Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)

The song became an instant success in Italy, selling more than 20,000 copies in its first 12 days. As of February 2013, according to RAI's estimates, the single had sold 800,000 copies in its domestic market.[1][20] Following the results obtained in Italy, the song was also released in the United States and in the rest of Europe. In the United Kingdom, Modugno's single was released on 23 August 1958, together with eight other versions recorded by international artists.[1] The single obtained global acclaim,[18] becoming an international hit.[15]

In the United States, the single debuted at number 54 on the very first Billboard Hot 100, on 4 August 1958, and the next week it climbed at number two, marking the biggest jump to the runner-up spot in the chart's history.[21] On 18 August 1958, it topped the Hot 100, becoming the second song to reach the top spot on the chart, after Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool".[22] The song later completed a run of five non-consecutive weeks at the top of the chart,[23] selling 2 million copies in the United States during 1958[24] and becoming Billboard's Song of the Year.[22] "Nel blu dipinto di blu" was the first non-American, -Canadian or -British single to achieve this honor in the rock era, and it would be the only one to do so until 1994's "The Sign" by Swedish group Ace of Base. It is also one of the only two songs by Modugno charting on the Hot 100, together with "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)", which peaked at number 97.[22]

In the United Kingdom, the single debuted at number 15 on 6 September 1958, and the following week it rose and peaked at number ten on the UK Singles Chart.[25] It also peaked at number two on the Norwegian VG-lista Topp 20 Singles and on the Dutch Mega Single Top 100.[26]

The song's popularity endures, and in 2004, according to the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers, it was the most played Italian song, in Italy as well as in the whole world.[27] Moreover, the combined sales of all the recorded versions of the song exceed 22 million units.[15][28]

Immediately after the release of "Nel blu dipinto di blu", Antonio De Marco accused Domenico Modugno and lyricist Franco Migliacci of plagiarising his 1956 song "Il castello dei sogni".[38][39] Though the song was not released, it had been played during some concerts in the previous years.[38] During the trial for plagiarism, De Marco claimed that he lost his sheet music in Rome while registering his song with the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers, suggesting that Modugno somehow found it[40][41] and plagiarised both the lyrics and the music of his composition.[38] However, the Rome court of justice absolved Modugno and Migliacci,[42] following the opinion of an expert who claimed that the two songs don't have any relevant similarity.[41]

As a response, Modugno sued De Marco for defamation,[38] and in July 1958 De Marco was convicted by the Milan court of justice.[43]

Franco Migliacci (left) and Alberto Semprini (right) worked on "Nel blu dipinto di blu" as songwriter and orchestra conductor, respectively.

• Franco Migliacci – songwriter
• Domenico Modugno – vocals, songwriter
• Alberto Semprini – orchestra conductor
• Sestetto Azzurro – musicians
  • Walter Beduschi – bass
  • Bruno De Filippi – guitar
  • Pupo De Luca – drums
  • Ebe Mautino – harp
  • Mario Migliardi – Hammond organ
  • Alberto Semprini – piano

Credits adapted from Discografia Nazionale della Canzone Italiana.[44]

Dean Martin recorded a version which alternates between the original Italian lyrics (Martin spoke fluent Italian) and English lyrics adapted by Mitchell Parish. Martin's version appeared on his LP This Is Dean Martin! (1958).[59] Martin's song, titled "Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu)", was also released as a single, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart,[25] peaking at number three in Norway,[60] number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100,[61] and number 27 in Canada.[62] A version by Umberto Marcato also made a brief appearance on the Canadian charts at number 20 on August 4, 1958.[63]

In the United Kingdom, Italian musician Marino Marini's cover peaked at number thirteen in October, and Charlie Drake's version reached number 28.[25] The McGuire Sisters' version, also released as a single, peaked at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US,[64] and entered the Norwegian Singles Chart at number seven.[65]

In 1960, the song was recorded by Italian-American singer Bobby Rydell, reaching number four on the Hot 100 during the summer of 1960,[66] number 22 in the UK,[25] and number three in Canada.[67]

There was an instrumental version by Ray Conniff on his album The Happy Beat, released in 1963.

Another charting version of the song was released in 1975 by American jazz singer Al Martino, and included in his album To the Door of the Sun. His single peaked at number 33 in the US,[68] reached number 3 on the Dutch Single Top 100,[69] and reached number 31 in the Canadian AC charts in December 1975,[70] being certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association.[71]

In 1989, Gipsy Kings recorded an up-tempo rumba flamenca version of the song, with lyrics partly in Italian and partly in Spanish. Their version topped the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in April 1990[72] and reached number 86 in the UK chart.[25] It also charted in France and the Netherlands, peaking at number 16[73] and at number 26[74] respectively.

In February 2010, a cover of the song performed by Italian singer Simona Galeandro won the international competition of the 2010 Viña del Mar International Song Festival.[75]

One year later, a version of the song performed by Emma Marrone was included in the soundtrack of the Italian movie Benvenuti al Nord, directed by Luca Miniero.[76] Emma's cover reached number 70 on the Italian Singles Chart.[77]

• List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1950s
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1958 (U.S.)
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Tracks of 1990

• Volare, storia di una canzone (in Italian)