[2] The song's melody was composed by Peter De Angelis with lyrics by Jean Broussolle.

[4] As the song did not reach its audience, De Angelis and his colleague Bob Marcucci[5] wrote the English language version which gained success in the US and UK in mid 1957.

[6] During an interview in 1958, Dalida said, "I heard on radio Petula Clark singing it in English, and I like it very much so I decided to use the song for my Christmas special show."

On the end of 1957, Dalida used "Gondolier" as the title song of a French TV Christmas special, in which she was the main attraction.

[8] Eventually, it became the most sold record of 1958,[7] so promotions through TV and concert performances made the song a pop standard in France and one of Dalida's signature tracks.