biography
By 2004, roughly a decade after she made her recording debut at the age of 18, Laura Pausini had sold over 25 million albums worldwide, quite an impressive feat for someone who'd never really broken into the lucrative English-language market. The Italian singer (born May 16, 1974) began her career at a young age, making her live debut at only age 12. Her singing didn't really take off until 1993, however, when she made her self-titled debut and scored a big hit with "La Solitudine." A year later -- in a practice that would come to define her career and compound her success -- she released a Spanish version of her debut, including a version of her breakthrough hit, titled accordingly as "Lo Soledad." Further albums followed for Pausini -- Laura (1995), Le Cose Che Vivi/Las Cosas Que Vives (1996), La Mia Risposta/Mi Respuesta (1998), Tra Te e il Mare/Entre Tu y Mil Mares (2000) -- each of them finding mass success in their respective markets. During these formative years, Pausini enjoyed her fame, for instance singing for Pope John Paul II at a special Vatican Christmas mass as well as at Barbra Streisand's birthday party in 1998, and embarking on sold-out world tours.
She capped off this run of success with a round of greatest-hits collections -- The Best of Laura Pausini/Lo Mejor de Laura Pausini (2001) -- and, in turn, with what was planned to be her English-language crossover album, From the Inside (2002). There was a lot riding on From the Inside, it should noted, and so when it met a mixed reception and essentially struck out with consumers, a lot was made of its failure to penetrate the English-language market. She understandably took some time off after her world tour and didn't return until late 2004, with Resta in Ascolto/Escucha. Released a long four years since her last proper Romance-language studio album, this one had a lot riding on it as well, suffice it to say, considering not only the long wait but also the disappointment of From the Inside. So it was a relief when Resta in Ascolto/Escucha returned her to the top of the charts, particularly thanks to the power ballad "VĂveme." In fact, Warner Music Latina reissued the album in America in late 2005 to capitalize on its Latin Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Album, adding a bonus DVD disc. Shortly after winning that Grammy Award, Warner released a triumphant live CD/DVD, Live in Paris 05, to capitalize on the momentum. The label then gave Pausini free reign to record an album of covers, Io Canto/Yo Canto (2006), consisting of Italian pop/rock songs mainly from the '90s that had greatly influenced her.
Year | Title | Label | Editors' Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Laura Pausini [Italian] Laura Pausini [Italian] | WEA International WEA International | ||
1994 | Laura Laura | WEA Latina / WEA International WEA Latina / WEA Int… | ||
1994 | Laura Pausini [Spanish] Laura Pausini [Spanish] | WEA Latina / WEA International WEA Latina / WEA Int… | ||
1995 | Laura Pausini [Eastwest] Laura Pausini [Eastwest] | Eastwest Eastwest | ||
1995 | Laura Pausini [English] Laura Pausini [English] | Alex / CGD / Eastwest Italy Alex / CGD / Eastwes… | ||
1996 | Le Cose Che Vivi Le Cose Che Vivi | WEA Latina WEA Latina | ||
1998 | Mi Respuesta Mi Respuesta | WEA International WEA International | ||
1998 | La Mia Risposta La Mia Risposta | WEA International WEA International | ||
2000 | Entre Tu y Mil Mares Entre Tu y Mil Mares | WEA Latina / WEA International WEA Latina / WEA Int… | ||
2002 | From the Inside From the Inside | Atlantic Atlantic | ||
2004 | Escucha Escucha | WEA International WEA International | ||
2005 | Resta in Ascolto Remixes Resta in Ascolto Remixes | Warner Music Warner Music | ||
2005 | Live in Paris 05 Live in Paris 05 | WEA International/Atlantic WEA International/At… | ||
2006 | Musical Bases Musical Bases | Edel Records Edel Records | ||
2006 | Io Canto Io Canto | Warner Music Warner Music | ||
2007 | San Siro 2007 San Siro 2007 | CGD / Warner Music CGD / Warner Music | ||
2007 | Live in San Siro Live in San Siro | Warner Music Warner Music | ||
2008 | Primavera Anticipada Primavera Anticipada | Warner Music Warner Music | ||
2008 | Primavera in Anticipo Primavera in Anticipo | CGD CGD | ||
2011 | Inedito Inedito | Warner Bros. / Warner Italia / Warner Music Latina Warner Bros. / Warne… | ||
Inedito/Inedito Inedito/Inedito | ||||
The Music of Laura Pausini The Music of Laura Pausini | Promo Sound Promo Sound | |||
Tra Te E il Mare Tra Te E il Mare | Rhino Rhino |