"La gatta" (lit. 'The female cat') is a 1960 song written and recorded by Gino Paoli.
| "La gatta" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Gino Paoli | ||||
| from the album Gino Paoli | ||||
| B-side | "Io vivo nella luna" | |||
| Released | 1960 | |||
| Genre | pop | |||
| Length | 2:16 | |||
| Label | Dischi Ricordi | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gino Paoli | |||
| Gino Paoli singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "La gatta" on YouTube | ||||
Background
editInitially, the single was a resounding fiasco, selling only 119 copies in about three months.[1][2] In the following months, without any promotion and thanks to word of mouth it eventually proved to be a surprise hit and Paoli's breakthrough, selling up to over one hundred thousand copies in a week.[1]
The song is a nostalgical autobiographical portrait of Paoli's simple, bohémien life in his small apartment in Boccadasse, Genoa.[2] According to Paoli, the cat represented "all my hopes, my romanticism, my desire to look up in the air, to look at the sky".[2] In 2012, Paoli adapted the song in an illustrated book for children.[3]
Cover versions
editArtists who also recorded the song include Ornella Vanoni, Gianni Morandi, Little Tony, Róisín Murphy, Skip Battin and Carla Boni.[1][4] In 2011, Paoli recorded a new version of the song titled "La chatta" in a duet with Daniele Silvestri for Silvestri's album S.C.O.T.C.H.[5][6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "La gatta" | Gino Paoli | 2:16 |
| 2. | "Io vivo nella luna" | Gino Paoli | 2:49 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[7] | 13 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Salvatori, Dario (2001). "La gatta". Dizionario delle canzoni italiane (in Italian). Elle U. ISBN 8888169016.
- ^ a b c Guaitamacchi, Ezio (2009). "La gatta". 1000 canzoni che ci hanno cambiato la vita (in Italian). Rizzoli. ISBN 978-8858617427.
- ^ "Le 8 canzoni più famose di Gino Paoli". Sky TG24 (in Italian). 23 February 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "La gatta written by Gino Paoli". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Villa, Marco (6 April 2011). "Daniele Silvestri: "S.C.O.T.C.H." recensione". Rockit.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Redazione (29 March 2011). "Daniele Silvestri in "Scotch" canta Gaber e duetta con Paoli". Il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2023. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "La gatta".