Patty Pravo (born Nicoletta Strambelli, April 9 1948, Venice, Italy) is an Italian pop singer whose career has spanned more than four decades. In 2011 she participated for the eighth time in the Italian Festival Di Sanremo.
Patty studied music at the conservatory institute of Benedetto Marcello. At the age of 15 she began her singing carreer in the Piper club. In 1966 she recorded her first single, Rgazzo Triste, which was an Italian version of the Sonny & Cher hit But You're Mine. After that Patty had numerous hits in Italy but one of her biggest hits was Pazza Idea, in 1973.
She has been featured on many Italian television programmes. In 1970 Patty hosted her own programme called Bravo Pravo, broadcasted on French television, and in 1978 appeared in highly controversial Italian TV show, Stryx, where she wore provocative clothing which attracted much attention.
In 1994 she travelled to China to record her album Ideogrammi. In 1995 returned to Italy and re-emerged in 1997 with the number 1 hit E Dimmi Che Non Vuoi Morire.
Her last Italian top 10 album has been 2002 Radio Station. In 2004 Pravo released four albums. In 2007 she released a tribute album for Dalida, entitled Spero Che Ti Piaccia… Pour toi. In 2011 she releases the album Nella Terra Dei Pinguini.
Patty has taken part in the Sanremo Music Festival 8 times:
1970: La Spada Nel Cuore, 5th
1984: Per Una Bambola, 10th
1987: Pigramente Signora, 20th
1995: I Giorni Dell’Armonia, 20th
1997: ...E Dimmi Che Non Vuoi Morire, equal 4th
2002: L'immenso, 16th
2009: E Io Verrò Un Giorno Là, equal 4th
2011: Il Vento E Le Rose, equal 11th
Hetty Koes Endang, born as Hetty Koes Madewy on August 6 1957 in Jakarta, is an Indonesian singer and actress. Hetty released very successful singles and albums in the period from 1972 to 2004. Hetty participated in many festivals and contests.
In 1977 she participated at the World Popular Song Fesival with the song Damai Tapi Gersang which was a duet with Ajie Bandi. They came 7th and won an Outstanding Song Award. In 1981 Hetty represented Indonesia again at the W.P.S.F. Unfortunately she stranded in the semi-finals with the song Siksa, which was a duet with Euis Darliah.
Anni-Frid Prinzessin Reuss von Plauen (born Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad, November 15 1945 in Bjørkåsen, Ballangen, Norway), also known as Frida Lyngstad, is a Norwegian/Swedish singer of Norwegian/German origin. She was one of the four members of Swedish pop group ABBA.
She is formally styled Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid Synni Reuss of Plauen following her marriage to a German prince of the former sovereign House of Reuss in 1992.
Frida stated that her grandmother often sang old Norwegian songs to her, which resulted in her love for music. She showed musical talent at an early age. She was often asked to sing in front of the class and soon became known for her beautiful voice. At the age of 13, Frida got her fist job as a dance band and schlager singer with The Evald Eks Orchestra. To advance and develop, she also started to take singing lessons. Later, she teamed up with a 15-piece big band, who performed a jazz repertoire covering Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. In 1963, she formed her own band, the Anni-Frid Four. In 1967, Frida won the Swedish talent show New Faces. Frida became very popular and released many singles. In 1969 Frida participated at the Swedish pre-selection for the ESC with the song Härlig Är Vår Jord which came 4th. Backstage she met Benny Andersson, who also participated in the contest as composer. They soon met again at another venue and then became a couple.
Her first album, Frida, was released in 1971. After that she scored her first Swedish No.1 hit with Min Egen Stad. All four future members of ABBA sang back-up vocals on this song. Frida continued to play in cabarets, toured and regularly perform on TV and radio. Subsequently, her relationship with Benny Andersson, and friendship with Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog led to the formation of ABBA. In 1972, Frida recorded the single Man Vill Ju Leva Lite Dessemellan, which became her second No. 1 hit on the Swedish charts.
