Per Elisa


"Per Elisa" is a 1981 single by Alice. The song was the breakthrough in the singer's career, winning the Sanremo [Music Festival 1981|31st edition] of the Sanremo Music Festival, and being an international commercial success.

Background

The song marked a second collaboration between Battiato and Alice, following the 1980 moderately successful single "Il vento caldo dell'estate". The title Per Elisa is a reference to Ludwig van Beethoven's composition "Für Elise", whose musical theme is reprised in the intro of the song.
The lyrics on surface tell the story of a love triangle from the point of view of a betrayed woman, but according to many critics actually refer to drug addiction, with the Elisa of the title being a code name for heroin. In this interpretation, rejected by both Alice and Battiato, the song was included in the soundtrack of the Claudio Caligari's 1983 drug-themed film Toxic Love.
The structure of the song has been described as "unusual because it lacks a refrain, but equally catchy thanks to several melodic hooks and a smooth mainstream sound".

Track listing

  1. "Per Elisa"
  2. "Non devi avere paura"

Charts

ChartPeak
position
Italy 1
Germany17
Austria4
Switzerland5