Pensiero stupendo explained

Pensiero stupendo
Cover:Pensiero stupendo.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Patty Pravo
Album:Miss Italia
B-Side:Bello
Released:1978
Genre:Pop
Length:4:14
Label:RCA
Producer:Antonio Coggio
Prev Title:Tutto il mondo è casa mia
Prev Year:1977
Next Title:Sentirti
Next Year:1979

"Pensiero stupendo" (Italian for "Wonderful Thought") is a song written by Ivano Fossati (lyrics) and Oscar Prudente (music), and performed by Patty Pravo.[1]

The song's lyrics are a provocative description of a sexual ménage à trois. It was originally chosen to launch the French singer Jeanne Mas in the Italian market, but her version did not convince the RCA director Ennio Melis, who thought the song was more appropriate for Pravo.[1] The track had been previously refused by Loredana Bertè.[2] [3]

The track was the first single from Patty's 1978 album Miss Italia. The B-side of the 7" single was "Bello", a cover of Talking Heads' "Love → Building on Fire". The single turned out a major hit for the singer, peaking at no. 2 in May 1978, kept off the top spot for three consecutive weeks by the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive".[4] It was the ninth best-selling single of the year and remains one of the biggest hits of Patty's career.

Pravo re-recorded "Pensiero stupendo" in 1987 and 1990. In 1997, the song was a top 5 hit again, when a new, rockier version was released as a single to promote the concert album Bye Bye Patty.

Track listings

A. "Pensiero stupendo" (Ivano Fossati, Oscar Prudente) – 4:14

B. "Bello" (David Byrne, Maurizio Monti) – 3:31

  1. "Pensiero stupendo '97" – 5:03
  2. "Pensiero stupendo" (V-Mix) – 4:21
  3. "Pensiero stupendo" (Vernetti + Gaudi Mix) – 3:53
  4. "Pensiero stupendo '97" (Live) – 5:48

Cover versions

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ezio Guaitamacchi. 1000 canzoni che ci hanno cambiato la vita. Rizzoli. 2009. 978-8858617427. Italian.
  2. Book: Paolo Bassotti . Sexy rock: 50 storie di musica e rivoluzione sessuale . Lit Edizioni . 2014 . 978-8862317344 . Italian.
  3. News: Luca Marchio. Il pensiero stupendo del Prudente geniale. 20 December 2014. La Repubblica. 2 April 2008. Italian.
  4. Web site: 1978 . www.hitparadeitalia.it . 2019-02-28 . Italian.
  5. Web site: Patty Pravo - Pensiero Stupendo (Vinyl) . March 1978 . . 2018-01-16.
  6. Web site: Patty Pravo - Col Tempo - Discografia: pensiero stupendo / bello . coltempo.it . 2023-06-22 . Italian . https://web.archive.org/web/20060509140559/http://www.coltempo.it/discografia/singoli/pensiero.htm . 2006-05-09.
  7. Web site: Patty Pravo - Pensiero Stupendo '97 (CD, Maxi-Single) . 1997 . . 2019-02-28.
  8. Web site: Patty Pravo - Col Tempo - Discografia: pensiero stupendo '97 . coltempo.it . 2023-06-22 . Italian . https://web.archive.org/web/20060509141056/http://www.coltempo.it/discografia/singoli/pensiero97.htm . 2006-05-09.
  9. Web site: M&D: Classifiche . musicaedischi.it . 2023-06-14 . it. (Enter "Patty Pravo" in the "Artista" field and click "cerca".)
  10. 1978-07-08 . International Best Sellers – Italy . . New York, NY . 40 . 2023-07-30 . World Radio History.
  11. Web site: Singoli: Classifica settimanale WK 26 (dal 20.06.1997 al 26.06.1997) . fimi.it . 2023-06-22 . it.
  12. Web site: La Crus: "Crocevia" recensione . 2001-01-31 . Faustiko Murizzi . rockit.it . 2023-06-22 . it.