Her next solo album in Swedish, was Frida Ensam, produced by Benny Andersson. By now, she was already involved in ABBA. This album includes her successful Swedish version of Fernando, which stayed at the no. 1 spot in the Svensktoppen radio charts for 9 weeks, but was never released as a single. It became an enormous commercial and critical success in Sweden, topping the Swedish album charts for six weeks and remaining in the charts for 38.
At first, Frida was hesitant to perform with her boyfriend Benny Andersson, his best friend Björn Ulvaeus and his girlfriend, Agnetha Fältskog. Their first project together was the cabaret act Festfolk, which flopped in the winter of 1970–1971. The following year, Frida toured on her own while the other three future ABBA members started performing together on a regular basis. Eventually, she rejoined them. Benny and Björn were busy producing other artists, but soon discovered the qualities of Frida's and Agnetha's voices combined: ABBA came to life. With her warm mezzo-soprano voice, Frida contributed lead vocals to some of ABBA's biggest hits like Fernando, Money, Money, Money, Super Trouper, I Have a Dream, Knowing Me, Knowing You and shared lead vocals with Agnetha on Mamma Mia, Waterloo, Dancing Queen, The Name of the Game, Voulez-Vous, Summer Night City and others. Frida clearly enjoyed the spotlight more than the other three members of ABBA. She truly liked to tour and to meet audience members one-on-one. She took an active part in co-designing the famed ABBA costumes for their tours and TV performances. Since the members of ABBA went their separate ways, Frida has been the only one who openly regrets there never have been a reunion to date.
In 1982, during ABBA's last year as a working band, Frida recorded and released her first post-Abba solo album. This was also her first solo album in English. The Phil Collins-produced album was called Something's Going On, and became a big success for Frida worldwide. Frida and Phil covered the UK pre-selection song Here We'll Stay.
In 1983, Frida assisted with ABBAcadabra - the Musical. In 1984 Frida released a new, experimental, album called Shine which became a big success.
In 1990, Frida became a member of the committee of the Swedish environmental organization Det Naturliga Steget. The organization wanted a famous face to help them reach the public, and in 1991 she became chairwoman for the organization Artister För Miljön. In 1992, Frida performed live at the Stockholm Water Festival at the Kings Castle and released the environmental charity single with her cover of Julian Lennon's song Saltwater. All the money from this single went to charity. In 1993, on Queen Silvia's 50th birthday, Frida was asked to perform Dancing Queen on stage, as performed by ABBA when the king and queen got married. Frida contacted The Real Group and together they performed the song live at the Stockholm Opera House in front of the king and queen.
In 1996, Frida recorded her Swedish language album Djupa Andetag. The album attracted overall positive reviews and was a big success in Sweden where it became No.1 on the album chart. Frida did many TV appearances in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland to promote the album. A follow-up album with producer Anders Glenmark was reportedly in the works, but was shelved due to the death of Frida's daughter in 1998.
Several one-off recordings followed, including a 2002 duet with opera singer Filippa Giordano.
For the 2004 semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, staged in Istanbul thirty years after ABBA had won the contest in Brighton, Lyngstad appeared in a special comedy video made for the interval act, entitled Our Last Video. Also in 2004, Lyngstad appeared with former band mates Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus at London's fifth anniversary performance of Mamma Mia!, the musical based on ABBA songs. In 2005, she joined all three of her former ABBA colleagues at the Swedish premiere of Mamma Mia! at the arena Cirkus in Stockholm.
In September 2010, a new album by musician Georg Wadenius titled Reconnection was released.
Ian James Vella, better known as J. Anvil, born August 4, 1975 In Attard, is a Maltese singer and dancer.
