Una donna per amico (song)

"Una donna per amico" (Italian for "A Woman as a Friend") is a song composed by Lucio Battisti and Mogol, and performed by Lucio Battisti. It was released as a single in October 1978, with "Nessun dolore" as B-side.[1] The single peaked at first place fourteen consecutive weeks on the Italian hit parade between November 1978 and February 1979.[2] It was the second most sold single of the year in Italy, behind Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive".[3]

"Una donna per amico"
Single by Lucio Battisti
from the album Una donna per amico
B-side"Nessun dolore"
ReleasedOctober 1978
GenrePop
Length5:19
LabelNumero Uno
Songwriter(s)Lucio Battisti and Mogol
Lucio Battisti singles chronology
"Amarsi un po'"
(1977)		 "Una donna per amico"
(1978)		 "Una giornata uggiosa"
(1980)
Audio sample
  • file
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At the 2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, "Una donna per amico" was played during the entrance of the Italian home team. Miss Italia, Edelfa Chiara Masciotta, carried the placard wearing a Moschino-designed dress. The Italian flag, called il Tricolore, was carried by then 19-year-old figure skater Carolina Kostner.

"Una donna per amico" was covered by several artists, including Rosario Fiorello and the band Sugarfree. It named a 1998 television series starring Elisabetta Gardini and a 2014 film directed by Giovanni Veronesi and starring Fabio De Luigi and Laetitia Casta.[4]

"Nessun dolore"

Nessun dolore (transl. "no pain (at all)", Italian pronunciation: [nesˈsun doˈlore]) is a 1978 song by Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti, written by Battisti and lyricist Mogol. It was released as B-side to Una donna per amico and is included in the eponymous album of the same year.

"Nessun dolore"
B-side by Lucio Battisti
from the album Una donna per amico
A-side"Una donna per amico"
ReleasedOctober 1978
GenreDance-pop, post-disco
Length6:15
LabelNumero Uno
Songwriter(s)Lucio Battisti and Mogol
Producer(s)Geoff Westley

In the compilation album Le avventure di Lucio Battisti e Mogol (2004), a shorter version of the song can be found, with the length of 4:25.

Song information

Released in 1978, the song reflects Battisti's interest in experimenting with different musical forms: the track displays disco and electronic influences and it is arguably one of the earliest Italian language dance-pop songs.

Lyrics meaning

The lyrics are narrated by a man who addresses his fiancée or wife speaking in second person (shifting to first person when referring to himself). The lady has just confessed him that she loves another man (it is not completely clear if she has already slept with him or not, although it is slightly suggested that this has effectively happened); however, she is surprised to notice that he does not display anger nor signs of suffering. Instead, he looks unconcerned, almost as she had not said anything: as he claims in the refrain, he does not feel any pain at all. The following verses clarify the reason of his apparent indifference: due to some attitudes and conducts led by his partner during their relationship, he had progressively grown out of love, and that is the reason why he positively accepts the end of the relationship with no pain.[5][6]

Cover versions

The song was covered by Italian singer Giorgia on her eponymous debut album (1994); it was later also included in her compilation Spirito libero - Viaggi di voce 1992-2008.[7][8] It was also covered by Italian singer Mina on her 1987 album Rane combattenti; Russian singer Svetlana Tchernykh recorded a Russian language version of the song, titled Я парня себе выбрала в подруги (album Черных поёт Баттисти, 2009).
Giorgia's version has the widest vocal range, spanning from D#2 to C5.

Track listing
  • 7" single - ZBN 7110
  1. "Una donna per amico'" (Lucio Battisti, Mogol) – 5:19
  2. "Nessun dolore" (Lucio Battisti, Mogol) – 6:15

Charts
Chart Peak
position
Italy (Musica e dischi)[9] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[10]
Sales since 2009 		Gold 50,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Enrico Deregibus (8 October 2010). Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana. Giunti Editore, 2010. ISBN 978-8809756250.
  2. Dario Salvatori (1989). Storia dell'Hit Parade. Gramese, 1989. ISBN 8876054391.
  3. "I singoli più venduti del 1978". Hit PArade Italia. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  4. Chiara Ugolini (24 February 2014). "Laetitia Casta: "Un uomo per amico? Magari"". La Repubblica. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  5. "Lucio Battisti - Nessun dolore (lyrics)". angolotesti.it.
  6. "Lucio Battisti - Nessun dolore". radiof2.unina.it (in Italian).
  7. "*CLASSICO* Giorgia "Nessun Dolore" – 1994 –" (in Italian).
  8. "Giorgia – Nessun dolore 1994 – (Cover di Battisti 1978)" (in Italian).
  9. "Cronologia di: Una donna per amico di Lucio Battisti". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  10. "Italian single certifications – Lucio Battisti – Una donna per amico" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 21 September 2023.


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