"Se piangi, se ridi" (English: "If you cry, if you laugh") is a song written by Gianni Marchetti, Roberto Satti and Mogol.[1] It was first performed during the 15th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival, in January 1965, when Italian singer Bobby Solo and American folk band The New Christy Minstrels performed two different versions of the song, winning the competition.[2]

Italy "Se piangi, se ridi"
Eurovision Song Contest 1965 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Roberto Satti
As
Bobby Solo
Language
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Mogol, Roberto Satti
Conductor
Finals performance
Final result
5th
Final points
15
Entry chronology
◄ "Non ho l'età" (1964)
"Dio, come ti amo" (1966) ►

The song went on to be chosen as the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1965, performed in Italian by Bobby Solo. The song was performed thirteenth on the night, following Portugal's Simone de Oliveira with "Sol de inverno" and preceding Denmark's Birgit Brüel with "For din skyld". At the close of voting, it had received 15 points, placing 5th in a field of 18.

The song is a love ballad, with Solo telling his lover that he feels the same way she does because of the closeness of their relationship. As he expresses it in the lyrics, "always remember: what you do / you'll see it again in my face".

It was succeeded as Italian representative at the 1966 contest by Domenico Modugno with "Dio, come ti amo".[citation needed]

In 2005, the band Deerhoof released an electronic/experimental reworking of the song on a non-album single.[3]

Charts

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Chart (1965) Peak
position
Argentina (CAPIF)[4] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 2
Brazil (ABPD)[6] 1
France (SNEP)[7] 39
Italy (Musica e dischi)[8] 1
Uruguay[9] 3

References

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  1. ^ "Eurovision Song Fest Lures Brightest European Stars". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 13 March 1965. p. 14. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Il podio di Sanremo". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 30 January 1965. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Deerhoof – Se Piangi, Se Ridi (2005, Vinyl) - Discogs". Discogs. April 2005.
  4. ^ "Billboard – 1965-07-24" (PDF). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Bobby Solo – Se piangi, se riti" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  6. ^ "Italian music in Brazil 1963 to 1969". 2 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Tout les Titres par Artiste - S" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Select Bobby SOLO from the menu, then press OK.
  8. ^ "Singoli - I Numeri Uno (1959-2006) - parte 1: 1959-1970" (in Italian). It-Charts.150m.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Billboard – 1965-08-14" (PDF). Retrieved 17 February 2023.