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Deborah Blando

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Deborah Blando
Deborah Blando in 2019
Born
Deborah Salvatrice Blando

(1969-03-03) 3 March 1969 (age 55)
NationalityBrazilian and Italian
Occupations
  • Singer
  • composer
Years active1981; 1989–2002; 2008; 2011–present
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
LabelsSom Livre
Websitedeborahblando.com

Deborah Salvatrice Blando (born March 3, 1969) is an Italian-Brazilian singer, songwriter, and producer. Having sold more than 6 million records worldwide,[1] she is considered one of the most successful Brazilian pop music artists. Referred to as the "Queen of the soundtracks",[2][3] she holds the record of having most songs on soundtracks of Globo soap operas. Aside from Portuguese, Blando also sung in English and Italian, and became known in Europe in 1992 with the pop ballad "Innocence", which was followed by a string of successful records in Brazil and Portugal.

Throughout her career, she has collaborated with multiple world-renowned songwriters and producers, including David Foster, Patrick Leonard, Andres Levin, Camus Celli, Carl Sturken, and Evan Rogers.

Early life and career beginnings

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Blando was born on March 3, 1969, in Sant'Agata di Militello, Sicily, to an Italian father, Pietro Carmelo Blando, and Leoni (née Harmatiuk), a Brazilian mother of Ukrainian descent.[4] From an early age, she liked to sing, and joined the Zecchino D'Oro children's song competition at age 2, in which she won the best children's singer category. Throughout the 1970s, she was invited to sing in various TV shows on the Italian TV broadcaster RAI.[5]

In 1975, after relocating with her family to the city of Florianópolis, Brazil, she started singing in children's choirs.[4][6] At age 12, she was invited to record her first Italian album under the pseudonym Giovanna, entitled Alegria da Gente, which performed on major television shows in Italy and Brazil. Her parents, however, did not want her to pursue a music career, as it would disrupt her studies, and forced her to stop.

After graduating high school, in 1986, she was discovered by singer and composer Oswaldo Montenegro during a talent scout trip to Florianópolis. Montenegro invited her to record vocals for the soundtrack of the theatre play Os Menestréis.[7][8][4]

Career

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A Different Story

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In 1988, Deborah Blando signed a record deal with CBS Records in Brazil to release her debut album. In 1989, she attended a Cyndi Lauper concert during her Brazilian tour and met Lauper's manager at the time, David Wolff.[4] She performed for him one of the songs she wrote, "Innocence" on a piano, and Wolff saw potential to launch her career internationally. He invited her to travel to New York City to try to land an international record deal.[9] "Innocence" would later be re-recorded and released as a single. After arriving New York City, she performed "Innocence" to Walter Yetnikoff, then-president of CBS Records, who signed her to the Epic Records label.[9]

Blando's debut single, "Boy (Why Do You Want to Make Me Blue" was released in September 1991 and was featured on an international campaign for Diet Coke.[6] Her debut album, A Different Story, was released two months later. "Innocence" was released as the second single of the album, and enjoyed success in Brazil, Europe and Australia,[10] reaching number 1 on the Brazilian charts (where it remained on that position for 13 weeks),[11] number 13 on Norwegian airplay charts, number on 20 on Swedish airplay charts, and number 31 on the Australian singles chart.[12]

"Shame" was released as a single in Europe, and "Other People's Houses" was released as a promotional single in Australia. "Decadence avec Elegance" was released as a single in Brazil and Europe (where it was retitled as "Decadance").

Following the astounding success of "Innocence" and "Decadence Avec Elegance" in Brazil, the album was re-released in 1993 in that market, as A Different Story: Special Edition, where it spawned two additional promotional singles, "Merry-Go-Round", and a cover of the song "A Maçã" by Raul Seixas.

Unicamente and Deborah Blando

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After heavily promoting her debut album in Brazil, Blando parted ways with Epic Records and signed to Atlantic Records for the release of her sophomore international album.[13] She collaborated with David Foster,[14] Patrick Leonard, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers[15] on the album, which was originally planned for release sometime in 1995 or 1996.[13]

In 1995, Blando collaborated with Spanish trip hop band B-Tribe and recorded vocals for their album Suave Suave.[16] She was also invited by Coca-Cola to record a cover of the song "Descobridor dos Sete Mares" by Tim Maia for a promotional campaign. The accompanying single sold one million copies in Brazil.

Due to health problems in her family, she returned to Brazil and renegotiated her deal with Atlantic Records to release the album through another label.

In 1997, Blando released Unicamente through Virgin Records, and found immediate success with the first single, "Unicamente". A follow-up single, "Gata", was released, followed by a third promotional single, "Ultima Estória". The album received a Gold certification by Pro-Musica Brasil.[17]

In 1998, Blando released her third album, Deborah Blando, which became her most successful album in Europe, receiving a Gold certification in Portugal.[18] The album spawned two singles, "Somente o Sol (I'm Not In Love)" and "Águias". Almost two years after its release, the song "Próprias Mentiras" also found commercial success due to its inclusion in the soundtrack of the Brazilian soap opera Laços de Família.[19]

Salvatrice and A Luz Que Acende o Olhar

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After the release of Deborah Blando, Blando moved to the United States to record new songs, but faced a major crisis with her record label. She returned to Brazil to release her fourth album Salvatrice, an album featuring covers of Italian songs.[20]

She also recorded the Brazilian theme from the Walt Disney movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire, "Junto Com Teu Sonho (Where the Dream Takes You)".

