Eurovision Top 100, #12: Rapsodia (Italy, 1992)

Closing in on the finish line of the Eurovision Top 100 list, at number 12, it’s “Rapsodia” from Mia Martini and Italy in 1992.

Italy has won the Eurovision Song Contest three times.  In spite of that, they have had numerous high-quality entries which did not end up taking home the trophy, medal, pendant, or any other award.  This song from 1992 was one of those legendary numbers that may not have gotten the totality of recognition it deserved at the time, but still did well at Eurovision and will forever be enshrined on our countdown.

Vital Information: “Rapsodia”

What I Liked

This is one of just a handful of Eurovision entries – and there have been a lot – which give me chills.  Her performance was so raw and powerful that it was mesmerizing.  Few have sang with the amount of authority in Eurovision history as she did, while also being polished and professional.  She was a serious artist and it showed.

Mia’s voice was also very unique.  She had a gravely quality to her vocals that made it sound unlike almost anything I had heard in the contest to this point.  I am convinced that only she could have pulled this song off, and she did.

Other Facts

• Martini first appeared at Eurovision in 1977 with the song “Libera,” which as of 2024, we have in the 84th-percentile of Eurovision songs.
• Mia Martini passed away in 1995, and in 1996, the Sanremo Music Festival named its Critics Award after Martini.  Despite having gone to Eurovision twice, Martini never won Sanremo.
• Martini’s real name was Domenica Bertè, and her sister is Loredana Bertè, a singer who competed at Sanremo as recently as 2024.
• The songwriter, Giancarlo Bigazzi, also wrote another Top 100 entry: “L’amore è un attimo” from 1971.
• This song was 19th in the running order at the 1992 grand final.

Get Caught Up in “Rapsodia”

Mia’s 1992 performance is available for viewing on YouTube.