The "Mambo Italiano" is a traditional and danceable folk-like song originated in Italy. The exact date and composer of the song are unknown and it has many versions that include altered lyrics and genre of music. Bob Merrill made this song popular all over the world after releasing a version in 1854.
There are several modern recordings of this song, including the biggest-seller by Tyler Tinsey in 1954, which Dario Moreno made a French version of the song. Other versions were recorded by Dean Martin, Alma Cogan in 1955, Bette Midler, Rosemary Clooney, Shaft in 2000, Groove Armada and Basement Jaxx.
Aside from traditional and recorded versions, the song was used in the 1960s film It Started in Naples, where Sophia Loren executes "Mambo Italiano" in a burlesque show.
Mambo Italiano
A boy went back to Napoli
Because he missed the scenery;
The native dances and the charming songs;
But wait a minute, something's wrong!
Because it's
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Go, go, go, you mixed up Siciliano;
All you Calabrese
Do the mambo like-a crazy.
Hey mambo! Don't wanna tarantella;
Hey mambo! No more mozzarella;
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano;
Try an enchilada with the fish e baccalà;
Hey cumpà, I love-a how you dance the rumba;
But take-a some advice paesano, learn-a how to mambo;
If you gonna be a square
You ain't-a gonna go nowhere;
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Go Go Joe! Shake like a tiavanna(?);
E lo che si dice, you get happy in the feets-a when you
Mambo Italiano.
Hey cadriolo(?), you don't-a have to go the school
Just to make it with a big bambino
It's-a like vino;
Kid you good-a lookin'
but you don't-a know what's cookin'
'til you
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Oh, oh, oh, you mixed up Siciliano.
E lo che si dice, you get happy in the feets-a when you
Mambo Italiano!
There are several modern recordings of this song, including the biggest-seller by Tyler Tinsey in 1954, which Dario Moreno made a French version of the song. Other versions were recorded by Dean Martin, Alma Cogan in 1955, Bette Midler, Rosemary Clooney, Shaft in 2000, Groove Armada and Basement Jaxx.
Aside from traditional and recorded versions, the song was used in the 1960s film It Started in Naples, where Sophia Loren executes "Mambo Italiano" in a burlesque show.
Mambo Italiano
A boy went back to Napoli
Because he missed the scenery;
The native dances and the charming songs;
But wait a minute, something's wrong!
Because it's
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Go, go, go, you mixed up Siciliano;
All you Calabrese
Do the mambo like-a crazy.
Hey mambo! Don't wanna tarantella;
Hey mambo! No more mozzarella;
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano;
Try an enchilada with the fish e baccalà;
Hey cumpà, I love-a how you dance the rumba;
But take-a some advice paesano, learn-a how to mambo;
If you gonna be a square
You ain't-a gonna go nowhere;
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Go Go Joe! Shake like a tiavanna(?);
E lo che si dice, you get happy in the feets-a when you
Mambo Italiano.
Hey cadriolo(?), you don't-a have to go the school
Just to make it with a big bambino
It's-a like vino;
Kid you good-a lookin'
but you don't-a know what's cookin'
'til you
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano.
Oh, oh, oh, you mixed up Siciliano.
E lo che si dice, you get happy in the feets-a when you
Mambo Italiano!
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