Toto Cutugno was an Italian singer-songwriter who started his artistic career not as a singer, but as a drummer. Before forming a group called 'Albatros', a group that will allow him to popularize his own songs.
It was in 1976 that he first stood out with his group when he participated in the Sanremo Festival with the title "Volo AZ-504". Festival which he won 4 years later with the title "Solo noi", a title which will bring him his first major success.
But it was not until 1983 to finally achieve worldwide recognition thanks to the enormous Single "L’Italiano", single which remains to this day his most successful record.
In the years that will follow, even if the singer will never equal the performance achieved on the previous track, he will still finish 6 times second at the San Remo Festival with tracks like "Serenata" in 1984, "Figli" in 1987, “Emozioni” in 1988, “Le mamme” in 1989 and “Gli amori” in 1990.
A year 1990 which will remain one of his best vintages since he also won the Grand Eurovision Song Contest that year with the title "Insieme : 1992", just that ! Title which will be his last notorious success.
The artist will have had several very high caliber successes in a personal capacity but also by composing for others in particular for Joe Dassin to whom he will offer on a set 2 of his major titles namely "L'été indien" and "Et si tu n'existais pas”. But also for Dalida to whom he will give one of his biggest Dance hits with the title "Laissez moi danser".
Artist who will leave us on August 22, 2023 at the age of 80 following prostate cancer.
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
70s Decade :
L'été indien (Joe Dassin) 1975
Volo AZ-504 (Albatros) 1976
Come ieri, come oggi, come sempre 1976
Donna donna mia 1977
Fly 1978
Voglio l’anima 1979
Una serata come tante 1979
Se vai via 1979
80s Decade :
Solo noi 1980
Flash 1980
Innamorati 1980
Solo tu solo yo 1980
Aio' aio' polinesia 1981
La mia musica 1981
Con te 1982
L’italiano 1983
Un'estate con te 1983
Serenata 1984
Mi piacerebbe (andare al mare al lunedi) 1985
Azzurra malinconia 1986
Buonanotte 1986
Figli 1987
Mediterraneo 1987
Una domenica italiana 1987
Emozioni 1988
Napoli 1988
Le mamme 1989
90s Decade :
Gli amori 1990
Insieme : 1992 1990
Quelli come noi 1991
Voglio che tu sia 1991
Che sera 1992
Se mi ami (Mediterraneo) 1994
Voglio andare a vivere in campagna 1995
Faccia pulita 1997
Come è difficile essere uomini 1997
Fino all'ultimo 1997
2000s Decade :
Il treno va 2002
Siamo encora noi 2002
Come noi nessuno al mondo 2004
Se una donna se ne va 2005
L'amore è...amare l'amore 2005
Chico siciliano 2008
Un falco chiuso in gabbia 2008
Con te ci sto 2008
2010s Decade :
Ancora vita 2013
Tracks :
1975... the story begins with this absolutely sumptuous gift that he will give to Joe Dassin. He quite simply composes here one of the most beautiful titles of this end of the 20th century, a title which will undoubtedly remain as one of the Masterpieces of the Intimist register on the French side. A-MA-ZING !
1976 ... the singer gradually emerges from the shadows. A singer who will become in a few years one of the indisputable and undisputed stars of Italian song !
1976... it is clear that there is still a little work to be done before appearing among the Elite but the potential is there in any case. It's just a matter of time as they say...
1977 ... who would imagine at this stage that this song, when it will be transposed into a French version for Hervé Vilard the following year, will become one of the flagship titles of the end of the decade on the French side. A quality of writing in the Intimist decidedly extraordinary !
1978...paradoxically he will obtain less success with his own titles than with those he will write for others. And it will be like this until the end...
1979 ... the Italian version of what will become a huge hit in France. And yes, one more ! A certain Dalida will cover it under the title "Laissez moi danser". We know the rest ...!
1979... after it was others who reaped the fruits of his labor is just as rewarding for him. At least that proves that his talent is really above average...
1979...this also allows him to pursue 2 careers in parallel : one as a singer and the other as a composer. Ideal scenario...
1980 ... the beginning of the solo consecration. He finally won San Remo with this title, a victory that will make him one of the big phenomena of the moment ...
