Singer
Freer than ever before – Eros Ramazzotti turns 60
The Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti has been successful for decades. photo
© Christoph Schmidt/dpa
Eros Ramazzotti has been on stage for more than four decades. He is considered one of the most successful Italian pop stars. And now 60, he feels freer than ever.
The hair is now mottled gray, the neatly trimmed goatee beard is white – but even after four decades in the music business Eros Ramazzotti is still as successful and popular as ever. The distinctive nasal voice of the Italian cuddly pop star still inspires his countless fans. And until recently he was on the road singing about his latest album “Battito Infinito” on international stages. On Saturday (October 28th) Ramazzotti celebrates his special birthday and turns 60.
Hardly anyone embodies Italy like Ramazzotti. He is the most famous artistic representative of his home country. Especially in the 1990s, hardly any other artist could ignore the Italian – anyone who thinks of Italy back then thinks of the Roman native. Many of his hits, “Più bella cosa” or “Fuoco nel fuoco”, are world-famous catchy tunes. Even though Ramazzotti has released many new songs in the meantime, his classics are part of every concert.
With more than 70 million records sold and numerous gold and platinum records, Ramazzotti is one of the most successful Italian pop singers. Like so many Italian pop stars, he was accused of a lot over the course of his career: his critics accused him of being too shallow and cheesy. He embodies too many Italian clichés. But for his fans, that’s exactly what they love about him.
Ramazzotti became the Italian sex symbol par excellence. Many said he had a “flair of Mediterranean machismo”. He attaches great importance to his “Italianità”: “Our country is the most beautiful in the world. I try to honor it in the only way I know: with music,” he said in a recent interview with the magazine “Oggi.” In addition to his charisma, his fans are particularly impressed by his nasal voice. And when Eros Ramazzotti, whose namesake is the Greek god of covetous love, breathes into the microphone in melodic Italian.
Ramazzotti was born in Rome
In 1963 the star was born as Eros Walter Luciano Ramazzotti in the Italian capital. He grew up in humble circumstances in the Cinecittà Est district, far from the center of Rome. Ramazzotti became interested in music at an early age. His path to global stardom was rocky. Rejected from the conservatory, he worked as a waiter. In his early 20s, he won a talent competition, which earned him his first record deal.
As for so many Italian singers who are internationally successful, the famous Sanremo Festival was the gateway to success for Ramazzotti. In 1984 he won the music competition for the first time in the newcomer category with “Terra promessa”. In 1986 he won with “Adesso tu”. The Italian achieved his international breakthrough in the early 1990s. His pop music, with its symphonic sounds, won the hearts of many fans in Germany too.
The cuddly singer from the Roman suburb subsequently worked his way up to become a global star and record millionaire. Concerts and tours took him to stages around the world. In the USA he produced “Tutte storie”, one of his most successful albums, and then appeared on stage with the greats: he sang in a duet with Andrea Bocelli and the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll Tina Turner. Appearances later followed with the exceptional tenor Luciano Pavarotti and with Cher.
Relationship with Michelle Hunziker
In 1998, after two years of dating, the charming Italian married the Swiss TV presenter Michelle Hunziker (46). With her he has a daughter, Aurora (26), to whom he dedicated a song. The dream couple lived in a villa on Lake Como and enjoyed life in a storm of flashbulbs. However, the divorce followed in 2009. Ramazzotti has two children with the Italian model Marica Pellegrinelli (35). He has recently been in a relationship with ex-model Dalila Gelsomino (34), who is 25 years his junior.
The full-blooded Italian doesn’t care that the popular Italo singer is now 60 years old – also to the chagrin of his fans who are aging with him. “I’m very relaxed. The more time passes, the freer, looser, lighter I feel,” Ramazzotti told the newspaper Il Messaggero. He has even been a grandfather for six months. Daughter Aurora became a mother for the first time in March.
International fans
His popularity is still unbroken. The anniversary is celebrated especially abroad. “I do my best. If you build a relationship with the audience abroad, it lasts forever.” Even if his international fans often don’t understand the lyrics to his songs. “They get pure and overwhelming emotions from me. Just like I did when I heard Deep Purple or Michael Jackson, even though I still don’t understand a word of English,” says Ramazzotti.
At 60, Ramazzotti is far from thinking about retirement. He toured the world with his new album “Battito Infinito” until recently. Then as now, for him it’s all about feelings – “emozioni”. And he always focused on the music. “If I’ve come this far, maybe it’s because that’s all I’ve dedicated myself to.” And today, in his own words, Ramazzotti feels freer than ever.