In the Italian movie Respiro, what is the name of the (prominiently
featured) song that is playing on the radio and/or what artist is singing it?

Hello.

I believe that you're thinking of "La Bambola" by Patty Pravo.

sources:

"She sings along with Patty Pravo on the radio, for crying out loud! "
source: SF Weekly Respiro review
http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2003-06-11/film.html

Various Italian reviews identify the song as "La Bambola":

'...il film di E. Crialese "Respiro", che contiene nella colonna
sonora il brano "La bambola" di Patty Pravo.'
http://www.coltempo.it/ultime/archivionews4.htm

'Il mangiadischi di Grazia, con dentro il disco di "Bambola" di Patty Pravo,'
source: Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22patty+pravo%22+respiro&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=3D0111F1.546AD030%40pietrobo.com&rnum=3

"'la bambola' di una smagliante Patty Pravo del '68"
http://www.mentelocale.it/contenuti/index_html/id_contenuti_varint_5793

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Listen to sound clip #3 of a Patty Pravo CD sold by Amazon germany:
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IHNQ/

The same CD is listed by Amazon.com (but no sound clips are available
on the U.S. page):
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IHNQ/

-------------
search strategy:
respiro film
"Valeria Golino" respiro "the radio"
"patty pravo" respiro
"patty pravo" Bambola, respiro

I hope this is the song that you had in mind. If not, please let me
know via the "request clarification" feature.  Grazie!

Yes! that's exactly it, thanks!

Thank you for the tip.
-juggler