Massara — Margherita (1979)

Today we’ve got a special double feature — one song, two ways. The first (and original) track is the Italian dancefloor hit ‘Margherita,’ aka ‘Daisy’… which repackages the “he loves me, he loves me not” children’s rhyme into an orgiastic italo-disco blow-out.

The genius behind this anthem was Pino Massara, an Italian composer and producer who wrote songs for some of the leading men and ladies of Italian music—Mina, Adriano Celentano and Nicola Arigliano among them. (This track actually samples Celentano’s 1968 hit ‘Azzurro,’ which Pino did not write.)

What I would give to be in a Milanese disco circa 1979, knowing Italians’ love for sing-alongs… pazzesco.

(Stay tuned for part two…)

Mina — Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (1967)

Yeah, you’ve heard Nancy Sinatra’s version of ‘Bang Bang’ (actually Cher’s second single)…

But have you heard it sung by the pop goddess of The Boot, la voce every Italian knows, Mina? Rocking a silver Jetsons dress down a runway of slinky guitars?

Well then, you’re in for a treat…

BANG BANG! Io sparo a te… BANG BANG! Tu spari a me… BANG BANG! E vincerà… BANG BANG! Chi al cuore colpirà…