| Cover | Pensiero stupendo.jpg |
|---|---|
| Artist | Patty Pravo |
| Album | Miss Italia |
| B-side | Bello |
| Released | 1978 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 4:14 |
| Label | RCA |
| Writer | Ivano Fossati · Oscar Prudente |
| Producer | Antonio Coggio |
| Prev year | 1977 |
| 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.
It is rumoured that pop queen Madonna has recorded a version of the song in 2025 as part of her sessions for her upcoming sequel album to Confessions on a Dance Floor.
Track listings
- A. "Pensiero stupendo" (Ivano Fossati, Oscar Prudente) – 4:14
- B. "Bello" (David Byrne, Maurizio Monti) – 3:31
- CD maxi single (1997)[7][8]
- "Pensiero stupendo '97" – 5:03
- "Pensiero stupendo" (V-Mix) – 4:21
- "Pensiero stupendo" (Vernetti + Gaudi Mix) – 3:53
- "Pensiero stupendo '97" (Live) – 5:48
Charts
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[9][10] | 2 |
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy (FIMI)[11] | 5 |
Cover versions
- Saxophonist Fausto Papetti released an instrumental cover of the song in 1978.
- Italian band La Crus covered the song on their 2001 album Crocevia with guest appearance from Pravo herself.[12]
- Dolcenera covered the song on her 2005 album Un mondo perfetto.
- Róisín Murphy released a cover on her EP Mi Senti in 2014.
References
- ^ Ezio Guaitamacchi (2009). 1000 canzoni che ci hanno cambiato la vita (in Italian). Rizzoli. ISBN 978-8858617427.
- ^ Paolo Bassotti (2014). Sexy rock: 50 storie di musica e rivoluzione sessuale (in Italian). Lit Edizioni. ISBN 978-8862317344.
- ^ Luca Marchio (2 April 2008). "Il pensiero stupendo del Prudente geniale" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ "1978" (in Italian). www.hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
- ^ "Patty Pravo - Pensiero Stupendo (Vinyl)". Discogs. March 1978. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ^ "Patty Pravo - Col Tempo - Discografia: pensiero stupendo / bello" (in Italian). coltempo.it. Archived 2006-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ "Patty Pravo - Pensiero Stupendo '97 (CD, Maxi-Single)". Discogs. 1997. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
- ^ "Patty Pravo - Col Tempo - Discografia: pensiero stupendo '97" (in Italian). coltempo.it. Archived 2006-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ "M&D: Classifiche" (in Italian). musicaedischi.it. Retrieved 2023-06-14. (Enter "Patty Pravo" in the "Artista" field and click "cerca".)
- ^ "International Best Sellers – Italy". Cash Box. 1978-07-08. p. 40. Retrieved 2023-07-30. – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Singoli: Classifica settimanale WK 26 (dal 20.06.1997 al 26.06.1997)" (in Italian). fimi.it. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ Faustiko Murizzi (2001-01-31). "La Crus: "Crocevia" recensione" (in Italian). rockit.it. Retrieved 2023-06-22.