Raffaele Riefoli, better known professionally as Raf, is an Italian singer-songwriter. He lived in London for the first few years of the 1980s before starting his music career in 1984.
He is best known for the song "Self Control", which he released as his debut single in 1984 and went on to become a hit not only in Italy, but also in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. American singer Laura Branigan took it to global success in that same year and as a result, Raf's own version made it into the top 40 in France.
Alongside Umberto Tozzi, he represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 1987 with the song Gente di Mare, which finished in third place overall. Raf continues to have a successful music career in Italy.
| Eurovision Song Contest 1987 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Kate Gulbrandsen •  Datner & Kushnir •  Gary Lux •  Halla Margrét •  Liliane Saint-Pierre •  Lotta Engberg •  Umberto Tozzi & Raf •  Nevada •  Patricia Kraus •  Seyyal Taner & Locomotif •  Bang •  Marcha •  Plastic Bertrand •  Rikki •  Christine Minier •  Wind •  Alexia •  Vicky Rosti & Boulevard •  Anne-Cathrine Herdorf & Bandjo •  Johnny Logan •  Novi Fosili •  Carol Rich
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Mitt liv • Shir Habatlanim • Nur noch Gefühl • Hægt og hljótt • Soldiers of Love • Boogaloo • Gente di Mare • Neste barco à vela • No estás solo • Şarkım Sevgi Üstüne • Stop • Rechtop in de wind • Amour, Amour • Only the Light • Les mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche • Laß die Sonne in dein Herz • Aspro Mavro • Sata salamaa • En lille melodi • Hold Me Now • Ja sam za ples • Moitié-Moitié
| |||