Gianna Luigi Morandi is known on stage as Gianni Morandi, a popular Italian musician and singer from 1960-70. His fame extended far beyond Italy, so in the USSR singer Gianni Morandi gathered whole stadiums. Today he still gives concerts, but spends more time with his family and friends, as well-known musicians as he is.
Biography
On December 11, in 1944, in the small Italian village of Monghidoro, whose population barely reaches 4 thousand people, located in the Emilia Romagna region, the future legendary musician Gianni Morandi was born.
The boy’s parents worked hard and hard, instilling in this a special attitude to the work of their son. Mother was engaged in housework. The head of the family, Renato Morandi, is a shoemaker and an active member of the Communist Party. He, as secretary, participated in meetings, sold political print media and distributed propaganda. The son often helped his father in this activity. Every day, Gianni read aloud for his father several pages from Karl Marx's Capital and the newspaper Unity.
The boy’s family did not have sufficient financial means, and the child, trying to earn some money, cleaned his shoes on the street in his free time and sold sweets near the village cinema.
Work since childhood
Good vocal skills and stage liberation have been inherent in Gianni Morandi since childhood. His biography as a singer began with performances in front of friends and parents at the holidays. The whole Morandi family sang and once the boy was invited to speak at the festival, paying 1000 lire (about 100 Russian rubles). “It was a miracle! Now Gianni always sang. Sometimes he performed at the cinema with mini-concerts to warm up the audience.
In the early 60's, having tested his abilities and talents during performances at small concerts, he suddenly became popular. Since 1962, his name appears in the lists of participants in many competitions and festivals, most of which Morandi manages to win. Already in the first year on the big stage he was awarded a prize in the television show "Canzonissima" (Canzonissima). This is a significant victory for the early work of the singer.
In 1963, the young man recorded his first album. His song "I drove a hundred per hour" became a hit for several months and glorified its artist. The composition was written by Tony Dory and Kamucha (pseudonym Franco Miliacci).
Financial situation is improving
Gianni Morandi's financial situation improved after she performed the song “Let Mother Send for Milk” (Fatti mandare dalla mamma). She seemed to mean the formation of Gianni as a singer and represented the entire youth generation that grew up on the songs of her idol. Morandi signed a contract with a large record company, RKA Italyana, and she became the sponsor of the presentation of the song.
In the mid 60's. songs such as “On Your Knees Before You” were recorded (1st place in the festival “Greatest Hits”), “Not worthy of you” (participation in the musical “Festival of Roses”), “If You Won't Be With Me”, “It's Getting Dark "," Harmonica. " All of them instantly became hits and sold hundreds of thousands of discs.
Separate compositions gave the name to musical films, the plots of which were based on the content of the written texts. The films did not carry much semantic load, since they were edited in a short time to “give pepper” to the songs.
In 1966, Gianni Morandi won the 2nd victory in the festival “Greatest Hits” with the composition “August Nights”. At the same time, the singer's creative worldviews undergo changes. The young songwriter M. Lusini offers Morandi to listen to the political song “Once upon a time there was a guy ...”, the text for which was written by Miliacci, condemning the military operations in Vietnam.
Gianni Morandi had never performed songs of a political nature, but he fell in love with this and was eager to sing it himself. Milliacci was opposed, believing that such a theme Gianni is not needed. But Morandi, in spite of this, performed the composition together with Lusini at the "Rose Festival". They were warmly received and listened with pleasure.
Forced break
As soon as 1967 began, Gianni was called up to serve in the army for a year and 3 months. A break for a long time could turn into a risk of being forgotten by the public. And all this is on the crest of fame of the young singer. The first six months he was not allowed to go on leave, the commanders were afraid to be accused of having pets. He served Morandi in the division of CAR in the regiment of D. Genio.
The absence of the musician on the stage was made up for by the sound of his voice in television programs in the form of spectacular musical phrases announcing such television programs as “Young”, “Separated”, “Seven Dictionary Articles”.
After leaving the service Gianni Morandi was working on a project for a musical comedy film about Aladdin. The film failed hopelessly at the box office.
Rise and fall
Another "Canzonissima" could give the forgotten performer a chance to shine again in the glory. Morandi becomes a participant in the contest with the song “Rain is pouring” and becomes a leader who has no equal. The following year, the furor is repeated, Gianni performs the song “Nobody cares” and the jury awards him 1st place.
