“To those who click through to our tormentoni playlist, be warned. You might have some sleepless, summer nights ahead of you.”
It’s a sunny July day, you’re at an Italian bagno, and Italy’s Top 40 Hits have been blasting since 8 AM. After the fifth repetition of the unshuffled playlist, you’re wishing for something, anything, else to play. Whatever idea you had of a tranquil day on the coast is being ruined by the constant club music pumping in the background.
And it’s not like you can escape the songs once you leave the bagno: shops, restaurants, stores, bars, and supermercati across the boot all play them too, following you from your morning al mare to the depths of your consciousness, playing on repeat in your head as you desperately attempt to fall asleep. These, in essence, are tormentoni, those indefatigable, catchy, never-that-musically-advanced songs that take on somehow even more personality in summer.
This inextricable link between tormentoni and summer is something understood by the music industry too. The term first appears in 1961, used by music critics at Sanremo to insult Nico Fidenco’s song “Legata a un granello di sabbia“. Following the rejection, the label decides to convert the song into a seasonal single, releasing it four months later in June… Flaunting in the faces of those critics, the ballad is the first Italian single to sell one million copies. From that moment, the market of songs designed to be listened to in 40-degree weather beachside is unlocked. Moving forward, it’s a genre that owes much of its success in Italy to Festivalbar, the iconic music festival and television program of Italian summers that provides a platform for emerging, as well as one-hit-wonder, talent.
But however annoying tormentoni might be in summer, after temperatures slink back down and tans fade, we crave these songs that evoke memories of lapping waves, melting gelato, barefoot dancing, sizzling sunshine, and carefree nights of summers past. Here, the tormentoni of the 90s through the 2000s–and a corresponding playlist that captures the sounds of many an iconic estate Italiana, no matter if you press play in August or October.
1990: Our story begins in 1990 when Italy dreams of winning the World Cup after an agonizing eight years. Their beacon of hope? Star player Totò Schillaci. Their anthem? “Un’Estate Italiana” by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini, composed by Giorgio Moroder. The song mentions “notti magiche” (“magical nights”) that Italians have all summer long until Maradona’s Argentina beats Italy in the semi-finals.
1991: The biggest success of 1991 comes from abroad with American singer Crystal Waters’ “Gypsy Woman“, while Gino Paoli wins Festivalbar with “Quattro Amici“, a song about the disillusionment of four friends of his generation.
1992: Melancholy continues into 1992 with Luca Carboni’s “Mare mare“, another Festivalbar winner. Although the title refers to Italians’ favorite summer destination, the song tells the story of a man hopelessly searching for a woman who will never show up for their date. The 90s summers are a bit emo.
1993: 1993’s first hit follows suit with a tale of unrequited love, accompanied this time by synthesizers and electronic instruments: “What is Love” by Trinidanian Haddaway becomes an instant symbol of 90s dance music. Meanwhile, Italy appreciates the rock duo 883 with lead singer Max Pezzali and guitarist Mauro Repetto; their song “Nord Sud Ovest Est” follows the success of the previous year’s “Hanno ucciso l’uomo ragno“.
1994: While Silvio Berlusconi makes his mark on the political scene, Corona’s swanky “The Rhythm of the Night” becomes a radio sensation. Although the frontwoman is Brazilian model Olga de Souza, the iconic voice behind the microphone is that of the Italian Jenny B, who will go on to win Sanremo Giovani six years later. The lyrically simple song becomes so synonymous with the decade that it is unquestionably included in any 90s revival playlist (and you can find people from all generations unashamedly singing along).
Giuni Russo, 1982
1995: In 1995, we dance to the international hit “Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)” by the American Scatman John, a song popularized in Italy through the Vanzina brothers’ films and internationally immortalized through its current popularity as a sound for social media videos. On the national front, we jam to 883’s “Tieni il tempo”, and Zucchero’s “Per colpa di chi” catchy refrain teaches us to always say “si”.
1996: Spanish duo Los del Río has the whole world up and dancing (in unison!) to the “Macarena“–a song as synonymous with an Italian summer as it is with present-day wedding receptions. Although it was recorded three years earlier, the song gains and retains global success starting in 1996. The seemingly upbeat lyrics actually tell the story of a woman–named Macarena–who takes advantage of her boyfriend’s military service to cheat on and betray him… At least it’s a fun dance.
1997: 1997’s summer hit, from Denmark, is all about glitz and glamor: Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” cheekily proclaims that “life in plastic is fantastic”. As this song makes a comeback in 2023 with the Barbie movie, Iezzi sisters Paola and Chiara also return to the scene (following a 25-year hiatus) with the songs “Furore” and “Mare Caos”. Back in 1997, their song “Bella” gained popularity at Festivalbar following their victory in Sanremo Giovani with “Amici come prima”.
1998: In 1998, Italy is living la vida loca. The World Cup’s, and the summer’s, official anthem is “La copa de la vida” by Puerto Rican Enrique Martin Morales, better known as Ricky Martin. The song’s success follows “Un dos tres” and continues to flood Italian bagni with Latin dance pop.
