Discovery of a great singer

Well I’ve never had a favourite Italian singer before, and I don’t speak Italian, but I have been swept away by the power and expressive voice of Mina Mazzini. Unknown in the UK, but apparently the premier diva of Italy, this may be an easy choice if you are Italian, since she has had a career lasting over 50 years. During this time she has made an incredible 77 albums.

Early in her career, which started a as rock ’n’ roll singer, she had No.1 hits in Germany and Japan, as well as in Italy of course . During these times she was known as “Queen of the Screamers”, but later developed into a fully rounded romantic singer, incorporating Brazilian and Jazz influences. Her career reminds me of the French singer and composer Léo Ferré, who progressed from French chanson to rock and finally neo-classical influenced poesie, never losing his unique energy.

She retired from live performance in 1978, yet has continued to make albums annually, as well as becoming a journalist in 2000. The immense variety of her output and playful manipulation of her image can be clearly see on her discography page. She appears here with a blonde beard, as Mona Lisa, a male bodybuilder, an athlete and and an alien, queen of all styles.

She was recently brought to my attention by Sophia Loren on Desert Island Discs, singing Oggi Sono Io, this performance, building from a whisper to a scream, had immediately reminded me of the aforementioned favourite Léo Ferré. Previously I had briefly heard her work with Ennio Morricone on the 1966 track Se Telefonando, widely regarded as her best song. I had enjoyed this, but regarded it as a bit overblown in the manner of Bonnie Tyler, but I now return to it with renewed appreciation.

Her power and natural ability is revealed in this 2001 video, where she sings live in the studio with a sympathetic and dynamic band, opening with the magnificent Oggi Sono Io. “Whooah” she says at the end, quite rightly.

* Sorry, original high res video removed, just the track now: