A Son of the Rock

It’s the Eurovision Song Contest this week so I’m posting one of my memories of it from the 60s. Gigliola Cinquetti was only 16 when she sang this for Italy.

This recording is apparently Cinquetti’s actual performance from the Eurovision night in 1964. It’s from the radio broadcast, though, as the TV tapes were wiped apart from the (short) reprise the winner then gave which is where the pictures come from. She is given a great reception afterwards.

The song received the highest ever percentage of Eurovision first place votes (8 out of the 15 available – equating to 53.3%.)

The title means “I am too young (to love you)” – the literal translation of non ho l’età  is “I have not the age.” It’s about waiting for fulfilment, rather than rushing into things.

It’s fair to say the Eurovision standard has fallen since then.

Gigliola Cinquetti: Non Ho L’età  (Per Amarti)

This video has 40 secs worth of footage from the night (which starts at 2.39 in.)