Gianni Pettenati


Gianni Pettenati was an Italian singer and musical critic. He is most famous for his Italian cover versions of great international hits. He was also the author of plays and books on the history of Italian music.

Life and career

Gianni Pettenati started very early winning a music contest when he was 8 years old and acted in a play Pirandello. In April 1965 he won the Festival di Bellaria, then joined a group called the Juniors in 1966 to record "Come una pietra che rotola", a cover version of "Like a Rolling Stone" originally by Bob Dylan. This was followed by "Il superuomo" again with the Juniors, this time a cover of "Sunshine Superman" by Donovan, with the B-side being "Puoi farmi piangere", a cover of "I Put a Spell on You" from Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
His greatest success came with "Bandiera Gialla" the Italian version of "The Pied Piper". In 1967, he participated in the Sanremo Music Festival with "La rivoluzione" and again in 1968 with "La tramontana".
Pettenati continued to sing with mostly repertoire of his earlier hits in the 1960s. He was on stage in musical theater "Quei bravi ragazzi", with a history of Italian song told from memory. With Pettenati as story teller there were five artists accompanying him: Delia Rimoldi, Raffaele Koheler, Maurizio Dosi and Luca Maciachini.
Gianni Pettenati was also a musical critic, author of novels, plays and many books on the history of Italian music. His published works include:
  • "Quelli eran giorni - 30 anni di canzoni italiane", co-authored with Red Ronnie
  • "Gli anni '60 in America"
  • "Mina come sono"
  • "Io Renato Zero"
  • "Alice se ne va"
Pettenati died on 22 February 2025, at the age of 79.

Discography

Albums

  • 1968: Gianni Pettenati 1
  • 1973: Par la mort dun sunadur
  • 1984: ''Bandiera Azzurra''

Singles

  • 1966: "Come una pietra che rotola"/"Siamo alla fine"
  • 1966: "Bandiera gialla"/"Se mi vuoi così"
  • 1967: "Il superuomo"/"Puoi farmi piangere"
  • 1967: "La rivoluzione"/"Ciao ragazza, ciao"
  • 1967: "Io credo in te"/"Lo sbaglio di volere te"
  • 1967: "Un cavallo nella testa"/"Vai vai"
  • 1968: "La tramontana"/"Voglio tornare a casa mia"
  • 1968: "Cara judy ciao "/"Tango"
  • 1969: "Les Byciclettes de Belsize"/"Lingering on"
  • 1969: "Caldo caldo"/"... e mi svegliavo "
  • 1970: "In mezzo al traffico"/"La musica continua"
  • 1970: "Candida/É già tardi ormai"
  • 1983: "Bandiera gialla"/"Bandiera gialla
  • 1984: "Bandiera azzurra"/"Cade la neve"
  • 1986: "Come sarà domani"/"Ho perso te"
  • 1989: "Tutto è successo all'improvviso"/"Una canzone per non morire"
;Released outside Italy
  • 1968: "La tramontana"/"La balada de Bonnie and Clyde"
  • 1968: "La tramontana"/"Quiero volver a casa"
  • 1968: "La tramontana"/"Voglio tornare a casa mia"
  • 1969: "In mezzo al traffico"/"La musica continua"

CDs

  • 1995: ''Che cosa fanno gli angeli''

Filmography

  • 1967: ''I ragazzi di Bandiera Gialla''