1980...all that remains is for him to produce THE title which will finally dedicate him to the height of his enormous talent. Patience, patience...
1980... it will not be for this year 1980 but we know that it will inevitably happen at some point. It can not be otherwise...
1980...especially since on the production side of titles he goes all out, as they say. It is therefore certain that the best is yet to come...
1981...all his titles can't be masterpieces, that's for sure. For this one we will say that it is the playful and festive side that saves the day...
1981... for the consecration it will not be for this year 1981 yet but each new title brings him inexorably closer...
1982 ... a recognizable style, just like the voice. A factory brand that will always set him apart from the crowd and that will do wonders for the following title ...
1983 ... then THIS title comes ! The title of the ultimate consecration which will forever remain as his Masterpiece and which offers him a direct ticket to posterity. MAS-TER-FUL !
1983...certainly, now that he has reached the top of the mountain, he will have to come back down. As gently as possible...
1984... he will never repeat the feat achieved with 'L'Italiano' but he will still make the good days of the San Remo Festival for a few more years...
1985 ... what was the strength of his unique style at the beginning of the 80s will isolate him more and more during the second half of the decade. Tastes change as they say ...
1986 ... it is clear that he is struggling to situate himself in this second half of the decade. The talent is still there but it's the style that is starting to look a little outdated ...
1986... a questioning becomes more and more obvious but not sure that he wants to put everything back on track. Attention danger...
1987 ... even if he continues to exist in Italy, it is clear that he is gradually disappearing from international radars. Hard law of the trade ...
1987... his inability to reinvent himself will unfortunately cost him dearly. Too bad because he was quite capable of it...
1987... after everyone pursues his career as he wishes. If he decided not to change anything why would he force himself to change anything...
1988 ... a title with a certain lyricism but the goodwill of the singer is no longer sufficient to keep him in contact with the best. An end of the adventure slowly but surely on the horizon ...
1988...at least the end of an adventure at the highest level. Because the adventure is far from over but it is clear that the best years are now behind...
1989 ... he evidently missed the train of changes at the end of the decade. His style is now really too out of step with the rest of the competition ...
1990 ... his talent is still evident but what young people expect is far from what he now offers. Only his base fans remain to still believe in him ...
1990 ... his last major success. Even if he will continue to produce albums, these will go somewhat unnoticed ...
1991 ... and yet, it is clear that he still has some under the pedal. When we see this kind of title, everything could still have been possible ...
1991... it is clear that the gap with the competition is such now that there is no longer any hope of seeing him return to the front of the race, that's for sure...
1992 ... a track which spins at the speed of light and which shows above all that he does not intend to let go. But at some point, we will still have to give way to young people ...
1994... for the moment in any case there is no question for him of giving up extending the adventure a little bit longer. Rightly or wrongly, that's something else...
1995 ... the adventure continues for good. But there is only him to believe in it now. A desire to move forward that commands respect and that we can only salute. Hats off to this artist who can always boast of having written several exceptional titles !
1997...the main thing for him now is to simply take pleasure in what he does. A worthy goal...
1997...a timeless title that we will appreciate at its fair value. It's also the magic of music to be able to produce this kind of title...
1997... the advantage with titles with finesse is that they are out of time and out of fashion. And that the artist understood it very well...
2002...and here he is attacking this new decade 2000 with the firm intention of not letting go as usual. We won't remake him again as they say...
2002...another title outside of time that is quite simply good. Nothing fancy, just a good job...
2004... he said to himself that at 2 it would be even better and here he is in a duet of shock and charm on a title which works very well...
2005...will he have the strength to continue for years and years, not sure. The weight of the decades is seriously beginning to weigh on his shoulders...
2005...afterwards, only him knows his limits and they are not reached at first sight. To the delight of the fans, of course...
2008...here he is again once again which proves that he will not give up until the end. Impressive resistance to wear and tear over time...
2008...he will sing until his body no longer allows him to do so, it is clear. Who would blame him honestly...
2008... now it remains to be seen if we will see him again next decade. Only him and fate know the answer...
2013...and here he is again, but this time it will indeed be the last time. On the other hand, when you see the full extent of his career and all that he has produced, he deserved to stop there...
Wiki :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :