Gente di mare was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1987, performed by Umberto Tozzi & Raf. The song is a blues-influenced ballad, in which the singers describe the qualities of the "people of the sea".
They describe themselves as "people of the plain", who are "prisoners of this city", while contrasting that with the freedom of the people of the sea "who leave it behind". The song was performed seventh on the night, following Sweden and preceding Portugal. At the close of voting, it finished in 3rd place with 103 points. The song was pushed over the 100-point mark in the last 3 rounds of voting thanks to 2 sets of 12-point scores from Ireland and Yugoslavia, and a good score from Switzerland.
While not winning the Contest the song achieved considerable popularity, becoming a Top 10 hit in most parts of Continental Europe and Scandinavia in the summer of 1987 (#7 Switzerland, #8 Austria, #6 Sweden) and was included on the compilations of Winners and Classics produced to coincide with the Congratulations special in late 2005.
Tozzi has performed the song several times with 1987 winner Johnny Logan in concerts, with the latter performing Raf's parts.
Lyrics
A noi che siamo gente di pianura
Navigatori esperti di città
Il mare ci fa sempre un po' paura
Per quell'idea di troppa libertà
Eppure abbiamo il sale nei capelli
Del mare abbiamo le profondità
E donne infreddolite negli scialli
Che aspettano che cosa non si sa
Gente di mare, che se ne va
Dove gli pare, dove non sa
Gente che muore di nostalgia
Ma quando torna dopo un giorno, muore
Per la voglia di andare via
(Gente di mare)
E quando ci fermiamo sulla riva
(Gente che va)
Lo sguardo all'orizzonte se ne va
(Gente di mare)
Portandoci i pensieri alla deriva
Per quell'idea di troppa libertà
Gente di mare, che se ne va
Dove gli pare, dove non sa
Gente corsara che non c'è più
Gente lontana che porta nel cuore
Questo grande fratello blu
Al di là del mare, c'è qualcuno che
C'è qualcuno che non sa niente di te
Gente di mare, che se ne va
Dove gli pare, ma dove non sa
Noi, prigionieri di queste città
Viviamo sempre di oggi e di ieri
Inchiodati dalla realtà
E la gente di mare va
(Gente di mare che se ne va) Che se ne va
(Dove gli pare) Ma dove non sa
Noi, prigionieri di queste grandi città
Viviamo sempre di oggi e di ieri
Inchiodati dalla realtà
E la gente di mare va
We, people from the plains
Excellent drivers in the city
Are always a little scared of the sea
Because of the idea of too much freedom
And although we have the salt in our hair
We have the depth of the sea in our souls
And freezing women in their shawls
Waiting for something which nobody knows
People of the sea, who leave it behind
Going to where they like, they don't know where
People dying of nostalgia
But when they go back after one day, they die
Of the desire to go away
(People of the sea)
And when we stop on the shore
(People who go)
Our look goes to the horizon
(People of the sea)
Bringing our thoughts adrift
Because of the idea of too much freedom
People of the sea, who leave it behind
Going to where they like, they don't know where
Buccaneer people who are no more
Faraway people carrying in their hearts
This big blue brother
At the other side of the sea, there's someone who
There's someone who knows nothing about you
People of the sea, who leave it behind
Going to where they like, they don't know where
We, prisoners of these cities
We always live for today and for yesterday
Nailed down by reality
And the people of the sea go
(People of the sea, who leave it behind) Who leave it behind
(Going where they like) They don't know where
We, prisoners of these big cities
We always live for today and for yesterday
Nailed down by reality
And the people of the sea go
| Eurovision Song Contest 1987 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Kate Gulbrandsen •  Datner & Kushnir •  Gary Lux •  Halla Margrét •  Liliane Saint-Pierre •  Lotta Engberg •  Umberto Tozzi & Raf •  Nevada •  Patricia Kraus •  Seyyal Taner & Locomotif •  Bang •  Marcha •  Plastic Bertrand •  Rikki •  Christine Minier •  Wind •  Alexia •  Vicky Rosti & Boulevard •  Anne-Cathrine Herdorf & Bandjo •  Johnny Logan •  Novi Fosili •  Carol Rich
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Mitt liv • Shir Habatlanim • Nur noch Gefühl • Hægt og hljótt • Soldiers of Love • Boogaloo • Gente di Mare • Neste barco à vela • No estás solo • Şarkım Sevgi Üstüne • Stop • Rechtop in de wind • Amour, Amour • Only the Light • Les mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche • Laß die Sonne in dein Herz • Aspro Mavro • Sata salamaa • En lille melodi • Hold Me Now • Ja sam za ples • Moitié-Moitié
| |||
Videos
Italie 1987 eurovision umberto tozzi & raff gente di mare vidéo clip italia
Eurovision 1987 Italy - Umberto Tozzi & Raf - Gente di mare