La gatta

"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
"Dedicato a te" (1959) "La gatta" (1960) "Co-eds" (1960)
Audio
"La gatta" on YouTube

Background

Initially, 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

Artists 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

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

References

1. Salvatori, Dario (2001). "La gatta". Dizionario delle canzoni italiane (in Italian). Elle U. ISBN 8888169016.
2. Guaitamacchi, Ezio (2009). "La gatta". 1000 canzoni che ci hanno cambiato la vita (in Italian). Rizzoli. ISBN 978-8858617427.
3. "Le 8 canzoni più famose di Gino Paoli". Sky TG24 (in Italian). 23 February 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
4. "La gatta written by Gino Paoli". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
5. Villa, Marco (6 April 2011). "Daniele Silvestri: "S.C.O.T.C.H." recensione". Rockit.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 November 2023.
6. Redazione (29 March 2011). "Daniele Silvestri in "Scotch" canta Gaber e duetta con Paoli". Il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 3 November 2023.
7. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2023. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "La gatta".

External links

• La gatta at Discogs (list of releases)