Gianna Nannini: A Renowned Italian Musician - Italian Rock Legend Celebrates 70th Birthday
Rock legend Gianna Nannini is thrilled about turning 70, but she doesn't see herself as a 70-year-old. While promoting her new album "Sei nel l'anima" and a Netflix biopic about the early phase of her career, she often stresses that she won't consider herself as old as 70. Instead, she claimed in interviews that she'll only be 41 in 2024.
Nannini, an Italian singer who was born on June 14, 1954, in Siena, has a special connection with Germany. She says that Germany feels like her "second birth." She had a psychological crisis during the recordings for her album "Fotoromanza" in Conny Plank's Cologne studio in 1983 and found renewed confidence, asserting herself as a musician. In an interview with "Stern" magazine, she described this experience: "Germany has a lot of significance for me. I was reborn in Germany in 1983. During the recordings for the album 'Fotoromanza' in Conny Plank's Cologne studio, I had an extreme psychological crisis, and I didn't know who I was anymore. A part of me died, and another part surfaced. That's why I'm not 70; I'm only 41!"
Conny Plank (1940-1987), a legendary German producer, guided and supported her during this difficult time. He put her back on track and urged her to stay close to her soul and only sing in Italian. She achieved international fame with hits like "Bello e Impossibile" and "I Maschi" by sticking to this advice.
Apart from the year of her rebirth, Nannini is also known for her provocative stance on gender identity. In her new album "Sei nel l'anima," the song "1983" explores her transformation, which involved a newfound awareness of her sexuality. The lyrics include: "1983, I was born without a gender."
She addressed this controversial statement in an interview with "The New Germans," declaring, "Being 'born without a gender' represents something I want to convey to people. Gender is a nonsensical term—it's a limiting mechanism that creates division. Black and white. Men and women. You can try me out! Hahaha."
In 2010, she shattered age and role model norms by having a child at 54. Although it caused a stir when she proudly displayed her baby bump on the cover of Italian "Vanity Fair," she remains defiant and resolute.
Her daughter, Lila Nannini, continues her rebellious spirit. Only 25 years old, she has released her debut album "Lila" and is known for her raw, emotional songs and powerful live performances. She credits her mother as her role model, hoping to pass on her legacy of self-expression and challenging societal norms. Her daughter, Penelope, is a teenager who emulates her mother's rebelliousness, even forbidding her mom from singing in English.
Gianna Nannini is likely to uphold this rebuke and continue singing in Italian despite her daughter's protests. Her upcoming "Sei nell'anima" Tour will kick off in various European cities from November 22, 2024, until December 21, 2024.
