Giorgia Todrani
Encyclopedia
Giorgia Todrani, best known as Giorgia (born April 26, 1971) is an Italian female singer and song-writer, known for her soulful voice, which is aided by a wide vocal range, high belting register and great vocal abilities. She is one of the most iconic and famous Italian singers. She has released ten studio albums, which all enjoyed good commercial success in Italy
. She has sung duets with artists such as Andrea Bocelli
, Ricky Fanté
, Ronan Keating
, Ray Charles
, Herbie Hancock
, Elton John
and Luciano Pavarotti
. Billboard magazine called her "one of the most popular Italian singers" and stated that "she could have made it (a great success) in the USA too".
. Musically influenced by Jazz and Soul, she performed from an early age at several roman Jazz clubs. She grew up singing soul and jazz classics by artists such as Aretha Franklin
, Ella Fitzgerald
, among others. She recorded two lives albums in the early 1990s, called One more go round and A Natural Woman.
who praised her in his winning speech). but, after the stunning performances she made, she quickly became one of the most popular Italian singers. E poi, is still nowadays one of her most famous songs.
Her debut-album Giorgia sold more than 160,000 records(it was a best seller in Italy and enjoyed a good success in Germany too). A few months later Luciano Pavarotti
asked her to perform with him in a duet at the annual Pavarotti & friends show in Modena, Italy where she astonished the audience with a performance of Queen
's Who Wants to Live Forever
. She also sang with the famous tenor.
In 1994 Giorgia won the European Award as "best Young Italian artist".
Thank to this duet Giorgia quicly became a star.
). Her second album Come Thelma & Louise sold more than 300,000 copies.
In this same year, Todrani recorded the song "Vivo per lei" with tenor Andrea Bocelli
.
Her success began to grow internationally.
.
invited her to one of his concerts and asked her to sing on the stage "Georgia on My Mind
" after she told him that her father named her Giorgia in honour of the song.
Giorgia produced "Girasole" by herself, thanks to this album (one of the most successful of her career) she began to be considered a sort of "legend" of Italian music, her powerful voice was considered the best of Italian music by critics.
The same year she sang in duet with Michael McDonald
, in Turin.
and included in her 5th studio Album "Senza Ali" , which features jazz icon Herbie Hancock
as special guest in "Il mare sconosciuto" track. Previously Giorgia had already performed with Herbie Hancock
during his European tour dedicated to George Gershwin
in (1999), and during a concert at the Royal Festival Hall of London along with Youssou N’Dour in (2000).
Gocce di Memoria was the original score of Italian film-maker Ferzan Ozpetck's movie "la Finestra di fronte"starring Giovanna Mezzogiorno
,it gained Giorgia many awards including the "David di donatello",the "Silver ribbon"and tree "italian music awards".
recorded in Milan
. The live cd includes acoustic versions all of her major hits. The album has been certified 3xplatinum in Italy and gained Giorgia many awards. She was supported by the band of Prince
, Terence Blanchard
and during the concert she duet with soul star Ricky Fanté
.
. The song was Poche Parole and was the first duet for Mina, in all her fifty-years long career, with an Italian female.
, with more than 30,000 copies). The album also featured a duet with one of the most important Italian singers, Eros Ramazzotti
, in Inevitabile; and other collaboration: Passerà l'estate by Marina Rei; É l'amore che conta, the second single, written by Busbee
; and Tu mi porti su performed with Jovanotti
. The album Dietro le apparenze debuted at the first position of the Italian chart.
The past 21 of June (2009) Giorgia was involved in the extraordinary concert "Amiche per l'Abruzzo" organized by Laura Pausini
at the San Siro Stadium in Milan
for the people hit by the earthquake in Abruzzo. She had duets with Elisa, Laura Pausini and other of the greatest Italian female singers. The DVD of this concert will soon be available in Italy.
In the winter of 2009, Giorgia confirmed rumors that she and her fiance, singer/songwriter and dancer Emanuel Lo, were expecting their first child. On February 18, 2010, ironically during the third night of the Sanremo Music Festival, it was announced that Giorgia had given birth to a baby boy, Samuel.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. She has sung duets with artists such as Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
, Ricky Fanté
Ricky Fante
Ricky Fanté is an American R&B singer.-Biography:Ricky Fanté studied gospel, jazz and secular soul music in Washington, DC where he was raised. His greatest musical influences were Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. While a teen, he joined the local go-go band Junior Division and...
, Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
. Billboard magazine called her "one of the most popular Italian singers" and stated that "she could have made it (a great success) in the USA too".
Biography
Giorgia was born in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Musically influenced by Jazz and Soul, she performed from an early age at several roman Jazz clubs. She grew up singing soul and jazz classics by artists such as Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, among others. She recorded two lives albums in the early 1990s, called One more go round and A Natural Woman.
Debut album
Her debut was on the stage of the Ariston theatre for the 1994 Sanremo Music Festival when she sang "E poi" in the category Nuove Proposte (New acts). At that festival she won 7th position in the final New act chart (losing to Andrea BocelliAndrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
who praised her in his winning speech). but, after the stunning performances she made, she quickly became one of the most popular Italian singers. E poi, is still nowadays one of her most famous songs.
Her debut-album Giorgia sold more than 160,000 records(it was a best seller in Italy and enjoyed a good success in Germany too). A few months later Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
asked her to perform with him in a duet at the annual Pavarotti & friends show in Modena, Italy where she astonished the audience with a performance of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's Who Wants to Live Forever
Who Wants to Live Forever
"Who Wants to Live Forever" is a song by the English rock band Queen. The song is the sixth track on the album A Kind of Magic, released in June 1986, and was written by guitarist Brian May for the soundtrack to the film Highlander, directed by Russell Mulcahy...
. She also sang with the famous tenor.
In 1994 Giorgia won the European Award as "best Young Italian artist".
Thank to this duet Giorgia quicly became a star.
San Remo Music Festival and second album
In 1995 she returned to the Sanremo Music Festival, singing "Come saprei". She won the competition and the critics' award too, becoming the second artist to achieve that (the first being Domenico ModugnoDomenico Modugno
Domenico Modugno was an Italian singer, songwriter, actor, and later in life, a member of the Italian Parliament. He is known for his 1958 international hit song "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu "...
). Her second album Come Thelma & Louise sold more than 300,000 copies.
In this same year, Todrani recorded the song "Vivo per lei" with tenor Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
.
Her success began to grow internationally.
Strano il mio destino (1996)
In 1996 she entered the Sanremo Music Festival for the third time with the song "Strano il mio destino" and ended in third place. Strano il mio destino - Live & studio 95/96 is the title of her third release, which included live tracks, the Sanremo single and another studio recording. The album sold 270.000 copies.Mangio troppa cioccolata (1997)
In the summer of 1997 she released a cover of an old Italian song by Ornella Vanoni called "Un'ora sola ti vorrei", with a new music sound r&b oriented and a new image; later that year, her 3rd studio album "Mangio troppa cioccolata" was released and started a new dimension on her career, with less ballads and more uptempos, focusing more on the sound and in the interpretation than in the vocals, something that will become kind a prerogative in her following releases.This album was released in ten European countries enjoying a good commercial success,she was also critically acclaimed.The same year music television "MTV Europe"asked Giorgia to present a tv program,however she refused the proposal.Girasole (1999)
After the release of a song from another soundtrack movie called "Il cielo in una stanza" (cover of an Italian old song by Gino Paoli),in the spring of 1999 she released her 4th studio album called "Girasole" , a very melodic and pop oriented record that gave her more success, helped by the hit single "Girasole", one of the top selling Italian songs of the summer of 1999.The same year she made an international tour along jazz legend Herbie HancockHerbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
.
A big dream become true
In 2000 she realised one of her biggest dreams: Ray CharlesRay Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
invited her to one of his concerts and asked her to sing on the stage "Georgia on My Mind
Georgia on My Mind
"Georgia on My Mind" is a song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell . It is the official state song of the U.S. state of Georgia. Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or...
" after she told him that her father named her Giorgia in honour of the song.
Giorgia produced "Girasole" by herself, thanks to this album (one of the most successful of her career) she began to be considered a sort of "legend" of Italian music, her powerful voice was considered the best of Italian music by critics.
The same year she sang in duet with Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
, in Turin.
