Rayo de luna - Matia Bazar

The Italian band Matia Bazar has had a few hits in Europe, but their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest seems to have been forgotten by many. In 1979 they represented Italy with the song 'Raggio di luna'.

They recorded the song both in Italian and in Spanish - and the single containing the Spanish version appeared when I was ordering some singles from Spain recently. Of course I wanted to have it, because it's always a delight when an artist records their own song in a different language.

My collection: 7" single no. 5981
Found: Discogs.com, received January 4, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Rayo de luna' / 'Esta tarde... Que tarde'

Life - Matia Bazar

My favourite track by the Italian band Matia Bazar is 'Noi', which I have on 7" single and 12" single. I didn't know that they recorded this song in English, however. I found out because I spotted this 12" single in a shop, and because it was pressed on clear orange vinyl I suddenly had two good reasons to buy this disc.

As far as I can tell, there is no 7" single of 'Life', which seems strange. Anyway, this 12" single is a good package, because it also contains the extended and instrumental versions of 'Noi'. Three good tracks, then, on coloured vinyl. It doesn't get much better than this.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 16, 2015
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Life [extended]' / 'Noi [extended]', 'Noi (instrumental)'

Raggio di luna - Matia Bazar

When you say 'Matia Bazar', most people immediately scream 'Ti sento', but it is less well known that the band actually participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979. Formed in 1975 by Piero Cassano, Aldo Stellita, Carlo Marrale, Giancarlo Golzi and Antonella Ruggiero, they have released over 20 albums between then and now.

'Raggio di luna', the song they performed in 1979 at the Contest, representing Italy, was the very first Eurovision entry that didn't have an orchestral accompaniment, two decades before the orchestra was disposed of altogether. The song received 27 points and became 15th in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5893
Found: Discogs.com, received March 8, 2017
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Raggio di luna' / 'Pero che bello'

Listen to the song

Angelina - Matia Bazar

I already have a version of Angelina in my collection, but this one was pressed on red vinyl, and that is always a good excuse to buy another copy.

Fortunately, this single also comes with a different B-side, and I have to say I rather like that song. Matia Bazar have always been good at crafting melodic songs, and 'Cose' is a good example of what these Italians can do, aided with synths, drum computers and layered vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 5353
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 24, 2013
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Angelina' / 'Cose'

Elettrochoc - Matia Bazar

I was never sure it existed, but 25 years after buying the 7" single of Matia Bazar's 'Elettrochoc', I have found a copy of the 12" single. It's a track that lends itself well to an extended version because it's so addictive.

This disc not only contains an extended version of the vocal version, but also of the instrumental version. To top off the whole thing, a previous single, 'Vacanze Romane' is also featured on this disc. It's a wonderful single, a true find.

My collection: 12" single no. 556
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, May 14, 2011
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Elettrochoc [extended]' / 'Vacanze Romane', 'Elettrochoc ([extended] instrumental)'

Noi - Matia Bazar

Although it is not the band's biggest hit, my favourite song of Matia Bazar is 'Noi', released in 1987 from the band's album 'Melo'. Unfortunately, the track was edited for the single release, leaving out an interesting guitar solo. Even more unfortunate is the fact that I could only find this single without a picture sleeve at the time.

'Noi' did not chart, but it is still a very great piece of music.

My collection: 7" single no. 768
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Noi' / 'Da qui a'

Angelina - Matia Bazar

'Angelina' was the second single taken from Matia Bazar's 1986 album 'Melanchólia'. Although the Italian band had just had an international hit with 'Ti sento', this single did not manage to break the charts the way its predecessor had done.

It has to be said that this song is a lot less catchy. I didn't know the track when I bought the single - and I quickly found out that I wouldn't play it very often. Still, it is a nice track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2957
Found: Record fair, February 7, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Angelina' / 'Fiumi di parole'

Elettrochoc - Matia Bazar

Taken from their 1983 album 'Tango', 'Elettrochoc' is probably the most frantic track of Matia Bazar's lengthy career. The operatic vocals of singer Antonella Ruggiero are supported by a high energy synth backing. I was very impressed when I heard this single for the first time, and even to this day it never fails to excite me.

For some time in the Eighties I had a hobby creating remixes out of existing recordings by bands. This single lent itself to this purpose excellently: the instrumental version on the B-side is rather different from the vocal version on the A-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 496

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Elettrochoc' / 'Elettrochoc (instrumental)'

Ti sento / I feel you - Matia Bazar

The Italian group Matia Bazar had a Europe-wide hit with 'Ti sento', a very infectious slice of Italian pop. In an attempt to conquer even the English-speaking parts of the world, the group decided to record a translation entitled 'I feel you'.

The French pressing of 'Ti sento' includes both versions of the song, with - incredibly - the English version on the A-side. I don't know whether it helped the chart performance in France, but in the Netherlands - where 'Ti sento' was released without the English version on the single - the track reached number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 3733

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'I feel you' / 'Ti sento'

Solo tu - Matia Bazar

This sleeve claims that 'Solo tu' was a number one hit in Italy, and although I can't check this fact, I'm sure it is true. For more than three decades now, the band from Genoa has been very popular in their home country.

'Solo tu' was also the first single to be noticed in the Netherlands, although it didn't reach the Dutch Top 40: it stalled in the 'bubbling under chart' the Tipparade.

My collection: 7" single no. 3721

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Solo tu' / 'Per un minuto e poi...'

Vacanze Romane - Matia Bazar

When Matia Bazar released their eighth album 'Tango' in 1983, the group consisted of Antonella Ruggiero, Aldo Stellita, Carlo Marrale and Mauro Sabbione. 'Vacanze Romane' was a very melodic song, synthbased and elegant. It barely missed the Dutch Top 40. I noticed the song immediately, but it would take me six years to finally buy the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1133

Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Vacanze Romane' / 'Palestina'

Download: Album 'Tango', including both tracks

Noi - Matia Bazar

The Italian group Matia Bazar had phenomenal success with their 1986 hit 'Ti sento'. It went top three in several European countries and it even raised their album to gold and platinum status. How to follow up a hit like that? Simply by continuing whatever you were doing: making great pop songs. 'Noi' lives up to a high standard, even if it didn't get the amount of acclaim 'Ti sento' did.

I was happy to buy the 12" single of 'Noi', because it contained both the single and album versions of the track - and it was also a coloured vinyl edition. The marbled vinyl is a beautiful item to give a spin on your record player.

My collection: 12" single no. 121

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1991

Cost: 7,95 guilders

Tracks: 'Noi' / 'Noi (7" version)' / 'Ai confini della realta'

Download: here