"Spaccacuore"
Single by Samuele Bersani
from the album Freak
Released1995
GenrePop
Length4:25
LabelPressing
Songwriter(s)Samuele Bersani, Lucio Dalla, Giuseppe D'Onghia
Producer(s)Giuseppe D'Onghia
Samuele Bersani singles chronology
"Freak"
(1995) 		"Spaccacuore"
(1995) 		"Cosa vuoi da me"
(1995)
Music video
"Spaccacuore" on YouTube

"Spaccacuore" is a song written by Italian singer-songwriters Samuele Bersani and Lucio Dalla, together with Giuseppe D'Onghia. The song was recorded by Bersani for his 1995's second studio set Freak, and it was released as the album's second single in 1995. The song later became one of his best-known songs in Italy.[1]

The song was covered by various artists, including Laura Pausini, who released it as the second single from Io canto in 2007. She also recorded a Spanish-language version of the song, under the title "Dispárame, dispara".

Samuele Bersani version

Background and release

Samuele Bersani wrote the song for his second studio album, Freak, which was released in 1995. He composed the music with Giuseppe D'Onghia, while the lyrics were written by Bersani with popular singer-songwriter Lucio Dalla.[2] "Spaccacuore" describes the feelings of a man who is experiencing the end of a love relationship.[3] The song, produced and arranged by Giuseppe D'Onghia,[4] was released as the album's second single in 1995.[5]

Its release was anticipated by Bersani's label because the album's first single, "Freak", included lyrics citing the Italian centre-right political area, as well as the Italian Communist Party, therefore its promotion was stopped by some Italian radio stations due to the Fairness Doctrine policy during the electoral campaign which preceded 1995's Italian local and regional elections.[5]

Media appearances

It was featured on the soundtrack of 2001's film Chiedimi se sono felice,[6] starring Italian comedians Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo, who also directed it together with Massimo Venier.[7] It was also included in Bersani's compilation albums Che vita!, released in 2002,[8] and Psyco – 20 anni di canzoni, published in 2012.[9]

Bersani performed the song during 1995's itinerant music show Festivalbar, broadcast in Italy by Mediaset TV channel Italia 1.[10]

Track listing

CD single (1995)
  1. "Spaccacuore" – 4:25

Charts and certifications

Laura Pausini version

"Spaccacuore"
Single by Laura Pausini
from the album Io canto
Released19 January 2007
Recorded2006 – Hanson Recording Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California; O.R.S. Oliveta Recording Studios, Castelbolognese, Ravenna, Italy; Sage Studio, Los Angeles, California
GenrePop
Length4:09
LabelAtlantic Records
Songwriter(s)Samuele Bersani, Lucio Dalla, Giuseppe D'Onghia
Producer(s)Laura Pausini, Daniel Vuletic
Laura Pausini singles chronology
"Io canto"
(2006) 		"Spaccacuore"
(2007) 		"Non me lo so spiegare"
(2007)
Music video
"Spaccacuore" on YouTube

Laura Pausini also recorded a cover of the song for her album Io canto, released in 2006. The song was chosen as the album's second single on 19 January 2007.[13] The Spanish-language version of the song, titled "Dispárame, dispara" and featured on the Hispanic version of the album, Yo canto, was the first single from the set,[14] and it was chosen as the opening theme of the Mexican telenovela Amar sin límites.[15]

The Spanish-language version is also included on the Spanish edition of Pausini's second compilation album, 20 – Grandes Éxitos.

Live performances

Laura Pausini performed the Spanish-language version of the song during her concert at the San Siro stadium in Milan, on 2 June 2007.[16] This performance was later featured on the video album recorded during the concert, San Siro 2007.[17] The two versions of her 2009's album, Laura Live World Tour 09 and Laura Live Gira Mundial 09, also include a Spanish-language and an Italian-language live version of the song, respectively.[18][19]

Music video

The music video for the song, with a total length of 4 minutes and 8 seconds, was directed by Gaetano Morbioli.[20] During the video, Pausini is shown while moving in a few centimeters of water, while a video wall in the background shows images creating a dark atmosphere.[20]

Controversy

Immediately after the release of the album, Bersani commented on Pausini's version of the song stating: "It's obvious that I'm happy. 'Spaccacuore', which is ten years old now, is somehow living for a second time".[21] Despite this, in an interview released in March 2007 during Rai Radio 2's programma Viva Radio 2, presented by Rosario Fiorello and Marco Baldini, Bersani criticized Pausini's version of the song:[21] "I don't like the version of 'Spaccacuore' by Laura Pausini". He also explained that he considered its arrangement as too baroque[22] and he expressed disappointment for the decision to feature the song on Mexican telenovela Amar sin límites.[21]

