The seventies

In 1970 the press reports Gigliola's first official engagement. Her fiancče is Vittorio Selmo, 23 years old, from Verona, law student. However it looks like he doesn't agree with her career as a singer. They will have a break up in the following year.
The press gives also attention to another episode that could have serious consequences. In the night between 4th and 5th May, on the road from Antibes to Cannes, Gigliola's car gets involved in a serious accident. Luckily she suffers no damage. Her career can then go on. That year she takes part to several song contests: "Festivalbar" (for the first and last time) with "Solo un momento d'amore", the International Music Fair in Venice with "Il condor" by Simon & Garfunkel and "Canzonissima" where she presents "Il condor" and "La domenica andando alla messa", her first folk song of a long series. That same song had been the signature tune of her second experience in radio: the show "Gigliola lustrissima circola con la gente", recorded in that same year.
On TV she takes part to "Partita doppia" (again with "Solo un momento d'amore") and to the show "Arancia e limone", with her and Marcel Amont as protagonists. During the show she sings the beautiful song "Un paese vuol dire", whose atmosphere reminds of the great writer Cesare Pavese. She'll record the song only in 1978 in the LP "Pensieri di donna".
Raf Vallone wants her as partner in his next theatrical season, but she refuses.
Again the Sanremo song contest gives her new opportunities of international success: "Romantico blues" is recorded also in French with the title "J'ai le coeur plus grand que l'amour" and in German as "Meine Romanze mit dir".

In 1971 Gigliola takes part to the Sanremo song contest with "Rose nel buio" (photo on the right), and has the leading role in the TV show "Ma l'amore si" where she sings all the song of her new "Cantando con gli amici". She also starts turning her new fiction: "Il bivio" with Raoul Grassilli and Carlo Simoni that will be broadcast the following year.
She partecipates also to the VII International Music Fair in Venice with "Amarti e poi morire" (Italian version of "Je t'aime, je t'aime" by Michel Sardou) and to "Canzonissima" with "E qui comando io", "La domenica andando alla messa" and "Canta bambino". The juries are not particularly tender with her (except the journalists' one, that awards her the maximum score) but the votes of the audience grant her the semifinal, where she is eliminated by Ornella Vanoni.

In 1972 Gigliola is again at the Sanremo Song Contest (photo on the left) with "Gira l'amore" which suffers some text modification by censorship. Though, the success is great. The song is recorded in Japanese, Greek, German ("Simsalabim") and Spanish ("Gira el amor"), but is especially the French version ("Un coin de terre, un olivier") to give Gigliola stronger satisfaction. In France she has a whole TV show dedicated to her: "Une vedette et son public" and a fan club is established in Paris. Greater acknowledgements in Japan, too. The discographic press house King Records awards her the Golden Record, since she has sold, with several of her songs, more than a million records. She also records a live LP after a tour in Japan with Gianni Morandi.
On the Italian State TV she takes part again to "Senza rete" as protagonist on 26th August (she already had in 1969) with Tony Renis and Mia Martini. At "Canzonissima" she presents "Tu balli sul mio cuore" (her hit of the same year at the VIII International Music Fair in Venice)"La boheme" and again "Anema e core". She reaches again the semifinal, literally fascinating the jury composed of famous sportsmen led by the F1 pilot Agostani (of course raising a score of gossip by the press, "La Stampa" writes "Merckx votes for Cinquetti"). She is however eliminated by Rosanna Fratello. Gigliola herself had been indirect cause to Rosanna Fratello's success the previous year, refusing the song "Sono una donna, non sono una santa" which had subsequently been assigned to Rosanna.
Great success for Gigliola as an actress, too. Her new fiction in two episodes, "Il Bivio", is broadcast on TV. Gigliola, in the dramatic role of Laila, is completely different from her usual image, has a blonde wig and a heavvy make-up. Roger Vadim, Brigitte Bardot's former husband, sees her and proposes her a movie but she refuses. Critics will speak very well of her during the show for the Salsomaggiore TV 1972 Award, organized by Daniele Piombi.

