Tiziano Ferro (Italian pronunciation: [titˈtsjaːno ˈfɛrro]; born 21 February 1980)[1] is an Italian singer, songwriter, producer, and author.[2] He broke through in 2001 with his international hit single "Perdono" and has remained commercially successful since then, in several countries. Ferro has released a Spanish version of each of his albums and has also sung in English, Portuguese, and French. Known as the modern face of Italian pop music, he frequently writes songs for other artists and has produced albums for Giusy Ferreri, Alessandra Amoroso and Baby K.
Tiziano Ferro | |
|---|---|
 Ferro in 2015 | |
| Born | 21 February 1980[1] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | Victor Allen (m. 2019) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Website | www |
Aside from his success as an artist, Ferro is well known for his personal struggles. Having been overweight as a teenager, he has been outspoken about his battles with food addiction and eating disorders. In October 2010, at the height of his fame, Ferro came out as gay, having himself struggled with depression related to self-acceptance about his homosexuality.
Ferro is currently one of the best-selling artists in Italy. Both his third album Nessuno è solo and fourth album Alla mia età were certified diamond by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Despite his fears, his coming out did not negatively affect his career, as his fifth album L'amore è una cosa semplice was the best-selling album of 2012 in Italy, and his first greatest hits album was supported by a stadium tour. As of 2023, Ferro has sold over 20 million records worldwide.[3]
Biography
Childhood and early beginnings
Ferro's interest in music was born when he received a toy keyboard as a present, which was used to compose his first songs when he was seven.[4] He later started taking guitar and piano classes at a local conservatory of music. When he was 16 years old, he joined a gospel choir[1] and during the same years, he started performing in piano bars and karaoke contests.[5]
In 1997, Ferro participated in the "Accademia della Canzone di Sanremo", a music contest created with the purpose to choose the contestants for the Sanremo Music Festival, but was eliminated during the first stage of the competition. The following year, Ferro participated again in the same contest, and despite being chosen as one of the 12 finalists, he did not make it to win the competition.[4] However, during the selections, Ferro met music producers Alberto Salerno and Mara Maionchi, and started to collaborate with them.[4][5]
In 1999 Ferro also toured throughout Italy as a back vocalist with the Italian hip hop band Sottotono.[6][7]
Career breakthrough
In 2001, Ferro signed a contract with EMI Music Italy. On 22 June 2001, he released his first single, "Xdono".[8][9] During the first months after the release, the song received a poor reception, but it later became a hit and, after topping the Italian Singles Chart in September 2001,[10] it was certified double platinum by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry for sales exceeding 100,000 copies.[11]
The song was included in Ferro's debut album, Rosso Relativo, released on 26 October 2001.[12][13] Following the commercial success obtained in Italy, in 2002 the album was released in several European countries. A Spanish-language version of the record, titled Rojo Relativo, was also released in Spain and Latin America.[14] Rosso Relativo obtained success in different markets throughout its various editions and had sold more than 1,000,000 copies worldwide by 2004, according to EMI Music.[15] The album also allowed Ferro to receive a nomination for Best New Artist at the Latin Grammy Awards of 2003.[16]
Second studio album, 111
In November 2003, Ferro released his second studio album, 111, recorded both in Italian and Spanish, produced by Alberto Salerno, Mara Maionchi and Michele Canova.[17] The album was preceded by the release of "Xverso" / "Perverso",[18] and also spawned the singles "Sere nere" / "Tardes negras",[19] "Non me lo so spiegare" / "No me lo puedo explicar"[20] and "Ti voglio bene" / "Desde mañana no lo sé".[21] 111 has sold more than 1,000,000 copies worldwide,[22] topping the Mexican Albums Chart[23] and being certified four times platinum in Italy[5] for domestic sales exceeding 450,000 copies.[20] Following the success of the album Ferro won Best Italian Artist at the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards in Rome.[24]
