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Libera (song)
Encyclopedia
"Libera" was the Italian
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977
, performed in Italian
by Mia Martini
, at the time arguably Italy's most successful and celebrated female artist, having had a number of hits like "Padre davvero...", "Gesù è mio fratello" , "Credo", "Piccolo uomo", "Donna sola" , "Minuetto", "Il guerriero" , "Inno", "Al mondo", "Donna con te", "L'amore è il mio orizzonte", "Che vuoi che sia...se t'ho aspettato tanto" on the Italian Hit Parades between the years 1971 and 1976, as well as taking part in the Sanremo Music Festival and the Festivalbar
on several occasions.
Martini recorded five versions of the song; the original ballad version, the disco version, the Spanish "Libre", the French "Libre Comme Une Femme" and the English "Freedom Is Today", the latter three all with the up-tempo arrangement. While released on the RCA Records
label in Italy and other parts of Europe.
The song was performed fifteenth on the night, following Spain
's Micky with "Enséñame a Cantar" and preceding Finland
's Monica Aspelund
with "Lapponia
)". At the close of voting, it had received 33 points, placing it 13th in a field of 18.
The "Libera" single was also only a moderate commercial success for Martini in Italy itself; while the song was featured on certain international editions of her studio album Che vuoi che sia... se t'ho aspettato tanto, such as in Canada where the album was retitled Mia Martini and included both the Italian and English language versions, it was left as a non-album track in her homeland and not included on either Che vuoi che sia... or the following Per amarti, released later in 1977.
Since Martini's untimely passing in 1995 the mainpart of her substantial back-catalogue has been re-issued to CD in Continental Europe and Japan, including four versions of "Libera", the original ballad version has however yet to be commercially released.
Mia Martini would return to the contest fifteen years later, singing "Rapsodia
" at the Eurovision Song Contest 1992
.
"Libera" was succeeded as Italian representative
at the 1978 Contest
by Ricchi e Poveri
with "Questo amore
".
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977
Eurovision Song Contest 1977
The Eurovision Song Contest 1977 was the 22nd edition series, and was held on 7 May 1977 in London. With Angela Rippon as the presenter, the contest was won by Marie Myriam who represented France, with her song "L'oiseau et l'enfant" . This was France's fifth victory, a record, which was equalled...
, performed in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
by Mia Martini
Mia Martini
Mia Martini was an Italian singer.-Early life:Born Domenica Bertè in 1947 in Bagnara Calabra , she moved to Rome with her sister and her friend Renato Zero.-Career:She recorded her first records as Mimì Berté, but she soon decided to change her name to Mia...
, at the time arguably Italy's most successful and celebrated female artist, having had a number of hits like "Padre davvero...", "Gesù è mio fratello" , "Credo", "Piccolo uomo", "Donna sola" , "Minuetto", "Il guerriero" , "Inno", "Al mondo", "Donna con te", "L'amore è il mio orizzonte", "Che vuoi che sia...se t'ho aspettato tanto" on the Italian Hit Parades between the years 1971 and 1976, as well as taking part in the Sanremo Music Festival and the Festivalbar
Festivalbar
The Festivalbar was an Italian singing competition that took place in the most important Italian squares during summer, such as the Piazza del Duomo, Milan; the first time it was held was in 1964...
on several occasions.
Martini recorded five versions of the song; the original ballad version, the disco version, the Spanish "Libre", the French "Libre Comme Une Femme" and the English "Freedom Is Today", the latter three all with the up-tempo arrangement. While released on the RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
label in Italy and other parts of Europe.
The song was performed fifteenth on the night, following Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's Micky with "Enséñame a Cantar" and preceding Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
's Monica Aspelund
Monica Aspelund
-Life/ career:Born into a family of Swedish speaking Finlanders, Aspelund danced and sang in talent shows from an early age making her recording debut at age fourteen with "Katso, kenguru loikkaa" a children's song recorded in the autumn of 1960...
with "Lapponia
Lapponia (song)
"Lapponia" was the Finnish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in Finnish by Monica Aspelund.The song was performed sixteenth on the night, following Italy's Mia Martini with "Libera" and preceding Belgium's Dream Express with "A Million in One, Two, Three"...
)". At the close of voting, it had received 33 points, placing it 13th in a field of 18.
The "Libera" single was also only a moderate commercial success for Martini in Italy itself; while the song was featured on certain international editions of her studio album Che vuoi che sia... se t'ho aspettato tanto, such as in Canada where the album was retitled Mia Martini and included both the Italian and English language versions, it was left as a non-album track in her homeland and not included on either Che vuoi che sia... or the following Per amarti, released later in 1977.
Since Martini's untimely passing in 1995 the mainpart of her substantial back-catalogue has been re-issued to CD in Continental Europe and Japan, including four versions of "Libera", the original ballad version has however yet to be commercially released.
Mia Martini would return to the contest fifteen years later, singing "Rapsodia
Rapsodia
"Rapsodia" was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, performed in Italian by Mia Martini, one of Italy's most successful and celebrated female artists of all time, making her second appearance in the Contest after 1977's "Libera", which finished 13th in a field of 18 participating...
" at the Eurovision Song Contest 1992
Eurovision Song Contest 1992
The Eurovision Song Contest 1992 was the 37th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 9 May 1992 in Malmö, Sweden. The presenters were Lydia Cappolicchio and Harald Treutiger. Linda Martin, representing Ireland, was the winner of this Eurovision with the song Why Me?. The song was written by Johnny...
.
"Libera" was succeeded as Italian representative
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
Italy participated in the Eurovision Song Contest frequently from 1956 to 1997. It was one of only seven countries that competed at the very first contest...
at the 1978 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1978
The Eurovision Song Contest 1978 was the 23rd of its kind, and was held on 22 April 1978 in Paris. With Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone as the presenters - the first time more than one presenter hosted the contest - the contest was won by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta who represented Israel, with their...
by Ricchi e Poveri
Ricchi e Poveri
Ricchi e Poveri is one of the most famous Italian pop music groups in Europe and Latin America. Active since the late 1960s, they have sold over 20 million records.-Formation and early success:...
with "Questo amore
Questo Amore
"Questo amore" was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, performed in Italian by Ricchi e Poveri, at the time a quartet consisting of Franco Gatti, Angela Brambati, Angelo Sotgiu and Marina Occhiena...
".