Marianne (Sergio Endrigo song)

"Marianne"
Single by Sergio Endrigo
Language	Italian
B-side	"Il dolce paese"
Released	April 1968
Genre	Pop
Length	3:06
Label	Cetra
Songwriter(s)	Sergio Endrigo
Sergio Endrigo singles chronology
"Canzone per te" (1968) "Marianne" (1968) "La colomba" (1968)
Eurovision Song Contest 1968 entry
Country	Italy
Artist(s)	Sergio Endrigo
Language	Italian
Composer(s)	Sergio Endrigo
Lyricist(s)	Sergio Endrigo
Conductor	Giancarlo Bigazzi
Finals performance
Final result	10th
Final points	7
Entry chronology
◄ "Non andare più lontano" (1967)
"Due grosse lacrime bianche" (1969) ►

"Marianne" was a song composed, written, and recorded by Italian singer Sergio Endrigo. It represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968 held in London, placing tenth. Cliff Richard recorded later a cover version of the song with English lyrics written by Bill Owen.

"Marianne" was composed, written, and recorded by Sergio Endrigo. It is a ballad, with the singer expressing his love for the title character. He sings, however, that she never stays with him, and he wonders about what she is doing. Nonetheless, his feelings for her remain unaltered. In addition to the Italian language original version, he also recorded a version with French lyrics by Jacques Chaumelle [fr].^[1]

Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI) internally selected "Marianne" performed by Endrigo as it entrant for the 13th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.^[2]

On 6 April 1968, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Endrigo performed "Marianne" eleventh on the evening, following France's "La source" by Isabelle Aubret and preceding the UK's "Congratulations" by Cliff Richard. Giancarlo Bigazzi conducted the event's orchestra in the performance of the Italian entry.^[3]

At the close of voting, the song had received 7 points, placing it tenth in a field of seventeen. It was succeeded as Italian representative at the 1969 contest by "Due grosse lacrime bianche" by Iva Zanicchi.

"Marianne"
Cover of the single released in Germany
Single by Cliff Richard
from the album Established 1958
B-side	"Mr. Nice"
Released	20 September 1968
Recorded	2 July 1968[4]
Studio	Chappell Studios, London
Genre	Pop
Length	3:19
Label	Columbia
Composer(s)	Sergio Endrigo
Lyricist(s)	Bill Owen
Producer(s)	Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"I'll Love You Forever Today" (1968) "Marianne" (1968) "Don't Forget to Catch Me" (1968)

Following the Contest, it was rewritten in English by Bill Owen for Cliff Richard to record. "Marianne" features an accompaniment by the Mike Leander Orchestra and was released as a single in September with the B-side "Mr. Nice", written by Terry Britten.^[4] It peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.^[5]

Reviewing for Record Mirror, Peter Jones described "Marianne" as "a really lovely ballad, a hymn of praise to a chick, and Richard really shows off his vocal range, to a swelling, swirling orchestral backing laid down lovingly by Mike Leander. As ever, it's a distinctive vocal treatment and perhaps Richard's most ambitious bit of actually singing on record".^[6] For New Musical Express, Derek Johnson described the song as "a piquant and emotional ballad" that "certainly doesn't register with an immediate impact. But once you've heard it a few times, you'll find that the haunting melody is firmly implanted in your mind, and you just can't lose it".^[7]

7": Columbia / DB 8476

1. "Marianne" – 3:19
2. "Mr. Nice" – 2:13

7": Columbia / DSA 834 (South Africa)

1. "Marianne" – 3:19
2. "Close to Kathy" – 2:48