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Mónica Naranjo

Mónica Naranjo

Mónica Naranjo Carrasco (born May 23, 1974) is a Spanish singer widely popular in Spain and Latin America and recognised as one of the most powerful voices of the Spanish and Latin American music scenes. She has performed with singers such as Luciano Pavarotti, Rocío Jurado and Mina Mazzini amongst others.

Mónica Naranjo
Background information
Birth nameMonica Naranjo Carrasco
Born(1974-05-23)May 23, 1974
Figueres, Catalonia, Spain
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active1994–present
LabelsSonyMusic
Websitehttp://www.monicanaranjo.com [29]
img

Biography

Early years

Mónica Naranjo was born in Figueres. Her parents, Francisco, a construction worker and Patricia a housewife, migrated from southern Spain to the north in the 1960s. Mónica, who is the oldest daughter of the family has two younger brothers Raquel and Enrique. Despite her troubled childhood, when she was only 4, she realised that music was her favourite activity.[1]

At the age of 14, the young Mónica enrolled a music school to learn singing and she also was given a recorder as a present so that she could start composing and recording her own songs.

Career

She started singing at a very young age. Cristobal Sansano became her first producer. At 18, she emigrated to Mexico.

In 1994, she recorded her debut album, the self-titled Mónica Naranjo, after signing with Sony Music. The album resulted in the hit singles "Sola", "Sólo se vive una vez", "El amor coloca", "Supernatural", "Óyeme!" and "Fuego de pasión". She was nominated for Eres Awards. Although the album went almost unnoticed in Spain, it had a great reception in Mexico, where it sold more than 900.000 copies.[2]

In 1997, taking advantage of her popularity in Latin America, she released her second album, Palabra de Mujer. This time, the album was a hit not only in Mexico, but also in Spain, her home country. managing to sell more than 2,000,000 copies. This success in Spain enabled the singer to return to her home country, and to perform in numerous TV programmes. The album was also successful in the United States, Latin America, thanks to singles such as "Entender el amor", "Desátame", "Pantera en libertad" and "Las campanas del amor". Due to the success of this album, she was awarded with the Amigo Award for the best Spanish female solo artist.[3]

In 2000 she released her third album, Minage, a tribute to the Italian singer Mina. In an interview that year, she mentioned that the album was like nothing her producers expected:

They were expecting anotherPalabra de Mujeralbum, but more than just a hit, I wanted something to let the world know that I am also a fanatic, and that there are many great artists/singers out there who deserve more recognition. An example of such an artist is Mina Mazzini.

Minage was known for the song Sobreviviré, a hit song that would turn into one of the most remembered and representative hits of the singer. This song, which is a cover of Mina Mazzini's "Fiume azurro" is not only considered a fight song, but also an LGTB anthem[4] and a hymn against domestic violence. She performed that song during the "Pavaroti and Friends" gala, where she also performed "Agnus dei" in a duet with the Italian tenor.

In 2001, she released Chicas Malas, an album with several collaborations, among them Diane Warren, Gregg Alexander, John Reid, Cliff Masterson, Sam Watters, and many more. Having such worldwide-known influences, the commercial dance album sales were disappointing, having sold only 120,000 copies in its first year, making it the lowest-selling studio album in her Spanish-singing career.

In 2002, she decided to make a big leap into the English language public by recording the English version of "Chicas Malas" named "Bad Girls". The international push met very little support, although the song "I Ain't Gonna Cry" did get Mónica some recognition in continental Europe.

Hiatus

After feeling overwhelmed by the music industry in general, and after thinking about her own personal life and career, the performer took the decision of moving away from the stages.[5]

In 2005, after a long musical rest, Mónica briefly returned with a greatest hits album, Colección Privada, a big success that also included one new release "Enamorada de ti". With this album, Mónica closed a stage in her life and career. In December 2005, she sang "Punto de partida" as a duet with Rocío Jurado in a TV homage titled Rocío... Siempre.

Return

On February 29, 2008, her new single "Europa" was officially launched on her official site climbing to #1 in the Spanish Single Charts. The Album Tarántula was made available in stores April 22, 2008. This album, which marked her return to music after almost seven years reached number 1 in Spain, and was certified Platinum. Later, she released a limited special edition of the album, with a DVD and a photographic book of pictures of the Tarántula era.

Following the success of her latest album Tarantula, Mónica Naranjo embarked on the tour Adagio Tour in which she offered a new vision of her songs and symphonic CD + DVD is a reflection of this journey. The concert included in this album was recorded on October 16, 2009 at the Teatro de la Ciudad de Mexico, D. F., with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City, one of the most prestigious in America, directed by Pepe Herrero, who also signed the new orchestral arrangements. The 16-track CD was mixed and mastered by John M. Vinader. It was released in Mexico and the U.S.

