Senza una donna explained

Senza una donna (Without a Woman)
Cover:Senza_una_donna.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Zucchero and Paul Young
B-Side:
  • "Madre dolcissima" (record)
  • "Dunes of Mercy" (CD)
Genre:
Label:London
Producer:
  • Zucchero
  • Luciano Luisi
  • Corrado Rustici
Chronology:Zucchero
Prev Title:Diavolo in me
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Diamante
Next Year:1992

"Senza una donna" (pronounced as /it/) is a song written and performed by Italian singer and musician Zucchero on his fourth album, Blue's (1987). Originally recorded in Italian, in 1990 it was re-recorded in English with English singer and musician Paul Young. The English lyrics were contributed by Frank Musker. The song was then released as a single under the title "Senza una donna (Without a Woman)".

The English version of the song reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number two on both the German Singles Chart and the French Singles Chart. It also topped the charts of Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Quebec, and Sweden, selling more than 5,000,000 copies worldwide.[1] It was also one of the most famous songs in Venezuela in 1991.[2] "Senza una donna" was released along with two music videos: one for the solo version and another for the duet version.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "Italo pop star has outsold Madonna and Michael Jackson in his homeland. On this duet with Young, Zucchero makes his U.S. debut with a smooth and rhythmic ballad that will likely find its initial audience at AC radio, though tune is charming enough to cross into mainstream pop territory."[3] A reviewer from Liverpool Echo described the song as "stylish", noting the "marvellously atmospheric setting" of the music video, "which was actually filmed in a church hall in Chiswick."[4]

Track listings

  1. "Senza una donna (Without a Woman)"
  2. "Madre dolcissima" by Zucchero
  1. "Senza una donna (Without a Woman)" (7 inch) — 4:26
  2. "Dunes of Mercy" by Zucchero — 5:38
  1. "Senza una donna (Without a Woman)"
  2. "Madre dolcissima" by Zucchero
  3. "Dunes of Mercy" by Zucchero

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Senza una donna"!Chart (1991–1992)!Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[5] 3
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[6] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[7] 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[8] 14
Quebec (BAnQ)[9] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] 23

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Senza una donna"!Chart (1991)!Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[11] 5
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[12] 6
Europe (European Hot 100 Airplay)[13] 5
France (SNEP)[14] 9
Germany (Media Control)[15] 9
Germany (Media Control Airplay Hitparade)[16] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 21
Norway (VG-lista)[19] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 59

Decade-end charts

Decade-end chart performance for "Senza una donna"!Chart (1990–1999)!Position
Germany (Media Control)[22] 120

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PAUL YOUNG JOINS STATUS QUO IN THE CLASSIC'S LIVE MUSIC LINE-UP. 17 August 2020 .
  2. Web site: El impacto del CD y la FM. 17 August 2020 .
  3. Larry . Flick . Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy . . 7 September 1991 . 67 . 22 October 2020 . Larry Flick.
  4. Liverpool Echo. 7 December 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  5. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 8. 3. 18. 17 August 1991. 21 March 2018.
  6. Top 100 Europe. Music & Media. 8. 27. 45. 9 July 1991. 31 August 2019.
  7. Pepsi - Listinn Vikuna 24.05.1991 . . 33 . 24 May 1991 .
  8. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. 8 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Zucchero".
  9. Web site: Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes. 7 October 2020. banq.qc.ca.
  10. Web site: Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman) (song by Zucchero & Paul Young) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts. 7 October 2020. www.musicvf.com.
  11. Web site: ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS. 7 October 2020. ultratop.be.
  12. Eurochart Hot 100 1991. Music & Media. 21. 21 December 1991. 17 January 2020. 8. 51–52. World Radio History.
  13. Eurochart Hot 100 1991. Music & Media. 20. 21 December 1991. 17 January 2020. 8. 51–52. World Radio History.
  14. Web site: No.1 Hits in France 1984 - Present. 7 October 2020. UKMIX Forums. en.
  15. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts. 7 October 2020. www.offiziellecharts.de.
  16. '91 Media Control Airplay Top 20 Is Out. Music & Media. 6. 8 February 1991. 17 January 2020. 8. 51–52. American Radio History.
  17. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1991. www.top40.nl. 7 October 2020.
  18. Web site: Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl. 7 October 2020. dutchcharts.nl.
  19. Web site: 13 January 2017. VG-lista - Topp 20 Single Russetid 1991. 7 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113163350/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/1991/periode/russetid. 13 January 2017.
  20. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991 - hitparade.ch. 7 October 2020. hitparade.ch.
  21. 1991 Top 100 Singles. Music Week. 20. 11 January 1992.
  22. Web site: Die ultimative Chart Show | Hits des neuen Jahrtausends | Download . RTL.de . 23 February 2012.