In July 2004, Ferro also released in Europe his first English-language single, "Universal Prayer", a duet with British R&B singer Jamelia recorded to promote the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.[25]
Ferro lived in Mexico during these years, first in Cuernavaca and later in Puebla. He studied Spanish[26] there at a university, eventually graduating in August 2005, before relocating to Manchester.[27]
Nessuno è solo / Nadie está solo, the third studio album
Ferro's third studio album, Nessuno è solo / Nadie está solo, was released in June 2006,[28] following the lead single "Stop! Dimentica", which became a number-one hit in Italy and Austria.[29] The album, described by music critics as more intimate and melancholic,[30] obtained in Italy a success even bigger than his previous ones, reaching diamond certification by FIMI for its domestic sales.[31][32] The third single from the album, "Ti scatterò una foto", was included in the soundtrack of the movie Ho voglia di te, directed by Luis Prieto and based on the book with the same title by Federico Moccia.[33] Nessuno è solo also features a duet with Italian pop singer-songwriter Biagio Antonacci,[34] while the Spanish-language version of the album includes "Mi credo", a song recorded with Pepe Aguilar.[35]
Alla mia età / A mi edad
In June 2008 Ferro co-wrote with Roberto Casalino the single "Non ti scordar mai di me" for X Factor Italy's first edition's runner-up Giusy Ferreri.[36] The song became a huge success in Italy, topping the Italian Singles Chart for 12 non-consecutive weeks.[37] Ferro also produced Giusy Ferreri's debut album, Gaetana, containing 6 songs penned by him,[38] including "L'amore e basta!", a duet between Ferro and Ferreri.[39]
On 7 November 2008 Ferro released his fourth studio album, Alla mia età / A mi edad, preceded by the single with the same title.[40] Alla mia età debuted at number one on the Italian Albums Chart[41] and became the best-selling album of 2009 in Italy,[42] also achieving Ferro's second diamond certification.[43] The album contains a duet with singer-songwriter Franco Battiato, and "Breathe Gentle", the English version of third single "Indietro", features Kelly Rowland. Other collaborators to the project included Italian songstress Laura Pausini, Anahí and Dulce María of Mexican pop group RBD and Amaia Montero.
In November 2009, Ferro released his first video album, Alla mia età – Live in Rome, recorded during his concerts at the Stadio Olimpico on 24 and 25 June 2009.[44] A few months later, Ferro was chosen to write and record the Italian version of Mary J. Blige's single "Each Tear", included in her album Stronger with Each Tear[45] The song reached the top spot on the Italian Singles Chart.[46]
L'amore è una cosa semplice / El amor es una cosa simple
In October 2011 Ferro released "La differenza tra me e te",[47] the lead single from his fifth studio album L'amore è una cosa semplice (titled El amor es una cosa simple in Spanish). The album was released on 28 November 2011[48] and spent five weeks on top of the Italian Albums Chart.[49] All seven singles were certified gold or higher in the country. The album itself was certified eight times platinum and became the best-selling album of 2012.[50]
During the spring and summer of 2012, Ferro embarked on a largely domestic concert tour, with additional stops in Switzerland, Belgium and Monaco.[51] The tour's highlight was Ferro's first full stadium concert at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. This sold-out concert was attended by 50,000 fans.[52]
In 2012, Ferro wrote the song "Per Te",[53] sung by Andrea Bocelli and contained in the album of the world-famous jazz player Chris Botti, which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.[54]
In 2013 Ferro opted to focus on collaborating with other artists. Italian female hip hop artist Baby K released her debut album Una seria in March, which was produced by Ferro together with Michele Canova.[55] Ferro featured on first single "Killer", which peaked at No. 10 on the Italian Singles Chart and was certified platinum.[56] He also featured on the album's third single, "Sei sola".[57] In September Alessandra Amoroso released Amore puro, another album produced by Ferro and Canova. This album achieved a double platinum certification. Four of its five singles were written by Ferro.[58]
TZN - The Best of Tiziano Ferro