In 1973 Gigliola, for the Sanremo Song Contest, chooses a song by Claudio Mattone, "Mistery" (Mistero). It's not an easy one, very different from those she has presented before. Critics are favourable but the song doesn't even pass the first selection. Gigliola decides to withdraw from the contest from the following year on. She'll keep her word. Except taking part as a guest in 1978 she'll return to the contest only 12 years later. Though its elimination and a not extensive promotion "Mystery" sells widely. Gigliola records it in French ("Mystere") and in English for both the foreign and Italian market.
She is still successful in France as "vedette" of the famous show "Midi France". In Italy she takes a break from her career as a singer to start a new activity. She illustrates for the writer Umbertino di Caprio the book of fairy tales for children "Il pescastelle" (photo). In 1976 she will repeat the experience with the book "Inchiostrino". Both books will be published by AMZ. She works again in radio as host of the daily programme "Andata e ritorno".
The Italian TV sees Gigliola again on 2nd September during the show "Stasera in Europa" hosted by Daniele Piombi, in which she sings "Avec le temps" by Leo Ferrč; with her again Marcel Amont. Then she takes part to the IX International Music Fair in Venice and to "Canzonissima" presenting "La spagnola" and "Tango delle capinere", from her new LP "Stasera ballo liscio" that is selling quite well. She scores a real hit at "Canzonissima", getting to the final selection with 456,882 votes.

The final selection of "Canzonissima" is held on 6th January 1974. In the afternoon all singers present their songs, in the evening the votes of the juries and of the audience are counted and the winner is elected. Other partecipants are: Al Bano, Orietta Berti, the band "I Camaleonti" with "Amicizia e amore", Peppino di Capri with "Champagne", Gianni Nazzaro, Mino Reitano, the trio "Ricchi e Poveri" and the duo "I Vianella"; hosts of the show are Pippo Baudo and Mita Medici.
The audience favours Mino Reitano but the juries prefer the duo "I Vianella". Only the jury in Cosenza awards to Reitano 21/25 points ensuring him a third position, which could be raised by the votes of the audience
According to the juries the situation is the following:
1) I Vianella with 83 points;
2) Gigliola Cinquetti with 80 points;
3) Mino Reitano with 65 points.
The difference among the first three position is so small that the votes of the audience could really change everything...
And so it happens. The duo "I Vianella" comes out third, since the audience does not award them the necessary votes. Likewise the audience can't manage to cover the difference between Mino Reitano and Gigliola's points. It's a triumph for Gigliola with "Door of the sun" that got an equal success with both the juries and the audience. The song is recorded in several languages and reaches the first position in the Italian Hit Parade maintaining it for the 9 following weeks. Along with such success the LP "Stasera ballo liscio" starts selling again and the Italian television, at the end of January, turns it into a show called "Vino, whisky e chewing gum", with Gigliola and Paolo Ferrari.
Gigliola's hits in 1974 do not stop here. After 10 years she is back to the European Song Contest with the song "Go" (photo below) and again her success is great.
Gigliola gains the second position, just 6 votes behind the Swedish band "Abba" with "Waterloo", and the song becomes a hit in Britain, where is defined as "too beautiful to win". Gigliola will be known, from then on, in Britain as "the Italian lady".
Back to Italy Gigliola stars in "Senza rete" for the third time on Saturday 10th August, with Pippo Baudo e Gino Bramieri, lets the press talking about her love story with the doctor Claudio Mansino from Verona and takes part to the X International Music Fair in Venice winning the Golden Gondola Award for the sales of her LP "Stasera ballo liscio". On that same occasions she presents two new songs: "L'edera" (an old hit by Nilla Pizzi which she records also in German with the title "Wolkenschloss") and "Ti dico addio" by Pace-Panzeri-Conti. Always with "L'edera" she takes part again to "Canzonissima".
1974 is a year of crisis for the contest, and even the perfect hosting of Raffaella Carrą will manage its rebirth. "Canzonissima" is arrived at its last edition. The votes of the audience are much less than the previous year and the juries rule. Though Gigliola passes the first selection with "L'edera" but, for the following selection, she decides not to present one of her consolidated hits like "Door of the sun" or "Go". She chooses instead "Ne me quitte pas". "You want really to get eliminated..." - Gino Paoli tells her... and so it happens. Many other famous singers suffer the same fate (24 votes more from the audience would have saved Little Tony from elimination) but nobody gets upset. Everyone is aware of the crisis and the following year nobody will regret "Canzonissima".

