Era (song)
 "Era" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eurovision Song Contest 1975 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artist(s) | Wess Johnson, Dori Ghezzi |
| As | Wess & Dori Ghezzi |
| Language | |
| Composer(s) | Shel Shapiro |
| Lyricist(s) | Andrea Lo Vecchio |
| Conductor | Pier Natale Massara |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 3rd |
| Final points | 115 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "Sì" (1974) | |
| "We'll Live It All Again" (1976) ► | |
"Era" (English translation: "It Was") was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975, performed in Italian by American-born singer Wess (Wess Johnson, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, August 13 1945 – September 21 2009 [1]) and Dori Ghezzi. In 1972 the pair teamed up as a duet to record "Voglio stare con te", an Italian version of British hit "United We Stand", by Brotherhood of Man, and the following year they finished 6th in the Sanremo Music Festival with another duet, "Tu nella mia vita", which became a #5 hit in Italy. [2] The duo went on to release seven albums between the years 1972 and 1979, including a series of Top 10 hits. "Era" was composed by British-Italian singer-songwriter Shel Shapiro (born David Norman Shapiro, formerly of The Rokes and Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys[3]) and the lyrics were written by Andrea Lo Vecchio.
"Era" is a soul-influenced ballad, with both singers describing how different they feel now that they are in a relationship - presumably with each other - and remembering how "it was" when they first fell in love; "kissing at the movies/finding a hidden corner/blushing in public/talking in secret code - and getting home before midnight".
The song was performed nineteenth on the night (following Sweden's Lars Berghagen with "Jennie, Jennie"). At the close of voting, it had received 115 points, placing it 3rd in a field of 19. "Era" was a modest hit in Italy, peaking at #13 on the singles chart. [4] The duo also recorded the song in English ("Fallin'"), French ("Qui vivra verra") and Spanish ("Era"). [5]
It was succeeded as Italian representative at the 1976 Contest by Al Bano & Romina Power with "We'll Live It All Again".