Era (song)
Encyclopedia
"Era" was the Italian
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975
, performed in Italian
by American-born singer Wess (Wess Johnson, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
, August 13 1945 – September 21 2009 ) and Dori Ghezzi
. In 1972 the pair teamed up as a duet to record "Voglio stare con te", an Italian version of British hit "United We Stand
", by Brotherhood of Man
, and the following year they finished 6th in the Sanremo Music Festival with another duet, "Tu nella mia vita", which became a #5 hit in Italy. The duo went on to release seven albums between the years 1972 and 1979, including a series of Top 10 hits. "Era" was composed by British
-Italian singer-songwriter
Shel Shapiro (born David Norman Shapiro, formerly of The Rokes and Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys
) and the lyrics were written by Andrea Lo Vecchio.
"Era" is a soul
-influenced ballad, with both singers describing how different they feel now that they are in a relationship - presumably with each other - and remembering how "it was" when they first fell in love; "kissing at the movies/finding a hidden corner/blushing in public/talking in secret code - and getting home before midnight".
The song was performed nineteenth on the night (following Sweden
's Lars Berghagen with "Jennie, Jennie
"). At the close of voting, it had received 115 points, placing it 3rd in a field of 19. "Era" was a modest hit in Italy, peaking at #13 on the singles chart. The duo also recorded the song in English ("Fallin'"), French ("Qui vivra verra") and Spanish ("Era").
It was succeeded as Italian representative
at the 1976 Contest
by Al Bano & Romina Power
with "We'll Live It All Again
".
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975
Eurovision Song Contest 1975
The Eurovision Song Contest 1975 was the 20th edition of the contest hosted by SR and held in Stockholm, Sweden. The arena for the event was the newly built Stockholm International Fairs in Älvsjö in southern Stockholm. ABBA's victory in Brighton the previous year gave Sweden the right to host the...
, performed in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
by American-born singer Wess (Wess Johnson, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, August 13 1945 – September 21 2009 ) and Dori Ghezzi
Dori Ghezzi
Dori Ghezzi is an Italian singer who was active as a recording artist between 1966 and 1989. In the 1970s, Ghezzi worked mainly in a duo with American singer Wess, and the couple represented Italy in the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest....
. In 1972 the pair teamed up as a duet to record "Voglio stare con te", an Italian version of British hit "United We Stand
United We Stand (song)
"United We Stand" is a popular song by Tony Hiller and Peter Simmons. It was first recorded in 1970 by The Brotherhood of Man , becoming the band's first hit, peaking at #13 in the U.S., #9 in Canada, and #10 in the U.K. It is considered a worldwide standard and has been recorded by over 100...
", by Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man are a British pop group who achieved success in the 1970s, most notably by winning the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save Your Kisses for Me"....
, and the following year they finished 6th in the Sanremo Music Festival with another duet, "Tu nella mia vita", which became a #5 hit in Italy. The duo went on to release seven albums between the years 1972 and 1979, including a series of Top 10 hits. "Era" was composed by British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
-Italian singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Shel Shapiro (born David Norman Shapiro, formerly of The Rokes and Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys
Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys
Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys were a British rock and roll band, led by Colin Hicks, the younger brother of singer Tommy Steele.-Career:In November 1957, the British music magazine, NME, reported that Steele's manager, Larry Parnes had signed up Hicks, and that Hicks would undertake a ten week...
) and the lyrics were written by Andrea Lo Vecchio.
"Era" is a soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
-influenced ballad, with both singers describing how different they feel now that they are in a relationship - presumably with each other - and remembering how "it was" when they first fell in love; "kissing at the movies/finding a hidden corner/blushing in public/talking in secret code - and getting home before midnight".
The song was performed nineteenth on the night (following Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Lars Berghagen with "Jennie, Jennie
Jennie, Jennie
"Jennie, Jennie" was the Swedish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975, performed in English by Lasse Berghagen.The song was performed eighteenth on the night, following Spain's Sergio y Estíbaliz with "Tú volverás" and preceding Italy's Wess and Dori Ghezzi with "Era". At the close of voting,...
"). At the close of voting, it had received 115 points, placing it 3rd in a field of 19. "Era" was a modest hit in Italy, peaking at #13 on the singles chart. The duo also recorded the song in English ("Fallin'"), French ("Qui vivra verra") and Spanish ("Era").
It was succeeded as Italian representative
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
Italy participated in the Eurovision Song Contest frequently from 1956 to 1997. It was one of only seven countries that competed at the very first contest...
at the 1976 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1976
The Eurovision Song Contest 1976, the 21st in the series, was held in The Hague, Netherlands, on 3 April 1976. With Corry Brokken as the presenter – the first time a previous winner of the contest had played hostess – the contest was won by Brotherhood of Man, representing the United...
by Al Bano & Romina Power
Romina Power
Romina Francesca Power is an American-born singer and actress.-Biography:Born in Los Angeles, California, Romina Power is the eldest daughter of American actor Tyrone Power and his second wife, actress Linda Christian....
with "We'll Live It All Again
We'll Live It All Again
"We'll Live It All Again" was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed in Italian and English by Al Bano & Romina Power. Along with 1984's "I treni di Tozeur" and 2011's "Madness of Love" this is the country's only ever entry not to be sung entirely in Italian...
".