Domenico Modugno - "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)"

[Arnold]

There have been several hits in the United States that were sung entirely in a foreign language.  This was the biggest one of them all.  This record was number one on the Hot 100, for five weeks, in September 1958.  It is sung entirely in Italian.  I remember this well, as I was 15 years old at the time.  I used to hear it on station WIBG, radio 99, in Philadelphia.  It was number one on their "Top 99 List".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wWiC0e3b2I

[richie]

Dean Martin charted with this later in '58. And it also made the top 40 twice more after that
by Bobby Rydell and Al Martino. Good song!

[Verisimilitude]

One of the most iconic Italian songs ever and by far the biggest ever in the US.

Placed third place in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958.
Won both Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year at the Grammys in 1959.
Spent 5 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 and sold 2 million copies. The most successful song of that year according to Billboard ranking at #1 on the year end chart.