"Piccolo uomo" (transl. Little man) is a 1972 Italian song composed by Dario Baldan Bembo (music), Bruno Lauzi, and Michelangelo La Bionda (lyrics) and performed by Mia Martini. It was the singer's first significant commercial success.[1]
| "Piccolo uomo" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Mia Martini | ||||
| from the album Nel mondo, una cosa | ||||
| B-side | "Madre" | |||
| Released | 1972 | |||
| Genre | Pop, Ballad | |||
| Length | 4:20 | |||
| Label | Ricordi | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Dario Baldan Bembo, Bruno Lauzi, Michelangelo La Bionda | |||
| Producer(s) | Giovanni Sanjust | |||
| Mia Martini singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editWhen Dario Baldan Bembo presented this ballad to Ricordi, he expected it to be recorded by the successful band I Camaleonti. But producer Giovanni Sanjust felt it was the right song to definitely launch the career of upcoming singer Mia Martini.[1][2] This led to a great disagreement between the two, with Baldan Bembo even refusing to play Hammond organ in the Martini's audition.[2] Following the success of the song, Baldan Bembo eventually became one of the closer collaborators and more trusted songwriters of Martini.[2]
The title of the song came from an epithet the wife of the short-in-stature Bruno Lauzi used to call him.[2]
The song was initially ignored by audience, being even eliminated by Un disco per l'estate selections. It was later presented at Festivalbar, turning into a big hit and winning the competition.[1] It got Martini her first magazine cover, for the music magazine Ciao 2001.[2]
The song was recorded by Mia Martini in French (with the title "Tout petit homme"), German (as "Auf der welt") and Spanish (as "Pequeno hombre").[1][3] In 1973 Pop-Tops recorded an English-language cover of the song entitled "My Little Woman".[4]
The B-side of the single is a cover of John Lennon's "Mother", with Italian lyrics by Martini.
Track listing
edit- 7" single – SRL 10669
- "Piccolo uomo" (Bruno Lauzi, Michelangelo La Bionda, Dario Baldan Bembo)
- "Madre" (John Lennon, Mia Martini)
Charts
edit| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[5] | 2 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Dario Salvatori (2001). "Piccolo uomo". Dizionario delle canzoni italiane. Elle U. ISBN 8888169016.
- ^ a b c d e Menico Caroli (1999). Mia Martini. Il mio canto universale. Tarab, pp. 66-67. ISBN 9788886675994.
- ^ "Mia Martini, "Straniera": doppio Cd di rarità e inediti, tracklist". Rockol (in Italian). 8 October 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Music Capitals of The World". Billboard. 1973. p. 59. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ Dario Salvatori (1989). Storia dell'Hit Parade. Gramese, 1989. p. 177. ISBN 8876054391.
External links
edit- Piccolo uomo at Discogs (list of releases)
- Piccolo uomo on Canzoni d'autore