"Follia d'amore" is a song by Raphael Gualazzi. It was the winner of the Sanremo Music Festival 2011 in the newcomer artists' section and also won the Critics' "Mia Martini" Award for newcomers.

"Follia d'amore"
Single by Raphael Gualazzi
from the album Reality and Fantasy
Released16 February 2011
Recorded2010
Genre
Length3:35
LabelSugar Music
Songwriter(s)Raphael Gualazzi
Producer(s)
  • Raphael Gualazzi
  • Ferdinando Arnò
Raphael Gualazzi singles chronology
"Reality and Fantasy"
(2010)
"Follia d'amore"
(2011)
"A Three Second Breath"
(2011)
Alternative cover
International version
Music video
"Madness of Love" on YouTube
Eurovision Song Contest 2011 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Languages
Composer(s)
Raphael Gualazzi
Lyricist(s)
Raphael Gualazzi
Finals performance
Final result
2nd
Final points
189
Entry chronology
◄ "Fiumi di parole" (1997)
"L'amore è femmina" (2012) ►

On 19 February 2011, Gualazzi was chosen by a specific jury among the participants at the Sanremo Festival to be the Italian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany.[1][2] The song, performed in a bilingual English-Italian version retitled "Madness of Love",[3] won second place in the contest, surpassing most expectations. It was the first Italian entry at the Eurovision Song Contest in 14 years, having last entered in 1997.

The song is included in the soundtrack of the movie Manuale d'amore 3, directed by Giovanni Veronesi.[4] It also received a nomination for the Nastro d'Argento 2011 for Best Original Song.[5]

Background

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Written by Raphael Gualazzi[6] and produced by Gualazzi himself with Ferdinando Arnò,[7] "Follia d'amore" is a stride piano song[8] with swing, R&B[9] and blues influences,[10] characterized by a retro style[11] inspired by the American popular music of the 1920s.[10] Gualazzi described the song as the "perfect synthesis of the musical world that inspired me, from Art Tatum to Duke Ellington and Oscar Peterson, the stride piano, an evolution of ragtime, a genre with which I got in touch when I was twenty, and I immediately loved it. I later tried to mix this genre with my classical music education and with the Italian vocal style".[12]

Talking about the lyrical content of the song, Gualazzi explained that it is based on the two most important ingredients to enjoy life, madness and love.[13]

Sanremo Music Festival

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Gualazzi performed the song for the first time on 16 February 2011, during the second night of the 61st Sanremo Music Festival.[14] After qualifying for the final,[15] Gualazzi sang his entry again on 18 February 2011, and on the same night he was declared the winner of the newcomers' section.[16] The following night, Gualazzi received the Mia Martini Critic's prize, receiving 67 points out of 108,[17] and he was officially chosen as the act representing Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.[18][19] The song also received the Press, Radio & TV Award.[6]

During Gualazzi's performances, the Sanremo Festival Orchestra was conducted by Ferdinando Arnò, co-producer of the song.[20]

Music videos

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The Italian version of the videoclip was directed by Valentina Be.[21] For the English-language version of the song, another videoclip was filmed, directed by Duccio Forzano.[22]

Eurovision Song Contest

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During the Eurovision Song Contest, Gualazzi performed a half-English version of the song, titled "Madness of Love".[23] His performance marked Italy's comeback in the competition, after a 13-year-long absence:[24] the last Italian entry at the Eurovision Song Contest had been "Fiumi di parole" by Jalisse in 1997.[25]

Since Italy was included in the "Big Five", Gualazzi automatically qualified for the Eurovision final,[24] held on 14 May 2011. His performance was the twelfth of the night. Receiving 189 points, Gualazzi came in second place, behind Ell & Nikki's "Running Scared", representing Azerbaijan.[26]

Track listing

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Digital download (Italy)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Follia d'amore"Raphael Gualazzi
  • Gualazzi
  • Ferdinando Arnò
3:32
Digital download (Europe)[27]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Madness of Love"Raphael Gualazzi
  • Gualazzi
  • Ferdinando Arnò
3:32

Charts and certifications

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Peak positions

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Chart (2011) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[28] 40
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[29] 33
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[30] 35
Iceland (RÚV)[31] 22
Italy (FIMI)[32] 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 90
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] 52

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[35] Gold 15,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Label Format
Italy 16 February 2011 Sugar Music Digital download (Italian version)
Europe 14 May 2011 Digital download (English-Italian version)

References

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  1. ^ Guglielmi, Mario. "Festival Sanremo 2011, Raphael Gualazzi, triplo trionfo nei Giovani: "Mi sento un artigiano"" (in Italian). Riviera24.it. Archived from the original on 2012-03-13.
  2. ^ Escudero, Victor M. "and finally... Italy is back with Raphael Gualazzi!!". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi | Participant Profile". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Sanremo: ieri sera cena in onore di De Niro e Gualazzi, uniti dalla colonna sonora di 'Manuale d'amore'" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 19 February 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  5. ^ Pietra Caccavo (27 May 2011). "Nastri d'argento 2011: Moretti è il più votato". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Italy - "Madness of Love" performed by Raphael Gualazzi". BBC. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Sanremo: esce oggi 'Reality and fantasy' di Raphael Gualazzi" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  8. ^ Gianni Sibilla (22 February 2011). "Reality and Fantasy - Raphael Gualazzi - Recensione" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Artisti in Gara - Raphael Gualazzi". La Stampa (in Italian). 25 February 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  10. ^ a b Alessandra Rondinini (15 February 2011). "Raphael Gualazzi - Follia d'amore" (in Italian). Musicsite.it. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  11. ^ Mattia Marzi (25 May 2011). "Raphael Gualazzi - Reality And Fantasy". Rolling Stone Italia (in Italian). Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi, Follia d'amore" (in Italian). Excite.it. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  13. ^ Raffaele Rossi (6 March 2011). "Gualazzi. La nuova star in concerto: Il jazz è un pensiero libero". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Sanremo 2011, l'ordine di esibizione dei cantanti di mercoledì 16" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  15. ^ Alessandra Vitali (16 February 2012). "Ariston, Morandi cerca il bis. Luca e Paolo ridono su Saviano". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Sanremo, la serata dei duetti. E Monica illumina l'Ariston". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 18 February 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Sanremo 2011 Raphael Gualazzi vince i premi della critica" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  18. ^ Andrea Conti (20 February 2011). "Sanremo, vince Roberto Vecchioni" (in Italian). TGCOM. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  19. ^ "Sanremo 2011: Gualazzi parteciperà all'Eurovision Song Contest" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  20. ^ Gabrio Distratis (18 February 2011). "Un manduriano sul palco di Sanremo". La Voce di Manduria (in Italian). Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Reality and fantasy versione album e Gilles Peterson Remix" (in Italian). www.raphaelgualazzi.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  22. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi – ESC 2011" (in Italian). www.eurovisionitalia.com. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  23. ^ Mario Luzzatto Fegiz (14 May 2011). "Il jazz di Raphael Gualazzi riporta l' Italia all' Eurofestival". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Eurovision 2011 in numbers". BBC. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Liofredi (Raidue): 'Con l'Eurovision Song Contest la Rai ha già vinto'" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Final". European Broadcasting Union. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  27. ^ "Madness of Love: Raphael Gualazzi". Amazon UK. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  28. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi – Madness of Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  29. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi – Madness of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  30. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi – Madness of Love" (in French). Ultratip.
  31. ^ "RÚV - Vinsældalisti Rásar 2". RÚV. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  32. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi – Follia d'amore". Top Digital Download.
  33. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi – Madness of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  34. ^ "Raphael Gualazzi – Madness of Love". Swiss Singles Chart.
  35. ^ "Italian single certifications – Raphael Gualazzi – Follia d'amore" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 4, 2012. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Follia d'amore" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".