Senza ali (2001)
In 2001, she returned to Sanremo Music Festival finishing in second place with the song "Di Sole e d'Azzurro" written by ZuccheroZucchero
Adelmo Fornaciari, Commander , more commonly known by his stage name Zucchero Fornaciari or simply Zucchero /ˈtsukkero/, is an Italian rock singer. His music is largely inspired by gospel, blues and rock music, and alternates between ballads and more rhythmic boogie-like pieces.Zucchero is the...
and included in her 5th studio Album "Senza Ali" , which features jazz icon Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
as special guest in "Il mare sconosciuto" track. Previously Giorgia had already performed with Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
during his European tour dedicated to George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
in (1999), and during a concert at the Royal Festival Hall of London along with Youssou N’Dour in (2000).
Greatest hits-Le cose non vanno mai come credi (2002)
In 2002 she released her first Best of album titled Greatest hits - Le cose non vanno mai come credi which sold more than 700.000 copies and stayed in the Italian chart for over a year. The album spawned some Italian hits and as of 2008 it is still in the Italian chart.Ladra di Vento (2003)
In 2003 she released her 6th studio album, Ladra di Vento, in which was included her biggest hit as of 2008: Gocce di Memoria. The song reached the top spot of the Italian FIMI singles chart and became the best selling single of 2003, with 130,000 copies sold. ,. The song reached the top 40 of the European singles chart.Gocce di Memoria was the original score of Italian film-maker Ferzan Ozpetck's movie "la Finestra di fronte"starring Giovanna Mezzogiorno
Giovanna Mezzogiorno
Giovanna Mezzogiorno is an Italian theatre and film actress.Giovanna Mezzogiorno was born in Rome, November 9, 1974, daughter of actors Vittorio Mezzogiorno and Cecilia Sacchi. She grew up watching her parents on set, conscious about acting. At first she wanted to become a ballerina and she...
,it gained Giorgia many awards including the "David di donatello",the "Silver ribbon"and tree "italian music awards".
Mtv Unplugged (2005)
In 2005, Giorgia was the first Italian artist to release an MTV UnpluggedMTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
recorded in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. The live cd includes acoustic versions all of her major hits. The album has been certified 3xplatinum in Italy and gained Giorgia many awards. She was supported by the band of Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, Terence Blanchard
Terence Blanchard
Terence Oliver Blanchard is an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and film score composer. Since he emerged on the scene in 1980 with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and then shortly thereafter with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blanchard has been a leading artist in jazz...
and during the concert she duet with soul star Ricky Fanté
Ricky Fante
Ricky Fanté is an American R&B singer.-Biography:Ricky Fanté studied gospel, jazz and secular soul music in Washington, DC where he was raised. His greatest musical influences were Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. While a teen, he joined the local go-go band Junior Division and...
.
Stonata (2007)
In 2007 she released her 7th studio album, Stonata. The album debuted at the second position of the Italian chart and was certified 2xplatinum. The album featured a duet with one of the most influential Italian singers of all time, MinaMina (singer)
Anna Maria Quaini, Grand Officer , known as Mina, is an Italian pop singer. She was a staple of Italian television variety shows and a dominant figure in Italian pop music from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s known for her three-octave vocal range, the agility of her soprano voice, and her image as an...
. The song was Poche Parole and was the first duet for Mina, in all her fifty-years long career, with an Italian female.
Spirito libero Viaggi di voce 1992-2008 (2008)
On November 21, Giorgia released her second greatest hits compilation (the first one was released in 2002), but this will be her first "Anthology" album with 3 cds full of hits, new songs, covers and new versions of some of her old songs; the first single is "Per fare a meno di te", which is the soundtrack of the movie "Solo un padre" directed by Luca Lucini, that hit Italian screens on November 28, 2008.Dietro le apparenze (2011)
In 2011 Giorgia released her 8th studio album, Dietro le apparenze, included her 2011 summer hit: Il mio giorno migliore (platinumPlatinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
, with more than 30,000 copies). The album also featured a duet with one of the most important Italian singers, Eros Ramazzotti
Eros Ramazzotti
Eros Luciano Walter Ramazzotti , known simply as Eros Ramazzotti, is an Italian singer and songwriter. Ramazzotti is enormously popular in Italy, and is well known in most non-English-speaking European countries and in the Spanish-speaking world, as he has released most of his albums in both...