Ferro released his first greatest hits album TZN - The Best of Tiziano Ferro in November 2014.[59] Both the lead single "Senza scappare mai più" and the second single "Incanto" reached the top five in Italy and were certified platinum. The album itself spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one, the last of which came after his acclaimed guest performance at the Sanremo Music Festival.[60] It was eventually certified seven times platinum and spent almost a year in the top ten on the Italian album chart.[61] In Spain, it was Ferro's first top ten album in more than ten years.[62]
In the summer of 2015 Ferro toured the main Italian stadiums, including two concerts at the San Siro stadium in Milan and two at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.[63] The Milan concerts were recorded and added to a new CD/DVD edition of TZN - The Best of Tiziano Ferro, that was released in November 2015. That same month Ferro started a European arena tour to continue promoting the greatest hits compilation.[64]
Il mestiere della vita
Ferro announced the release date of his sixth studio album a year in advance, at the last concert of his European arena tour. He told the crowd that it would be released on 2 December 2016.[65] In June the album's title was revealed to be Il mestiere della vita.[66] The album's lead single "Potremmo ritornare" was released in October and debuted on top of the Italian Singles Chart. It was his first number-one hit as lead artist since 2008's "Alla mia età".[67]
Among the collaborators include Baby K, Raige, Emanuele Dabbono, Tormento and Carmen Consoli, the latter collaboration Ferro and Consoli sang together in the second single "Il conforto", extracted on 13 January 2017. The song reached the 4th position in the Italian Singles Chart.[68]
Composed of 13 tracks, the album features pop, rap and R&B sounds, with themes ranging from forgiveness to fear and anger.[69]
From June to July 2017 the tour "Il mestiere della vita Tour 2017" was held, consisting of thirteen dates in Italian stadiums.[70] In April 2018 the singer-songwriter won an Onstage Award for the best Italian tour.[71]
In 2018, Ferro collaborated with Ed Sheeran and his brother Matthew on the composition of "Amo solo te"[72]("This Is the Only Time" in the English version). Ferro wrote the lyrics of the song, interpreted by Andrea Bocelli and Ed Sheeran and included in the album Sì.[73]
Accetto miracoli
Accetto miracoli was released in November 2019. The album, certified Double Platinum in Italy,[74] was also released in Spanish language, as Acepto milagros, one week after the Italian release.
Produced by the guru of American R&B sound Timbaland (9 of 12 tracks) and anticipated by two singles, "Buona (Cattiva) Sorte" and the title track "Accept Miracles", it is an album that its author has defined: "fresh, honest, energetic, the result of the need to deliver myself to new experiences".[75][76][77]
Accetto Miracoli contains 12 tracks: "Vai ad Amarti", "Amici per errore", "Balla per Me" (a duet with Jovanotti), "In mezzo a questo inverno", "Come farebbe un uomo", "Seconda pelle", "Il destino di chi visse per amare", "Le 3 parole sono 2", "Casa a Natale", "Un Uomo Pop", "Buona (Cattiva) Sorte" and "Accetto Miracoli". Only in digital formats, there are 2 additional bonus tracks, "Accetto Miracoli" and "In mezzo a questo inverno", arranged by the producer Julio Reyes Copello.
In the Spanish version of the album, the tracklist includes a duet on the title track with Ana Guerra. The single went to number 1 on the digital charts in Spain, France, and Benelux.[citation needed]
An Italian tour for Accetto miracoli was originally scheduled for 2020, but was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, and later canceled.[78]
In 2021, Ferro was made part of the voting committee of the American Recording Academy, the organization which bestows Grammy Awards. He is only the second Italian to join the board, after composer and conductor Gabriele Ciampi.[79]
Il mondo è nostro