1999: Musically, the last year of the 20th century goes out with a bang. At Festivalbar, veteran Jovanotti emerges victorious with “Raggio di sole“. Then, all women named Monica, Erica, Rita, Tina, Sandra, Mary, and Jessica have their 15 minutes of summer fame with the jazzy track “Mambo no. 5” by German phenomenon Lou Bega. But the headliner of the summer is Lunapop, an Emilian band led by frontman Cesare Cremonini. After facing rejections from multiple record companies, the Universo label finally decides to release “50 Special“, the first single from their album “…Squérez?” that will go on to become the best-selling album by an Italian band in the history of national discography. It’s also the only album from the iconic group. See? Out with a bang.
2000: The new millennium kicks off on a high note with Italian sisters Paola and Chiara’s “Vamos a Bailar (Esta Vida Nueva)“, which is elected as the “best tormentone ever” by readers of the Italian magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni in 2009. Although the sisters don’t win Festivalbar–the award goes to Lunapop and their song “Qualcosa di grande” (perhaps as compensation for the previous year’s oversight)–the LGBT icons leave an indelible mark on the memory of the Italian public, thanks in part to a music video directed by future Oscar winner Luca Guadagnino. It’s worth mentioning the Spanish duo Jarabe de Palo and their swanky song “Depende“, which also has a successful (and danceable) Italian version.
2001: Italy sings along to “Tre Parole” by newcomer Valeria Rossi. With its light sound and almost childlike lyrics, the song is a motto for summer: “dammi tre parole: sole, cuore, amore” (“give me three words: sun, heart, love”). Although this song tops charts across Europe, Rossi soon disappears from the scene.
2002: In 2002, all the world dances salsa to “Aserejé“, the smashing hit from girl-group Las Ketchup, composed of Lola, Pilar, and Lucía Muñoz. The Spanish/English song even garners its own iconic dance. Propelled to fame by his 2002 song “Rosso relativo”, Tiziano Ferro proves the critics who dismissed him as another teenage phenomenon wrong. Although it is seemingly about sex, the song is actually about Ferro’s relationship with food. Either way, it encapsulates the themes of an Italian summer.
2003: DJ Francesco’s catchy rap song “La canzone del capitano” becomes the best-selling record of the 21st century in Italy and the title–“The Captain’s Song”–is this summer’s catchphrase. However, Festivalbar once again prefers a veteran like Eros Ramazzotti and his hit “Un’emozione per sempre“, a heartfelt love song that tops the charts all summer. “Chihuahua”, Swiss DJ BoBo’s remix of the song by Luis Oliveira and his Bandodalua Boys, is undeniably catchy, playing on repeat at bagni, in TV commercials, and, against their will, in every Italian’s head.
2004: Anastacia’s pop-y, emotionally-charged song from the U.S., “Left outside alone“, about her difficult relationship with her father, has Italians screaming along all summer long. But the summer’s guiltiest pleasure, the electronic “Dragostea din tei”, comes from the band O-Zone in Moldova.
2005: 2005 is an all-Italian musical triumph: Nek’s “Lascia che io sia“, winner of Festivalbar; nostalgic record “Estate” by newcomers Negramaro; “Marmellata #25” by Cesare Cremonini; and “Come se non fosse stato mai amore” by Laura Pausini. These songs remain the most-applauded at these artists’ concerts.
2006: 2006 is another victorious year, this time on il campo di calcio as Italy finally wins the World Cup after twenty-four years. Italians chant The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” during these heated football matches, now famously referred to as “po-popopo-popopo” after the song’s distinct opening baseline. The unintentional anthem of the Italian football team, however, is comedian Checco Zalone’s “Siamo una squadra fortissimi” (“We are a Very Strong Team”). Intentionally peppered with grammatical mistakes and sharp irony, the song is a big inside joke among Italians.
2007: In 2007, Festivalbar is discontinued due to budgetary issues. The final edition crowns Negramaro’s “Parlami d’amore“, and Irene Grandi receives the Radio Award for her song “Bruci la città“, which becomes an instant summer hit. Despite various imitation attempts, no summer event will be able to replicate Festivalbar’s success.
2008: Meanwhile, talent shows are becoming a phenomenon. In 2008, Giusy Ferreri, a former supermarket clerk who places second on X Factor, has a breakthrough with her song “Non ti scordar mai di me”, written by Tiziano Ferro. She surpasses competition from much more established singers and becomes a staple of Italian summers, delivering a hit almost every year from now until 2015 with “Roma Bangkok” (in collaboration with Baby K).
2009: In 2009, Italians jam to the promise that “tonight’s gonna be a good night” with the legendary Black Eyed Peas, who drop a bomb with their song “I Gotta Feeling“. Italians still got this same feeling, as the song is continuously blasted over a decade later. From the United States, another Italian-American pop star, Lady Gaga, makes an impact on the Italian music scene with her iconic songs “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance”.
2010: Our story, which began during the “magical Italian nights” in 1990, ends with another football World Championship, this time in South Africa. The year is remembered not only for the underwhelming performance of the Italian national team, but for the championship’s official anthem, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” by Shakira.
To those who click through to our tormentoni playlist, be warned. You might have some sleepless, summer nights ahead of you.
