Mambo Italiano (song)

"Mambo Italiano" is a popular song written by Bob Merrill in 1954 and recorded by Rosemary Clooney. Merrill wrote it under deadline, scribbled hastily on a paper napkin in an Italian restaurant in New York, United States using the wall pay-phone to dictate the melody, rhythm and lyrics to the recording studio pianist, under the aegis of conductor Mitch Miller. The song became a hit for Clooney, reaching #10 on the charts in the United States and number one in the UK Singles Chart early in 1955.^[1]

The original record was produced by Mitch Miller.^[2]

In 2000, it was remixed and re-released by Shaft, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart.

Lyrics

The text is written in English language with the use of some random words in:

• Italian language: italiano, Napoli, siciliano, calabrese, tarantella, mozzarella, pizza, baccalà, bambino, vino,^[3]
• Spanish language: mambo, enchilada, rumba,^[3] (the Spanish words mambo and rumba are used in Italian as well with the same meaning)
• Neapolitan language: paisa' (in Italian paesano; in English countryman).^[3]

A number of Italian words are misspelled ("Giovanno" instead of "Giovanni", and "e lo che se dice" which is a mix between the Italian "e quello che si dice" and the Spanish "y lo que se dice" with the same nonsense meaning: "and what it is said"), and in English slang (goomba, chardool). The word tiavanna is in Gibberish (invented).

Other versions

• In 1988, the song figured prominently in the 22-year off-Broadway production of "Tony & Tina's Wedding" as well as various national touring productions since.
• In 2011, Lady Gaga sampled the opening melody for her Born This Way song, Americano.

References

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics