity before the sorrows of life. It has been covered by countless musicians in every possible genre, from David Bowie to Cliff Richard, Hilary Duff and the Gipsy Kings .
However, the original is the version which has stood the test of time.
Watch Volare here
