Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola

"Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" is a version of David Bowie's first hit single "Space Oddity" with Italian lyrics.

"Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola"
Single by David Bowie
B-side	"Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud"
Released	19 November 1969
Recorded	1969
Studio	Morgan, London[1]
Genre	Space rock psychedelic folk
Length	5:15
Label	Philips
Songwriter(s)	David Bowie Mogol
Producer(s)	Gus Dudgeon
David Bowie singles chronology
"Space Oddity" (1969) "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" (1969) "The Prettiest Star" (1970)

The cover, sharing little narrative content but with common themes of love and loss, was written by prolific pop lyricist Mogol. It was originally performed by Italian psychedelic rock group The Computers soon after Bowie's single become popular.[2] Bowie's label licensed Mogol's lyrics and had him record a version as well, likely to capitalize on market pressures from Bowie's rising overseas popularity.

Instead of translating the tragic science fiction of the original version, Mogol wrote a bittersweet tale of young love. In the Italian version, a man jilted by his lover the evening before roams the streets of his city late at night. He's met by a smitten young woman, who offers an optimistic view of love in the city and extends her hand to the young man. He turns away instead and chooses to "drown" himself in the "sea" of the night, matching the hopeless tone of the original track.[3]

Initially, the single got a late 1969 release, with a February 1970 repress.[4][5][6] Bowie's version of "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" was later included on the album Rare (1982). A previously unreleased longer stereo mix was included on the 2009 two-CD special edition David Bowie, and in 2015 on Re:Call 1 (a rarities disc in the Five Years (1969–1973) compilation).[7]