, in Inevitabile; and other collaboration: Passerà l'estate by Marina Rei; É l'amore che conta, the second single, written by Busbee
Busbee (songwriter)
Michael J. Busbee, professionally known as Busbee, is an American songwriter, record producer and musician from the San Francisco Bay area.-Biography:...
; and Tu mi porti su performed with Jovanotti
Jovanotti
Lorenzo Cherubini, better known as Jovanotti, is an Italian singer-songwriter and rapper.The name Jovanotti derives from the plural form of the Italian word giovanotto , i.e. giovanotti. Lorenzo Cherubini originally auditioned a band with the name "I Giovanotti", but the record producer only was...
. The album Dietro le apparenze debuted at the first position of the Italian chart.
Personal
- She was nominated as Best Italian act at the MTV Europe Music AwardsMTV Europe Music AwardsThe MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
2005 in LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
for the Italian hit "Gocce di Memoria".
- One of her most loved duets of all time is 'Vivo per Lei', which she sang with Andrea BocelliAndrea BocelliAndrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
.
- She is the only Italian artist to have sung with Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
. The British singer called Giorgia One of the best voices of the world.
The past 21 of June (2009) Giorgia was involved in the extraordinary concert "Amiche per l'Abruzzo" organized by Laura Pausini
Laura Pausini
Laura Pausini, is a Grammy Award-winning Italian soul singer-songwriter. She debuted in 1993, winning the newcomer artists' section of the 43rd Sanremo Music Festival with the song "La solitudine", which became an Italian standard and an international hit, reaching the top spot on the Italian...
at the San Siro Stadium in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
for the people hit by the earthquake in Abruzzo. She had duets with Elisa, Laura Pausini and other of the greatest Italian female singers. The DVD of this concert will soon be available in Italy.
In the winter of 2009, Giorgia confirmed rumors that she and her fiance, singer/songwriter and dancer Emanuel Lo, were expecting their first child. On February 18, 2010, ironically during the third night of the Sanremo Music Festival, it was announced that Giorgia had given birth to a baby boy, Samuel.
Albums
- I primi anni (1993)
- Giorgia (1994) 2 x platinum
- Come Thelma & Louise (1995) 4 x platinum
- Strano il mio destino - Live & Studio 95/96 (1996) 3 x platinum
- One More Go Round (1996)
- Mangio troppa cioccolata (1997) diamond
- Giorgia España (1999)
- Girasole (1999) 3 x platinum
- Senza ali (2001) 3 x platinum
- Greatest hits - Le cose non vanno mai come credi (2002, collection) diamond
- Ladra di vento (2003) 3 x platinum
- Ladra di vento live 03/04 (2004, DVD, live)
- Mtv Unplugged Giorgia (2005, also in DVD) 3 x platinum
- Stonata (2007) 2 x platinum
- Spirito libero - Viaggi di voce 1992-2008 (2008) 2 x platinum
- Dietro le apparenze (2011)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITA Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
SWI Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
NET Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
EUR Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
||
| 1994 | "E Poi" | - | - | - | 86 | - |
| 1997 | "Vivo per lei" (with Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident.... ) |
24 | - | - | 39 | - |
| 1999 | "Il Cielo In Una Stanza" | 14 | 49 | - | - | - |
| 2001 | "Di Sole e D'Azzurro" | - | - | 31 | - | - |
| 2002 | "Vivi Davvero" | 15 | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 | "Gocce Di Memoria" | 1 | 70 | - | - | 38 |
| "Spirito Libero" | 5 | - | - | - | 79 | |
| 2008 | "Per fare a meno di te" | 6 | - | - | - | 22 |
| 2009 | "Salvami" (with Gianna Nannini Gianna Nannini Gianna Nannini is an Italian female singer-songwriter and pop musician. She may be best known for her 1986 song "Bello e Impossibile".-Personal life:... ) |
1 | - | - | - | 91 |
| 2011 | "Il Mio Giorno Migliore" | 6 | - | - | - | 43 |
| "È l'amore che conta (Hostage)" | 9 | - | - | - | - | |
External links
- Giorgia.net - Official Giorgia website