1990 Italy: Toto Cutugno - Insieme 1992 (1st place at Eurovision Song Contest in Zagreb)
Performed by: Toto Cutugno
Music by: Salvatore Cutugno
Lyrics by: Salvatore Cutugno
Conductor: Gianni Madonini
Language: Italian
Placing: 1st (149 points)
“Insieme: 1992“ (English translation: “Together: 1992“) was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1990, in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, performed in Italian by Toto Cutugno for Italy, the country's second victory in the Contest.
Cutugno sang about bringing the disparate nations of Europe together. The “1992“ of the title refers to the year in which the European Union was scheduled to begin operation, thus bringing the hope of the lyric to fruition. Cutugno sang the song with a backing group of five singers from Slovenia, the group Pepel In Kri, who represented Yugoslavia in 1975.
At the close of voting, it had received 149 points, placing 1st in a field of 22.
Toto Cutugno was born in Fosdinovo to a Sicilian father from Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto and a homemaker mother. Shortly after his birth the family moved to La Spezia (Liguria).
He began his musical career as a drummer, but later formed a band that performed his own songs. He also had co-written for popular French-American singer Joe Dassin, contributing some of his most famous songs, including “L'été indien“ (“Africa“), “Et si tu n'existais pas“ and “Le Jardin du Luxembourg“ (written with Vito Pallavicini). He also co-wrote Dalida's “Laissez moi danser“ (“Voglio l'anima“), which became a Platinum record shortly after its release.
In 1976, Cutugno participated for the first time in the Sanremo Music Festival coming up with third place with his band Albatros with the song, Volo 504. He then won in 1980 with the song “Solo noi“.
However, Cutugno's iconic 1983 song “L'italiano“ (“The Italian“) revived Italian folklore with the song's lyrics and a melody that provided an affirmation of the typical Italian. It was initially intended for Adriano Celentano, who declined. The song was only fifth in Sanremo but was a big hit all over the world.
Toto finished second in six editions of Sanremo festival: in 1984 with the song “Serenata“ (“Serenade“), in 1987 with “Figli“ (“Sons“ or “Children“), in 1988 with “Emozioni“ (“Emotions“), in 1989 with the song “Le mamme“ (“Mothers“), in 1990 with Ray Charles with the song “Gli amori“ (“Loves“, but entitled “Good Love Gone Bad“ in Charles' version) and in 2005 with Annalisa Minetti with the song “Come noi nessuno al mondo“ (“No One Else in the World Like Us“). Toto Cutugno participated in the festival a total of 13 times.
Cutugno is married to Carla Cutugno and has a son, Nicolo, born from another relationship.
Along with Gigliola Cinquetti, Italy's only other Eurovision winner from 1964, he presented the 1991 contest, which was staged in Rome as a result of his victory.
Lyrics:
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe
Con te, così lontano e diverso
Con te, amico che credevo perso
Io e te, sotto lo stesso sogno
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe
E per te, donna senza frontiere
Per te, sotto le stesse bandiere
Io e te, sotto lo stesso cielo
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe
Sempre più liberi noi
Non è più un sogno e non sei più da solo
Sempre più in alto noi
Dammi una mano che prendiamo il volo
L'Europa non è lontana
C'è una canzone italiana per voi
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe
Per noi, nel cielo mille violini
Per noi, amori senza confini
Io e te, sotto gli stessi ideali, mmm...
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe
Sempre più liberi noi
Non è più un sogno e noi non siamo più soli
Sempre più uniti noi
Dammi una mano e vedrai che voli
L'Europa non è lontana
C'è una canzone italiana per voi
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe
Sempre più liberi noi
(Sempre più liberi)
Le nostre stelle, una bandiera sola
Sempre più forti noi
(Sempre più forti)
Dammi una mano e vedrai si vola
L'Europa non è lontana
C'è una canzone italiana per voi
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe
L'Europa non è lontana
C'è una canzone italiana per voi
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe
TRANSLATION:
Together: 1992
Together, unite, unite, Europe
With you, so far and different
With you, a friend that I thougt I lost
You and I, having the same dream
Together, unite, unite, Europe
And for you, a woman without borders
With you, under the same flags
You and I, under the same sky
Together, unite, unite, Europe
We're more and more free
It's no longer a dream and you're no longer alone
We're higher and higher
Give me your hand, so we can fly
Europe is not far away
This is an Italian song for you
Together, unite, unite, Europe
For us, in heaven a thousand violins
For us, love without borders
You and I, having the same ideals, mmm...
Together, unite, unite, Europe
We're more and more free
It's no longer a dream and we're no longer alone
We're uniting more and more
Give me your hand and you'll see you're flying
Europe is not far away
This is an Italian song for you
Together, unite, unite, Europe
We're more and more free
(More and more free)
Our stars, one single flag
We're stronger and stronger
(Stronger and stronger)