Thanks to the success of Tarantula, in 2010 the singer partnered with Studio Kawaii, (A Madrid-based studio specialised in manga style comics) and released simultaneously two comics, the semiautobiographical "Amor y lujo"[6] and the fictional and futuristic "Todo mentira".[7] Some years she started new projects and also released a recipe book.

In 2011, she sang the theme song for Mexican telenovela Emperatriz and in 2012, she released A Opera-Rock, accompanying a novel in Spanish with a few strokes in other languages. It was co-produced by Monica and by Oscar Tarruella, and arrangements were by Pepe Herrero and Chris Gordon. The release originally due in 2010 was postponed for release to February 2016 which finally had the title of Lubna, based on a same name novel.

New projects

In 2014 Mónica was part of the jury of the programme Your face sounds familiar which was broadcast by Antena 3. That same year, she was also a juror in the Spanish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, which was won by Ruth Lorenzo, with whom she would perform in future concerts.

In 2017 she was also a Juror in Operación Triunfor 2018, whose participation was controversial due to her sincere but also severe critics to the participating performers.[8]

In 2019, Mónica debuted her new television show called Monica y el Sexo (Sex and Monica) on which the performer talks openly about the problems brought by her recent divorce from Oscar Tarruela who had been her husband for 16 years. Her song "Tu y yo y el loco amor" (You and me and that crazy love) was released as the principal song of the OST of the same name film. After that, she started working in a new project called "Mes Excentricités", a project that will be spilt in three EP's, of which the first one, entitled "Le psiquiatrique" will be released in middle 2019. The first single entitled "Doble Corazón" will be released during the Gay Pride parade in Madrid[9]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleDetailsChart positionsCertifications
(sales thresholds)
Sales
MEX
[10]
SPA
[11]
1994Mónica Naranjo
  • First studio album
  • Released: March 14, 1994
  • Label: Sony Music
1997Palabra de Mujer
  • Second studio album
  • Released: May 27, 1997
  • Label: Sony Music
90
  • IFPI Europe: Platinum[14]
  • SPA: 10× Platinum[15]
  • U.S.: Platinum (Latin)[12]
2000Minage
  • Third studio album
  • Released: March 16, 2000
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Global: 1 million[20]
  • MEX: 75,000
  • SPA: 300,000
2001Chicas Malas
  • Fourth studio album
  • Released: October 26, 2001
  • Label: Sony Music
2002Bad Girls
  • Fifth studio album
  • Released: November 12, 2002 (Spain)
  • Label: Sony Music
2008Tarántula
  • Sixth studio album
  • Released: April 12, 2008
  • Label: Sony Music
301
  • SPA: 60,000
2016Lubna
  • Seventh studio album
  • Released: January 29, 2016
  • Label: Sony Music
  • SPA: 40,000
2019Mes excentricitésvol 1: Le psichiatrique
  • Extended play
  • Released: October 11, 2019
  • Label Sony Music
"—" denotes releases that did not chart, were not released or information is not available.

Compilations

YearTitleDetailsChart positionsCertifications
(sales thresholds)
Sales
MEXSPA
2005Colección Privada
  • Released: 27 April 2005
  • 2nd compilation album
3Worldwide: 100,000
2011La Más Perfecta Colección
  • Released: 6 December 2011
  • 3rd compilation album
2013Esencial
  • Released: 11 June 2013
  • 4th compilation album
27
20144.0
  • Released: 6 May 2014
  • 5th compilation album
541Worldwide: 30,000

Live albums

YearAlbumSPA
MEX
Sales
2009Stage
  • Released: March 22, 2009
  • 1st live album
131
2009Adagio
  • Released: December 1, 2009
955

Singles

YearSingleES[23]Album
1994"El amor coloca"Mónica Naranjo
"Sólo se vive una vez"
"Sola"
"Fuego de pasión"
"Óyeme"
1995"Supernatural"
"Llorando bajo la lluvia"
1997"Entender el amor"5Palabra De Mujer
"Desátame"2
"Empiezo a recordarte"
"Pantera en libertad"7
"Las campanas del amor"5
"Ámame o déjame"
"Tú y yo volvemos al amor"
"Rezando en soledad"
2000"Sobreviviré"1Minage
"If You Leave Me Now/Seguire sin ti"1
"Perra enamorada"
"Enamorada"2
2001"Chicas malas"3Chicas Malas
2002"Sacrificio"3
"No voy a llorar"4
"Ain't It Better Like This"10
2002"I Ain't Gonna Cry"Bad Girls
2005"Enamorada de ti"1Colección Privada
2008"Europa"1Tarántula
"Amor y lujo"1
2012"Make You Rock"11Single-only
2014"Sólo se vive una vez (4.0 Version)"44.0
2015"Jamás"2Lubna
2016"Fin"
"Perdida"
2019Tu, yo y el loco amor
Doble Corazón

(—) means the singles were not eligible to chart, as they were sent only as a promo to radios.

