Loredana Bertè (Italian pronunciation: [loreˈdaːna berˈtɛ]; born 20 September 1950) is an Italian singer, songwriter and actress. She has worked with prominent Italian songwriters such as Pino Daniele, Ivano Fossati, Mario Lavezzi, Mango and Enrico Ruggeri, among others; her sister Mia Martini was also an acclaimed singer. She has experimented with different genres, from rock to reggae, from funk to pop.[1] Bertè is known for the eccentric clothing she wears onstage for her performances.

Loredana Bertè
Bertè in 1986
Bertè in 1986
Background information
Born (1950-09-20) 20 September 1950 (age 74)
Bagnara Calabra, Reggio Calabria, Italy
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • actress
Years active1969–present

Early life

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Loredana Bertè (right) and her sister Mia Martini

Bertè was born in Bagnara Calabra, Province of Reggio Calabria, in Southern Italy,[1] the third of four daughters, three years after her sister Domenica. Her parents, Giuseppe Radames Bertè and Maria Salvina Dato, were both school teachers. Loredana spent her childhood in Porto Recanati and then in Ancona. After her parents separated, Bertè moved with her mother to Rome where she attended the local Art Institute.

Career

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In the early 1970s she performed as a go-go dancer in television and radio shows such as "Bandiera gialla" and "Stasera Rita!". She later joined the dance troupe of the Piper Club in Rome, where she met Renato Zero. In 1969 both Bertè, Zero and Teo Teocoli starred in the Italian edition of the musical "Hair". In 1970 Loredana and her sister Domenica, who had by then changed her name to Mia Martini, performed as backing vocalists for Chico Buarque de Holanda. While Martini would consequently start a successful music career, recording songs like "Piccolo uomo" and "Minuetto", Loredana continued to pursue theatre. In 1972 she performed in "Ciao Rudy" and "Orfeo 9". In 1974, producers Alfredo Cerruti and Enrico Riccardi persuaded Loredana to record her first album, Streaking. Bertè's second album, "Normale o Super" included "Sei Bellissima", Bertè's first domestic hit. In 1978, Bertè started a relationship with Ivano Fossati. Fossati produced the single "E la luna bussò", which is considered one of the early minstream reggae songs in Italy.

In the early 1980s Bertè spent a year in New York to work on her next album. Elio Fiorucci introduced her to Andy Warhol at the Factory. Warhol and Bertè collaborated on the music video for her song "Movie".[2] In 1982 she won Festivalbar with "Non sono una signora". In 1985 she recorded the album Carioca in collaboration with Djavan. In 1986 she participated to the Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Re". In 1988 she met and married Björn Borg. The marriage would end in 1992. In 1993 Bertè and Mia Martini, collaborated on the song "Stiamo come stiamo". On May 12, 1995, Martini was found unresponsive in her apartment in Cardano al Campo (varese). Martini's death proved to be a devastating moment in Bertè's life.

In the early 2000s Loredana returned to theatre, performing with Carla Fracci in "Gerusalemme" at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. She entrusts the direction of the three video clips that are part of the mini-CD "Dimmi che mi ami" of 2002. Two years later she took part in "Music Farm", the first reality show on Italian TV involving famous singers. Thanks to the show's proceeds, she produced the new album "Babybertè" (2005) by herself.

In April 2010 she suffered a bad fall, and the related surgery forced her to a lengthy hospitalization. She returned to the Sanremo Music Festival the following year, finishing fourth with the Gigi D'Alessio song "Respirare". Her following tour, "Bandabertè", ended up in Russia, where she participated in the international White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg.[3]

In 2015 she played the judge's role in the talent "Friends of Maria De Filippi". In 2017 she recorded the songs "Allegria" with J-Ax and Fedez and "Occhi di Gatto" with Cristina D'Avena.

In 2016 Bertè staged a big show at the Verona Arena called "Amiche in Arena", performing a series of duets with other Italian female artists, including Fiorella Mannoia, Gianna Nannini, Patty Pravo and Irene Grandi.[4]

Bertè's song "J'adore Venise" was included in Luca Guadagnino's Oscar-winning film's soundtrack, Call Me By Your Name (2017).

In 2018 she topped the Italian charts again with "Non ti dico no", a song made in collaboration with the reggae dancehall band Boomdabash. She also duetted with Fabio Rovazzi and J-Ax in "Senza pensieri".

