Shazam Around The World: Mediterranean Divas
While the British press has baptized 2009 as the year of the girls in spite of a new wave of fresh female talent. The autumn is round the corner and the newcomers are giving way to the veterans. From long awaited comebacks (Whitney Houston; Barbra Streisand; Shakira) to high profile follow-ups and breakthrough albums (Leona Lewis; Nelly Furtado –see video above-), this season is shaping itself as the battlefield for another war of the divas. The battle will be even fiercer in Non-English speaking territories where the biggest local stars are prepared to rival their most famous International counterparts for the top of their nation’s charts. After the jump we take a look at some of the most popular contenders around Southern Europe.
In Greece Helena Paparizou has managed to prove there’s life beyond Eurovision. The singer has fully established herself as a top-selling artist four years after she won the corny song contest with ‘My Number One’. Her new single ‘Tha ‘Me Allios’ shows a rockier side that’s taking Aegean audiences by storm.
Mylène Farmer –considered by many as the French Madonna- has beaten her own record by hitting the number one spot for the ninth time. ‘Sextonik’, the fifth single taken out of the 2008 album ‘Point De Suture’, is the track responsible for the achievement, boosting once again the sales of an already very popular record.
Italy is also a fertile ground for female performers. Alessandra Amoroso –which can roughly be translated as “Alessandra Loving”- is the latest singer carrying on the old-fashioned tradition of rugged and passionate ballads that’s been a fixture in Italian popular music since the days of the legendary 60’s icon Mina. ‘Estranei A partire Da Irei’ is part of the soundtrack of ‘Amore 14′ and it will also be included in the debut album by the former talent show winner.
Another multitalented artist, Spanish actress and songwriter Bebe’s second album ‘Y.’, has reached gold status in just a few weeks. Her mix of pop-rock with Spanish native touches has granted her a huge following and a few nominations to the Latin Grammys. Her new single ‘Me Fuí’ is set to be another huge hit for the artist.
And last but not least, Portugal reignites the national romance with the genre of ‘Fado’ through ‘Amália Hoje’, an album covering the most popular songs of the late Amalia Rodrigues with a contemporary production lifting in. Sónia Tavares is the vocalist in the album’s first single ‘Gaivota’.
