I Cugini di Campagna ("The Countryside Cousins") is an Italian pop band formed in 1970 in Rome. They are well known for the use of

falsetto Falsetto ( , ; Italian language, Italian diminutive of , "false") is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ...

and for their eccentric look, a cross between glam and kitsch.

Background

The band achieved some success with its first single, "Il ballo di Peppe", that was launched by the radio-program '' Alto Gradimento'' in 1970. In 1973 the band gained more success with the song " Anima mia", then they achieved a series of commercial hits until the early eighties. After a difficult period the band resurfaced in 1997, with a new lineup, thanks to the

RAI (), commercially styled as since 2000 and known until 1954 as (RAI), is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many terrestrial and subscription television channels a ...

TV-show ''Anima mia'', whose success lead to the rediscovery of their eponymous song and the band as a whole. "Anima mia" was covered by numerous artists, including

ABBA ABBA ( ) were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the List ...

singer

Anni-Frid Lyngstad Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad (born 15 November 1945), also known simply as Frida, is a Swedish singer who is best known as one of the founding members and lead singers of the pop band ABBA. Courtesy titles ''Principality of Reuss-Gera, Princess Re ...

(as "Ett liv i solen", included in her album ''

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''),

Dalida Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti (; 17 January 1933 – 3 May 1987), professionally known as Dalida (, ; ), was an Italian naturalized French singer and actress. Leading an international career, Dalida has sold over 140 million records worldwide. Some ...

Bobby Rydell Robert Louis Ridarelli (April 26, 1942 – April 5, 2022), known by the stage name Bobby Rydell (), was an American singer and actor who mainly performed rock and roll and traditional pop music. In the early 1960s, he was considered a teen idol. ...

Claudio Baglioni Claudio Baglioni (; born 16 May 1951) is an Italian Pop music, pop singer-songwriter and musician. His career has been going on for over 50 years. Considered one of the most successful pop rock singer-songwriters in the history of Italian mu ...

Piergiorgio Farina Piergiorgio Farina (25 April 1933 – 28 July 2008) was an Italian jazz violinist, composer and singer. Career Born Piergiorgio Farinelli in Goro, Ferrara, Farina was the cousin of the singer Milva Maria Ilva Biolcati, (; 17 July 1939 – ...

Gianni Meccia Giovanni "Gianni" Meccia (2 June 1931 – 9 April 2024) was an Italian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. He was often associated with Jimmy Fontana. Life and career Born in Ferrara, in 1950 Meccia moved to Rome to pursue a ...

. Since then Cugini di Campagna have produced a series of albums, containing both re-arranged versions of their earlier hits as well as new material. On 4 December 2022, it was officially announced their participation in the

Sanremo Music Festival 2023 The Sanremo Music Festival 2023 (), officially the 73rd Italian Song Festival (), was the 73rd edition of the annual Sanremo Music Festival, a television song contest held in the Teatro Ariston of Sanremo, organised and broadcast by (RAI). The ...

. "Lettera 22" was later announced as their entry for the Sanremo Music Festival 2023.

Band Members

Current members

* Ivano Michetti (1970–present) - guitar * Silvano Michetti (1970–present) - drums * Tiziano Leonardi (2012–present) - bass * Nick Luciani (1994–2014; 2021–present), vocals

Former members

* (1970–1977) - vocals * Gianni Fiori (1970–1972) - keyboards * Giorgio Brandi (1973–1996) - keyboards * Paul Manners (1978–1985) - vocals * Marco Occhetti, aka Kim (1986–1994) - vocals * Luca Storelli (1997–2011) - keyboards * Daniel Colangeli (2015–2021) - vocals

Discography

;Selected singles * 1970 – "Il ballo di Peppe" * 1972 – "Un letto e una coperta"/"L'uva è nera" * 1973 – " Anima mia" * 1973 – "Solo con te" * 1974 – "Innamorata" * 1974 – "Un'altra donna" * 1975 – "64 anni" * 1975 – "Preghiera" * 1976 – "È lei" * 1977 – "Conchiglia bianca" * 1977 – "Tu sei tu"/"Donna" * 1978 – "Dentro l'anima" * 1979 – "Meravigliosamente" * 1980 – "No tu no" * 1981 – "Valeria" * 1982 – "Uomo mio" * 1985 – "Che cavolo d'amore" * 1998 – "Amor mio" * 2002 – "Vita della mia vita" * 2006 – "Sapessi quanto" * 2011 – "Mi manchi tu" * 2023 – "Lettera 22"

References

External links

Official website
*
Discogs.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cugini di Campagna Musical groups established in 1970 Italian pop music groups Musical groups from Rome