La solitudine

When Laura Pausini took her first steps in music, one song resonated with particular strength, marking the beginning of her journey. It is La solitudine, a piece born from the collaboration between Cavalli, Cremonesi and Valsiglio. The story told in the lyrics, in its original version, speaks of the departure of a young man named Marco, separated from his girlfriend by a family decision. The protagonist, feeling the absence and pain of that separation, expresses in the song the deep loneliness both would experience. Pausini herself has shared that this story felt very close to her own life at the time, allowing her to interpret it with genuine emotion, almost as if it were a reflection of her personal experience. In fact, the opening lyrics originally mentioned "Anna", but it was adapted to "Marco" to better fit the artist's experience.

The release of La solitudine took place in February 1993, just as Laura Pausini performed at the 43rd Sanremo Festival, in the new talents section. It was there that the song won, securing 7,464 votes. This initial success led to its inclusion on her debut album, titled Laura Pausini, which went on sale in May of that same year. The song's impact was not limited to Italy; by the end of 1993, it crossed borders and topped charts across Europe, leading in the Netherlands and Belgium, and reaching the top positions in France. Over time, Pausini also recorded versions in Spanish, such as La soledad, and in English, with an adaptation by Tim Rice. Throughout the years, she has revisited this piece on multiple occasions, including a slower, orchestrated reinterpretation for her 2001 compilation album, and a special version to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2013, blending fragments of the Italian, Spanish, and English versions. The original recording took place in Sant'Anna, in Castelfranco Emilia.