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Loredana Bertè

About:

20 September 1950

Loredana Bertè was born in Bagnara Calabra, Province of Reggio Calabria, southern Italy. She started her singing career in 1974 with the album Streaking. She became successful the following year by releasing the Normale o Super album, as well as 'Sei bellissima', a ballad that eventually became one of her biggest hits.

In 1977 the album T.I.R. updated her sound, and two years later the LP Bandabertè spawned hits like 'Dedicato', 'E la luna bussò', 'Folle città', and 'Robin Hood'. In 1982 she left her long-time producer Mario Lavezzi to record with a new producer, Ivano Fossati. With Fossati she recorded 'Traslocando', containing Loredana's signature song '' Non sono una signora.

Bertè released an innovative album in 1985 called 'Carioca', a tribute to Brazilian singer Djavan and included 'Acqua' and other hits. Many songs from the album were subsequently covered by The Manhattan Transfer. Bertè became engaged to tennis champion Björn Borg in 1988, and they were married in September of 1989. Their marriage was reported as very troubled. Bertè has had numerous performances at the Sanremo Music Festival. Her first appearance was in 1986 with a rock song called 'Re'. For the performance, Loredana was dressed to look like a pregnant woman. She would return to the festival several times.

In the spring of 1992 Bertè and husband Björn Borg officially split. Loredana was deeply affected by the disastrous marriage but found the strength to start recording a new album which she dedicated to her failed marriage. This album was 'Ufficialmente dispersi'. That year, Mia Martini joined Bertè at Sanremo for a duet. Their song, titled 'Stiamo come stiamo', was the first single of Bertè's new album. Later that summer, Bertè released a second song from the album. The single, titled 'Mi manchi', was an Italian radio hit.

Bertè's also appeared at Sanremo in 1994 when she performed an emotional song called 'Amici non ne ho'. The song was a hit and was included in her first live compilation entitled Bertex Ingresso Libero. Her 1995 performance of the funky song called 'Angeli & angeli', a single from Bertè's Ufficialmente ritrovati, a greatest hits compilation.

On Friday, 12 May 1995, her sister Mia Martini committed suicide, causing Bertè to go into shock and suffer from depression. In mid-1996 she began work on her following album, 'Un pettirosso da combattimento'. Released in 1997, the album is one of Bertè's most personal to date, featuring a new hard rock sound and lyrics based on the tragic loss of her sister.

Her second live compilation album was released in 1998 and was recorded with a live orchestra. In 2002 she returned to Sanremo for the eighth time with a song called 'Dimmi che mi ami'. After this she left her record company. Bertè joined a reality show called 'Musicfarm' in 2004. With the money she earned from her appearance she began to work on a new album. This album was her 2005 effort titled 'Babybertè', which was released in September of that year. Her first album in seven years, it debuted at #2 in the official album chart. On April 9, 2010, an accidental fall caused her to break her right femur. It takes a while before she is able to perform again.Just in time to celebrate her 40th anniversary in 2016. For this she records a duet album with other female singers. The festivities have it´s highpoint at the Arena of Verona where a string of guests such as Patty Pravo , Gianna Nannini , Irene Grandi , Emma , Noemi and Nina Zilli join her on stage. The concert is sold-out, and with over 12,000 spectators it collects € 150,000 subsequently donated to the DiRe association . - Women on the net against violence. In 2018 she records an album with new material called LiBerté.

On the web:

- http://www.loredanaberte.it
- http://www.loredanaberte.com

What do we think:

PR: Loredana is raw emotion, with her humour and passion she invites you for a ride along her ups and downs, her highs and lows. And she will make sure there will be no dull moments during the ride... If you are interested in sweet, subtile music, don't bother to listen to Loredana. But if you are open for some female drama from Italy, you will definitely be moved by Loredana. Lastly a compliment to La Berté: unlike lots of other female artists with a singing career in the eighties, she kept making rockmusic and never gave in to synthesizers and drum computers. Loredana, what you see is what you get!

DB: Mwwwraaw, Loredana isn't a kitten to tough with your bare hands. With a throat rasped by cigarettes and whiskey she gives her music a raw edge. Listening to her live album of 2007 makes me feel the ache in my lungs, let alone what she must feel. Unmistakebly Italian she gives the impression of the enfant terrible of the music scene. From her naked poses on the cover of her debut album to the flaunting dresses on her latest. The message is clear, don't f*** with Loredana. She does have her soft spots though, especially for her deceised sister Mia Martini. In the eighties she is musically most in sync with the styles that are hip. She never burned herself on house music though and stayed dedicated to rock through the nineties. Her cult-return in 2005 is well deserved.

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

Luz Casal (Spain)

Sanne Salomonsen (Denmark)

Albums:

♪♪♪ - Streaking - 1974

♪♪♪ - Normale o super - 1976

♪♪♪♪ - T.I.R. - 1977

♪♪♪♪♪ - BandaBertè - 1979

♪♪♪ - LoredanBertè - 1980

♪♪♪ - Made in italy - 1981

♪♪♪ - Traslocando - 1982

♪♪♪♪♪ - Jazz - 1983

♪♪♪♪♪- Savoir Faire - 1984

♪♪♪♪ - Carioca - 1985

♪♪ - Io, Loredana Bertè - 1988

♪♪♪♪♪ - Un pettirosso da combattimento - 1997

♪♪♪♪ - BabyBertè - 2005

♪♪♪ - BabyBertè Live - 2007

♪♪♪ - Lola & Angiolina Project (with Ivana Spagna) - 2009

♪♪- Amici non ne ho... ma amiche sì! - 2016

♪♪ - LiBerté - 2018

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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