"Con te partirò"(Italian:[konˈteppartiˈrɔ];"With You I Shall Depart" ), also known as "Por ti Volare",is an Italian song written byFrancesco Sartori(music) andLucio Quarantotto(lyrics). It was first performed byAndrea Bocelliat the1995 Sanremo Music Festivaland recorded on his album of the same year,Bocelli.The single was first released as anA-sidesingle with "Vivere"in 1995, topping the charts, first in France, where it became one of thebest-selling singles of all-time,and then in Belgium, breaking the all-time record sales there.
"Con te partirò" | ||||
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![]() One of artworks for European release, also used for Japanese mini CD release under different pressing | ||||
SinglebyAndrea Bocelli | ||||
from the albumBocelli | ||||
B-side | "Vivere" | |||
Released | 21 February 1995 | |||
Genre | Operatic pop | |||
Length | 4:09 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Composer(s) | Francesco Sartori | |||
Lyricist(s) | Lucio Quarantotto | |||
Andrea Bocellisingles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Con te partirò" by Andrea BocellionYouTube |
A second version of the song, sung partly inEnglish,released in 1996 as "Time to Say Goodbye",paired Bocelli with BritishsopranoSarah Brightman,and achieved even greater success, topping charts all across Europe, including Germany, where it became the biggest-selling single in history. Brightman and Bocelli produced a version with Brightman singing inGermanand Bocelli inItalian,with this version being available on the CDTime to Say Goodbye.[1][2]That version alone has now sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, making it one of thebest-selling singles of all time.[3]
Background
editThe song's original single release byPolydor Recordswas not commercially successful in Italy, and received minorradio airplaythere. Elsewhere it was a massive hit; in France and Switzerland, the single topped the charts for six weeks, earning a triple Gold sales award. In Belgium, it became the biggest hit of all time, spending 12 weeks at No. 1.[4]
Critical reception
editPan-European magazineMusic & Mediawrote about the song, "TheBeneluxtriumph of poppy tenor Andrea Bocelli continues with this excellent seasonal anthem, which wisely leaves the singer’s classically trained voice in the spotlight. The orchestral arrangements take a back seat, as they should in Bocelli's case. "[5]After Sarah Brightman released her version,Larry FlickfromBillboardstated that she "has one of the truly glorious voices in musical theater". He described the song as a "lushly orchestral piece".[6]British magazineMusic Weekrated the duet version five out of five, picking it as Single of the Week. They added, "Mostly sung in Italian, it has a beautiful, soaring melody that gives it trueNessun Dormapotential. "[7]
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
Decade-end chartsedit
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Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Belgium (BEA)[20] | Platinum | 50,000* |
France | — | 900,000[21] |
Italy (FIMI)[22] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
*Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Duet version
edit"Time to Say Goodbye" | ||||
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Artwork for European release | ||||
SinglebySarah BrightmanandAndrea Bocelli | ||||
from the albumRomanza,The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere, FlyandTime to Say Goodbye / Timeless | ||||
Released | 15 November 1996 | |||
Genre | Operatic pop | |||
Label | East West | |||
Composer(s) | Francesco Sartori | |||
Lyricist(s) | Lucio Quarantotto | |||
Producer(s) | Frank Peterson | |||
Andrea Bocellisingles chronology | ||||
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Live video | ||||
"Time to Say Goodbye" (live, 2007) by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah BrightmanonYouTube | ||||
Sarah Brightmansingles chronology | ||||
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In Germany,East West Records,in conjunction with Polydor, marketed a lyrically changed version of "Con te partirò", retitled "Time to Say Goodbye",as the theme song for the final match of boxerHenry Maske(then the light-heavyweight champion of theInternational Bo xing Federation), having seen previous success whenVangelis's "Conquest of Paradise"was also promoted via Maske's fights." Time to Say Goodbye "was also turned into a duet withSarah Brightman,who had performed "A Question of Honour"for one of Maske's previous fights. German producerFrank Peterson,who has worked with Brightman since 1991, opted to give the song an English title rather than the German title "Mit dir werde ich fortgehen".[24]Recording of the song took place at Peterson's Nemo Studio, inHamburg.[25]