Ferro's newest album, Il mondo è nostro, was released on 11 November 2022, with an Italian stadium tour set for summer 2023.[80][81] Ferro released the first single, "La vita splendida", in September 2022.[82] On 30 September 2022, a collaboration between Ferro and Italian rapper Thasup, titled "r()t()onda", was released on Thasup's second studio album c@ra++ere s?ec!@le ("Carattere speciale"), later appearing on Il mondo è nostro.[83][84] Ferro's album also includes duets with Sting ("For Her Love"), Roberto Vecchioni ("I miti"), Caparezza ("L'angelo degli altri e di se stesso") and Ambra Angiolini ("Ambra/Tiziano").[85] Il mondo è nostro debuted at #1 on the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI) Top 100 Albums chart.[86] Ferro subsequently released multiple post-album singles in 2023: "Destinazione Mare";[87][88] a new version of "Vamos a bailar" with Paola and Chiara;[89] and "Abbiamo vinto già" with J-Ax.[90] Alessandro Alicandri of TV Sorrisi e Canzoni called the TZN Tour 2023 Ferro's best tour to date.[91]
La felicità al principio
Ferro's first novel, La felicità al principio (Happiness at the Beginning) was published in Italy on 3 October 2023 by Mondadori.[92][93][94] It tells the story of Angelo Galassi, a former Italian pop star living in obscurity in New York, who must face his personal issues and pull himself together for the sake of his newly-discovered young daughter.[95] In September 2023, Ferro canceled the Italian promotional tour for the novel, explaining that his pending divorce prevented him from leaving his home in Los Angeles with his children.[96][97][98]
Personal life
In 2006, Ferro appeared on the Italian TV show Che Tempo fai and joked that Mexican women "all had mustaches", which invited backlash from Mexican fans and negatively impacted subsequent album sales there.[99][100]
Ferro was diagnosed with depression in 2008 and started taking antidepressants. In late 2009, he came close to taking his own life, going as far as to write a suicide note.[101] In early 2010 his desperation led him to break down and came out to his father, an event that inspired the title of his first book, Trent'anni e una chiacchierata con papà (Thirty years old and a chat with dad). This book, published in October 2010, is based on his personal diaries, dutifully kept since his teenage years.[102] Its release was preceded by an interview with Vanity Fair in which he came out as gay.[103] The following year Ferro moved back to Italy to live closer to his friends and family.[104] Ferro released a second autobiographical book, L'amore è una cosa semplice (Love is a simple thing), in February 2013.[105][106]
In 2019, Ferro announced his marriage to former Warner Bros. consultant Victor Allen. The two were married in Sabaudia, a comune of the Latina province in Latium. In a statement made to Corriere della Sera, Ferro confirmed that he considers himself both "gay and Catholic".[107] On 28 February 2022, Ferro announced that he and Allen had become fathers to two children, a girl and a boy.[108][109] In 2022, Ferro told Rolling Stone Italia that he would not apply for Italian passports for his children, who are also American citizens, because Italian law does not acknowledge Allen and deprives them of their right to have two parents responsible for their welfare.[110][111][112] On 19 September 2023, Ferro announced his separation and pending divorce from Allen.[96][113][114][115] Their divorce was finalized in March 2024.[116]
Discography
- Rosso Relativo (2001)
- 111 (2003)
- Nessuno è solo (2006)
- Alla mia età (2009)
- L'amore è una cosa semplice (2011)
- Il mestiere della vita (2016)
- Accetto miracoli (2019)
- Il mondo è nostro (2022)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | My Patrasche | Jan (voice) | Main role; 26 episodes |
| 2004 | Shark Tale | Oscar (voice) | Italian dub |
| 2020 | Ferro | Himself | Documentary film |
| 2021 | Drag Race Italia | Himself | Season 1, Episode 3, "Night of a Thousand Raffaella Carràs"[117][118] |
| 2023 | Amici di Maria De Filippi | Himself (guest judge/performer) | Season 22, Episode 22[119][120][121] |
| 2023 | Drag Race Italia | Himself (guest judge) | Season 3, Episode 6, "Snatch Game"[122] |
Tours
- Rosso relativo Tour 2002–2003
- 111% Tour 2004–2005
- Nessuno è solo Tour 2007
- Alla mia età Tour 2009–2010
- L'amore è una cosa semplice Tour 2012
- Lo stadio Tour 2015
- Il mestiere della vita Tour 2017
- TZN Tour 2023
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Latin Music Awards | 2005 | "Alucinado" | Latin Pop Airplay Track of the Year, New Artist | Won | [123] |
| Cadena Dial | 2004 | Himself | Premios Dial 2003 | Won | [124] |
| 2010 | "El regalo más grande" | Premios Cadena Dial 2009 | Won | ||
| 2015 | Himself | Premios Dial 2014 | Won | [125] | |
| European Border Breakers Award | 2004 | Rosso Relativo | Best Album (Italy) | Won | [126] |
