Marianne (Sergio Endrigo song) explained

Marianne
Cover:Sergio Endrigo-Marianne.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Sergio Endrigo
B-Side:Il dolce paese
Released:April 1968
Language:Italian
Genre:Pop
Length:3:06
Label:Cetra
Prev Title:Canzone per te
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:La colomba
Next Year:1968
Misc:
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Song: "Marianne"
Year:1968
Country:Italy
Artist:Sergio Endrigo
Language:Italian
Composer:Sergio Endrigo
Lyricist:Sergio Endrigo
Conductor:Giancarlo Bigazzi
Place:10th
Points:7
Prev:Non andare più lontano
Prev Link:Non andare più lontano
Next:Due grosse lacrime bianche
Next Link:Due grosse lacrime bianche

"Marianne" was a song composed, written, and recorded by Italian singer Sergio Endrigo. It in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968 held in London, placing tenth. Cliff Richard recorded later a cover version of the song with English lyrics written by Bill Owen.

Background

Conception

"Marianne" was composed, written, and recorded by Sergio Endrigo. It is a ballad, with the singer expressing his love for the title character. He sings, however, that she never stays with him, and he wonders about what she is doing. Nonetheless, his feelings for her remain unaltered. In addition to the Italian language original version, he also recorded a version with French lyrics by .[1]

Selection

Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI) internally selected "Marianne" performed by Endrigo as for the of the Eurovision Song Contest.[2]

Eurovision

On 6 April 1968, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Endrigo performed "Marianne" eleventh on the evening, following 's "La source" by Isabelle Aubret and preceding the 's "Congratulations" by Cliff Richard. Giancarlo Bigazzi conducted the event's orchestra in the performance of the Italian entry.[3]

At the close of voting, the song had received 7 points, placing it tenth in a field of seventeen. It was succeeded as Italian representative at the by "Due grosse lacrime bianche" by Iva Zanicchi.

Legacy

Cliff Richard version

Marianne
Cover:Cliff RIchard Marianne.jpg
Caption:Cover of the single released in Germany
Type:single
Artist:Cliff Richard
Album:Established 1958
B-Side:Mr. Nice
Released:20 September 1968
Recorded:2 July 1968[4]
Studio:Chappell Studios, London
Genre:Pop
Length:3:19
Label:Columbia
Composer:Sergio Endrigo
Lyricist:Bill Owen
Producer:Norrie Paramor
Prev Title:I'll Love You Forever Today
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:Don't Forget to Catch Me
Next Year:1968

Following the Contest, it was rewritten in English by Bill Owen for Cliff Richard to record. "Marianne" features an accompaniment by the Mike Leander Orchestra and was released as a single in September with the B-side "Mr. Nice", written by Terry Britten.[4] It peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.

Reception

Reviewing for Record Mirror, Peter Jones described "Marianne" as "a really lovely ballad, a hymn of praise to a chick, and Richard really shows off his vocal range, to a swelling, swirling orchestral backing laid down lovingly by Mike Leander. As ever, it's a distinctive vocal treatment and perhaps Richard's most ambitious bit of actually singing on record".[5] For New Musical Express, Derek Johnson described the song as "a piquant and emotional ballad" that "certainly doesn't register with an immediate impact. But once you've heard it a few times, you'll find that the haunting melody is firmly implanted in your mind, and you just can't lose it".[6]

Track listing

7": Columbia / DB 8476

  1. "Marianne" – 3:19
  2. "Mr. Nice" – 2:13

7": Columbia / DSA 834 (South Africa)

  1. "Marianne" – 3:19
  2. "Close to Kathy" – 2:48

Charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Marianne" lyrics. The Diggiloo Thrush.
  2. Web site: Eurovision 1968 Italy: Sergio Endrigo - "Marianne". 2021-10-06. Eurovisionworld. en-gb.
  3. Eurovision Song Contest 1968. Eurovision Song Contest 1968. Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision Song Contest. BBC / EBU. 6 April 1968.
  4. Web site: Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Marianne). 2021-10-06. www.cliffrichardsongs.com.
  5. 28 September 1968. New Singles. Record Mirror. 8. 6 October 2021.
  6. 21 September 1968. Top Singles. New Musical Express. 6. 6 October 2021.
  7. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. . 2005. 0-646-44439-5. Kent Music Report.