MovieChat Forums > Mamma Roma (1965) Discussion > The gypsy song

The gypsy song

posted 15 years ago by jpb58
6 replies | jump to latest

What was the title of the gypsy song they danced the tango to?

[–] edagnew 15 years ago

It sounds a lot like "Serenade in the Night", originally recorded in the 1930's. There are very many recordings to choose from if you want one. However, it may be a different song with a similar melody. Ed Agnew

[–] jpb58 15 years ago

It didn't sound like that to me. There were words to it, too.

[–] Carlooto-1 15 years ago

Violino Tzigano by Joselito. You can find it on itunes, but a much later recording (the recording used in the film was done when he was a child). There's also a rather nice recording by Carlo Buti.

[–] edagnew 15 years ago

Carlooto-1 has solved the mystery. "Violino Tzigano" is the same song as "Serenade in the Night", the title being changed for english speakers. I thought so. I checked several recordings on Amazon to confirm the the melody was the same.

[–] kathy_hopkins 14 years ago

This is a wonderful scene and I've fallen in love with the tango song. As Carlooto says it's 'Violino Tzigano' sung by Joselito - here's a link to him singing it, though I'm not sure which film this is from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y98ka8msPcw&feature=PlayList&p=901F97904F6A612E&index=9

The lyrics are here:

http://www.lyricsmania.com/violino_tzigano_lyrics_rosanna_fratello.html

and there's another wonderful rendition of it by Meme Bianchi here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k9GE3BzUIo&feature=related

Both are good though quite different renditions, imo.

Beware the English version of "Serenade in the Night" though. Apparently the lyrics are completely different - not a translation at all.

Caterina

[–] PoppyTransfusion 9 years ago

The film version has been uploaded to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2G7cr_Tmh8

A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.