| Festival di San Marino | 2002 | Rosso Relativo | Best Album | Won | [127] |
| Himself | Best Male Artist | Won | |||
| Festivalbar | 2002 | Himself | Revelation of the Year | Won | [128] |
| Grammy Award | 2012 | Impressions (album: Chris Botti), "Per te (For You)" (songwriter) | Best Pop Instrumental Album | Won | [79][54] |
| 2019 | Sì (album: Andrea Bocelli), "Amo soltanto te" (songwriter) | Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album | Nominated | [79][129] | |
| Giffoni Teen Awards | 2007 | Himself | Italian Music Figure of the Year | Won | |
| Italian Music Awards | 2002 | Himself | Best Male Artist | Nominated | [130] |
| Rosso Relativo | Best Album | Nominated | |||
| "Rosso relativo" | Best Single | Nominated | |||
| Latin Grammy Awards | 2003 | Himself | Best New Artist | Nominated | [16] |
| 2007 | Io Canto (album: Laura Pausini), "No me lo puedo explicar" (songwriter) | Best Female Pop Vocal Album | Won | [79][131] | |
| Io Canto (album: Laura Pausini), "No me lo puedo explicar" (performer, with Laura Pausini) | Won | ||||
| 2013 | Papitwo (album: Miguel Bosé), "Amiga" (performers, Miguel Bosé and Tiziano Ferro) | Best Contemporary Pop Album | Nominated | [79] | |
| Album of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Lo Nuestro Awards | 2005 | Rojo relativo | Pop New Artist of the Year | Nominated | [132] |
| Pop Album of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Los Angeles Italia Film Festival | 2018 | Himself | Italian Excellence Award | Won | [133] |
| Los Premios 40 Principales | 2009 | "El regalo más grande" with Amaia Montero | Best International Song | Nominated | |
| Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica | 2004 | Himself | Best Solo Artist | Nominated | [134] |
| 2005 | Himself | Best Male Artist | Nominated | [135] | |
| 2006 | Himself | Best Solo Artist | Nominated | [136] | |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | 2004 | Himself | Best Italian Act | Won | [24] |
| 2006 | Himself | Best Italian Act | Nominated | [137] | |
| 2009 | Himself | Best Italian Act | Nominated | [138] | |
| 2015 | Himself | Best Italian Artist | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | Himself | Best Italian Artist | Nominated | ||
| MTV Italian Music Awards | 2007 | Himself | Man of the Year | Won | |
| 2008 | Himself | Man of the Year | Won | ||
| 2015 | "Senza scappare mai più" | Best Video | Won | ||
| 2017 | Himself | Best Male Artist | Nominated | ||
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (Italia) | 2006 | Himself | Best Male | Won | |
| 2007 | Himself | Best Male | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Himself | Best Male | Won | ||
| NRJ Music Awards | 2003 | Himself | International Male Artist of the Year | Nominated | [139] |
| Rosso Relativo | International Album of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Onstage Awards | 2012 | Himself | Artist of the Year 2012 | Won | |
| L'amore è una cosa semplice Tour 2012 | Best Tour 2012 | Won | |||
| 2016 | Lo stadio Tour 2015 | Best Tour | Won | ||
| Himself | Best performer | Nominated | |||
| "Lo stadio" | Best Anthem | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | Himself | Best Artist | Won | [140] | |
| Il mestiere della vita Tour 2017 | Best Tour | Won | |||
| "Lento/Veloce" | Best Anthem | Won | |||
| Premio Italiano della Musica | 2002 | Himself | Revelation of the Year | Won | [141] |
| "Xdono" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [142] | ||
| Premios Oye! | 2004 | Himself | Latin Pop Male | Won | [143][144] |
| Premio Videoclip Italiano | 2009 | "Il regalo più grande" | Best Video by a Male Artist | Won | |
| 2012 | "L'ultima notte al mondo" | Best Video by a Male Artist | Won | [145] | |
| Rokol Awards | 2013 | "Killer" with Baby K | Best Italian Video | Won | |
| 2017 | "Il mestiere della vita Tour 2017" | Best Tour | Won | ||
| Wind Music Awards | 2007 | Nessuno è solo | Best Album | Won | |
| 2009 | Alla Mia Età | Best Album | Won | ||
| 2010 | Alla Mia Età Live in Rome (DVD) | Best Album | Won | ||
| 2012 | L'amore è una cosa semplice | Multiplatinum Award | Won | ||
| 2014 | L'amore è una cosa semplice Special Edition | Multiplatinum Award | Won | ||
| 2015 | TZN - The Best of Tiziano Ferro | Multiplatinum Award | Won | ||
| 2017 | Il mestiere della vita | Multiplatinum Award | Won | ||
| World Music Awards | 2010 | Himself | Italian Best-Selling Male Artist of the Year 2009 | Won | [146][147] |
References
External links
