Patty Pravo: The Story Behind Her 2013 Album Meravigliosamente Patty

Patty Pravo is one of the most iconic and influential singers in Italian pop music history. With a career spanning over five decades, she has released more than 30 albums and sold over 110 million records worldwide. She is known for her distinctive voice, eclectic musical style and charismatic persona.

In 2013, she celebrated her 50th anniversary in music with a special compilation album titled Meravigliosamente Patty (Wonderfully Patty), which contains some of her most beloved songs as well as some rare and unreleased tracks. The album was released on April 9, 2013 by Sony Music and RCA Records, and consists of three CDs with a total of 51 songs.

In this article, we will explore the story behind this album, its tracklist, its reception and its significance in Patty Pravo’s musical legacy.

The Making of Meravigliosamente Patty

The idea of releasing a compilation album to celebrate Patty Pravo’s 50th anniversary in music was proposed by Sony Music Italy, which owns the rights to most of her catalog. The singer agreed to the project and collaborated with the label to select the songs that would be included in the album.

The selection process was not easy, as Patty Pravo has recorded hundreds of songs in various languages and genres throughout her career. She wanted to include not only her biggest hits, but also some lesser-known gems that represented different phases and aspects of her artistic evolution. She also wanted to showcase some of her collaborations with other artists, such as Vinicius de Moraes, Serge Gainsbourg and Franco Battiato.

The result was a comprehensive and diverse collection that spans from her debut single Ragazzo triste (Sad Boy) in 1966 to her latest studio album Nella terra dei pinguini (In the Land of Penguins) in 2011. The album also features some previously unreleased tracks, such as Na canzone (A Song), a duet with Neapolitan singer Pino Daniele, and Les étrangers (The Strangers), a cover of a song by French singer Léo Ferré.

The Tracklist of Meravigliosamente Patty

The album is divided into three CDs, each with a different theme and mood. The first CD is titled “Le canzoni più belle di Patty Pravo” (The Most Beautiful Songs by Patty Pravo) and contains some of her classic hits, such as Pazza idea (Crazy Idea), Pensiero stupendo (Wonderful Thought), Tutt’al più (At Most) and La bambola (The Doll). It also includes some of her interpretations of songs by other artists, such as Non andare via (Don’t Leave Me), a version of Jacques Brel’s Ne me quitte pas, Non, je ne regrette rien (No, I Regret Nothing), a tribute to Édith Piaf, and A modo mio (My Way), an adaptation of Claude François’ Comme d’habitude.

The second CD is titled “Le canzoni più rare di Patty Pravo” (The Rarest Songs by Patty Pravo) and contains some of her lesser-known or forgotten songs, such as Morire tra le viole (To Die Among the Violets), Autobus (Bus), Assurdo (Absurd) and Stella cadente (Shooting Star). It also features some of her songs in foreign languages, such as Every Dream (Is a Bit of a Heartache), Por ti (For You), Sentimiento (Feeling) and Nosotros (We).

The third CD is titled “Le canzoni più recenti di Patty Pravo” (The Most Recent Songs by Patty Pravo) and contains some of her songs from the 2000s and 2010s, such as …E dimmi che non vuoi morire (…And Tell Me You Don’t Want to Die), E io verrò un giorno là (And I Will Come There One Day), …E mi manchi tanto (…And I Miss You So Much) and La luna (The Moon). It also includes some of her duets with other artists, such as Incontro (Encounter) with Franco Battiato, Unisono (Unison) with Gianna Nannini and Na canzone with Pino Daniele.

The Reception of Meravigliosamente Patty

The album was well received by both critics and fans, who praised Patty Pravo’s versatility, longevity and artistic quality. The album debuted at number 11 on the Italian Albums Chart and stayed on the chart for 11 weeks. It also reached number 3 on the Italian Compilation Chart and number 9 on the Italian Vinyl Chart.

The album received positive reviews from various media outlets, such as AllMusic, which gave it four out of five stars and wrote: “Meravigliosamente Patty is a fitting tribute to one of Italy’s most beloved and enduring pop stars, a singer who has always followed her own path and never stopped reinventing herself.” Discogs, which rated it 4.5 out of 5, called it “a must-have for any fan of Italian pop music”.

The album also won several awards and recognitions, such as the Premio Lunezia for Best Compilation Album in 2013, the Premio Ciampi for Best Anthology in 2014 and the Premio Tenco for Best Reissue in 2015. The album was also certified gold by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry (FIMI) for selling over 25,000 copies.

The Significance of Meravigliosamente Patty in Patty Pravo’s Career

The album is not only a celebration of Patty Pravo’s 50th anniversary in music, but also a testament to her artistic relevance and influence in the Italian pop scene. The album showcases her ability to adapt to different musical styles and trends, from beat to rock, from chanson to pop, from ballads to dance. The album also reflects her personality and charisma, which have made her a unique and iconic figure in the Italian culture.

