B-side "Se c'è l'amore" Format 7" single Length 3:08 | Released 1968 Genre Pop Label ARC, RCA Victor | |
"La bambola" (Italian for "The Doll") is an Italian pop song written by Franco Migliacci, Ruggero Cini and Bruno Zambrini, and performed by Patty Pravo. The song had been previously refused by several artists, including Gianni Morandi, Little Tony, Gigliola Cinquetti, Caterina Caselli and The Rokes.
The single peaked at the first place for six consecutive weeks between May and June 1968 on the Italian chart and was certified gold. It is considered as the song which definitely consecrated Pravo to fame. The B-side of the single is "Se c'è l'amore" ("If There Is Love"), a cover of Long John Baldry's "Let the Heartaches Begin".
The song was later covered by several artists, including Dalida, Heidi Brühl, Anita Lindblom, Giusy Ferreri, Fredi, Felicia Weathers, Sara Lov, Sergio Dalma and Ivan Cattaneo. It was also used in several films, notably Anton Corbijn's The American, Michele Placido's Romanzo Criminale, Emanuele Crialese's Respiro and Bigas Luna's Bambola. To commemorate the fortieth anniversary of her hit, the singer released a new version of the song, "La bambola 2008".