In 2002, Universal Music released a greatest hits collection called A Luz Que Acende o Olhar, containing five previously unreleased tracks. The title track became a success on Brazilian radio stations.

In 2003, she recorded a bilingual version of "When You Say Nothing at All" with Irish singer Ronan Keating.

Career hiatus

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In 2003, Blando was suffering from panic attacks, and was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder.[21] Even though she was going through a personal crisis, Blando recorded an electronic music album, combining house, psy-trance, and ballads with the influence of trip hop, Polares, which was originally set for release in September 2006.[22][23] The album was not released at the time, and she took a career hiatus, which lasted until 2011.[24]

Return to music and In Your Eyes

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At the end of 2011, Blando announced via her official website that she would be touring again.[24] She went on an intimate acoustic tour featuring her greatest hits as well covers of rock classics from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Prince, David Bowie, and Guns N' Roses.[25]

In 2012, she recorded two new songs for the Brazilian soap opera Guerra dos Sexos, "Anjo" and "In Your Eyes". In 2013, she released her sixth album, In Your Eyes.[26][27]

One Truth and Heart of Gold

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In 2018, Blando released a new single, "One Truth",[28] and went on a tour to promote her new record.[29] In 2019, she released an EP, Heart of Gold.

In 2019, Blando released a new song independently, "We Fly".[30] In 2020, she released another song, "I Will Never Forget You".

Polares

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In 2020, Blando released her 2007 unrealesed album Polares as a gift to her fans,[31] 14 years after it was recorded.[32] In 2023, she surprised her fans again by releasing the special edition of A Different Story on digital music platforms to celebrate its 30th anniversary.[33][34]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Album details Certifications
1991 A Different Story
1997 Unicamente
  • Release: 19 January 1997
  • Format: cassette; CD
PMB: Gold[35]
1998 Deborah Blando
  • Release: 16 April 1998
  • Format: cassette; CD
AFP: Gold[36]
2000 Salvatrice
  • 22 August 2000
  • Format: CD
2013 In Your Eyes
  • Release: March 2013
  • Format: CD
2020 Polares
  • Release: 17 July 2020
  • Digital download

Greatest hits albums

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Year Album Sales
2002 A Luz Que Acende o Olhar
  • 10 May 2002
  • CD
50,000

Singles

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Year Single Album
1991 "Boy (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" (AUS #122[37]) A Different Story
1992 "Innocence" (AUS #31[38])
"Décadence Avec Élégance"
1993 "A Maçã" A Different Story - Special Edition
"Merry-Go-Round"
1994 "O Descobridor dos 7 Mares" Coca-Cola Commercial Theme
1995 "Nanita" Suave Suave
"Que Mala Vida"
1996 "Unicamente" Unicamente
1997 "Gata"
"Última Estória"
1998 "Somente o Sol (I'm Not In Love)" Deborah Blando
"Águias"
1999 "Próprias Mentiras"
2000 "Seamisai" Salvatrice
"In Assenza di Te"
2001 "Junto com teu Sonho (Where the Dream Takes You)" Atlantis: The Lost Empire Soundtrack
2002 "A Luz Que Acende O Olhar (Cuccioli)" A Luz Que Acende O Olhar
"When You Say Nothing at All (O Amor Fala por Nós)" (feat. Ronan Keating) O Beijo do Vampiro: Internacional
2003 "Chocolate com Pimenta" Chocolate com Pimenta: Nacional
2007 "Contrato Assinado" Sete Pecados: Nacional
2008 "Every Minute" Polares
2012 "Anjo" In Your Eyes
"In Your Eyes" (feat. Antonio Eudi)

Soundtrack

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Ano Song Album
1991 "Boy (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" Vamp
Coca-Cola Commercial Theme
1992 "Innocence" Perigosas Peruas
"Décadence Avec Élégance" Deus Nos Acuda
1993 "A Maçã" O Mapa da Mina
"Merry-Go-Round" Olho no Olho
1994 "O Descobridor dos Sete Mares" Coca-Cola Commercial Theme
1997 "Unicamente" A Indomada
"Gata" Malhação
1998 "Somente o Sol (I'm Not In Love)" Corpo Dourado
2000 "Próprias Mentiras" Laços de Família
2001 "Junto com teu Sonho (Where the Dream Takes You)" Atlantis: O Reino Perdido
"Seamisai" Roda da Vida
Xuxa Popstar
2002 "A Luz que Acende O Olhar" O Beijo do Vampiro
"When You Say Nothing at All (O Amor Fala por Nós)" (feat. Ronan Keating)
"O Vôo da Kira" Xuxa e os Duendes 2: No Caminho das Fadas
"Quando A Gente Ama É Pra Valer" (feat. Thiago Fragoso)
2003 "Chocolate com Pimenta" Chocolate com Pimenta
2007 "Contrato Assinado" Sete Pecados
"Every Minute"
2012 "Anjo" Gerra dos Sexos
2013 "In Your Eyes" (feat. Antonio Eudi)
2018 "One Truth" O Tempo Não Para
2019 "Boy (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" Verão 90

