Kuroneko no Tango facts for kids

"Kuroneko no Tango" (which means "Black Cat Tango") is a very famous tango song. It started as an Italian song called "Volevo un gatto nero" ("I wanted a black cat"). Young children in Italy and Japan recorded different versions of it in 1969.

The Song's Beginning in Italy

The first version of the song came from Italy. It was part of a children's music festival called Zecchino d'Oro. This happened on March 11, 1969. A four-year-old girl named Vincenza Pastorelli sang the song. "Framario" (Francesco and Mario Pagano), Armando Soricillo, and Francesco Saverio Maresca wrote the Italian song.

Japan's Hit Version

A Japanese company called Nippon Victor wanted to make a Japanese version. They asked the leader of a school choir, "The Larks," to pick a singer. She chose her nephew, Osamu Minagawa. He was born on January 22, 1963.

His Japanese recording came out on October 5, 1969. The song became a huge hit in Japan. It reached number one on the Oricon music chart. It sold an amazing 3 million copies! This made six-year-old Osamu Minagawa the youngest artist ever to sell over a million records.

What the Song Means

The Italian and Japanese versions of the song are quite different. They both talk about a black cat, but that's where the similarity ends.

The Italian Story

The Italian song is a simple children's tune. The singer is a child who really wanted a black cat. But instead, they were given a white cat. The song is about their playful complaint.

The Japanese Story

The Japanese lyrics have a different meaning. In this version, the "black cat" is a symbol. It stands for the singer's girlfriend, who is a bit unpredictable. She might change her mind often. When Osamu Minagawa sang it, he thought "Tango" was the cat's name!

Other Versions Around the World

Many artists have sung "Kuroneko no Tango" since 1969.

Japanese and French Covers

• In 2005, Ami Tokito sang a Japanese cover.
• Also in 2005, a Japanese folk band called めめ made a French version.
• Meg recorded the original Italian song. It was on her 2012 album, La Japonaise.
• Justin Mauriello included a version on his 2010 Japanese album, Justin Sings the Hits.

Other Languages

• There is a Hebrew version called "Kulam Halkhu LaJambo'." This means "Everybody Went to the Jamboree." Tzipi Shavit first sang it, and Yoram Taharlev wrote the words.
• In Danish, the song is called "Min Kat Den Danser Tango." This means "My Cat Dances Tango."

Recent Covers

• In 2014, Pink Martini and The von Trapps included the song. It was on their album Dream a Little Dream.
• In 1995, the South Korean music group Turbo released a Korean version. They called it "Black Cat Nero."
• Twenty-five years later, the South Korean boy group ATEEZ remade the Korean song. They won a TV show called "Immortal Song" with it. ATEEZ released a music video for their remake. It featured Kim Jong-kook, who was a member of the original Turbo group.