The single "America," released in 1979, launched the career of the Italian musician Gianna Nannini, who became a prominent figure in the European pop and rock landscape. Born in Siena in 1954, she combined formal training in piano and composition with a rebellious creative approach that eventually led to a diverse discography spanning several decades.
Early Development and Breakthrough
Nannini studied piano and composition in Milan during the late 1970s. Her debut success followed the release of the album California. International recognition arrived in 1984 with the album Puzzle, produced by Conny Plank, which achieved top-ten chart status in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The accompanying single, "Fotoromanza," featured a music video directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, cementing her profile across Europe. Her subsequent 1987 compilation, Maschi e altri, surpassed one million copies in sales.
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Her career is marked by frequent collaborative efforts across genres. In 1987, she performed the "Three Penny Opera" at the Schauspielhaus in Hamburg alongside Sting, Jack Bruce, and Eberhard Schoener. She contributed the official song for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, "Un'estate italiana," with Edoardo Bennato and Giorgio Moroder. Her discography includes duets with artists such as Andrea Bocelli on "Because We Believe (Ama credi e vai)," Toše Proeski on "Aria," and rapper Fabri Fibra on "In Italia." Additionally, she appeared on the album Sanctuary by Alexander Hacke.
Composition and Theatrical Works
In 2004, Nannini released the orchestral-rearranged collection Perle, supported by pianist Christian Lohr and a string quartet. She further expanded her work into theatre with the 2008 performance of a rock opera based on the medieval character Pia de' Tolomei, originally conceptualized in the collection Pia come la canto io. Her music has also appeared in commercial campaigns, including advertisements for the Fiat Bravo featuring the songs "Meravigliosa creatura" and "Aria."
Personal Life and Activism
Nannini earned a philosophy degree from the University of Siena in 1994. Her public life has included environmental activism, such as her 1995 participation in a Greenpeace protest at the French embassy in Rome regarding nuclear testing at Mururoa. In 2010, she gave birth to her daughter, Penelope Jane Charlotte, in Milan. In 2017, she relocated to London with her partner, Carla, and documented her life and views on Italian civil union laws in her autobiography, Cazzi miei.
Fast facts
- Born: 14 June 1954, Siena, Italy
- Education: University of Siena (Philosophy)
- Notable Hits: America, Fotoromanza, I maschi, Bello e impossibile
- Member of: Nobile Contrada dell'Oca
- Languages: Italian, German, English
- 2024 Biopic: Beautiful Rebel (Sei nell'anima)
- Awards: Mangia d'Oro (1985), Vota la voce
Questions readers ask
Is Gianna Nannini related to other famous Nanninis?
Yes, her younger brother Alessandro Nannini and her first cousin once removed Matteo Nannini are both racing drivers.
What subjects did Gianna Nannini study in university?
She obtained a degree in philosophy from the University of Siena in 1994.
Achievements
- Instruments: piano, voice and violin
- Genres: rock music
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