"Ma quale idea" ("But What Idea") is a song written and performed by Italian singer
Pino D'Angiò from his debut studio album, ''...Balla!'' (1981). The song was arranged by jazz musician
Enrico Intra
Enrico Intra (born 3 July 1935 in Milan, Italy) is an Italian jazz pianist, composer, conductor.
During his long career, Intra has collaborated with such notable musicians as Gerry Mulligan, Franco Cerri, Lee Konitz, Milton Jackson, Severino Gazz ...
.
[Bassignano, Ernesto (1990). "D'Angiò, Pino". Castaldo, Gino (edited by). ''Dizionario della canzone italiana''. Curcio Editore. pp. 478-9.][Deregibus, Enrico (2010). "Pino D'Angiò". ''Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana''. Giunti Editore, 2010. p. 140. .] The single was an international success, selling over 2 million copies.
Despite the common belief that the bassline of the track was taken from "
Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" is a 1979 disco song performed by American R&B duo McFadden & Whitehead, from their debut album '' McFadden & Whitehead'' (1979). They wrote and produced the song along with keyboard player Jerry Cohen.
Background
"A ...
" by
McFadden & Whitehead
McFadden and Whitehead were an American R&B duo, best known for their signature tune "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". They wrote and produced some of the most popular R&B hits of the 1970s, and were primarily associated with the Gamble and Huff rec ...
, D'Angiò claimed that he composed it independently along with the bassist
Stefano Cerri. The song was later sampled in
Madison Avenue's 1999 hit "
Don't Call Me Baby
"Don't Call Me Baby" is a song by Australian house music duo Madison Avenue (band), Madison Avenue, released as the first single from their only studio album, ''The Polyester Embassy'' (2000). Written by Cheyne Coates, Andy Van Dorsselaer, Duane ...
".
Track listing and formats
* Italian 7-inch single
:A. "Ma quale idea" – 4:20
:B. "Lezione d'amore" – 2:58
Credits and personnel
*
Pino D'Angiò – songwriter, vocals
*
Enrico Intra
Enrico Intra (born 3 July 1935 in Milan, Italy) is an Italian jazz pianist, composer, conductor.
During his long career, Intra has collaborated with such notable musicians as Gerry Mulligan, Franco Cerri, Lee Konitz, Milton Jackson, Severino Gazz ...
– arranger
* Alfredo Di Muro – engineering
Credits and personnel adapted from the ''...Balla!'' album and 7-inch single liner notes.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Francesco Napoli version
In 1987, Italian singer Francesco Napoli recorded a cover of "Ma quale idea".
Track listing and formats
* European 7-inch single
:A. "Ma quale idea" – 4:26
:B. "Bambina che sará" – 3:20
* European 12-inch single
:A. "Ma quale idea" (Strange Idea Mix) – 5:31
:B1. "Bambina che sará" – 3:20
:B2. "Balla Bonus Beats" – 3:58
* German / Austrian / Swiss CD maxi-single
# "Ma quale idea" (Single Version) – 4:26
# "Bambina che sará" – 3:20
# "Balla Bonus Beats" – 3:58
# "Ma quale idea" (Strange Idea Mix) – 5:31
Credits and personnel
* Francesco Napoli – vocals
* Peter Columbus – producer
* Hans Lampe – engineering
* Oliver Kels – arranger
Charts
Bnkr44 version
In 2024, Italian pop punk band
Bnkr44 performed the song together with Pino D'Angiò at the cover night of the
74th Sanremo Music Festival. The band released the song as a single on 1 March 2024, with the title "Ma che idea".
Credits and personnel
* Pino D'Angiò – author and vocals
* Jacopo Adamo – lyricist, composer and vocals
* Andrea Locci – lyricist, composer and vocals
* Dario Lombardi – lyricist, composer and vocals
* Pietro Serafini – lyricist, composer and vocals
* Marco Vittiglio – lyricist, composer and vocals
* JxN – producer
* Erin – producer
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
{{Authority control
1980 songs
1980 singles
1987 singles
Songs in Italian
Pino D'Angiò songs
Ri-Fi singles
Universal Music Group singles
Songs written by Pino D'Angiò