I
Donatella Rettore

About:

8 july 1955

Donatella was born in Castelfranco Veneto, Treviso. Rettore is claimed to start singing at the age of three at the Caffè Florian in S.Marco square in Venice, acting as if she were an experienced performer. Anyway at the age of ten she's already joining in a little band - the “Cobras”. At the start of the seventies she starts touring with the rockband NCCP and Lucio Dalla. In 1973 she releases her first solo single 'Anche se non lo sai' (Although you do not know). In Rome, flat broke, she meets Claudio Rego, at the time a musician in 'L'Era dell'Acquario'. He is a music composer and she is a lyrics writer, so, just out of fun, they write 'Una Bambina' (A baby girl). Their partnership would last for years.

In 1974 Rettore sets out to merchandise herself as an artist: she records 'Quando tu…' (When you) and 'Ti ho preso con me' (I took you with me”), which she sends out to professionals in the business. In the same year manager Gianni Ravera lets Rettore sing Sanremo Festival with 'Capelli Sciolti' (Loose hair), which goes absolutely unnoticed. In 1975 Donatella Rettore appears on TV to sing 'Maria Sole' and launch her first LP 'Ogni giorno si cantano canzoni d'amore'. Seven of the album tracks are signed by Rettore/Pagano, the other three are the result of different collaborations, one of these with renowned Gino Paoli. Though not succesfull producer Roberto Danè suggests that she translates and sings a Spanish ballad - 'Lailola' - for the north European market. This leads to a appearance on German TV: during her performance she stumbles and falls to the floor, nonetheless she keeps singing while jauntily getting back on her feet. In the morning, Donatella's coolly tackled incident is reported by all German dailies pushing sales towards 300,000 copies in Germany.

The follow up album Donatella Rettore sees her return to San Remo with the song Carmella. After this performance she is asked by comic duo Ric&Gian to appaer in their TV show. In 1979 Rettore performs her new single their called 'Splendido Splendente' from her new album 'Brivido Divino' (Divine thrill). With this album Rettore finally makes her breakthrough. The albums follow quickly after another: 'Magnifico Delirio' (1980) and 'Estasi Clamorosa' (Sensational raptures) (1981). Inspired by the new wave scene of London she records 'Kamikaze rock 'n roll suicide', allegly also reporting of a suicide attempt of her own. The album takes her on a tour with an effective stage design which includes a kamikaze airplane.

In september 1982 she records a song writen by Elton John: 'This Time', a romantic ballad which also becomes the soundtrack to 'Cicciabomba' her first movie, a typical Italian-style comedy. After this the albums keep coming but her succes is on thin ice. In 1986 she enters San Remo again. This time together with Guini Russo for the hysterical song 'Adrenalina'. In 1987 Rettore's father dies which the singer takes as a blow. As her mother also dies in 1991 Rettore records her most intimate record 'Son Rettore e canto'. After this she releases albums more rarely focussing on perfoming live. In the end she and her record company part.

In 2001 she is paid hommage by young artists like Marina Rei, Carmen Consoli, and Blue Vertigo on the compilation 'Clonazioni'. Her fontness for dogs leads to the 2002 single 'Lupi' (“Wolves”). After 'Lupi' further studio work follows in 2003 and eventually a second single is released called 'Bastardo'. In 2004 she makes three-minute appearance in the Italian 'Big Brother'. This leads to a reality soap of her own called 'La Fattoria' (The farm). Meanwhile Rettore keeps reporting the usual obstructions in the record business but finally, after a long gestation, 2005 sees the release of the album 'Figurine'. In 2011 she releases 'Caduta massi', a great pop/rock album that basically follows the musical path of 'Figurine'.

On the web:

- Rettore's official website: http://www.rettore.com
- Rettore on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/rettoredonatella

What do we think:

PR: She is probably slightly mad, but I just love her music and personality. She is definitely not taking the easy (commercial) way and just keeps doing what she wants and thinks she must do. Her art is always the product of her lyrics and the compositions of Claudio Rego, her husband. The lyrics are sometimes naughty and playful, the music strange but poppy. It always helps me to uplift my mood, when I am down. Her lates album, Figurine, is a great introduction to her music.

DB: Loredana Berté hates her. Probably because both are just as wild. It is said that when one would do a performance it was wise not to invite the other because they would always start to fight. Then again, Rettore writes her own material and that is an art Loredana does not always understand. It is sad that Rettore slipped down into the Italian background of the musicscene because she does not deserve that.

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

Lio (France)

Jeanne Mas (France)

Albums:

♪♪♪ - Ogni giorno si cantano canzoni d'amore - 1974

♪♪ - Donatella Rettore - 1977

♪♪♪ - Brivido Divino - 1979

♪♪♪ - Magnifico Delirio - 1980

♪♪♪♪ - Estasi Clamorosa - 1981

♪♪♪♪♪ - Kamikaze rock'n'roll suicide - 1982

♪♪♪ - Far West - 1983

♪♪♪ - Danceteria - 1985

♪♪♪ - Rettoressa - 1988

♪♪♪ - Ossigenata - 1989

♪♪♪♪♪ - Son Rettore e canto - 1991

♪♪♪♪ - Incantesimi notturni - 1994

♪♪ - Concert/Il concerto - 1996/2001

♪♪♪♪♪ - Figurine - 2005

♪♪♪♪ - Stralunata (2cd +1dvd) - 2008

♪♪♪♪ - Caduta massi - 2011

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