The match took place on 23 November 1996, pitting Maske against AmericanVirgil Hill,and drew a television broadcast audience of over 21 million. Bocelli and Brightman performed the song to open the match, and it was used again during Maske's exit, poignantly, as Hill had won the match by split decision. It was the only loss of Maske's career.[24]
By December, the "Time to Say Goodbye" single, released on 15 November 1996 through East West, had reached number one on theGerman singles chart,with sales estimated at 40,000–60,000 per day and projected for at least one million by the end of the year. Both singers' albums also received a boost in sales. Airplay on German radio stations such asNorddeutscher Rundfunkwas well received by listeners.[24]By February of the following year, the single had broken the all-time sales record in Germany with 1.65 million sales,[26]and would eventually get certified 11× Gold for selling over 2,750,000 copies.[27]
"Time to Say Goodbye" reached number two on theUK Singles Chartupon its release there in May 1997, and was certified gold.[28]It remained in the top 30 for another two months, helped by steady radio airplay onBBC Radio 2,which was overtakingRadio 1in popularity with anMOR-orientated playlist.[29]
The duet was included on Brightman's 1997 albumTimeless,re-titled asTime to Say Goodbyein the U.S. with the song itself moved to the start of the album.[25]Brightman has also recorded a solo version, which was released on the duet single as well as later albums includingClassicsandDiva: The Singles Collection.A live version was released onThe Harem World Tour: Live from Las VegasCD as well as her various tour DVDs. Bocelli and Brightman have performed the duet together publicly several times including Bocelli's "Statue of Liberty concert" held in New York City, and "Live in Tuscany" concerts.[30][31]
On December 26, 2024,Netflixreleased thesecond seasonofSquid Game,which features the song in the first episode, asGong Yoo's character "The Recruiter" plays the song during hisRussian roulettegame againstLee Jung-jae's character,Seong Gi-hun.[32]
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
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Certifications and sales
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPIAustria)[55] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Brazil | — | 50,000[56] |
Germany (BVMI)[27] | 11× Gold | 3,000,000[57] |
Japan (RIAJ)[58] Sarah Brightman solo version |
Gold | 100,000* |
Switzerland (IFPISwitzerland)[59] | 2× Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] | Platinum | 600,000^ |
*Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Germany | 15 November 1996 | CD | East West | [39] |
United Kingdom | 12 May 1997 |
|
|
[61] |
Donna Summer version
edit"I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)" | ||||
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SinglebyDonna Summer | ||||
Released | 1999 | |||
Genre | House | |||
Length | 3:58 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Composer(s) | Francesco Sartori | |||
Lyricist(s) | Lucio Quarantotto | |||
Producer(s) | Hex Hector | |||
Donna Summersingles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)" by Donna SummeronYouTube |
"I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)"is adanceversion performed by American singerDonna Summer,which went to number one on the US dance chart.[62]Her version also peaked at number two on the Spanishsingles chartsand number three on the SpanishRadio chart.[63]As of 1999, it has sold over 221,000 units in the United States.[64]
Critical reception
editChuck TaylorfromBillboardwrote that the song is a "deliciously grand interpretation of the smash Andrea Bocelli/Sarah Brightman ballad" Time To Say Goodbye "-replete with romantic new lyrics. Summer is in peak vocal form, alternating between technically sharp note-scaling and warmly soulful vamping." He also added that she is "complemented by clubland heroHex Hector's well-measured production, which couples melodramatic faux-classical string flourishes with time-sensitive dance beats. "[65]
Charts
editChart (1999) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[66] | 97 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling UnderFlanders)[67] | 6 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[68] | 59 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[69] | 2 |
UK Singles(OCC)[70] | 44 |
USBillboardHot 100[71] | 79 |
USDance Club Songs(Billboard)[72] | 1 |
Other cover versions
editSince its release, the song has spawned numerous other versions and been performed by numerous other singers. Notable alternative versions include "Por ti volaré", a Spanish version with significantly modified lyrics.
- Paloma San Basiliorecorded a version sung in Spanish on the albumClásicamente Tuyain 1997.
- Nana Mouskourirecorded a version on the 1997 album,Hommages.
- Al Banorecorded a version on the 1998 album,Il nuovo concertoand on the 2013 compilationCanta Sanremo.
