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