She competed in the Sanremo Music Festival 2024 with the song "Pazza",[5][6] finishing in seventh place but being awarded the Critics' prize, named after her sister Mia Martini.[7] Shortly after, she was selected to compete in the final of Una voce per San Marino 2024, the Sammarinese national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the same song.[8][9]

Personal life

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From 1988 to 1992, Bertè was married to the tennis star Björn Borg.

Discography

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Albums

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  • Streaking (1974)
  • Normale o super (1976) Italy: Gold
  • TIR (1977) Italy: Gold
  • BandaBertè (1979) Italy: Platinm
  • Loredana Bertè (1980) Italy: Platinum
  • Made in Italy (1981) Italy: Platinum
  • Traslocando (1982) Italy: 5× Platinum
  • Jazz (1983) Italy: Platinum
  • Lorinedita (1983)
  • Savoir faire (1984) Italy: Platinum
  • Carioca (1985) Italy: Platinum
  • Fotografando (1986) Italy: Platinum
  • Io (1988) Italy: Gold
  • Best (1991)
  • Ufficialmente dispersi (1993)
  • Bertex, ingresso libero (1994)
  • Ufficialmente ritrovati (1995)
  • Un pettirosso da combattimento (1997) Italy: Gold
  • Decisamente Loredana (1998)
  • BabyBertè (2005) Italy: Platinum
  • BabyBertè – special edition Buch+cd+dvd (2006)
  • BabyBertè live 2007 (2007)
  • Bertilation (2008)
  • Lola & Angiolina project (2009)
  • LiBerté (2018) Italy: Gold

Singles

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  • "Volevi un amore grande" (1974)
  • "Sei bellissima" (1975) Italy: Diamond
  • "Meglio libera" (1976) Italy: Platinum
  • "Fiabe" (1977) Italy: Platinum
  • "Grida" (1997) Italy: Platinum
  • "Decisamente Loredana" (1977)
  • "Dedicato" (1978) Italy: Diamond
  • "E la luna bussò" (1979) Italy: Diamond
  • "In alto mare" (1980) Italy: Diamond
  • "Movie" (1981) Italy: Platinum
  • "Non sono una signora" (1982) Italy: Diamond
  • "Per i tuoi occhi" (1982) Italy: Platinum
  • "Acqua" (1985) Italy: Platinum
  • "Re" (1986) Italy: Platinum
  • "Io" (1988) Italy: Gold
  • "In questa città" (1991)
  • "Stiamo come stiamo" (1993)
  • "Amici non ne ho" (1994)
  • "Portami con te" (1998)
  • "Dimmi che mi ami" (2002) Italy: Gold
  • "Sarà perché ti amo (chi se ne frega!!)" (2004)
  • "Strade di fuoco" (2006) Italy: Gold
  • "Musica e parole" (2008) Italy: Gold
  • "Cattiva" (Loredana Errore feat. Loredana Bertè) (2011)
  • "Respirare" (with Gigi D'Alessio) (2012) Italy: Gold
  • "Ma quale musica leggera" (2012)
  • "Non ti dico no" (with Boomdabash) (2018) Italy: 2× Platinum
  • "Cosa ti aspetti da me" (2019) Italy: Platinum
  • "Tequila e San Miguel" (2019)
  • "Senza pensieri" (2019) Italy: Platinum
  • "Figlia di..." (2021) Italy: Gold
  • "Tuttapposto" (2021)
  • "Che sogno incredibile" (2021) Italy: Gold
  • "Pazza" (2024)

Filmography

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Films

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Title Year Role(s) Notes
Basta guardarla 1970 Red dancer Uncredited
Quelli belli… siamo noi Silvia
The Boss and the Worker 1975 Mariagrazia Marigotti
Eye of the Cat Prostitute Cameo appearance
Movie Rush - La febbre del cinema 1976 Martine
The Story of Piera 1983 Herself Cameo appearance
Un altro giorno ancora 1995 Performer With the song "Amici non ne ho"
Io sono Mia 2019 None Consultant writer
The Addams Family Gradmama Addams Italian voice-over role
Addio al nubilato 2021 Herself Cameo appearance
The Addams Family 2 Grandmama Addams Italian voice-over role
Positivə Herself Documentary
Still Out of My League Delfina Meier

