Elderly Woman, aged 85, recognized as the "Lady of Light Music" in the Nostra Signora context
Mina, the "exiled queen" of Italian light music, is set to release her latest acclaimed album, "Gassa D'Amante," on November 22, 2024. Born on March 25, 1940, in Busto Arsizio, Italy, Mina's career spans over 67 years and includes more than a thousand songs and over 150 million records sold.
Born as Maria Gaetana Cesaretta Anna Maria Schiavon, Mina made her stage debut in 1958 at the Bussola in Forte dei Marmi. Her performances quickly became increasingly prestigious, with appearances on the popular TV show "Canzonissima," where she showcased the songs Tintarella di luna and Una zebra a pois.
Mina competed in the Sanremo Festival in 1961, placing fourth with Io amo and fifth with Le mille bolle blu. She was also associated with the screamer movement of American rock and roll. One of her most notable performances was a duet with Adriano Celentano and Lucio Battisti, as well as bossa nova contaminations with artists like Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Mina's voice is a powerful soprano with a dramatic range. Her love story with actor Corrado Pani caused a media lynching in 1962, leading to her ostracism from Rai programs. This event, along with her decision to retire from the public scene in 1978 and choose to be known primarily for her voice, has sparked intellectual and critical debate about the secret of Mina's success and questioned her decision to withdraw from public life.
However, Mina's return to the recording studio was "forced" by the album Mina Fossati (2019). Massimiliano Pani, Mina's son and producer, stated that Mina anticipated AI by "subtracting her image from the public and reworking it in a thousand different forms." This approach has been successful, as evidenced by the critical acclaim for her latest album, "Gassa D'Amante."
The title of the album refers to an essential sailing knot symbolizing the complex and beautiful nature of love explored in the album. Mina recorded the song Be-bop-a-lula under the pseudonym Baby Gate, showcasing her versatility as an artist.
Mina is often referred to as the Tiger of Cremona, a nickname given by her fellow townsman Natalia Aspesi. Despite her retirement from the public scene, Mina has remained an icon of Italian music and culture, continuing to captivate audiences with her powerful voice and enduring legacy.
