Singer-songwriter Umberto Bindi truly knew how to write a tune. Yet, even with a warm and inviting vocal, his own recordings of his songs never seemed to be the ones that took off.
His 1959 debut record “Arrivederci” didn’t hit the tops of the Italian Hit Parade singles chart ’til the Don Marino Barreto Jr. version released, which went on to be the best performing Italian single of that year. His 1960 song “Il nostro concerto” didn’t take off until being performed by Miranda Martino in New York, after which it ruled the singles chart for over two months.
His biggest crossover song into the English-speaking world was likewise with the help of another voice. This time, his 1963 song “Il mio mondo” saw itself translated and redone by English singer and TV presenter Cilla Black as “You’re My World”. Black’s version saw the song go number one in the UK and Australia, as well as to the top 40 of the US, Canada, and much of Western Europe.
Despite his clear talents, it seemed as though Bindi was kept mainly in the background by the music industry of the time. It wouldn’t be until decades after his musical career had waned that Bindi would share the reason he was pushed to the sidelines.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Suspicions of the singer’s sexuality had flared back in 1961 when he performed at the Sanremo Music Festival while wearing a pinky ring, then a coded gesture akin to the earring code in the US.
The singer officially came out to the public on the popular Italian talk show The Maurizio Costanzo Show in 1988, citing that moment and the perception of his sexuality for the mistreatment of his career and its potential. He made it clear that his long-running hit “Il nostro concerto” would have launched him to new heights without the discrimination against his open-secret homosexuality.
However, try as they might have to keep his voice tampered down, his songs are still well-enjoyed in Italy and beyond to this day.
Listen to the heart behind “You’re My World” with the original, “Il mio mondo”:
whitenoiz
Didn’t Petula Clark cover this and make it hit in the US?
MickeyMoose
Petula never recorded this, but Helen Reddy had a US hit with it in 1977. Glean Campbell also recorded it.
Peter
whitenoiz: I think you’re correct about Petula Clark’s version; I can hear her singing it. The melody was instantly recognizable. Too bad his voice is mediocre; I guess you can’t be great at everything.
Pietro D
That’s your opinion about a mediocre voice! What a shitty comment.
It’s not at all mediocre but perhaps YOU are!
Someguy
I’m skeptical of this account. The BIG scandal of Sanremo 1961 was Adriano Celentano who (gasp) showed his back to the audience. Another juicy story was tabloid-popularized Mina-Milva rivalry, Mina’s perceived diss by the audience and her decision to never come back to Sanremo.
At the time he was up against Adriano Celentano, Gianni Morandi, Domenico Modugno, Claudio Villa was still active… tough competition even for an outstanding vocalist, which does not seem to be the case here. On the other hand, the coming wave of singer-songwriters heralded by Fabrizio de Andre who also debuted around that time had drastically different songs, poetic and meaningful that compensated for more limited vocal range of performers.
inbama
The English version was “You’re My World.”
It was recorded by Cilla Black, Tom Jones, Helen Reddy, Glen Campbell and the British group “Guys n Dolls.”
DBMC
Interesting, I’ll have to look in to his work.
Thad
My favorite version of “You’re My World” is by Dionne Warwick, on her “Valley of the Dolls” LP. It’s on YouTube.
Kangol2
Yes. Dionne’s version is magnificent, and Thad’s correct, it’s on YouTube.
willward
Hate to mention it to you youngsters, but a pinkie ring was THE signal that someone was gay in the U.S. for many years. Before men wore earrings.
Pietro D
A truly surprising fact!1!!!