Television

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Title Year Role(s) Notes
No, No, Nanette 1974 Pauline Television movie
Orfeo 9 1975 Narrator (voice) Television movie
Bambole, non c'è una lira 1977 Dori Variety show
Fantastico 1984–1985 Herself / Performer Musical/variety program (season 5)
Risatissima 1985 Herself / Performer Variety show (season 2)
Sanremo Music Festival 1986 1986 Herself / Contestant Performing "Re" (9th place)
Non necessariamente 1986–1987 Herself / co-host Variety show
Sanremo Music Festival 1988 1988 Herself / Contestant Performing "Io" (16th place)
Sanremo Music Festival 1991 1991 Herself / Contestant Performing "In questa città" (18th place)
Sanremo Music Festival 1993 1993 Herself / Contestant Performing "Stiamo come stiamo" with Mia Martini (14th place)
Sanremo Music Festival 1994 1994 Herself / Contestant Performing "Amici non ne ho" (13th place)
Domenica in 1994–1997 Herself / Recurring guest Talk show (seasons 19–21)
Sanremo Music Festival 1995 1995 Herself / Contestant Performing "Angeli & Angeli" (19th place)
Sanremo Music Festival 1997 1997 Herself / Contestant Performing "Luna" (20th place)
La notte vola 2001 Herself / Contestant Talent show
Sanremo Music Festival 2002 2002 Herself / Contestant Performing "Dimmi che mi ami" (17th place)
Music Farm 2005–2006 Herself / Judge Talent show (seasons 2–3)
Sanremo Music Festival 2008 2008 Herself / Contestant Performing "Musica e parole" (disqualified)
X Factor 2008–2009 Herself / Performer Talent show
Sanremo Music Festival 2012 2012 Herself / Contestant Performing "Respirare" with Gigi D'Alessio (4th place)
Amici di Maria De Filippi 2015–2020 Herself / Judge Talent show (seasons 14–15, 18–19)
Standing Ovation 2017 Herself / Judge Talent show
Sanremo Music Festival 2019 2019 Herself / Contestant Performing "Cosa ti aspetti da me" (4th place)
The Voice Senior 2020–present Herself / Coach Talent show
Non sono una signora - Loredana 70 2021 Herself / Headliner Special
The Voice Kids 2023 Herself / Coach Children's competition
Sanremo Music Festival 2024 2024 Herself / Contestant Performing "Pazza" (7th place)
Una voce per San Marino 2024 2024 Herself / Contestant Performing "Pazza" (2nd Place)

Stage

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Title Year Role(s) Theatre
Hair 1970 Jeanie Teatro Sistina
Ciao Rudy 1972 The Fan
Gerusalemme 2001 Performer Teatro dell'Opera

References

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  1. ^ a b Evan C. Gutierrez. Loredana Bertè. allmusic.com
  2. ^ "Italian Rock Star Loredana Bertè: "My Secret Recipe to Conquer Andy Warhol …"". 16 February 2021.
  3. ^ "White Nights of St. Petersburg (festival)".
  4. ^ "Amiche in Arena: la festa di Loredana Berté (per le donne)". 20 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Italy 2024: 'Sanremo' lineup revealed". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Sanremo 2024: i cantanti e le canzoni, gli ospiti e i conduttori. Tutto sul Festival" [Sanremo 2024: the singers and the songs, the guests and the hosts. Everything about the Festival]. TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  7. ^ RAI [@sanremorai] (11 February 2024). "I premi speciali di #Sanremo2024" [The special awards of #Sanremo2024] (in Italian). Retrieved 11 February 2024 – via Instagram.
  8. ^ "San Marino 2024: 'Una Voce Per San Marino' names released". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  9. ^ San Marino RTV [@sanmarinortv] (22 February 2024). "E' arrivata la conferma ufficiale: Loredana Bertè sabato 24 febbraio sarà sul palco del Teatro Nuovo Dogana per la finale della 3° edizione di #UnaVoceperSanMarino che sarà trasmessa in diretta dalle ore 21.00 su San Marino RTV. Loredana Bertè sarà in gara con il suo brano 'Pazza' presentato recentemente al Festival di Sanremo" [The official confirmation is here: on Saturday 24 February, Loredana Bertè will be on the stage of the Teatro Nuovo Dogana for the final of the 3rd edition of #UnaVoceperSanMarino, which will be broadcast live starting 21:00 on San Marino RTV. Loredana Bertè will compete with her song "Pazza", recently showcased at the Sanremo Festival.] (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via Instagram.
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