Tours

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  • A Different Story (1992)
  • M200 Summer Concerts (1994)
  • Unicamente Tour (1997)
  • Self-titled Album "Deborah Blando" Tour (1998)
  • A Luz Que Acende O Olhar (2002)
  • Acústico Deborah Blando (2011)
  • Remember Tour (2012)

References

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  1. ^ Entretenimento, Portal Uai (2013-05-24). "Deborah Blando dá a volta por cima com o disco 'In your eyes'". Portal Uai Entretenimento (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  2. ^ Monforte, Clara (2016-02-27). "chr34Não entro em um palco se não for para cantar com almachr34, diz Deborah Blando". Jornal da Orla (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  3. ^ Martinez, Baárbara (2019-02-28). "Especializada em trilhas sonoras, Deborah Blando destaca o poder da canção em 'Verão 90'". Revista CARAS (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  4. ^ a b c d "BHFM - Artista - Deborah Blando". 2013-12-21. Archived from the original on 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2023-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ GORDILHO, Postado por MARIO. "Deborah Blando" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  6. ^ a b "Deborah Blando Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  7. ^ "Cantora Déborah Blando fala sobre depressão, vícios e sua retomada da carreira | ND Mais". ndmais.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  8. ^ "oswaldo montenegro feat. deborah blando - os menestréis playlistidplmhnnabfef9fpd-x81wexmo7pi3rrjprr". 2016-03-13. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2023-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ a b "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  10. ^ "Brazilian Dance Musicians: Deborah Blando, Altar, Olga …". Goodreads. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  11. ^ Flick, Larry (August 19, 1995). "Blando's Success In Germany A Twist Of Fate". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  12. ^ "australian-charts.com > Deborah Blando – Innocence (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  13. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music. Virgin. ISBN 978-0-7535-0252-5.
  14. ^ Flick, Larry (1995-08-19). "Blando's Success In Germany A Twist Of Fate". Billboard. p. 22.
  15. ^ "Audio Track". Billboard. 1996-09-28. p. 51.
  16. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 40. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
  17. ^ John Lanert e Enor Paiano (8 November 1997). EMI-ODEON Brasil. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  18. ^ "Deborah Blando: Site da cantora de 2006 (Biografia)". Site Oficial Deborah Blando (2006). 2006. Archived from the original on 21 June 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Laços de Família - Trilha sonora". memoriaglobo.globo.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  20. ^ Silvia Ruiz (2001-03-26). "Deborah Blando volta às suas origens e grava CD em italiano". ISTOÉ Gente Online. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  21. ^ "Sucesso nos 90, Deborah Blando volta a cantar depois de problemas de saúde". Correio. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Débora Blando em Santa Catarina". Caras. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Deborah Blando lança Polares, álbum gravado há 14 anos". Portal Universo Artístico (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-07-16. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  24. ^ a b "Deborah Blando conta como se salvou da depressão e das drogas". Rádio Caçula - Notícias de Três Lagoas e região - MS (in Brazilian Portuguese). 24 February 2013. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  25. ^ Eliane Santos (2011-06-25). "Sucesso nos 90, Deborah Blando volta a cantar depois de problemas de saúde". EGO. Archived from the original on 2011-09-02. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  26. ^ "Na trilha de novela, Deborah Blando conta como superou a depressão". Globo Online. 2012-12-06. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  27. ^ Fernanda Oliveira (2013-01-17). "Deborah Blando retoma carreira musical com show em Florianópolis no sábado". Diário Catarinense. Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  28. ^ Bonini, Marina (26 August 2022). "Deborah Blando relembra pausa de sete anos na carreira: "Fui me descobrir como ser humano"".
  29. ^ "Deborah Blando participa ao vivo do Estadão + Música desta quarta-feira". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  30. ^ OFuxico (26 November 2019). "Deborah Blando lança música de recomeço. Confira We Fly!". www.ofuxico.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  31. ^ Polares: Deluxe Edition, retrieved 2020-07-17
  32. ^ "Deborah Blando lança Polares, álbum gravado há 14 anos". Portal Universo Artístico (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-07-16. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  33. ^ "Deborah Blando". m.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  34. ^ A Different Story (Special Edition), 1993-01-01, retrieved 2023-12-28
  35. ^ "PMB Certificações de Deborah Blando". PMB. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  36. ^ "Biografia e venda do álbum Unicamente, de Deborah Blando". Deborahblando.com.br. Archived from the original on 2004-12-04. Retrieved 18 December 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  37. ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing July 27, 1992". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  38. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 33.
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