Chi Mai

The melody of *Chi Mai* has a fascinating history of reuse and resonance across different media. Originally composed by Ennio Morricone in 1971, this instrumental piece found its first home in the Italian film *Maddalena*. However, its journey did not stop there. In 1981, the composition came back to life on the big screen through *Le Professionnel*, a film directed by Georges Lautner. That same year, the piece was also heard in the television series *The Life and Times of David Lloyd George*, achieving notable success by reaching second place on the UK singles charts. Beyond its cinematic and television appearances, *Chi Mai* became especially known in France for its use in a Royal Canin commercial during the 1980s.

Such was the association that, for many, the melody became linked to this advertisement. This connection was even referenced in the French film *Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra* in 2002, where the music accompanies a comedic scene. The versatility of *Chi Mai* was demonstrated again in 1995, when it was performed during an exhibition at the European Figure Skating Championships by the 1994 World Pair Champions, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. In an emotional tribute, the piece also played at the national posthumous ceremony for Jean-Paul Belmondo in September 2021. Interestingly, elements of this melody had already appeared in 1968, in a piece titled *Invito All'Amore*, part of the soundtrack for Sergio Corbucci's western, *The Great Silence*.

The original Italian lyrics, written by Carlo Nistri, were published in 1972.