Ainhoa Cantalapiedra
Encyclopedia
Ainhoa Cantalapiedra is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) is a popular Spanish-Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
singer/songwriter, most commonly known as Ainhoa.
She is the winner of the second series of Operación Triunfo
Operación Triunfo
Operación Triunfo is a reality-show talent contest which first aired on Spain's TVE network in 2001. A kind of cross between Pop Idol, Voces en Función, Star Search, and Big Brother, the show aimed to find the country's next solo singing sensation, putting a selection of hopefuls through their...
(Spanish version of Star Academy
Star Academy
Star Academy is a highly successful television show format based on the Spanish format "Operación Triunfo" produced by Endemol, that has been broadcast in over 50 countries...
).
Early life
Born in her hometown of Galdakao, since 1998 formed different groups of different styles, given the nickname of 'la Céline' (galdakao's reference to their very own Celine DionCeline Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
).
Operación Triunfo
In 2002, she became a contestant in the second series of Spanish Fame Academy, Operación TriunfoOperación Triunfo
Operación Triunfo is a reality-show talent contest which first aired on Spain's TVE network in 2001. A kind of cross between Pop Idol, Voces en Función, Star Search, and Big Brother, the show aimed to find the country's next solo singing sensation, putting a selection of hopefuls through their...
. Within a week, she ended up in line for eviction, but managed to survive against Mai Meneses
Mai Meneses
María Isabel González-Meneses García-Valdecasas commonly known as Mai Meneses , is a Spanish singer-songwriter.Mai Meneses, the youngest of six children, holds a Bachelor degree in Law from Universidad San Pablo CEU...
, who is now a member of the group Nena Daconte
Nena Daconte
Nena Daconte are a Spanish pop group. Originally, the group consisted of Mai Meneses , and Kim Fanlo...
. Ainhoa came up for eviction 2 more times while being on the show. Her Renditions of Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
's Si Tu Eres Mi Hombre
The Power of Love (Jennifer Rush song)
"The Power of Love" is a power ballad co-written and originally recorded by Jennifer Rush. It has been covered by several artists, most notably by Laura Branigan, Air Supply, and Céline Dion, and translated into several languages, becoming a pop standard....
and Monica Naranjo
Monica Naranjo
Mónica Naranjo Carrasco is a Spanish singer born in Figueras, a village in Spain to Andalusian parents. She has sold over 8 million albums worldwide.- Biography :...
's Sobrevivire made her one of the favorites to win. She went on to win the show with over 34% of the votes split between her and the remaining 6 finalists. She received 1 million Euros and a record deal with Vale Music.
Post O.T
In 2003, Ainhoa released her highly anticipated debut album, 'Escencia Natural' (Natural Essence). It was produced by Latin grammy award winning record executive, Emilio EstefanEmilio Estefan
Emilio Estefan, Jr. is a Cuban-American of Lebanese ancestry who is a musician and producer. Estefan's first taste of celebrity came as a member of the Miami Sound Machine, but he is also recognized as the producer of many famous singers. He is the husband of singer Gloria Estefan...
, and was very successful in Spain, selling 80,000 copies on its first week of release, selling over 300,000 copies later on. However, close to 1 million people voted for her to win Operación Triunfo
Operación Triunfo
Operación Triunfo is a reality-show talent contest which first aired on Spain's TVE network in 2001. A kind of cross between Pop Idol, Voces en Función, Star Search, and Big Brother, the show aimed to find the country's next solo singing sensation, putting a selection of hopefuls through their...
. The first single was Acéptame Así, the second was El Amor Me Está Llamando (a version of LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
's 'Love Must Be Telling Me Something'
I Need You (LeAnn Rimes album)
I Need You is the third compilation album from American recording artist LeAnn Rimes. The ten-track album was first released on January 30, 2001 through Curb Records, to help satisfy Rimes' recording contract obligations during litigation with the label and her management. Rimes publicly disowned...
), and the third was Decídete. Also in this year, Ainhoa recorded the theme tune for the Spanish animation series 'Glup', noticeably in Spanish, Catalan and her native Basque
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
.
A year later, Ainhoa released her second studio album, 'Mi Tiempo Roto' (My Broken/Distraught Time). Her image became a lot more rock (compared to Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
), and was not well appreciated by fans. The first single was the track Seguire Estando Yo, which received limited radio play. The follow-up single was the track Salir Corriendo. To date, the album has sold over 50,000 copies. The record was considered a failure in the charts and in comparison to the sales of her debut album.
