Dalida

Early life

Yolanda Cristina Gigliotti was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. Her family immigrated from Serrastretta, Calabria, Italy and settled in Shoubra of Cairo where Dalida was born. Dalida's father, Pietro Gigliotti (1904-1945), was first violinist (primo violino) at the Cairo Opera House, Dalida′s mother Giuseppina (née Rose 1906-1971) was a seamstress.

She was the middle child between two brothers, Orlando and Bruno (who would later in Dalida's career change his name to Orlando like his brother and become her manager in the 1966). Dalida's early life was spent in the district of Shoubra, where she attended the Scuola Tecnica Commerciale Maria Ausiliatrice, an Italian Catholic school.

In 1950, Dalida participated in the Miss Ondine beauty pageant and won the title, and shortly after began working as a model for Donna, a Cairo-based fashion house. In 1954, at the age of 20, Dalida competed in and won the Miss Egypt pageant, and was crowned Miss Egypt. It was then that she was spotted by French director Marc de Gastyne and, much to the reluctance of her parents, she moved to Paris on Christmas Eve of the same year with the intention of pursuing a career in motion pictures. It was about this time she adopted a Middle-Eastern name of Dalila, which was soon changed to the more familiar Dalida.

Dalida collected 19 #1 hit singles to her name in four languages (French, Italian, German, and Arabic) and has a long list of top 10, and top 20 hits in French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Arabic, and accumulated myriad top selling singles and albums largely in France, Europe, Russia, whole Arab World with Egypt mainly, Eastern and Southeastern Asia, Canada and the rest of Francophone world spanning around thirty years.

Dalida's mother tongue was Italian. She learned Egyptian Arabic and French growing up in Cairo, and improved her French after establishing herself in Paris in 1954. She later added English, plus conversational-level German and Spanish. When she became a pop and music icon in Japan, she also acquired enough basic Japanese to greet her fans in their own language. Her concerts there were met with almost unprecedented enthusiasm and once during a concert in Japan, Dalida felt ill and could not continue performing: the organisers expected an enraged reaction due to the cancellation of the concert, but when she came onstage and explained to her fans that she could not perform, she was met with great applause and her name echoed everywhere. She promised to hold the concert again, which she soon fulfilled.

1956–1975

Dalida's singing career started in Egypt, when she was discovered by Cherif Kamel, host of the "Hit Parade" at the Gezira Sporting Club during the early 1950s. Dalida's quest for a career in French cinema proved to be of limited success. Instead, she began taking singing lessons, and was booked as a cabaret act on the Champs-Élysées, which proved successful. Performing the song "Étrangère au Paradis" in a variety show at Bruno Coquatrix’ recently opened Olympia theatre, Dalida was introduced to Lucien Morisse and Eddie Barclay, who played a considerable part in launching the starlet's career. Morisse was artistic producer of the popular Radio Europe 1, and Barclay an established record producer. After signing a recording contract with Barclay, Dalida's debut single "Madona" was promoted heavily by Morisse, and was a moderate success. However, the release of "Bambino" in 1956 would prove to be even more triumphant – it 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 17 September 1957. The song "Bambino" echoed everywhere in France and was a success even beyond the French frontiers. In the same year, she would also support Charles Aznavour at the Olympia.

The follow-up single to "Bambino", the exotic-sounding and mesmerizing "Gondolier", was released in the Christmas on 1957, was also a great success, as were other early releases such as "Come prima" ("Tu Me Donnes"), "Ciao ciao bambina", and a cover of The Drifters’ "Save the Last Dance for Me", "Garde-Moi la Dernière Danse". These classical songs mark the first phase of Dalida's album and maintain their charm even today.

Dalida toured extensively from 1958 through the early 1960s, playing dates in France, Egypt, Italy, and the United States. Her tours of Egypt and Italy spread her fame outside France and Dalida soon became well known throughout Europe. However, she waited too long before entering America's music scene, and though great names of the American music industry wanted to introduce her to the United States, she refused.

In 1961, Dalida performed a month of shows at the Olympia in Paris, with each selling out completely. Shortly afterwards Dalida embarked upon a tour of Hong Kong and Vietnam. Throughout the 1960s Dalida would frequently perform sell-out shows at the Olympia, and international dates became more frequent. In December 1968, she was awarded the Médaille de la Présidence de la République by General Charles de Gaulle, the only person from the music industry to have received this medal.

