Rimmel (song)
| "Rimmel" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Francesco De Gregori | ||||
| from the album Rimmel | ||||
| Released | 1975 | |||
| Length | 3:41 | |||
| Label | RCA Italiana | |||
| Francesco De Gregori singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "Rimmel" on YouTube | ||||
"Rimmel" is a song by Italian singer Francesco De Gregori, released in 1975.
Composition
De Gregori composed the song in the summer of 1974 in Milan, while he was staying in a hotel and waiting to take part in a RAI TV-show.[1]
A reflection about a lost love told through metaphors and puns,[2] it is said to have been inspired by De Gregori's breakup with his then-fiancée Patrizia, who left him for comedian Ninì Salerno.[3]
Reception
The song was described by Italian music critic Claudio Fabretti as "a defining divide for the whole of Italian music", with "love taking on a broader and deeper meaning. It breaks through the narrow confines of the couple's relationship, it becomes a universal sentiment, which unites men and at the same time condemns them to pain, to distance. It is the only prospect of salvation and, at the same time, a possible permanent damnation".[4]
Other versions
Artists who covered the song include Gianni Morandi, Tiziano Ferro, Fiorello and Paolo Benvegnù.[1][5] In 2025, De Gregori recorded a duet version of the song with Checco Zalone for the album Pastiche.[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rimmel" | De Gregori | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Piccola mela" | De Gregori | 2:45 |
Charts
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[7] | 18 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (FIMI)[8] Sales from 2009 |
Platinum | 100,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ a b Deregibus, Enrico (2020). "Rimmel". Francesco De Gregori. I testi. La storia delle canzoni. Giunti Editore. ISBN 978-88-09-90422-4.
- ^ Salvatori, Dario (2001). "Rimmel". Dizionario delle canzoni italiane. Elle U. p. 292. ISBN 8888169016.
- ^ Guglielmi, Federico (1 April 2017). "Francesco De Gregori: le storie e il significato di "Rimmel"". Fanpage.it. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ Fabretti, Claudio (25 March 2011). Francesco De Gregori: Fra le pagine chiare e le pagine scure (in Italian). LIT Edizioni. ISBN 978-88-6231-637-8.
- ^ Giordana, Maurilio (31 January 2025). ""Rimmel" ha 50 anni. Le versioni "cover" delle nove canzoni". Rockol (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "Francesco De Gregori e Checco Zalone, il video del duetto di Rimmel". Sky TG24 (in Italian). 13 March 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2025. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". In the "Artista" field, type "Francesco De Gregori". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Rimmel".
- ^ "Italian single certifications" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 22 April 2024.