Nel cuore, nell'anima

Some songs are born with a different destiny than their creators imagined. “Nel cuore, nell’anima” is a clear example: Mogol and Lucio Battisti wrote it for Dik Dik to record, but they ended up giving it to Equipe 84 after the success of another song. The result was a song that not only became a hit but also defined a style: baroque pop, a genre that blends classical melodies with pop arrangements. The inspiration came from the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” with its double string quartet conducted by George Martin. Here, however, the La Scala orchestra and Detto Mariano gave it a more Italian, almost cinematic feel, with a sound that seems straight out of a 1960s film.

The original recording was released in September 1967 on a single alongside “Ladro,” but Battisti didn’t miss out: the following year, he included it on his first LP. Meanwhile, Dik Dik released their version on the album *Il primo giorno di primavera e altri successi*, proving that the song was already making waves on two fronts. Decades later, in 1995, Ambra covered it in Spanish for her album *T'appartengo, Te pertenezco*, and in 2008, Pooh revived it for their cover album *Beat ReGeneration*. The cover art for the original single, designed by Mario Schifano, also left its mark on the visual culture of the era. What began as a commission ended up becoming a classic that transcended genres and generations.