Giusy Ferreri

Diese Musik in meiner Werbung It is impossible to forget Giusy Ferreri. Her truly personal and suave way of phrasing fascinates the listener from the very beginning. Radios were so enthralled by her voice that, the day following her participation to the final in the "X Factor" talent show, they inserted at high rotation the single "Non ti scordar mai di me" (Don't you ever forget about me), appropriately composed by Tiziano Ferro and Roberto Casalino for Giusy. She has conquered the web mongers: the most recent Fimi Nielsen classification has certified to the fact that "Non ti scordar mai di me" is the one most downloaded song from Internet, overtaking stars such as celebrated Italian artist Jovanotti or internationally renowned Madonna.

Not even Giusy will ever be able to forget these last few months that have magnificently disrupted her life. A part-time clerk at Esselunga di Corbetta (Milano) with rock singer-songwriter ambitions, she made the cast for "X Factor" during the seventh episode when she performed Gabriella Ferri's "Remedios". Hence on, the public and the critics were on her side. Incidentally, it is no minor detail that Giusy and Aram Quartet were the sole artists not having undergone judgment by the three team-captains (Simona Ventura, Morgan e Mara Maionchi), and the risk ensuing in elimination. The second-place award in the "X Factor" final was a boost to Giusy: the day after the final, her original interpretation of Gabriella Ferri's "Remedios" hit number one in the iTunes charts for the most downloaded song, repeatedly trading places only with the fist-place winner Aram Quartet. A series of overwhelming fulfillments follow her first steps, reaching as far as the recent joy for the first place in the most downloaded song from Internet in the Fimi Nielsen classification.

The record company prize contract for the winner of "X Factor" went to Aram Quartet, but SonyBmg has decided to invest equally estimable artistic resources also on the career of artists such as Giusy, who has presently finished shooting in Rome the "Non ti scordar mai di me" video; produced with Pedro Almodovar-like atmospheres and directed by Cosimo Alemà who has worked, amongst others, with Tiziano Ferro, Ligabue, Max Pezzali, Zero Assoluto, Nek and Tiromancino.

June 27 marks the release of the "Non ti scordar mai di me" Extended Play CD which, besides the previously un-issued labeled Tiziano Ferro contains the cover songs of "Remedios" (Gabriella Ferri), "Che cosa c'è" (What is the matter-Gino Paoli), "La bambola" (The doll-Patty Pravo), "Ma che freddo fa" (How cold it gets-Nada) e "Insieme a te non ci sto più" (I'm no longer together with you-Caterina Caselli).

"I am proud of this tribute to Gabriella Ferri and her authentic uniqueness thanks to a song with a great appeal such as "Remedios". I feel it is an enormous pleasure and fun also to sing Italian songs from the 1950s as "Che cosa c'è", "La bambola", "Ma che freddo fa" e "Insieme a te non ci sto più". Thanks to Lucio Fabbri's playful and innovative arrangements, I interpret these classical jewels scrutinizing them under a modern lens in order to bring them to the keen attention of the younger public and-who knows?-perhaps, receiving also the appreciation of an elder audience which is accustomed to the original versions of its own times."

The publication of the album containing her first previously unreleased works, thus continuing the artistic collaboration with Tiziano Ferro", is scheduled for the end of the year. "He is one of the best Italian artists. I am proud that my singing has intrigued him to the point of making him compose a song just for me. Tiziano Ferro has elaborated upon a theme that is common to everyone and I, as well, have had to deal with it in the past: the end of a lover story. Before asking me to perform the song, he made me listen to a song written some time before and still unreleased; "Passione positiva"(Positive passion) seemed written for me. I feel it belongs to me and, hopefully, it will be in my first album. In the "Non ti scordar mai di me" single, Tiziano has used arrangements that go along with the stylistic choices I have made for the cover songs in "X Factor: melodically speaking,
He has been able to enhance my vocal technique and the interpretative style."

The cover songs included in this CD, featuring the complete versions rather than the short two-minute exhibitions broadcast on "X Factor", hold a modern rock soul with the imprint of The Sixties. "We used typical instruments from the 60s-arrangements supervisor Lucio Fabbri says-among which are the 'vox' organ, precursor to the Hammond, with a simple and rough sound that renders it quite effective. In order to recreate the atmosphere of the 60s we made Giusy sing not as a soloist with exceptional musicians beside her, rather as the female lead singer of a band; thus resulting in an unusual situation for that period of time. She has such a peculiar vocal tonality that she personalizes any song she sings. The cover songs have been completely retailored to suit her voice and even though they are perfectly recognizable, Giusy has transformed all of them into songs of hers easily adapting to the current choice sound. Her style is so unique and personal that they all seem as original unreleased works: already famously known hits still to be heard."

"I began singing while listening to male voices-- Giusy Ferreri recounts-that's how I got such a burly voice timbre which I was able to refine thanks to the help of a teacher who, by complying with my vocal sound, made me study the musical scores of classical blues songs: I had to learn the melodic part even before listening to the song, in order to sing it following my own instinct. Now I feel much more natural: in my own manner I have found a way to release myself that with the right timing makes me withhold my voice, rather than shouting it out."

Born in Palermo, on April 17, 1979 (Aries is both her horoscope sign as well as astronomic ascendancy), Giusy prefers living in the quiet town of Abbiategrasso rather than the chaotic Milan which is close by: "I am not used to chaos: I prefer living the grand metropolis for leisure, but at night I rather return to my peaceful town." Often compared to the British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse for her interpretative style as well as the full-blooded talent, Giusy doesn't shrink from the praise. ("I am flattered: I think much of Amy and believe she is a great artist"), but then adds…
"We have different musical paths: we are both in love with blues and soul; however, I have darker tonalities. Among my artistic role models are PJ Harvey, Linda Perry, Janis Joplin, Siouxsie and Fiona Apple. When I was 14, I used to sing Queen, AC/DC, Litfiba and Timoria in my first cover band. At 15 years of age, I wrote poems, but they had nothing to do with music. Then I passed on to Alanis Morissette and Skunk Anansie's pop-rock, Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith's blues. At 21 my passions were Jeff Buckley e Fiona Apple. My musical world is quite complex: I want to improve as a singer-songwriter and show my creativity, if possible as early as my next album. Now, I am simply happy to better the talent of interpreter thanks to the precious matching with great authors and artists such as Tiziano Ferro."
<i>11/2008</i>