In 1970, Morandi participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, sang the song “Eyes of a Girl” for the musical honor of Italy, and the jury awarded him eighth place. He understands that better times have passed, although in his homeland popularity still shone over him with a bright sun. In 1972, he first participated in San Remo, after which there was a decline in creativity.
At this time, the musician writes songs that do not fall into the ideological climate of the time. A black stripe comes. The problems of economics and politics are growing in society, and terrorism is flourishing. The death of his father at the age of 49, his divorce from Laura, the lack of new ideas and songs, problems in the profession - all these difficulties Morandi had to overcome alone, looking for new ways of growth and development.
The musician did not lose heart. In 1975, Italy developed and launched a special project for the national football team, where Gianni became the center forward. He participated in matches 337 times, 54 times scoring a ball into the opponent’s goal. In 1977, he enters the musical higher education institution of Rome and ends with his certified double bass player.
Luck is coming back
Fate favors persistent and hardworking talents, fortune soon regained its favor. During training at the conservatory, the musician stopped singing, not hoping to continue this line of creativity. But the Mughal bell again brought Morandi back on stage. He offered him a song with which the stage career of the performer resumed.
Songs recorded at the end of the 70s: “I am going to work”, “You are a strong dad”, “Befan's witch, cowardly” were supplemented by the composition, which returned success - “Inconsistent songs”.
He performed songs: “Thank you because”, a cover version of “Today We Have” with Ami Stewart, “One in a Thousand,” “1950”. In 1983 the songs were recorded: “Sailor” and “Beloved Enemy”. The last song brought luck to the singer at a popular vote in San Remo and served him as a business card for many years to come.
In 1984, a full-length film from 3 episodes, “The Thirst for Flight,” where Gianni plays the main role, was released.
In 1987, when the musician was 42 years old, he won the contest in San Remo with the composition “More Can Be”. He performed a trio with U. Tozzi and E. Ruggeri.
In 1988, Gianni Morandi supplemented the albums of her songs with another historical “Dalla / Morandi” recorded with Lucio Dalla. The main singles of the album were compositions: “Ask who the Beatles are” (authors Kurreri and Noriss) and “What remains of me” (song by Fr. Battiyato).
New heights
- Since 1993, Morandi has spent more than a year on tour in his homeland and Europe, the States, Canada, giving over 260 concerts. At each performance on the stage there was a real bus, the tour was called a bus tour.
- In 1995, the musician returned to San Remo to take 2nd place with the song "In Love" performed by a duet with Barbara Cola.
- October 1996 was the birth month of the Morandi album. Immediately after the album, the picture “Voice of the Heart” appears on the screens, where a duet of two stars - Gianni and Mary Verne, works. On the entertaining 5th channel "Paradise Cinque", the audience reached 10 million people. The album’s singles were: “My Young Beloved”, “Queen of Tango”, “Until the End of Time”. With "Queen of Tango" in the same year, the singer participates in Festivalbar. The album is on the list of the most bought up.
- 1996 - a concert triumph in the homeland, where there is always a full house at the musician’s performances. Gianni Morandi's concert in Rome is live on the 5th program. 1/3 of the channel’s viewers come to the Roman Theater of Victories, and 8 million viewers watch it on television.
- After 2 years, a double disc called “30 Morandi Roses” is presented, including three novelties and 27 famous songs in a new version. The single from E. Ramazotti “Song for Free” preceded the release of the disc.
Work on television
- In 1999, Gianni was invited to the position of the host of the television program “There was a Boy,” which reached a high rating among the nine millionth audience.
- No one expected to see him in San Remo in 2000, but he came there with Eros Ramazotti's song “In Love” and took 3rd place.
- Morandi spent 2002 on television, as the host of the One of Us program, in which the Italian lottery was also played. The audience was more than 5 million people. At the same time he writes the album “Love changes life”, sales of which soar up to 200 thousand copies. This year, a community of fans of “Morandimaniya”, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of his work on stage, is being created.
- In 2004, a new song was recorded, “To Those Who Truly Love,” and the performer presents his program on Channel 5, “Evening with Gianni Morandi.” On a record come A. Celentano and comedian Fiorello. The show is watched by more than 6 million people. The presenter embarks on a long tour with performances in his native country, gathering full halls everywhere.
- From September 28, 06, Gianni on the first channel has been conducting the music program “Do not panic”. Critics well accepted the initiator’s plan, appreciating the chic quality of the show from the mixes of time and the fantastic duets of Morandi with Anna Manani, Lucio Battisti and Giorgio Gaber, despite the small audience of the show.
