B-side Karaoke version Genre Pop rock | Recorded 1989 Length 4:23 | |
Format CD single, CD maxi,
7" single, 12" maxi Label Warner Bros Music,
Sugarmusic, Virgin | ||
"Un'estate italiana" (in Italian), "Un verano italiano" (in Spanish) or "To be number one" (in English), is a 1990 song composed by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Tom Whitlock for the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy. The Italian version, also known as "Notti magiche" in Italian, was recorded by Italian artists Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini, who also wrote the Italian lyrics. The Spanish version, also known as "Noches Magicas" in Spanish (literally: "Magic Nights"), were recorded by Paraguayuan Susan Ferrer, who also wrote the Spanish lyrics.
Contents
The song achieved success on the charts of several European countries.
Background and release
The English version, released under the name To be number one, and performed by Giorgio Moroder Project, was the opening theme to RAI TV programs and matches related to the World Cup.
For the Italian release, Moroder addressed Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato, who rewrote the lyrics and took the song to the top of the charts in Italy and Switzerland. From January to September 1990, the song was the best-selling single in Italy. The song was presented for the first time by the two singer-songwriters in Milan in December 1989, and performed live during the opening ceremony, held on June 8, 1990, in Milan, before the Argentina–Cameroon football match, followed later also by the English version.
The song was among the first to contain a single instrumental version (indicated as a karaoke version) and to be published as a maxi single. In 1990, Hong Kong singer Alan Tam covered this song in Cantonese.
Track listings
- "Un'estate italiana" – 4:07
- "Un'estate italiana" (karaoke version) – 4:07
- "Un'estate italiana" (stadium version) – 4:50
- "Un'estate italiana" (7" version) – 4:07
- "Un'estate italiana" (karaoke version) – 4:07
- "Un'estate italiana" (stadium version) – 4:50
- "Un'estate italiana" (single version) – 4:07
- "Un'estate italiana" (karaoke version) – 4:07