I
Alice

About:

26 September 1954

Alice (real name: Carla Bissi) was born in the Italian town of Forlì, 26th of September, 1954. She started her musical career by winning the 'Festival di Castrocaro' with an interpretation of the song 'Tanta voglia di lei' by the famous Italian band 'Pooh'. The next year she participates for the first time in the famous 'Festival di Sanremo' with the song 'Il mio cuore se ne va', written by Memo Remigi. In '72 she winns 'La gondola d'argento' in Venice with the song 'La festa mia', wrtitten by Franco Califano. In 1975 Carla Bissi takes on her new artist name 'Alice Visconti' and releases her first full lenght album 'La mia poca grande età', produced by Giancarlo Lucariello and the members of 'Pooh'. The single 'Io voglio vivere' becomes a small success in France. After some singles ('Piccola anima', 'Un'isola'), she releases her second album 'Cosa resta... un fiore' in 1978, again produced by the same team as her first album but now onder the artist name of 'Alice'.

In 1980 Alice started working with Franco Battiato, a famous Italian singer-songwriter. 'Il vento caldo dell'estate' is the single of her new album 'Capo nord', produced by Angelo Carrara. Next year, 1981, Alice's career takes flight when she participates - and wins! - the famous 'Festival di Sanremo' with the song 'Per Elisa', which becomes a huge hit in Italy and some other European countries. Later on that year, she releases her new album, 'Alice', and starts her first European tour. Also with the second single of the album, 'Una notte speciale', she succeeds in entering the European charts.

In 1982 she releases the album 'Azimuth, with the song 'Chanson Egocentrique', a duet with Franco Battiato, followed by the album 'Falsi alarmi' in 1983. In order to expand her success outside Italy, she records a duet with popular German singer-songwriter Stephen Waggershausen in 1984, 'Zu nah am feuer'. The song succeeded to chart throughout Europe. In that same year, Alice participates in the Eurovision Songcontest together with Franco Battiato with the song 'I treni di Tozeur'. Although the song did not win, it became quite a hit in almost all European countries. In 1985 she releases a cover album of songs by Franco Battiato, 'Gioielli rubati'.

In 1986 Alice changed her musical coarse and releases the album 'Park hotel'. The album was produced by Francesco Messina and contained a long list of international famous musicians (Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta, Phil Manzanera). 'Park hotel' contained a collction of great songes, all beautifully produced, and establishes Alice as one of Italy's most important singers of the eighties as well as a credible songwriter. In 1987 she releases 'Elisir', an album with new versions of former successes and some new covers including 'Fool on the hill', followed by 'Mélodie passagère' in 1988. The latter containd a collection of aria´s and classical songs by Satie, Fauré and Ravel, with Alice´s breathtaking voice, accompanied by Michele Fedrigotti on piano.

'Il sole nella pioggia', released in 1989, is definitely one of the best albums of Alice's career. It contained some beautiful songs by Juri Camisasca. Again, many famous international artists collaborated on this album (Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri, John Hassel, Paolo Fresu, Dave Gregory, Kuksi Erguner and Peter Hammil who duetted with Alice on ne of the songs). Alice's music becomes more and more unearthly, serene and inspired by nature, as will become clear when listening to her 1992 album 'Mezzogiorno sulle Alpi'.

In 1993 and 1994 Alice tours with the project 'Art et decoration', based on music by Hahn, Ives, Ravel, Montsalvage, Sadero, Fauré, Gurney and Saint Saens. She leaves her record company EMI for WEA and reeases 'Charade' in 1995. Fortunately, the change of record company did not mean a change in musical direction. She joins young band Bluvertigo on their 1997 album and the band returns the gesture on next album 'Exit' (1998) also containing the single 'Open your eyes', a duet with singer Skie from Brittish triphop band 'Morcheeba'.

In 1999 she performs the project 'God is my DJ' followed by an album of the same name. The album contained a collection of covers of songs, around 'God' as central theme. In 2000 she participates again in the 'Festival di Sanremo' with a beautiful song by Juri Camisasca, 'Il giorno dell'indipendenza', followed by the album 'Personal jukebox', which contained new versions of former successes and some new (cover)songs.

After performing in the project 'Le parole del giorno prima' (2001), she found herself without recording contract. Finaly, she found the small record compay NuN, that released her new album 'Viaggio in Italia', with 14 beautiful songs by Italy's most famous songwriters and poets. Again, the album was followed by an italian tour. In 2006 and 2007 a mini tour, 'Lungo la strada' brought Alice to perform in several churches and other historical buildings throughout Italy. In March 2009, the recital at the San Marco Basilico from 22 December 2006 was released as 'Lungo la strada', Alice's first live album ever.

In September 2012 Alice released 'Samsara', her first album with new material since 'Exit' (1998). It is followed by a tour throuhgout Italy. In 2014 the album ´Weekend´ , which saw renewed collaboration with Franco Battiato , Luca Carboni and Paolo Fresu. From February to April 2016 Alice tours with Franco accompanied by the Ensemble Symphony Orchestra . A document of the tour is released as ´Live in Rome´. In 2019 she tours Germany for the first time in decades (Alice hardly ever performs outside Italy).

On the web:

- http://www.alicewebsite.it
- http://www.temposenzatempo.it
- http://aliceedintorni.blogspot.com/

What do we think:

PR: When first hearing and seeing Alice (& Franco Battiatio) at the Eurovision songcontest 1984, I immediately fell in love with this singer-songwriter. I collected all her albums during the years; such an expressive voice, such beatiful and intelligent songs and lyrics... No matter what song I play, I still get carried away completely by Alice. If you do not yet posess any Alice-album, start with 'Il sole nella pioggia' - the sun within the rain (as I did some 20 year ago). It will change you forever...

DB: Paul Royal introduced me to Alice through the Japan link on ´Il solo nella piogga´. decades ago. Being fed with Anglo American rock for years i wasn´t prepared for Italian productions at all. I thought it was interesting somehow but i wasn´t jumping up and down with enhousiasm. After getting deeper and deeper in the world of Europop i recognise Alice as one of the biggest talents Europe has who made some stunning albums.

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

Zazie (France)

Giuni Russo (Italy)

Albums:

♪♪♪ - La mia poca grande età - 1975

♪♪♪ - Cosa resta... un fiore - 1978

♪♪♪♪ - Capo nord - 1980

♪♪♪ - Alice - 1981

♪♪♪ - Azimuth - 1982

♪♪♪ - Falsi alarmi - 1983

♪♪♪ - Gioielli rubati - 1985

♪♪♪♪♪ - Park hotel - 1986

♪♪♪ - Mélodie passagère - 1988

♪♪♪♪♪ - Il sole nella pioggia - 1989

♪♪♪♪ - Mezziogiorni sulle Alpi - 1992

♪♪♪♪ - Charade - 1995

♪♪♪♪♪ - Exit - 1998

♪♪♪ - God is my DJ - 1999

♪♪♪ - Personal jukebox - 2000

♪♪♪♪♪ - Viaggio in italia - 2003

♪♪♪♪♪ - Lungo la strada (live) - 2009

♪♪♪ - Samsara - 2012

♪♪♪- Weekend - 2014

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided