I
Dalida


About:

17 January 1933 - 3 May 1987

Dalida (Born Yolanda Christina Gigliotti) (January 17, 1933–May 3, 1987) was an Egyptian-born singer of Italian origins who lived most of her life in France. She received 55 golden records and was the first singer to receive a diamond disc. In 1954 she became Miss Egypt. In the same year she moved to Paris to persue a career in acting. Performing the song 'Etrangère au Paradis' in a variety show at Coquatrix’s recently-opened Paris Olympia theatre, Dalida was introduced to Lucien Morisse and Eddie Barclay, who played a considerable part in launching the starlet’s career. Her breakthrough came with 'Bambino' in 1956 which spent 46 weeks in the French top ten and remains one of the biggest-selling singles in French history, and for its sales (which exceeded 300,000 copies) Dalida was awarded her first gold disc, presented on the 17th September 1957. The single gave her the nickname 'Mademoiselle Bambino'. All through the sixties Dalida stayed popular, adapted new styles along the way.

The early 1970s became a transitional period for the singer. She had her biggest international succes with 'Gigi L'amorose'. But the seventies gave also way to the dark side of Dalida with her first suicide attempt. Dalida’s private life was marred by a series of failed relationships and personal problems. Her first husband, Lucien Morisse committed suicide several years after her divorce. Two of her lovers, Luigi Tenco and Richard Chanfray, also took their own lives. Dalida kept releasing music up untill her death. Performing became more and more irregular and difficult however. She did several TV specials and unfrequently performed at the loved Olympia theatre. On May 3, 1987 Dalida died as a result of an overdose of barbiturates, leaving a suicide note reading "Life has become unbearable ... Forgive me." Dalida was buried in the Cimetière de Montmartre, Paris, and a life-size statue of the singer stands outside her tomb.

After her death her legacy has been re-released, re-edited and remixed numerous times by her brother Orlando who take cares of the estate. It is said that she sold more albums after her death then during her entire lifetime. In 2012 a triple-DVD is released with rare live performance from the seventies.

On the web:

- Dalida's website: http://www.dalida.com
- Dalida's tomb: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3685

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

Massiel (Spain)

Marinella (Greece)

What do we think:

PR: What is there to say that has not been said and written about Dalida? She is probably the most famous female singer in French music history. Her reputation is not only based on her talent as a singer and interpretor, but also on her talent of bringing the right sort of music at just the right time. For example, she made the twist and rock famous in France. She lived her live in the public eye and almost the entire country lived her many ups and even more downs with her. Her decission to end her own life did not come as a surprise, but nevertheless left the country in a complete shock. Now, more than 20 years later, Dalida's voice has certainly not disappeard from the scene. Thanks to her brother Orlando, who does the utmost to keep her memory alive, the numbers of record sales after her death almost equals the number of records she sold during her lifetime. Whatever you may or may not think of that, this site is about Europopmusic and Dalida has certainly earned herself a special place in Europop history!

DB: The Hair, the Voice, the Drama. This is true diva material. After her first suicide attempt she wrote that she was not a singer but a chanson machine. People will judge her music in first listening and then it can sound a bit light. But beneath the surface is a world of drama. Listen to 'Avec le temps' and 'Je suis malade' and you know she actually sings about herself. Even her biggest hit 'Gigi L'amoroso' holds enough drama to entertain the average soap opera public for weeks. I mean, promising guy from small italian village goes to america only to return failed and bankrupt. He hides in the shadows to embaresed to meet his old music pals again. Dalida has sung in many languages including het native tonque. But somehow she stays unmistakebly connected to the French pop scene.

Recommended albums:

It's hard to recommend particular albums by Dalida. She is too much a single artist.
For a studio album, apart from a 'best of' you can try her 1971 hit album. After Dalida's unfortunate death, many remix albums have been released. Certainly not all of them were an improvement of the original material (to say the least). From the remix albums 'Comme si j'etait la' and 'A ma manière' are you best buys. To get the full power of her performance your best buy is her 1974 Olympia performence or one of the many dvd-releases.

♪♪ - Dalida - 1957

♪♪♪ - Son nom est Dalida - 1958

♪♪♪ - Gondolier - 1958

♪♪ - Les gitans - 1958

♪♪♪ - Le disque d'or de Dalida - 1959

♪♪ - Love in Portofino - 1959

♪♪ - Les enfants du Pirée - 1960

♪♪ - Garde-moi la dernière danse - 1961

♪♪ - Loin de moi - 1961

♪♪♪ - Petit Gonzales - 1962

♪♪ - Eux - 1963

♪♪♪♪ - Le temps des fleurs - 1968

♪♪♪♪ - Gigi Lamoroso - 1971

♪♪♪♪ - Une vie - 1971

♪♪♪♪ - Olympia 71 - 1971

♪♪♪ - Julien - 1973

♪♪♪♪♪ - Olympia 74 - 1974

♪♪♪♪ - Olympia 77 - 1977

♪♪ - Gigi in Paradisco - 1980

♪♪ - Palais des Sports - 1980

♪♪♪ - Dalida - 1981

♪♪♪♪ - Comme si j'etait la - 1995

♪♪♪♪♪ - A ma manière - 1997

♪♪♪ - L'an 2005 - 1997

♪♪ - Révolution - 2002

♪♪♪♪- Live 1971 - 1977 (DVD) - 2012

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided