The Italian version, also known as "Notti magiche" ("Magical nights") in Italy, was recorded by Italian artists Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini, who also wrote the lyrics. The Spanish version, also known as "Noches mágicas" in Spanish, was recorded by Paraguayan Susan Ferrer, who also wrote the lyrics. The English version, with lyrics by Tom Whitlock and performed by Giorgio Moroder Project (singers: Joe Milner, Moll Anderson, Paula Mulcahy Keane),[1] was the opening theme to RAI TV programmes and matches related to the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
The song achieved success on the charts of several European countries.
Release
For the Italian release, Moroder addressed Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato, who rewrote the lyrics and took the song to the top of the charts in Italy and Switzerland. From January to September 1990, the song was the best-selling single in Italy. The song was presented for the first time by the two singer-songwriters in Milan in December 1989, and performed live during the opening ceremony, held on 8 June 1990, in Milan, before the Argentina–Cameroon opening match, followed later also by the English version. It describes the desire to win, and score a goal.
The song was among the first to contain a single instrumental version (indicated as a karaoke version) and to be published as a maxi single.
Cover versions
In 1990, Hong Kong singer Alan Tam covered this song in Cantonese under the title "Ideals and Peace" (Chinese: 理想與和平; Jyutping: Lei5soeng2 jyu5 wo4ping4).
