Con te Partiró
Encyclopedia
History
The song's original single release by Polydor RecordsPolydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
was not commercially successful in Italy, and received little radio airplay there. Elsewhere, however, it was a massive hit. In France and Switzerland, the single topped the charts for 6 weeks, earning a triple Gold sales award. In Belgium, it became the biggest hit of all time, spending 12 weeks at No. 1.
In Germany, East West Records
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
, in conjunction with Polydor, marketed a version of "Con Te Partiro", retitled "Time to Say Goodbye", and with some lyrics changed, as the theme song for the final match of boxer Henry Maske
Henry Maske
Henry Maske is a German boxer, one of Germany's most popular sports figures.-Amateur career:Maske was an Olympic Gold Medalist 1988 in Seoul for East Germany...
(then the light-heavyweight champion of the International Boxing Federation
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
), having seen previous success when Vangelis
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
's "Conquest of Paradise
Conquest of Paradise (song)
-See also:*Con te partirò, another song that became a hit single through Henry Maske's popularity in Germany...
" was also promoted via Maske's fights. "Time to Say Goodbye" was also turned into a duet with Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
, who had performed "A Question of Honour
A Question of Honour (song)
"A Question of Honour" is a 1995 single by soprano Sarah Brightman, from her album Fly. It peaked at #15 on the German Singles Chart in the last week of 1995, even though it was released over five months earlier....
" for one of Maske's previous fights. German producer Frank Peterson
Frank Peterson
Frank Peterson is a German music producer known for his work with Enigma and artists such as Sarah Brightman, Ofra Haza, Gregorian, Princessa and Andrea Bocelli on his first international album Romanza in 1997....
, who has worked with Brightman since 1991, opted to give the song an English title, rather than the German title "Mit Dir Werde Ich Fortgehen". Recording of the song took place at Peterson's Nemo Studio, in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
.
The match took place on November 23, 1996, pitting Maske against American Virgil Hill, and drew a television broadcast audience of over 21 million. Bocelli and Brightman performed the song to open the match, and it was used again during Maske's exit.
By December, the "Time to Say Goodbye" single, released on East West, had reached number one on the German singles chart
Media Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
, with sales estimated at 40,000-60,000 per day and projected for at least one million by the end of the year. Both singers' respective albums also received a boost in sales. Airplay on German radio stations such as Norddeutscher Rundfunk
Norddeutscher Rundfunk
Norddeutscher Rundfunk is a public radio and television broadcaster, based in Hamburg. In addition to the city-state of Hamburg, NDR transmits for the German states of Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein...
was well received by listeners. By February of the following year, the single had broken the all-time sales record in Germany with 1.65 million sales, and would eventually get certified 11x Gold for selling over 2,750,000 copies. It is also the best-selling single in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
"Time to Say Goodbye" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
upon its release there in May 1997, and was certified gold. It remained in the top 30 for another two months, helped by steady radio airplay on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, which was overtaking Radio 1 in popularity with an MOR-oriented playlist.
The duet was included on Brightman's 1997 album Timeless, re-titled as Time to Say Goodbye
Time to Say Goodbye (album)
Time to Say Goodbye, known as Timeless in Europe, is Sarah Brightman's most popular album, released in 1997. . The SACD 5.1 version released by EMI is entitled Time to Say Goodbye and follows the American track listing...
in the U.S. with the song itself moved to the start of the album. Brightman has also recorded a solo version, which was released on the duet single as well as later albums including "Classics" and "Diva the singles collection". A live version was released on "Harem world tour, live from las vegas" cd as well as her various tour DVDs. Bocelli and Brightman have pefromed the duet together publicly several times including Andrea's "statue of liberty concert" held in New york city, and "Live in Tuscany" concert.
A spin-off single to Time to Say Goodbye called Time to Say Hello has been rumoured to be in the works.
Cover versions
Since its release, the song has spawned numerous other versions and been performed by numerous other singers. Notable alternate versions include "Por ti volaré", a Spanish version with significantly modified lyrics, and "I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)
"I Will Go with You " is a song recorded by American singer Donna Summer in 1999 for her album Live & More Encore, the track being one of two new studio recordings included on the live album....
", a dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
remix performed by Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
. In 2001, Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
guitarist Neal Schon
Neal Schon
Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
released a solo album, Voice
Voice (Neal Schon album)
Voice is a 2001 solo album by Journey guitarist Neal Schon. The album features instrumental versions of popular songs. It peaked at number 15 on Billboards Top New Age album chart in the same year. In 2002, Voice was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.-Track listing:#...
, which features an instrumental version of the song.
Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri , born Ioánna Moúschouri on October 13, 1934, in Chania, Crete, Greece, is a Greek singer who has sold about 300 million records worldwide in a career spanning over five decades, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She was known as Nána to her friends and...
recorded a version on the 1997 album, "Hommages".
A Taiwanese singer A-Mei
A-Mei
A-Mei , also known by her birth name Chang Hui-mei , is an aboriginal Taiwanese pop singer and occasional songwriter. She is also known by her aboriginal name Gulilai Amit . She was born in the rugged mountains of eastern Taiwan and is the third youngest of nine siblings. A-mei made her debut in...
(Zhang Hui Mei) recorded the song in Chinese version in the year 2000 (album "Ge Sheng Mei Ying") with Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano. She is a classical-popular crossover singer who performs across a spectrum of operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre and hymns.-Early life and education:...
recorded a version of the song and included it on her 2004 album Second Nature
Second Nature (Katherine Jenkins album)
Second Nature is the second album by Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, released on 18 October 2004, in the UK. It charted at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 1 on the UK Classical Album Chart....
. Jenkins' version was also released as a single on 21 February 2005. Gregory Lemarchal
Grégory Lemarchal
Grégory Jean-Paul Lemarchal was a French singer who rose to fame by winning the fourth series of the reality TV programme Star Academy France, broadcast on the TF1 television network....
recorded a version for his album "La voix d'un ange" which was posthumously released in 2007 as Lemarchal died of cystic fibrosis in April 2007 at the age of 23. New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singer Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
included a version on her 2007 album, Amazing Grace — The Best of Hayley Westenra. Swedish singer Sanna Nielsen
Sanna Nielsen
Sanna Viktoria Nielsen is a Swedish singer. She comes from Bromölla in Skåne, Southern Sweden.-Career:At the age of eleven she reached the number one spot on the Svensktoppen Charts with the song "Till en fågel". At that time, she sung with the dansband Mats Elmes. She participated in...
made an English-Swedish version of the song, which was included in her album Sanna 11-22
Sanna 11-22
Sanna 11-22 was released on March 7, 2007 and is a compilation album from Swedish singer Sanna Nielsen. It peaked at #19 at the Swedish album chart. The album also has new-recorded songs, like "Loneliness" and "Surrender"...
. Andre Rieu with Mirusia Louwerse also recorded a version of this song on the album You'll never walk alone
You'll Never Walk Alone
You'll Never Walk Alone is a song from the musical Carousel, a pop standard and football club anthem, for example that of Liverpool F.C.You'll Never Walk Alone may also refer to:* You'll Never Walk Alone , studio album...
.
In 2004, trumpeter Chris Botti
Chris Botti
Christopher Stephen "Chris" Botti , is an American trumpeter and composer. In 2007, Botti was nominated for two Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album. On December 4, 2009, he was nominated for three more Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Long Form Music Video...
's rendition was released on When I Fall in Love.
In 2007 Chilean singer Carolina Soto recorded a Spanish cover version called "Por Ti Volaré". It was a success in Chile, because Carolina was featured in a popular TV talent show, which was called "Rojo Fama Contra Fama".
The pipes and drums
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. It was formed on 2 July 1971 at Holyrood, Edinburgh, by the amalgamation of the 3rd Carabiniers The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (SCOTS DG) is a cavalry regiment of...
covered the song for their 2007 album, Spirit Of The Glen.
In 2008 Danish pop duo The Loft
The Loft (Danish band)
The Loft is a Danish music and sampling group formed in 1997.The members are Jakob Weise Hellum and Martin Bøge Pedersen. In Denmark they had a major hit with "City of Dreams" in 2004. The second single "Forever" became a minor hit...
released their single "Kiss You Goodbye" based on "Con te partirò"/"Time to Say Goodbye" and containing samples from the originals.
The heavy/thrash/rock/pop guitarist Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) covers this song in his 9th studio album "Bad D.N.A" released in Japan 25 August 2010.
Japanese classical-crossover singer Kanon
Kanon (singer)
Kanon is a Japanese singer and song-writer born in Tokyo, Japan on March 9, 1980. She is signed to Sony Music Japan International.Her latest mini album, My Road ~ Songs for Guin Saga was released on August 26, 2009. Her fifth album planned to be released on March 31, 2011 as she stated on her blog....
recorded a version of the song and included it on her 2007 album Precious. French classical-crossover tenor Amaury Vassili
Amaury Vassili
Amaury Vassili is a French singer and the professional tenor. His debut album Vincerò from 2009 went double platinum in France, and he has had international success with releases in Canada, South Africa and South Korea.-Biography:Amaury Vassili, born Amaury Vassili Chotard, began singing around...
also did the same on his 2010 album Canterò
Canterò
Canterò is the second album by French singer Amaury Vassili. It was released on 26 November 2010. It was followed up by a new edition in 2011 containing his 2011 Eurovision Song Contest hit single Sognu.-Track listing:-Chart performance:...
.
In 2011, American progressive/electro house producer ZHU composed a progressive house song with the melody and samples of "Con te partirò" as a tribute to Bocelli entitled "Con ZHU partirò".
British singer Joe McElderry
Joe McElderry
Joseph "Joe" McElderry is an English singer and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two...
recorded "Time To Say Goodbye" for his 2011 album, Classic
Classic (Joe McElderry album)
Classic is the second studio album by British singer Joe McElderry. It was released by Decca Records on 19 August 2011 in Ireland and on 22 August 2011 in the United Kingdom...
. A music video was filmed for McElderry's version to promote the album. The video was filmed in Hackney on 8 August 2011, during the 2011 England riots
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
. The music video premiered on August 22, the album's release date. The video cuts between shots of McElderry in a black & white scene singing while sitting on a chair and coloured scenes of him packing up suitcases, writing a goodbye letter, and leaving. Though after he leaves, the suitcase he left opens and the contents, including the letter, fall down the stairs.
Donald Braswell II
Donald Braswell II
Donald Braswell II is an American actor, classical crossover tenor and composer. Braswell was on a fast track to become an internationally acclaimed opera singer when he suffered a car accident in 1995 that made him unable to speak for almost two years...
recorded this song on his 2011 album, Unchained.
In media
Although the song is most associated with sporting events, it has featured frequently in film and television and is a favourite concert item. It is also a very popular piece for funerals.- The climax to Step BrothersStep Brothers (film)Step Brothers is a 2008 American slapstick buddy-comedy film directed by Adam McKay, produced by Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller, and stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, who originally teamed up in Talladega Nights . The screenplay was written by Ferrell and McKay, from a story written by Ferrell,...
features Will FerrellWill FerrellJohn William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
singing "Por ti Volaré", a Spanish-translated version of the song. - Sung by Maria Lucia at the closing ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games2007 Special Olympics World Summer GamesThe 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held in Shanghai, China.- Events :* Aquatics* Athletics* Badminton* Basketball* Bocce* Bowling* Cycling* Equestrian* Floor Hockey* Football * Golf* Gymnastics* Judo* Kayaking...
. - The song was sung on multiple episodes of America's Got TalentAmerica's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
- In 2008, the song was used as the theme song to WelshWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
television show Con PassionateCon PassionateCon Passionate is a Welsh language television drama series, written by Siwan Jones and directed by Rhys Powys for S4C. The first two series were Teledu Apollo productions.-Plot:...
. - Ricardo Marinello, the winner of the Germany's Got Talent (SupertalentSupertalentSupertalent is a talent show that is a Croatian license version of the British popular talent show Got Talent whose authors are Simon Cowell and Ken Warwick....
) (2007) took this song as the opening song on his first record "The Beginning" - The song was used in a few episodes of the TV show ProvidenceProvidence (TV series)Providence is an American drama series that aired on NBC starring Melina Kanakaredes. The show ran for five seasons from January 8, 1999 until December 20, 2002.-Synopsis:The show revolves around Dr...
and is featured on the CD Soundtrack. - When Andrea BocelliAndrea BocelliAndrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
appeared on Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
he sang the song to ElmoElmoElmo is a Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster and currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. His puppeteer, Kevin Clash, uses falsetto to produce his voice...
as "Time to Say Goodnight." - It has been used a number of times in the television series The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
as one of Carmela's themes, starting with the first episode of the second season. It is especially prominent in the episode Commendatori Season 2 Episode 4. - Kenny McCormickKenny McCormickKenneth "Kenny" McCormick is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is one of the four central characters along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Eric Cartman. His oft-muffled and indiscernible speech—the result of his parka hood covering his...
sings a muffled version of the song with a 'Singing Like Bocelli for Dummies' guide tape in the South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
episode "Quintuplets 2000Quintuplets 2000"Quintuplets 2000" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the Comedy Central series South Park, and the 52nd episode of the series overall. It was originally broadcast on April 26, 2000...
". - One of the signature songs of Filipino singer Lani Misalucha and Macedonian superstar Tose ProeskiToše ProeskiTodor Toše Proeski was a Macedonian multi-genre singer, songwriter and actor. He was popular across the entire Balkan area and all around Eastern Europe, and locally he was considered a top act of the Macedonian music scene...
.
Chart performance
"Con te partirò"| Chart (1996/97) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Mega Top 100 | 18 |
| Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart | 1 |
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 1 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 1 |
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart | 69 |
"Time to Say Goodbye"
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Dutch Mega Top 100 | 5 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 25 |
| German Singles Chart | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 31 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |