Nada -

Nada (born Nov. 17, 1953) is an Italian singer, songwriter, and actress who reached national prominence at the 1969 Sanremo Music Festival with “Ma che freddo fa” and won the 1971 festival with “Il cuore è uno zingaro.” She cultivated Piero Ciampi songs for her 1973 album Ho scoperto che esisto anch’io and teamed with Reale Accademia di Musica on the 1975 followup 1930: Il domatore delle scimmie. Nada scored a 1983 Italian hit with “Amore disperato” from Smalto and continued a long showbiz career through albums such as Dove sei sei, Luna in piena, and Vamp.

Background

Nada was born Nada Malanima on Nov. 17, 1953, in Gabbro, a hamlet of Rosignano Marittimo in Livorno province, Italy. Her father, Gino Malanima, farmed around Gabbro and played clarinet in the village band. Her mother, Viviana Fenzi, sold poultry and encouraged formal music study for Nada. Young Nada sang with nuns, schoolmates, and at village festivities before Viviana enrolled her at a music school in Livorno.

Nada entered a new-voices contest in Massarosa, near Lucca, organized by Cecconi and presented by impressionist Franco Rosi. RCA talent scout Roberto Davini discovered the teenager and arranged an audition in Rome, where Nada received a recording contract. Nada recorded the 1968 debut single “Les Bicyclettes de Belsize” (b/w “Per te per me”) for RCA Talent.

Nada and the Rokes placed fifth at the 1969 Festival di Sanremo with “Ma che freddo fa,” by lyricist Franco Migliacci and composer Claudio Mattone. Nada reached No. 1 in Italy with the RCA Talent single “Ma che freddo fa” (b/w “Una rondine bianca”). Migliacci then produced the debut album Nada with arrangers Antonio Coggio, Ruggero Cini, and Piero Pintucci.

Discography: