"Napule è" ('

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

is') is an Italian song composed and performed by

Pino Daniele Giuseppe "Pino" Daniele (19 March 1955 – 4 January 2015) was an Italian singer-songwriter and musician. His influences covered a wide number of genres, including pop, blues, jazz, and Italian and Middle Eastern music. Biography Daniele wa ...

. It is considered the signature song of Daniele.

Background

The song was composed by Daniele in 1973, when he was 18 years old. Daniele initially considered to have it performed by Peppino di Capri. Along with its B-side "'Na tazzulella 'e cafè" and "Cammina Cammina", the song was a last-minute addition to his debut album ''Terra mia''.

Recording and release

After listening to the song's demo, producers and label decided the song deserved a more rich, orchestral arrangement than the lo-fi arrangements of the other songs of the album, and the task was entrusted to Antonio Sinagra, a

Naples Conservatory This is a list of music conservatories in Naples, Italy. Conservatorio di San Pietro a Majella The Naples Conservatory of Music is a music school located in Naples, Italy. It is situated in the complex of San Pietro a Majella. It was originally ...

professor who was fresh from the arrangements for Roberto De Simone's musical '' La Gatta Cenerentola''. Sinagra also composed the

oboe The oboe ( ) is a type of double-reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common type of oboe, the soprano oboe pitched in C, ...

s and

mandolin A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a Chordophone, stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally Plucked string instrument, plucked with a plectrum, pick. It most commonly has four Course (music), courses of doubled St ...

s intro. Jazz musician Amedeo Tommasi played the piano, but asked to be credited as Amedeo Forte. The single was eventually chosen as leading song of the album, and premiered in a show of the private radio Capitale Eurosound. Daniele performed it in an episode of the

RAI (), commercially styled as since 2000 and known until 1954 as (RAI), is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many terrestrial and subscription television channels a ...

musical show '' Senza Rete''.

Reception

The song has been described as a 'jewel .. one of the most striking, poetic and realistic portraits of Naples', and as 'regenerating lymph for the new Neapolitan song, the manifesto of a generation's hopes and disillusions'.

Other versions

Artists who recorded the song include Mina,

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerou ...

Gino Paoli Gino Paoli (; born 23 September 1934) is an Italian singer-songwriter. He is a seminal figure who has written a number of songs widely regarded as classics in Italian popular music, including: "Il cielo in una stanza (song), Il cielo in una st ...

Laura Pausini Laura Pausini (; born 16 May 1974) is an Italian Pop music, pop singer. She rose to fame in 1993, winning the newcomer artists' section of the Sanremo Music Festival 1993, 43rd Sanremo Music Festival with the song "La solitudine", which becam ...

, Drupi,

Teresa De Sio Teresa De Sio (born 3 November 1952) is an Italian pop-folk singer and songwriter. She is the elder sister of actress Giuliana De Sio. Life and career Teresa De Sio was born in Naples and grew up in Cava de' Tirreni, where her family was origin ...

Fiordaliso Marina Fiordaliso (born 19 February 1956), best known as , is an Italian pop rock singer. During her career she has sold over 6 million records. Life and career Born in Piacenza, Italy, the daughter of a drummer, Fiordaliso approached music at ...

, Roberto Murolo,

Mario Trevi Agostino Capozzi (born 2 November 1941), known professionally as Mario Trevi, is an Italian singer and actor. Biography Trevi was born in Melito di Napoli, Metropolitan City of Naples, on 2 November 1941. He is the son of Domenico and Maddal ...

Track listing

Charts

Certifications

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Napule e 1977 singles Italian songs 1977 songs EMI Group singles Neapolitan songs Songs about Naples