Legata a un granello di sabbia

LITTLE GRAIN OF SAND                         

(Nico Fidenco-Gianni Marchetti) – Nico Fidenco - 1961

The song that practically started the phenomenon of Italian seaside songs actually saw the light in winter, because it had been presented to the selection committee of the compositions to be admitted to the Sanremo Festival in 1961. That commission failed to recognize its elegance and lightness and excluded it from the Festival. This, and being postponed to the summer market, made Legata a un granello di sabbia a hit, immediately winning over the public and those who used the many juke-boxes scattered around Italy’s various beach facilities. Composed by Gianni Marchetti and Nico Fidenco himself (who also wrote the text), the song opened with a very short phrase played by strings, almost a brushstroke, which then introduced the evocative rhythm of the song, almost like a calm sea wave lapping the shore. All governed by the skilful hand of Luis Enrique Bacalov, who wrote the arrangement, with a delicate electric guitar arpeggio, a very present choir and of course, the violins. The song achieved the milestone of one million copies sold, and Fidenco also recorded it in English (Little Grain of Sand). It was redone in Argentina by Los Santos (Ligada a un granito de arena), in France by Bob Azzam (Un petit grain de sable) and in Brazil by Jerry Adriani (Tudo bem, eu quero).