- In November 2006, the author’s biography of the stellar personality “The Diary of an Italian Youth” was published, which traces the history of Italy for 60 years.
- In 2007, the album "Thank you all" was recorded from his 50 best hit songs and one of the newest "Shake Hands".
Today, the actor continues to tour, participate in tours and record new songs.
Top Songs
The composition “Let the mother send for milk” for several years in a row was one of the most famous Italian songs. She was constantly turned on at the radio stations.
In the summer of 1964, the performance of the song “On Your Knees” made it possible for Gianni Morandi to keep the best place on the wheels of the Greatest Hits contest. The sales of the record with this song went over the line of a million copies, bringing the song to the best-selling one of the year.
In 1968, while serving in the army, the album "Gianni5" was recorded. Gianni Morandi’s song “Toy” opened the list of songs and remained the most popular of all the album’s songs today.
Adriano Celentano and Gianni Morandi in 2012 at the Celentano concert in the Verona Amphitheater (Arena di Verona) performed a surprisingly lyrical and touching composition "I think of you and the world is changing." The concert was recognized as the best concert of the year, and many people are still searching for a song on the Internet to enjoy an amazing duet again.
Soviet Union and Russia
The beginning of the 80s. experiencing a boom in Italian music. Artists and composers from this country were extremely popular, loved and warmly received by the public. Conurs in San Remo was televised in the Soviet Union in 1983, after which Morandi attends Concert Councils. Having traveled to several cities (Leningrad, Tashkent, Riga, Rostov-on-Don), he becomes the protagonist of a film about his tour. In July 1983, the film was broadcast on television.
The song “How can I still love you” sounded on the Blue Flame on 01.01.84. In 1983, the recording studio “Melody” released his album “Enemy Beloved”.
In 1988, Morandi and Dalla performed at the Italy 2000 exhibition.
In 2012, Gianni participates in the Russian competition “Legends of retro FM”.
Interesting Facts
Gianni Morandi's song “I drove a hundred an hour” became popular a year after the recording, before that it was included only in the list of songs for losing machines. A year later, the musician was invited to television, where they were shooting the program "High Pressure" and thanks to the show, this composition, as well as "Let's Twist Card" became the top charts. Later, the song "Karting" became the musical accompaniment of the film "Teenagers in the Sun."
The song “There was one guy ...”, with which Morandi and Lusini performed at the “Rose Festival”, was not broadcast on television due to severe censorship. According to the censors, the text of the composition “sparked a feud over the foreign policy of the“ friendly ”state.”
Once the program "One of Us", which was then conducted by Morandi, the company "Auditel" accused of fabricating ratings. Then the leader, in protest, went on air in his underpants, thereby demonstrating his openness to the public.
In 1985, the Soviet film “The Most Charming and Attractive” gathers its main characters at a concert near Morandi.
In 2011, the musician served as honorary president of the Bologna football club for 28 days.
Morandi's partner in the film “The Power of Love” was the daughter of Marianne.
Gianni Morandi is not only a singer, actor and footballer, he is also a marathon runner. On the account of the athlete more than 20 races.
During his creative career, the musician released 34 albums, sang more than 400 songs and sold more than 50 million records.
In 2011-12, he led the festival in San Remo.
Family
On the set of the first film on the song "Kneeling Before You" music by Gianni Morandi and the singer himself captivate the then-famous actress Laura Efrician. The girl is 4 years older than the musician and her father was a famous Armenian conductor. In great secret from everyone 07/13/1966, young people are combined by the bonds of a legal marriage. Laura immediately became pregnant, and Morandi received a reprieve from service.
The beginning of 1967 was overshadowed by the death of Serena's newborn daughter. She lived only a few hours. At the same time, Morandi participated in the TV show "Real Scale", his opponent was Claudio Villa, and he reached the final. Gianni became the second.
In 1969, the daughter Marianna was born, and in 1974 - the son of Marco.
The crisis in the work of the 70s. brings destruction to the personal life of a musician, he does not write good songs, he cannot find himself, there are constant conflicts in the family, his wife leaves him.
On August 19, 1994, at his next football match in Bologna, he met his second future wife, Anna Dan. She came there with their mutual friends, captivating with her wonderful eyes and the extraordinary personality of a busy musician. They met, fell in love and never parted. Anna gave birth to Morandi's son in 1997, whom they named Pietro. In 2004, having officially received a divorce, Gianni registers her marriage with Anna.
