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"Se telefonando" - Marseille

"Se telefonando" is one of the most famous songs of Italian music. Its history is a true legend.


The song was born as the theme of the Rai program "Aria Condizionata" spin-off of the famous broadcast "Studio Uno".

The screenwriter De Chiara convinced Morricone to write the music.


One day De Chiara invited Maurizio Costanzo, co-author of the program, to his house to write the lyrics of the song. Meanwhile Morricone was connected with them by telephone from Marseilles.


Just during the phone call, on the streets of Marseilles, police cars passed with sirens wide open. Morricone had the flash of genius and exclaimed "Think of the siren of the police of Marseilles".

Thus on the sound of police sirens was based the repetition of the main theme of the song.


The voice was thought of Mina. So Costanzo, De Chiara, Morricone, Mina and his impresario met in the Rai production center in via Teulada in Rome: Morricone si mile al pianoforte and played "Se Telefonando".

A moment later Mina asked for the text and naturally, which Costanzo tells left all present amazed, sang it.


In the summer of 1966 "Se telefonando" was in all Italian jukeboxes. It was one of the first Italian songs to be joined by a videoclip. This was filmed on the roofs of the Naples railway station still under construction. They are timeless images, which fully represent the splendor of Italy in the 60s.


Today "Se telefonando is one of the Italian songs with more covers. Among the most appreciated artists to sing it were: Rita Pavone, Giorgia, Franco Battiato and the Volo.

In 2015 Nek presented a reinterpretation of the song at the Sanremo festival, winning the "Best performance cover" award.

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