The early 1970s became a transitional period for the singer, highlighted by some of her most successful singles. After gaining a keen interest in academia in the mid-1960s she chose to sing songs with more profound lyrics. She tried to probe into her inner-self and declared that she would sing only those songs which have a meaning for her. Bruno Coquatrix was dubious about Dalida's career evolution, and was hesitant to book her for a series of performances in 1971. Dalida hired the hall herself, and her show was met with an impressive public response. In 1973, a French version of the Italian song "Parole Parole", originally performed by Mina, was recorded by Dalida and her friend Alain Delon. The song became a major hit and was the number one single in France and Japan. It was played consistently on French radio, at the request of listeners. The 1974 follow-up, "Gigi L'amoroso" and B-side "Il venait d'avoir 18 ans", reached number one in nine countries and sold three and a half million copies in Europe. Touring would follow this period of unprecedented sales. In February 1975, French music critics presented the singer with the prestigious Prix de l'Académie du Disque Français.

1976–1987

In 1976, Dalida re-recorded what is widely regarded as the first French disco single, "J'attendrai". Around the same time, the popularity of the variety show in France was soaring, and Dalida made many television appearances in France and across Europe during this period. In 1976, she recorded "Salma Ya Salama", based on a traditional Egyptian folk song which, due to its success, was translated from Arabic into French, Italian, and German. It was amongst the first Ethnic fusion hits in the world. Part of the lyrics are based on an old Egyptian folk song about homesickness and celebrating the Egyptian nation. As was the Hebrew song "Hene Ma Tov" sung word-perfect.

She played outside France, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, where she appeared in November 1978. This performance marked her American début. In a The New York Times review of the Carnegie Hall concert, Dalida's performance was noted for its intimacy and intensity after she began to converse midway through it, revealing her personality.

In 1980 she released "Rio do Brasil", and in 1981 held her last concert at The Olympia in Paris, emulating her successful 1980 tour. Several dates were played, although the following year The Olympia went bankrupt. On the night of her inagural performance there she became the first singer to be awarded with a diamond disc, in recognition of her record sales which, at that point in her career, had exceeded 86 million. She was therefore much ahead of American singer Madonna since she was the first person to receive this success, thus paving the way for women to deliver powerful performances. Dalida spent much of 1982 and 1984 on tour, releasing the album Les P'tits Mots in 1983, which featured hit singles "Lucas" and "Mourir Sur Scène". The album Dali was released in 1984, and was accompanied by the release of several singles, including "Soleil", "Pour te dire je t'aime", a cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You", and "Kalimba de Luna", originally recorded by Tony Esposito. All three achieved moderate chart success, and her next 1986 album, Le visage de l'amour, would become her last album of completely new recordings (except for its final song, "Mourir sur scène").

Other hit performances of Dalida include "The Lambeth Walk"; both in English and in French. The song "Je suis malade", written by Serge Lama and made into a success by Dalida, reflects the singer's personal torments and unhappiness. The emotions with which she sang the song is unmatched even today. At the peak of her success, an obsessed fan tried to kidnap her in Canada by using a hammer but did not succeed.

Undaunted, she continued to deliver hit records such as "Laissez-moi danser", "Besame Mucho", "A ma manière", a cover version of Édith Piaf's "La vie en rose", "Born to sing"/"Mourir sur scène", and others.

On 1984 Dalida underwent two major eye operations in 1985, and she put her career on hiatus as the stage lights started to trouble her. In 1986, she would play the role of a young grandmother in the Youssef Chahine film Le Sixième Jour, for which she received favourable critical response. Her last live performance took place in Antalya, Turkey, in 1987.

Personal life

While Dalida was professionally very successful, her private life was marred by a series of failed relationships and personal problems.

In January 1967, she took part in the Sanremo Festival with her new lover, Italian singer, songwriter, and actor Luigi Tenco. The song he presented was "Ciao amore ciao" ("Bye Love, Bye"), which he sang together with Dalida. But stressed, Tenco failed despite Dalida's performance. Tenco committed suicide on 27 January 1967, after learning that his song had been eliminated from the final competition. Tenco was found by Dalida in his hotel room with a bullet wound in his left temple and a note announcing that his gesture was against the jury and public's choices during the competition. Prior to Tenco's suicide, Dalida and he had become engaged. One month later, Dalida attempted to commit suicide by drug overdose at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Paris. She spent five days in a coma and several months convalescing. Dalida returned to the stage the following October.

In December 1967, just after her first suicide attempt, she became pregnant by a 22-year-old Italian student, Lucio. Her decision to have an abortion left her infertile.

In September 1970, her former husband (1956-1961) Lucien Morisse, with whom she was on good terms, committed suicide, shooting himself in the head.

In April 1975, her close friend singer Mike Brant leapt to his death from an apartment in Paris. He was 28. Dalida had contributed to his success in France when he opened for her in 1971 at l'Olympia.

In July 1983, her lover from 1972 to 1981, Richard Chanfray, committed suicide by inhaling the exhaust gas of his Renault 25 car.

Death

On the night of 2 May to 3, 1987, Dalida committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates. She left behind a note which read, "La vie m'est insupportable... Pardonnez-moi." ("Life is unbearable for me... Forgive me.")

Dalida is buried at the Montmartre Cemetery, 18th Division, Chemin des Gardes.

Legacy

Since her death, Dalida has become a cult figure to a new generation of fans. In 1988, the Encyclopædia Universalis commissioned a poll, which was published in the French newspaper Le Monde, which aimed to reveal the personalities who had the greatest impact on French society. Dalida polled second, behind Général de Gaulle.

She is also a gay icon in France.

In 1997, the corner of the rue Girardon and rue de l'Abreuvoir in Montmartre, Paris, was inaugurated as Place Dalida and a large bust in her memory was erected. In 1999, a 3-CD box-set compiling her greatest hits was released. In 2000, Dalida's longtime friend Charles Aznavour recorded the hit "De la scène à la Seine", a joyful song of her life in France, and in 2002, the French government honoured her memory with a postage stamp done in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of her death. In the same year, Universal Music Group released her early album releases in special-edition packaging, with all of the tracks digitally remastered. Her output has also been the subject of various remix albums. Since her death, many of Dalida's hits have been remixed to modern techno and dance beats, topping the charts in various countries to this day.

From 11 May to September 2007, the Paris City Hall commemorated the 20th anniversary of Dalida's death with an exhibition of her outfits and previously unreleased photographs.

Stage and film adaptations of Dalida's life

In 1999 the play Solitudini – Luigi Tenco e Dalida, written and directed by Maurizio Valtieri, was performed in Rome.

In 2005, her life was documented in the two-part TV film Dalida, in the role of Dalida was Sabrina Ferilli.

In 2017, Lisa Azuelos, daughter of famous French singer, Marie Laforêt, directed the film Dalida, starring Riccardo Scamarcio, Vincent Perez, Niels Schneider, Jean-Paul Rouve, Patrick Timsit and Sveva Alviti who portrayed Dalida.

Discography

Filmography

This is a chronologically ordered list of films in which Dalida appeared.

Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic.

Commander of the Order of the Crown of Belgium.

Companion of the Order of Canada.

Commander of the Order of the Nile of Egypt.

Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Bronze medal of the National defense of the French Republic.

Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the French Republic.

Honours

Posthumous tributes

Polls

Honorific eponyms

Art (selection)

Dalida in contemporary music

Music from motion pictures and TV

The following Dalida songs have appeared in the formentioned motion pictures or TV series.

Theatrical productions

Several theatrical productions have been made about Dalida's life. In 1999, "Solitudini – Luigi Tenco e Dalida", written and directed by Maurizio Valtieri, was performed in Rome. "Dalida: Une Vie", directed by René Simard and under the authorisation of Orlando Productions, was performed from October 2003 to June 2006, in Quebec, Canada, and was shown in Beirut, Lebanon in May 2004. In 2005, the play "Dalida, à quoi bon vivre au mois de mai ?", written by Joseph Agostini and Caroline Sourrisseau, was performed at the Ateliers Théâtre in Montmartre.

Biographies