Róisín Murphy Ancora Tu (2014)
“Ancora Tu”, a song by Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti, was released in 1976 as the opener of the iconic album Lucio Battisti, la batteria, il contrabbasso, eccetera (translated as Lucio Battisti, the drums, the double bass, etc.). The track marked a pivotal moment in Battisti's discography. Known as one of the most influential and celebrated figures in Italian music history, Battisti leaned into funk and disco influences with “Ancora Tu”. While the song itself isn’t Italo Disco per se, its sound and production techniques helped lay the foundation for the genre's emergence in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Given the song's momentous status, it’s no surprise that it has repeatedly been covered over the years. However, when electronic musician and former Moloko member Róisín Murphy released her version of “Ancora Tu” in 2014, it raised at least a few eyebrows. Murphy, an Irish singer born and raised in the United Kingdom, revealed in the accompanying press release that she “does not speak a word of Italian.” Fortunately, she had considerable help. Her partner, producer Sebastiano Properzi, a native of Milan, assisted her in the process, helping her understand the song's meaning and ensuring her pronunciation was accurate.
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