Ian started his career at young age as a dancer. By the age of 11 he was dancing modern jazz, latin and ballroom. Together with his partner in dancing and in life, Nadine, he participated in many dancing competitions and festivals. Ian is a fan of musicals and played also violin for a couple of years. In 2004 he participated at Malta's Song For Europe, which is the Maltese national final for the ESC, as a dancer and choreographer. It inspired him to become a singer as well and he wanted to represent Malta at the ESC. He participated 5 times at Malta's Song For Europe:
Evi Marion Rung (December 7, 1945, Helsinki) is a Finnish singer. Since 1961 Marion has recorded 368 songs.
Marion's first hit was in 1961 with the song Brigitte Bardot. But her real breakthrough was in 1962 after winning the Finnish pre-selection for the ESC with the song Tipi-Tii, which came 7th at the ESC.
During the 60's Marion released many successful singles. In 1967 Marion participated again in the Finnish national final for the ESC, this time she came 7th with the song Goodbye and in 1969 she came last with the song Tuntematon Sydämeni.
In 1973 Marion won the Finnish pre-selection for the ESC wit the song Tom Tom Tom which finished 6th in Luxemburg. In 1974 she tried again to represent Finland at the ESC but she stranded in the semi-finals with the song Icing. In 1974 she won the Intervision Song Contest in Sopot with the song Uskon Lauluun. In that same year Marion represented Finland at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo with the song Aurinkosilmät. In Tokyo Marion came 10th and won an Outstanding Song Award and Outstanding Performance Award. Marion had several hits in the 70's like El Bimbo, Ding A Dong and Eviva Espanja.
In 1980 Marion won the Intervision Song Contest once again, this time with the song Where Is The Night. The Finnish version, called Hyvästi Yö, was a big hit in Finland.
In the 90's Marion started recorded danceable popmusic which was quite successful. Nowadays Marion is still releasing singles and she is still very popular in Finland.
Micha Marah, born as Aldegonda Leppens, (Turnhout, September 26, 1953) is a Flemish singer.
In 1969 Micha released her first single. In 1971 she became wellknown in Flanders after participating at Canzonisima 1971, which was the Belgian pre-selection for the ESC. In the final she sang three songs which got no points at all. One of Micha's songs, Tamboerke, was a big hit in Belgium. She also had a hit with a Dutch cover of the spanish entry En Un Mundo Nuevo, which came 2nd at the ESC in 1971. In the Belgian national final of 1975 Micha sang two songs of which 't Is Over became success in Belgium. Now Micha was an established artist in Belgium.
In 1979 Micha was chosen to represent Belgium at the ESC in Jerusalem. In the Belgian semi-finals Micha sang six songs of which the public chose three: Mijn Dagboek, Comment Ça Va and Hey Nana. In the final an "expert" jury chose Hey Nana. Micha hated the song and was furious, she said the "experts" chose Hey Nana because they didn't like her and they knew she wanted to sing Comment Ça Va in Jerusalem. She accused the composer of Hey Nana of plagiarism with the intention to disqualify the song. Meanwhile, the Belgian broadcaster asked Nancy Dee to sing Hey Nana at the ESC but eventually Micha herself sang the song at the ESC and came 18th and equal last. Micha refused to sing Hey Nana ever again and she never recorded it.
After the contest Micha released a few albums and became a TV and radio presenter. Nowadays she 's a member of the Flemish Soul DivaZ together with Sandra Kim and Alana Dante.
Brolle was born as Kjell Junior Wallmark on November 10, 1981 in Boden, Sweden.
He is a singer and musician which was discovered in the Kanal 5 series Popstars in 2001. However in the end not joining the final band Brolle soon got a record deal and released his first single Playing With Fire. He played musicals such as Footloose, replacing Måns Zelmerlöw, and he had also played the leading part in the musical Buddy Holly.
In 2011 Brolle participated at the Swedish Melodifestivalen with the song 7 Days And 7 Nights which came 10th and last in the final.
Patty Pravo (born Nicoletta Strambelli, April 9 1948, Venice, Italy) is an Italian pop singer whose career has spanned more than four decades. In 2011 she participated for the eighth time in the Italian Festival Di Sanremo.
