Quando Quando Quando

Quando? Quanto? - When? How much?

These are two of the first words tourists learn in Italy—for good reason. Once you know when a shop opens or a train leaves and how much a cappuccino or a ticket costs, you are set to go (siete a posto). Sometimes quando is all you need to ask. If you want to find out “until when,” ask “Fino a quando?” If you’re curious about since when, ask “Da quando?" The whole world began asking "when" in 1962 when the Italian pop song “Quando, Quando, Quando” became an international hit, with a catchy tune and lyrics like these:

Dimmi quando tu verrai,
dimmi quando... quando... quando...

Quando Quando Quando

"Quando, quando, quando" is an Italian pop song, in the bossa nova style, with music written by Tony Renis and lyrics by Alberto Testa.

Tony Renis - Quando Quando Quando, single 1962

Tony Renis (born May 13, 1938 in Milan), is an Italian singer, composer, songwriter, music producer and film actor. He debuted in the mid-1950s, paired with Adriano Celentano. In 1961, Renis debuted at the Sanremo with the song "Pozzanghere". In 1962, Renis gained international success with "Quando, quando, quando", performed at the Sanremo Music Festival. One year later, he won the same Festival with the song "Una per tutte", and, in 1967, he reached second place with the song "Quando dico che ti amo". In 1972, he composed the song "Grande grande grande" with Alberto Testa too, successfully performed by Mina, and later by Shirley Bassey under the English translation title "Never Never Never".

Tony Renis

Alberto Testa (1927 - 2009) was an Italian composer, lyricist, singer, and writer for television. He was known primarily for his work as a lyricist. His words were set by such songwriters as Tony Renis and Memo Remigi. He also wrote songs for such artists as Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, and Céline Dion (such as "The Prayer" and "I Hate You Then I Love You").

Alberto Testa

"Quando, quando, quando", originally recorded in two different versions by Tony Renis and Emilio Pericoli, competed in the Sanremo in 1962, where it placed fourth, and later became a commercial success in Italy, topping the Musica e dischi singles chart.

Emilio Pericoli

Much of Emilio Pericoli’s success both in Italy and in the rest of the world can be attributed to the Sanremo. His international hit “Al Di La” was a cover version of the 1961 festival winner as sung by Betty Curtis and Luciano Tajoli. It went to number 6 on the U.S. Hot 100 and 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart along with number 30 in the U.K. In 1963, he and Renis entered again, finally winning the festival with “Uno Per Tutte.” He later went on to become a television actor.

Emilio Pericoli - Quando Quando Quando

American entertainer Pat Boone, who recorded the song in 1962, sang the English lyrics written by Ervin Drake. A bossa nova, samba type song, it was recorded by Pat Boone with orchestra conducted by Malcolm Lockyer. The song is usually recorded and performed with a full orchestra.

Pat Boone

The title translates as "Tell me when". The song has been used and remixed by many artists and in many different arrangements, including English pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck in 1968. In 2005, Michael Bublé performed the song as a duet with Nelly Furtado.

Engelbert Humperdinck - Quando Quando Quando, single 1998

This song has also been translated into other languages and used in a number of films, including “The Easy Life” (1962) “The Blues Brothers” (1980) “After Hours” (1985) and “Superman Returns” (2006). It was also used in the 2011 episode of The Simpsons titled "The Real Housewives of Fat Tony."

Buble & Furtado - Quando Quando Quando

The song is one of the best-selling singles of all time, with more than 50 million sold.

Pat Boone - Quando Quando Quando

Quando Quando Quando, Italian lyrics

Dimmi quando tu verrai,
dimmi quando... quando... quando...
l'anno, il giorno e l'ora in cui
forse tu mi bacerai...

Ogni istante attenderò,
fino a quando... quando... quando...
d'improvviso ti vedrò
sorridente accanto a me!

Se vuoi dirmi di sì
devi dirlo perchè
non ha senso per me
la mia vita senza te...

Dimmi quando tu verrai,
dimmi quando... quando... quando...
e baciandomi dirai,
"Non ci lasceremo mai!"

Fergie - Quando Quando Quando

Tell me when, Pat Boone version

Dimmi quando tu verrai
Dimmi quando quando quando
L'anno, il giorno e l'ora in cui
Forse tu mi bacerai

Tell me when will you be mine
Tell me, quando, quando, quando
We can share a love divine
Please don’t make me wait again

Every moment’s a day
Every day seems a lifetime
Let me show you the way
To a joy beyond compare

I can’t wait a moment more
Tell me, quando, quando, quando
Say it’s me that you adore
And then, darling, tell me when

Every moment’s a day
Every day seems a lifetime
Let me show you the way
To a joy beyond compare

I can’t wait a moment more
Tell me, quando, quando, quando
Say it’s me that you adore
And then, darling, tell me when

Oh, my darling, tell me when
Dimmi quando, tell me when

Quando Quando Quando