- A Taiwanese singerA-Mei(Zhang Hui Mei) recorded the song inChinese,in 2000, on the albumGe Sheng Mei YingwithHong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
- In 2001,JourneyguitaristNeal Schonreleased a solo album,Voice,which features an instrumental version of the song.
- In 2004, trumpeterChris Bottireleased his rendition onWhen I Fall in Love.[73]
- Welsh mezzo-sopranoKatherine Jenkinsincluded the song on her 2004 album,Second Nature.Jenkins' version was also released as a single on 21 February 2005.
- The song was covered by Italian house DJGigi D'Agostinoin his 2006 compilation album,Some Experiments.[74]
- American singerNick Palancerecorded this song on his solo CD,Memoirs in Song,in 2006.
- Grégory Lemarchalrecorded a version for his album,La voix d'un ange,which was posthumously released in 2007.
- New Zealand singerHayley Westenraincluded a version on her 2007 album,Amazing Grace – The Best of Hayley Westenra.
- Swedish singerSanna Nielsen's English-Swedish version was included in her 2007 album,Sanna 11–22.
- André RieuwithMirusia Louwersealso recorded a version of this song on the album,You'll Never Walk Alone.Mirusia and André Rieu also performed the song at the coronation of the king of Netherlands, Koning Willem Alexander, which was recorded for the DVD and CDRieu Royale.
- South African tenorFanie de Jagerrecorded the song on his classical CD,My Classical Soul,in 2007.
- Thepipes and drumsof theRoyal Scots Dragoon Guardscovered the song for their 2007 album,Spirit of the Glen.
- Japanese classical-crossover singerKanonrecorded a version of the song and included it on her 2007 album,Precious.
- The 2008 filmStep Brothershas as its climaxWill Ferrellsinging "Por ti Volaré", a Spanish-translated version of the song, incorporating a drum solo byJohn C. Reilly;Ferrell actually sang the part for the film.[75]
- In 2009,Mark Vincentrecorded the version for his debut studio album,My Dream – Mio Visione.
- French classical-crossover tenorAmaury Vassilialso did the same on his 2010 album,Canterò.
- British singerJoe McElderryrecorded the song on his 2011 album,Classic,and made a video of it.[76]
- Operatic pop groupIl Divocovered the song on their 2011 album,Wicked Game.
- The song was covered byVampire WeekendforStarbucks'Sweetheart 2014compilation.[77]
- The song was also covered byLauren Aquilinain 2015, which was used to advert the season six ofDownton Abbey.[78][79]
- In 2016,Marina PriorandMark Vincentcovered the song on their albumTogether.
- In May 2016, Bocelli performed the song at theKing Power Stadiumin honour ofLeicester City Football Club's2015–16 Premier Leaguetitle win and in honour of Bocelli's friend, then-Leicester City manager and fellow ItalianClaudio Ranieri.
- Celtic Womancovered the song, in English, on their 2016 album,Celtic Woman: Voices of Angels.
- Internet personalityLudwig Ahgrencovered the song, mainly as a ruse to make it seem like anArtificial Intelligenceversion using his voice,[80]in 2023. A fully produced music video has been uploaded to one of hisYouTubechannels.[81]
Samples and interpolations
editThe song has beensampledorinterpolatedin the following:
- In 2008, Danish pop duoThe Loftreleased their single "Kiss You Goodbye" based on "Con te partirò" / "Time to Say Goodbye" and containing samples from the original.
- In 2009,Twenty One Pilotssampled and featured the song throughout their similarly named "Time to Say Goodbye".,[82]withTyler Josephprimarily rapping his verses over its reimagined track.
- Jason DeruloandDavid Guettainterpolated "Time to Say Goodbye" on their 2018 single "Goodbye"featuringNicki MinajandWilly William.The song is included on David Guetta's seventh studio album,7.
- In May 2019, an unreleased song titled "Livin' So Italian" byKanye WestandJay-Zsurfaced on the Internet, and featured a sample of Andrea Bocelli's "Con te partirò". The track was originally meant to appear on their 2011 collaborative albumWatch the Throne,but never made the final tracklist due to them being unable to clear the sample.
See also
editReferences
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Time To Say Goodbye, que já vendeu cerca de 50 mil cópias no Brasil
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