In 2005, Ainhoa stayed out of the public view. However, in December 2005, Ainhoa sang Can't Help Falling In Love
Can't Help Falling in Love
"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a pop song originally recorded by American singer Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company. It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody was based on "Plaisir d'Amour" but with a different...
live with Soraya Arnelas
Soraya Arnelas
Soraya Arnelas Rubiales , better known by her stage name Soraya, is a popular Spanish singer...
on an Operación Triunfo
Operación Triunfo
Operación Triunfo is a reality-show talent contest which first aired on Spain's TVE network in 2001. A kind of cross between Pop Idol, Voces en Función, Star Search, and Big Brother, the show aimed to find the country's next solo singing sensation, putting a selection of hopefuls through their...
Christmas special (this duet was originally recorded by Ainhoa and Marey on the 2003 Operación Triunfo Season 2 compilation Fuerza de la Vida). On this same show, Ainhoa revealed that she was working on a brand new album.
In 2006, Ainhoa parted ways with Vale Music due to creative differences and signed a new deal with another management. Ainhoa said that she wanted to create an album which defined who she really was as an artist, and that staying with Vale Music would not allow her to make that creative difference.
Imperfecta—Present
After much delay of the release of her third studio album, it was finally released on January 31, 2008 under the name, 'Imperfecta' (Imperfect). Almost four years since the release of her last album. Her new album, Imperfecta, is made up of original compositions, with all of its 11 tracks written and composed by Ainhoa herself, it consists of 10 Spanish songs and an English one. The album was put online as a free legal download, which can now be downloaded off her unofficial website (www.ainhoa.info).As of December 2008, 'Imperfecta ' has had over 30,000 downloads through 'www.Ainhoa.info'
After high petitions and continuous requests by fans, her third studio album Imperfecta was released on physical CD format in 2009. The album was therefore for the very first time available to buy in shops and eligible to chart. All information is provived by Ainhoa's new and official website (www.Ainhoacantalapiedra.com). The album was conclusively released to Spanish stores on April 13, 2009.
In 2010, Ainhoa is set to release a new song & potential single entitled "Volvere" (I'll Return). The track is currently competing in the pre-selection of the Spanish entry to the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. She currently holds a place in the top 10 in the online voting. Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Spain took part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The national broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española selected the Spanish entry through a national selection process...
. where she came 6 place
Ainhoa plans to release her 4th album at the end of this year 2010.
Discography
| Album | Released | Peak Positions | Sales | Record Label | Singles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esencia Natural (debut album) | September 2003 (SPN) | |
300.000 units (SPN)(1x Platinum and 1x Gold) | Vale Music Vale Music was a Spanish record label founded by Ricardo Campoy and the executives José María Castells, Toni Peret and Andreu Ugas that came from the breakaway Max Music. The label belongs to Universal Music Group since 2006.... |
|
| Mi Tiempo Roto (second album) | October 2004 (SPN) | |
50.000 units (SPN)(1x Gold) | Vale Music Vale Music was a Spanish record label founded by Ricardo Campoy and the executives José María Castells, Toni Peret and Andreu Ugas that came from the breakaway Max Music. The label belongs to Universal Music Group since 2006.... |
|
| Imperfecta (third album) | January 31, 2008 (Free download)(SPN)
April 13, 2009 (CD format)(SPN) |
30.000 downloads (SPN) | |
|
Esencia Natural track listing
- Inquilino
- Acceptame Asi
- No Hieras Mas
- El Amor Me Esta Llamando
- Buscando Senales Divinas
- Cuando Tu No Estas
- Decidete
- Le Digo Adios Al Ayer
- Resignacion
- Emotional Rescue
- Lo Bueno Queda
- El Camaleon
Mi Tiempo Roto track listing
- Seguire Estando Yo
- Tengo Que Aprender
- Mi Opportunidad
- Siempre Amanece
- Cuando Existe El Amor
- Es Mi Juego
- Dame Una Razon
- A Veces
- Salir Corriendo
- Buscando Quien Eres
- Cristales Rotos
- En Silencio
Imperfecta track listing
- Suerte
- Crece
- Estas Aqui
- Mi Hogar
- Recuerdame
- Tu Mejor Animal
- No Hay Lugar
- Hasta El Final
- Entre Tanto
- Las Calles De Madrid
- My Prisoner