La gatta
1960 single by Gino Paoli
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"La gatta" (lit. 'The She-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 | Gino Paoli | |||
| Gino Paoli singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "La gatta" on YouTube | ||||
Background
The song is a nostalgic autobiographical portrait of Paoli's simple, bohémien life in his small apartment in Boccadasse, Genoa.[1] According to Paoli, the cat represented "all my hopes, my romanticism, my desire to look up in the air, to look at the sky".[1]
Initially, the single was a resounding fiasco, selling only 119 copies in about three months.[2][1] 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.[2] In 2012, Paoli adapted the song in an illustrated book for children.[3]
Cover versions
Artists who also recorded the song include Ornella Vanoni, Gianni Morandi, Little Tony, Róisín Murphy, Skip Battin and Carla Boni.[2][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
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "La gatta" | Gino Paoli | 2:16 |
| 2. | "Io vivo nella luna" | Gino Paoli | 2:49 |
Charts
| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[7] | 13 |