[4] Franco Migliacci began working on the lyrics of the song in June 1957, inspired by two paintings by Marc Chagall.

[5][7] Later that same night, Migliacci discussed his lyrics with Modugno, and for several days they worked on the song, tentatively entitled "Sogno in blu" ('Dream in blue').

The song opens with a surreal prelude, which the cover versions often left out: Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito e incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito.

I think that a dream like that will never return I painted my hands and my face blue then was suddenly swept up by the wind and started to fly in the infinite sky.

In 1958, the song participated in the selection process for the eighth edition of the Sanremo Music Festival.

[10] On 31 January 1958, the song was performed for the first time, during the second night of the Festival, by both Domenico Modugno and Johnny Dorelli.

[13] Whilst Dorelli's performance had a lesser impact on the audience,[8] Modugno's is now considered to be the event that changed the history of Italian music.

[15] During his performance, Modugno opened his arms as if he was going to fly,[8] which would contribute to making it the most successful Sanremo Music Festival song.

[16] It would also mark a change in the way of performing, as Italian singers were used to standing with their arms on their chest, without moving on the stage.

On 12 March 1958, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the AVRO Studios in Hilversum hosted by Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS), and broadcast live throughout the continent.

Alberto Semprini conducted the event's live orchestra in the performances of the Italian entry.

[23] The song later completed a run of five non-consecutive weeks at the top of the chart,[24] selling two million copies in the United States during 1958.

"[33] During 2008's Sanremo Music Festival, lyricist Franco Migliacci and Modugno's widow, Franca Gandolfi, received the special Award for Creativity for the song, presented by Italian Society of Authors and Publishers' chairman Giorgio Assumma.

[38]In 2008, the 50th anniversary of the song was celebrated in Italy by releasing a postage stamp showing a man who is flying on a blue background.

[43] However, the Rome court of justice absolved Modugno and Migliacci,[47] following the opinion of an expert who stated that the two songs did not have any relevant similarity.

Another charting version of the song was released in 1975 by American jazz singer Al Martino, and included in his album To the Door of the Sun.

[78] In 1986, David Bowie recorded a version of the song, sung entirely in Italian, for the film Absolute Beginners and its accompanying soundtrack album.

[84] One year later, a version of the song performed by Emma Marrone was included in the soundtrack of the Italian movie Benvenuti al Nord, directed by Luca Miniero.

In June 2024, David Bisbal covered the song as "Andaré" in an advertising campaign for AENA.

[87] Lucio Corsi covered the song as a duet with Topo Gigio at the Sanremo Music Festival 2025 in which he ultimately placed second.