“Gloria” is a song performed by American singer Laura Branigan, released in June 1982 with “I Wish We Could Be Alone” on the B-side as a second single from her debut album, “Branigan.” The song is a cover of an Italian song of the same name by Umberto Tozzi, with English lyrics written by Trevor Veitch. It became a major hit and is one of Branigan’s signature songs.
The original “Gloria” was written by Italian singer-songwriter Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi, and it was a hit in Italy and Europe in 1979. Laura Branigan’s version features new English lyrics, which reframe the song’s narrative. Instead of a romantic serenade, the English version tells the story of a woman named Gloria who is struggling with loneliness and the pressures of her social life. The decision to cover the song came after Branigan’s producer, Jack White, suggested it. Branigan was initially reluctant, but she eventually agreed and worked with Trevor Veitch to adapt the lyrics.
“Gloria” was a significant commercial success, especially in Canada and Australia, where it peaked at number 1. In the United States, it reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It stayed on the chart for 36 weeks, making it one of the longest-charting songs of the 1980s.