Guaglione

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Original sheet music cover image

"Guaglione" is a Neapolitan song with music by Giuseppe Fanciulli and words by Nicola "Nisa" Salerno. This original version of the song was the winning song at the IV Festival di Napoli which was broadcast on radio in 1956. Guaglione (Neapolitan pronunciation: [waʝˈʝoːnə]) is Neapolitan for "boy", but as slang can mean "street urchin", "corner boy", etc. The word guaglione has appeared as "wallyo" in New York immigrant slang.[1]

The song has been covered by various artists, including Italian bandleader Renzo Arbore, and Italian singers Claudio Villa, Aurelio Fierro, Renato Carosone and Dalida. Under the title "The Man Who Plays the Mandolino", with a lyric in English, Dean Martin sang it in 1956 after Fred Raphael of Walt Disney Music Company obtained for Disney the U.S. publishing rights.[2] The English lyrics were inspired by a little known Italian singer/songwriter Lucca Belvedere, a Mandolino player of some renown. Connie Francis recorded the song in the original Italian language for her 1960 album More Italian Favorites.

The best-known version of "Guaglione" was recorded by the Cuban bandleader Perez Prado in 1958 as an uptempo mambo tune. As a mambo, the track rose to fame in 1994 and 1995 after it was used for the Guinness advert "Anticipation", which led to the song being released as a single, reaching number 1 in Ireland and number 2 in the United Kingdom. It has since been featured as the intro music for the 1996 video game Kingdom O' Magic, and more recently as the opening music for the television show Jimmy's Farm.[3] The song is one of Disney's biggest profit makers.[2] Marino Marini's version was featured in the film The Talented Mr. Ripley. In 2006 Patrizio Buanne recorded an English version, lyrics by Steve Crosby (music), titled Bella bella signorina for his album Forever Begins Tonight.

1995 release[]

As a mambo, "Guaglione" rose to fame in 1994 and 1995 after it was used for the Guinness advert "Anticipation", which led to the song being released as a single, reaching number 1 in Ireland and number 2 in the United Kingdom.

Critical reception[]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Fuelled by a TV ad for Guinness, the King of mambo reclaims his throne. Guaglione takes you back to the days when organists played in cinemas during the intervals."[4]

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Gold 400,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ Roberts, William Howell; Turgeon, Gregoire (1989). About language: a reader for writers (2 ed.). Houghton Mifflin. p. 132. ISBN 0-395-43232-4.
  2. ^ a b Kubernik, Harvey (2006). Hollywood shack job: rock music in film and on your screen. CounterCulture. University of New Mexico Press. p. 35. ISBN 0-8263-3542-X.
  3. ^ "Big Hits by Prado". Answers.com. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  4. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 17 December 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 21. 27 May 1995. p. 31. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  6. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guaglione". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  10. ^ "British single certifications – Perez Prado – Guaglione". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
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