In 1975 Gigliola keeps her word and doesn't take part to the Sanremo Song Contest but leaves on a world tour. Even the Sanremo Song Contest seems to suffer the same crisis as "Canzonissima". On the contrary it will rise again, but only several years later.
On 30th March 1975 a mournful event saddens Gigliola's career: the death of her father, Luigi Cinquetti, who had followed her career since the beginning. Though Gigliola goes on with her artistic activity recording "Gigliola e la banda" and presenting it during a show at the "Bussola" disco in Viareggio. The show will be broadcast on TV during the "Adesso musica", hosted by Vanna Brosio.
Song contests are undergoing a crisis and the Italian televisions turns to variety shows. Again Gigliola is called to be the star of the Saturday evening show. She shares that role with Mia Martini in the show "La compagnia stabile della canzone con varietą e comica finale", directed by Enzo Trapani, whose authors Alberto Testa and Maurizio Costanzo. The show is divided into three parts: the tribute to a singer, with four other singers to sing his/her songs; the "variety show" (a medley of songs arranged to form a comedy) and the final gag with Renato Rascel. Hosts of the show with Gigliola are Gino Paoli, Gianni Nazzaro, Riccardo Cocciante and a young Cristian De Sica at his beginnings.
During the show Gigliola sings many new songs, till now left unrecorded, and attempts dancing, too. Among her best performances a wild "Tarantella napoletana" and her mimicking of the showgirl Josephine Baker (dressed with a bikini reproducing her famous banana skirt, as in side photo).
Love is not as successful, however. Her story with the doctor Claudio Mansino is going to end...

1976 is a year of crisis. All artists who were famous in the sixties experience a decrease in popularity. Gigliola however goes on bringing Italian music all over the world recording in German "Reginella campagnola" with the title "Auf Wiederseh'n amore". Just a few apparitions on TV this year. On 15th April she takes part to "Ieri e oggi", hosted da Mike Bongiorno, together with Raoul Grassilli, her partner in the TV fictions "Le mie prigioni" and "Il bivio". She goes then on with her work as illustrator in the already mentioned book "Inchiostrino".

In 1977 Gigliola is back on TV to star in a new variety show: "L'amico della notte". On that occasion she sings and writes the signature tune of the show: "Un momento fa". With her star Gianni Nazzaro (as shown in the side photo), Enrico Simonetti, Ave Ninchi, Riccardo Garrone e Ric e Gian. The show doesn't have favourable critics but is a hit for the audience. Gigliola sings again several new (and still unrecorded) songs as "Serenata a Vallechiara" and a very sensual "Tua" (an old hit by Jula de Palma).
In 1978 Gigliola is also back to Sanremo, but after the contest, just as a guest star of the celebration for the 100th birthday of the record quell'anno. With her Domenico Modugno. On that occasion she sings "Un momento fa" and her main hits: "This is my pray'r", "Dio, come ti amo", "Tomorrow" and "Door of the sun". A poll by the weekly magazine "TV sorrisi e canzoni" includes her among the 10 most loved and popular Italian singers.

In 1978 Gigliola comes back to the Sanremo song contest, Thiis time among the audience. It's the year of the beautiful LP "Pensieri di donna". Before its release Gigliola sings as an anticipation the song "O que serą", by Chico Buarque de Hollanda, on Easter Day, during the TV programme "Domenica in". The LP will be published some months later. Among its songs "When you lose what you love" with a discomusic version recorded in the CBS studios in Los Angeles. The record is a new hit, its songs are broadcast by the radios and Gigliola turns even two videos of the "Pensieri di donna" and "Parallele" that are presented that same Autumn during "Domenica in" along with "When you lose what you love".

In April 1979 Gigliola, in an interview published by the weekly magazine "Oggi", explains her ideas about mariage saying "I'm marrying with my freedom.". Almost a week after... she gets married with the Luciano Teodori. (On the side photo the couple on their first holiday at the seaside) The marriage ceremony takes place secretly in the basilica of Saint Steven in Verona. Gigliola wears denim and a t-shirt, with her just her sister Rosabianca with her husband and a friend. The marrige is celebrated by don Luigi Fusina. The news is given two days later by the television news programme on the First State Channel. The couple had met in Ponza a year before and their love story started on that occasion. After the ceremony the couple has a brief honeymoon there. Gigliola denies in this way quite an amount of gossip about her flirts with che discographic manager Franco Crepax or the famous disc-jockey Paolo Giaccio. Of course the press gives wide attention to the event. In particular the journalist Silvio Bertoldi writes her a tender open letter in which he compares her to one of the most famous fictional character from Verona: Juliet. If Juliet had been able to marry probably she would have chosen the same way Gigliola did.
Gigliola opens then up a new chapter of her life: that of wife and, then, mother. She introduces her husband to the audience on TV on 10th June, taking part, as a guest star to the media evening dedicated to the first elections at the European Parliament. Her career slows down. Her audience sees her again on Christmas' Eve as guest of the journalistic talk-show "TG L'Una".