Pausini commented on Bersani's interview a few days later, talking to la Repubblica's journalist Gino Castaldo: "He can tell whatever he wants, of course. But it looks strange because, when the album was released, he told that he liked the song very much. [...] Yes, I did it my way, but it's natural. I heard Bersani, and we cleared things up with each other, we are talking". She also added "The song became the opening theme of a South American telenovela, but I know that Bersani, during his concert, laughs on it, blaming it on me instead of recognizing me this merit. But it's strange, because when a song is chosen as the theme for a TV programme, it is necessary to have the consensus from the author".[23] Bersani later commented that he was criticizing the choices of promotion strategies and arrangement made by Pausini's staff, and not her rendition of the song, adding that "journalists want to see blood whatever it takes, but I don't want to play that game".[24]

Track listing

Digital download – "Spaccacuore" (2007)[25]
  1. "Spaccacuore" – 4:09
Digital download – "Dispárame, dispara" (2007)[26]
  1. "Dispárame, dispara" – 4:09

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Italy Airplay (Music Control)[28] 4
Italy Digital Downloads (FIMI)[29] 14

Other cover versions

The song was covered in 1997 by Paola Turci for the album Oltre le nuvole, entirely composed of covers.[30] Massimo Ranieri also recorded a cover of the song, including it in his album Canzoni in corso, released in 1997.[31]

References

  1. ^ Antonio Ranalli (24 September 2002). "Storie d'autore: Samuele Bersani" (in Italian). Musicalnews.com. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Archivio Opere Musicali" (in Italian). Italian Society of Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 15 August 2012. Insert Spaccacuore in the first text box, then select Autori/Editori in the second menu and insert Bersani in the second text box, and finally press Cerca.
  3. ^ Francesco Giordani. "Samuele Bersani. Il pescatore di asterischi" (in Italian). Ondarock.it. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Che vita! Il meglio di Samuele Bersani" (in Italian). Discografia Nazionale della Canzone Italiana. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Par condicio: Arriva anche quella musicale, stop a Bersani" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 27 March 1995. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Colonna sonora di Chiedimi se sono felice". Cinemaitaliano.info. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  7. ^ Roberto Chiti; Enrico Lancia; Roberto Poppi (2001). "Chiedimi se sono felice". Dizionario del cinema italiano (in Italian). Gremese Editore. p. 155. ISBN 8884403510.
  8. ^ "Samuele Bersani – Che vita!" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 9 October 2002. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Samuele Bersani – Psyco 20 anni di canzoni" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Italia 1: Festivalbar 95" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 14 July 1995.
  11. ^ "Top Singoli - Classifica settimanale WK 6 (dal 05.02.2007 al 11.02.2007)" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Italian single certifications – Samuele Bersani – Spaccacuore" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 6 August 2020. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Spaccacuore" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  13. ^ "Oggi i nuovi brani Laura Pausini sexy per Spaccacuore. A Vasco Basta poco". La Stampa (in Italian). 19 January 2007. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  14. ^ Andrea Conti (8 November 2006). "Io canto e voglio la normalità". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  15. ^ "Laura Pausini dice que canta" (in Spanish). Terra Networks. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  16. ^ Mario Luzzatto Fegiz (4 June 2007). "Luci a San Siro, il trionfo di Laura Pausini". La Stampa. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Laura Pausini – San Siro 2007" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 12 January 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  18. ^ Jason Birchmeier. "Laura Pausini – Live Gira Mundial 09". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  19. ^ "Laura Pausini – Laura Live World Tour 09". Discogs. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  20. ^ a b Stefano Paolillo (1 September 2007). "Analisi di un videoclip: "Spaccacuore" di Laura Pausini" (in Italian). Psicologiadellaudiovisivo.it. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  21. ^ a b c "Spaccacuore di Laura non mi piace". TGCOM. Mediaset. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  22. ^ "Samuele Bersani: Non mi piace la cover di Spaccacuore fatta dalla Pausini" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  23. ^ Gino Castaldo (26 March 2007). "Pausini & Ferro sul set un video per la super-coppia". la Repubblica (in Italian).
  24. ^ Matteo Cruccu (2 July 2007). "C'è chi mi crede il profeta di Vallettopoli". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  25. ^ "Laura Pausini – Spaccacuore" (in Italian). Playme.it. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  26. ^ "Disparame dispara – Single di Laura Pausini" (in Italian). iTunes Store (Italy). Apple Inc.
  27. ^ a b Io canto (booklet). Laura Pausini. Atlantic Records. 2006.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ "Music Control: Mika passa in testa e scalza Vasco dalla vetta" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 4 March 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  29. ^ "Top Singoli - Classifica settimanale WK 9 (dal 26.02.2007 al 04.03.2007)". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Musica: Paola Turci punta sulle cover" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 4 June 1997. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  31. ^ Melisanda Massei Autunnali (6 August 2004). "Massimo Ranieri: con Mauro Pagani ho ridato a Napoli la sua anima nobile". Lacanzoneitaliana.it. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
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