Tours

  • 1995/1996 - Mónica Naranjo Tour (America)

  • 1998 - Tour Palabra de mujer (Spain/America)

  • 2000 - Tour Minage (Spain)

  • 2008 - Tarántula Tour (Spain)

  • 2009/2010 - Adagio Tour (Spain/America)

  • 2011/2012 - Madame Noir (Spain/America)

  • 2014 - Mónica Naranjo: 4.0 Tour (Spain)

  • 2019/2020 - Mónica Naranjo: Renaissance (Spain/America)

Other works

TV Programmes

  • El número 1, Antena 3 (2012)

  • Mira quien va a Eurovisión, TVE (2014)

  • Tu Cara me suena (Your face seems familiar to me), Antena 3 (2014 - 2017)

  • Operción Triunfo 2018, TVE (2017 - 2018)

  • Mónica y el Sexo, Cuatro (2019)

  • La isla de las tentaciones, Cuatro (2019)

Other releases

  • Amor y lujo, with Studio Kawaii (Manga) (2008)

  • Todo mentira, With Studio Kawaii (Manga) (2010)

  • Come y calla (Recipe book) (2013)[24]

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.lavanguardia.com"¿Qué le provocó la mala infancia? La adversidad es lo que más nos hace crecer si estamos dispuestos a aprender de ella. Mis padres son muy buena gente, pero entre ellos saltaban chispas. La experiencia me ha servido para aprender a no repetirlo".
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[2]
Citation Linkwww.todomusica.org"Mónica Naranjo - Biografía, Discos y Canciones". www.todomusica.org. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[3]
Citation Linkwww.youtube.comDaniSpiceBoy (2017-01-06), Mónica Naranjo - Mejor Solista Femenina Española [Premios Amigo 1998], retrieved 2019-06-26
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.diarioinformacion.comINFORMACION. "Seis himnos del Orgullo Gay". www.diarioinformacion.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-06-26.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.lavanguardia.com"¿Lo dejó todo? Sí, a los 27 abandoné. Estaba harta, nada tenía sentido, había perdido la ilusión. Estuve siete años completamente desaparecida, aprendiendo la lección de mi vida:".
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.amazon.es"Amor y lujo".
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.amazon.es"Todo Mentira Comic".
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[8]
Citation Linkus.hola.com"Mónica Naranjo responde a los responsables de OT tras ser criticada por calificar el formato de aburrido". HOLA USA (in Spanish). 2018-11-23. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[9]
Citation Linkwww.cadenadial.com"Mónica Naranjo nos muestra su doble corazón". Cadena Dial (in Spanish). 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[10]
Citation Linkmexicancharts.comAsociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (17 June 2000). "Chart positions in Mexico". Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[11]
Citation Linkpromusicae.esPeak positions in Spain: Palabra de Mujer: "Billboard". 110 (6). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 7 February 1998: 59. Retrieved 1 May 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) Minage: "Billboard". 112 (18). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 29 April 2000: 73. Retrieved 1 May 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) Tarántula: PROMUSICAE (27 April 2008). "Spanish albums chart" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-20. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[12]
Citation Linkriaa.comRecording Industry Association of America (17 June 2000). "Sales certifications in the United States (searchable database)". Retrieved 1 May 2013.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[13]
Citation Linkbooks.google.com"Billboard". 114 (45). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 9 November 2002: 48. Retrieved 1 May 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.ifpi.orgInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry (2001). "IFPI Platinum Awards". Retrieved 1 May 2013.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[15]
Citation Linkpromusicae.esPROMUSICAE (30 October 2005). "Palabra de Mujer sales certification in Spain" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[16]
Citation Linkbooks.google.com"Billboard". 110 (47). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 21 November 1998: 96. Retrieved 3 February 2014. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[17]
Citation Linkbooks.google.com"Billboard". 110 (14). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 4 April 1998: 45. Retrieved 1 May 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.facebook.com"Mexican sales certification" (in Spanish). AMPROFON. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.promusicae.org"Spanish sales chart" (in Spanish). Promusicae. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.allmusic.comAll Music. "Mónica Naranjo biography". Retrieved 1 May 2013.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:05 AM