The album also demonstrates her popularity and recognition among different generations of fans and critics, who have appreciated her talent and originality throughout the years. The album has been praised for its quality and diversity, as well as for its respect and appreciation of Patty Pravo’s musical legacy. The album has also been awarded and certified for its commercial success, proving that Patty Pravo is still one of the most beloved and successful singers in Italy.

The Cover Art of Meravigliosamente Patty

The cover art of the album features a close-up portrait of Patty Pravo, taken by photographer Fabrizio Ferri. The singer is wearing a black leather jacket and a red scarf, and has her hair styled in a short bob. Her eyes are looking directly at the camera, with a confident and captivating expression. The background is white, with the title of the album written in red letters on the top left corner.

The cover art reflects the essence of Patty Pravo’s personality and music: elegant, sophisticated, rebellious and seductive. The cover art also conveys a sense of nostalgia and modernity, as it recalls some of her iconic images from the past, but also shows her as a contemporary and timeless artist. The cover art was praised by fans and critics for its simplicity and beauty, and was nominated for the Best Cover Art at the 2013 Italian Music Awards.

How Patty Pravo Influenced Other Singers

Patty Pravo is widely regarded as one of the most influential and original singers in Italian pop music history. Her voice, style and attitude have inspired and influenced many other singers, both in Italy and abroad. Some of the singers who have acknowledged her influence or expressed their admiration for her include:

Laura Pausini, who covered her song \”La bambola\” in 2006 and performed with her at the Sanremo Music Festival in 2019.
Mina, who recorded a duet with her on the song \”Come un Pierrot\” in 1974 and praised her as \”a great artist and a great woman\”.
Giorgia, who dedicated her song \”Gocce di memoria\” to her in 2003 and called her \”a legend of Italian music\”.
Gianna Nannini, who collaborated with her on the song \”Unisono\” in 2007 and said that she was \”one of the few singers who can make me cry\”.
Madonna, who cited her as one of her influences and said that she loved her song \”Pensiero stupendo\”.
Lady Gaga, who met her backstage at a concert in Milan in 2012 and said that she was \”a huge fan of hers\”.

How Patty Pravo Contributed to Social Causes

Patty Pravo is not only a singer, but also a social activist who has supported various causes and campaigns throughout her career. Some of the social causes that she has contributed to include:

Animal rights, as she is a vegetarian and an advocate for animal welfare. She has participated in several initiatives and events organized by animal rights associations, such as LAV and Animal Equality.
Women’s rights, as she is a feminist and a supporter of women’s empowerment. She has spoken out against domestic violence, sexism and discrimination, and has collaborated with organizations such as Telefono Rosa and D.i.Re.
LGBTQ+ rights, as she is a gay icon and a friend of the LGBTQ+ community. She has performed at several pride parades and festivals, such as Gay Village and Milano Pride, and has expressed her solidarity with LGBTQ+ people who face persecution and discrimination.
Environmental issues, as she is an ecologist and a promoter of sustainable development. She has supported campaigns and projects that aim to protect the environment and fight climate change, such as Earth Hour and Greenpeace.
Humanitarian causes, as she is a philanthropist and a donor of various charities. She has donated part of her earnings to organizations that help people in need, such as UNICEF, Amnesty International and Emergency.

How Patty Pravo Influenced Italian Culture

Patty Pravo is not only a singer, but also a cultural icon who has influenced Italian culture in various ways. Some of the ways that she has influenced Italian culture include:

Music, as she has introduced and popularized different musical genres and styles in Italy, such as beat, rock, chanson, pop and dance. She has also collaborated with some of the most renowned Italian and international musicians and composers, such as Lucio Battisti, Franco Battiato, Pino Daniele and Serge Gainsbourg.
Fashion, as she has created and followed some of the most innovative and original fashion trends in Italy, such as the miniskirt, the bob haircut, the leather jacket and the red scarf. She has also been a muse and a model for some of the most famous Italian and international fashion designers and photographers, such as Valentino, Giorgio Armani and Fabrizio Ferri.
Cinema, as she has starred and appeared in several Italian and foreign movies and TV shows, such as Una bella grinta (1965), La ragazza del bersagliere (1967), The Sensuous Assassin (1976) and Il peccato e la vergogna (2010-2014). She has also contributed to some of the most iconic movie soundtracks in Italy, such as La ragazza con la pistola (1968), Il gatto a nove code (1971) and La scorta (1993).
Literature, as she has written and published two autobiographies, Bla bla bla (1999) and La cambiale (2005), which reveal some of the most intimate and controversial aspects of her life and career. She has also inspired and been mentioned in several books and poems by some of the most acclaimed Italian and foreign writers and poets, such as Aldo Busi, Dacia Maraini and Ezra Pound.

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Patty Pravo Meravigliosamente Patty 2013 [EXCLUSIVE]