"Minuetto" (transl. Minuet) is a 1973 Italian song composed by Franco Califano (lyrics) and Dario Baldan Bembo (music) and performed by Mia Martini. It was the singer's major commercial success.[1][2]

"Minuetto"
Single by Mia Martini
from the album Il giorno dopo
B-side"Tu sei così"
Released1973
GenrePop, Ballad
Length4:44
LabelRicordi
Songwriter(s)Franco Califano, Dario Baldan Bembo
Producer(s)Alberigo Crocetta, Giovanni Sanjust
Mia Martini singles chronology
"Donna sola"
(1972)
"Minuetto"
(1973)
"Il guerriero"
(1973)

Background edit

In 1973 Dario Baldan Bembo composed a modern minuet ballad, and the melody was chosen by producer Giovanni Sanjust as to be the Summer single for Mia Martini, fresh from the success of "Piccolo uomo" and "Donna sola".[1] He asked several songwriters to compose the lyrics, and after the versions of Luigi Albertelli, Bruno Lauzi and Maurizio Piccoli [it] were rejected, it was eventually chosen the version of Franco Califano, who based his lyrics on some conversations he had with Martini, as to make the song more personal and biographical.[1][2] The Albertelli version, titled "Salvami", was eventually released in 2003 in the collection Canzoni segrete.[2][3]

The all-star chorus of the song consisted of La Bionda brothers, Bruno Lauzi, Maurizio Fabrizio, Martini's sister Loredana Bertè and her then fiancé Adriano Panatta.[1]

The song premiered in the RAI television show Adesso musica, and eventually won the Festivalbar ex aequo with "Io domani" by Marcella Bella, marking the second victory in a row for Mia Martini.[1][2][3] It was the major success in Martini's career, staying on the Italian single hit parade for a total of 30 weeks and reaching the second place.[2][3]

The song was recorded by Mia Martini in French (with the title "Tu t'en vas quand tu veux") and Spanish and released in several foreign markets, including Japan and Brazil.[1]

Track listing edit

  • 7" single – SRL 10.694
  1. "Minuetto" (Franco Califano, Dario Baldan Bembo)
  2. "Tu sei così" (Luigi Albertelli, Massimo Guantini)

Charts edit

Chart (1973) Peak
position
Italy (Musica e dischi)[4] 2

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Dario Salvatori (2001). "Minuetto". Dizionario delle canzoni italiane. Elle U. ISBN 8888169016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Condé Nast (14 January 2019). "Mia Martini e il suo «Minuetto» immortale". GQ Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Alessandra Iannuzzi. "Il significato di "Minuetto", il capolavoro di Mia Martini scritto da Califano e Baldan Bembo". Fanpage.it (in Italian). Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  4. ^ Dario Salvatori (1989). Storia dell'Hit Parade. Gramese, 1989. p. 177. ISBN 8876054391.

External links edit

Minuetto at Discogs (list of releases)