Italian duo Al Bano and Romina Power: biography, song "Felicità", success in the USSR, other famous songs

Musical Culture of the USSR was significantly different from the Western music that was popular in the 20th century. However, the interaction and interpenetration of cultures of different countries and peoples, which formed a peculiar dialogue and allowed people from the Soviet Union to experience a completely different kind of music.

Without the dialogue of cultures, it would be impossible to imagine the development of Soviet music, and to imagine that foreign stars would come to the USSR and give concerts, and that the Soviet public would warmly welcome them. In spite of "Iron CurtainThe listeners nevertheless got a dose of foreign hits that stayed in their hearts forever. One such song was "Felicita."The Italian duo Al Bano and Romina Power, which is the subject of this article.

What was "Felicita" that was so beloved in the USSR?

"Felicità." - a composition written by a family duo that included Al Bano of Italy and Romina Power, an American who had emigrated to Italy. The business card of these performers, in fact, told of their really happy lives. This sunny hit could be called a kind of ode to happiness or joy, since the entire text of the composition is based on the singing of this inner state of man.

In 1982 Residents of the Soviet Union were lucky enough to see a fragment of the popular Italian festival "San Remo.". Of all the other performers, the one that Soviet people remembered most was the song about being happy, even though it only won in the contest. second place and was not the winner.

Composition "Felicità." made Al Bano and Romina Power famous all over the world: the hit album of the same name was an international commercial success, ending up in top 5 Italian chart and hit other European charts. The song sold out around the world and the family duo received many awards, including the German Golden Globe Award.

"Happiness is.
Stay close, just like when we were kids,
Happiness, it's happiness...," the song sings.

In the USSR, "Felicità" has earned chart status and became a symbol of the 1980s. The ideological agenda that marked the era of "perestroika" largely contributed to this, so the country's leadership had a neutral, if not positive, attitude toward the introduction of of foreign pop songsThe more so since the decision whether or not to broadcast festivals where non-traditional music for the Union could be heard was made personally by the chairman of Gosteleradio.

Al Bano and Romina Power are an Italian couple who have settled in the hearts of domestic music lovers 

Duet Al Bano and Romina Power appeared on the Italian scene in the early 1970s. However, it should be noted that the creative alliance of these two artists began on the set of the film "Nel sole"In which they played the main roles. Subsequently, Bano and Power realized that they had a lot in common and decided to get married, and then began their musical career together.

Melodicity pop musicThe duo's songwriting, which Al Bano wrote, and Romina Power's insightful, soulful lyrics made them local stars almost immediately. A year after the creation of the duo, the newlyweds went to conquer Europe and successfully enough performed at the Eurovision Song Contest with the composition "We'll Live It All Again"The band was a top-10 performer. World fame came to Bano and Power in 1981, when their hit "Sharazan." conquered the European and Latin American charts.

Interestingly, the main award for the Italian performer, which they all dream about, conquered the family duo already after the release of "Felicità", when in 1984 Bano and Power took the coveted first place at the Sanremo Festival. At the same time, the lovers visited the USSR and starred in the film "Magical White Night."in which you can hear the famous compositions of the Italians. In 1986 the duo performed in Leningrad and Moscow, and the concert was organized by the Soviet state organization. Domestic music lovers got an opportunity to hear live favorite songs of Italian pop singers.

In 1994, after disappearances of the family of Al Bano and Romina Power began a disagreement, and together they could not survive the tragedy. the duo broke up in 1999. However, in the twenty-first century they were able to please fans, particularly Russian fans. Since 2013. former spouses perform together at concerts, including in Russia.

Other masterpieces by the duo that are still beloved today

Though "Felicità." far superior to other songs by Al Bano and Romina Power, they have not become so-called one-hit artists, and have many more interesting compositions in their musical arsenal. For example, the song "Ci sarà" also received international recognition and became stellar as the musicians won the festival in San Remo thanks to her.

In addition, among the famous hits of the Italian duo are also the lyrical compositions "Tu, soltanto tu", "Ti Amo", "Sempre Sempre", telling about strong mutual feelings men and women. In the 1990s, the duo made noise again, as they had before, when Al Bano sued the very michael jacksonaccusing him of plagiarizing his song "I Cigni Di Balaca. The King of Pop's "Will You Be There" was strikingly similar to the song written by the Italian singer. By the way, he managed to win the trial, so the creative honor of the family duo Bano and Power was protected.