Ma quale idea

"Ma quale idea" ("But What Idea") is a song written and performed by Italian singer Pino D'Angiò from his debut studio album, ...Balla! (1981). The song was arranged by jazz musician Enrico Intra. The single was an international success, selling over 2 million copies. Despite the common belief that the bassline of the track was taken from "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead, D'Angiò claimed that he composed it independently along with the bassist Stefano Cerri. The song was later sampled in Madison Avenue's 1999 hit "Don't Call Me Baby".

Track listing and formats

 * Italian 7-inch single


 * A. "Ma quale idea" – 4:20
 * B. "Lezione d'amore" – 2:58

Credits and personnel

 * Pino D'Angiò – songwriter, vocals
 * Enrico Intra – arranger
 * Alfredo Di Muro – engineering

Credits and personnel adapted from the ...Balla! album and 7-inch single liner notes.

Francesco Napoli version
In 1987, Italian singer Francesco Napoli recorded a cover of "Ma quale idea".

Track listing and formats

 * European 7-inch single


 * A. "Ma quale idea" – 4:26
 * B. "Bambina che sará" – 3:20


 * European 12-inch single


 * A. "Ma quale idea" (Strange Idea Mix) – 5:31
 * B1. "Bambina che sará" – 3:20
 * B2. "Balla Bonus Beats" – 3:58


 * German / Austrian / Swiss CD maxi-single


 * 1) "Ma quale idea" (Single Version) – 4:26
 * 2) "Bambina che sará" – 3:20
 * 3) "Balla Bonus Beats" – 3:58
 * 4) "Ma quale idea" (Strange Idea Mix) – 5:31

Credits and personnel

 * Francesco Napoli – vocals
 * Peter Columbus – producer
 * Hans Lampe – engineering
 * Oliver Kels – arranger

Bnkr44 version
In 2024, Italian pop punk band Bnkr44 performed the song together with Pino D'Angiò at the cover night of the 74th Sanremo Music Festival. The band released the song as a single on 1 March 2024, with the title "Ma che idea".

Credits and personnel

 * Pino D'Angiò – author and vocals
 * Jacopo Adamo – lyricist, composer and vocals
 * Andrea Locci – lyricist, composer and vocals
 * Dario Lombardi – lyricist, composer and vocals
 * Pietro Serafini – lyricist, composer and vocals
 * Marco Vittiglio – lyricist, composer and vocals
 * JxN – producer
 * Erin – producer