Jovanotti

Lorenzo Cherubini (Italian: [loˈrɛntso keruˈbiːni]; born 27 September 1966), better known as Jovanotti (Italian: [dʒovaˈnɔtti]), is an Italian singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and DJ.

Jovanotti
Jovanotti in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Lorenzo Cherubini
Also known as	Jovanotti, Gino Latino, Jeronimo
Born	(1966-09-27) 27 September 1966 (age 58)
Origin	Rome, Italy
Genres	Pop alternative hip hop funk world pop rock
Occupations	Singer songwriter rapper record producer DJ author
Instruments	Drum guitar
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Ibiza Records Free Records Independent Mercury ATO MapleMusic (Canada) Verve Universal Soleluna
Website	www.soleluna.com www.jova.tv

The name Jovanotti derives from giovanotti, the plural form of the Italian word giovanotto ("young man"). Cherubini initially chose "Joe Vanotti" as his stage name, but a promotional poster for a night club incorrectly billed him as "Jovanotti" and the name stuck. The spelling Jovanotti is anglicized; the letter J is rarely used in Italian. Jovanotti is commonly known to his fans by the diminutive form "Jova", and often refers to himself that way in promotional items and on his Web TV channel Jova.TV, which launched 2 October 2014.

Jovanotti gradually departed from his early mix of hip hop, rap and disco, taking in funk, world music and even classical arrangements and ska influences. As his musical influences changed, so did his lyrics too, which over time began to increasingly address philosophical, religious and political issues, which are more typical of the Italian cantautore tradition. His social and political commitment increased as well. Some of his earlier work is also closer to keyboard-heavy 1980s pop.

Most of his songs are sung in Italian; he also released a Spanish-language greatest hits album. His live album includes a short version of the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight". Jovanotti appears on several international compilations, most notably Red Hot + Rhapsody, a 1998 tribute to George Gershwin, on which he performed "I Got Rhythm". Jovanotti also appeared in one of Luciano Pavarotti's charity concerts in 1996.

Biography

Early life

Cherubini was born on 27 September 1966 in Rome to Tuscan parents, Mario and Viola Cardinali, but he spent part of his childhood in his parents' hometown, Cortona, in the province of Arezzo (Tuscany).^[1]

After completing his high-school studies, he started working as a disc jockey in several discothèques and radio stations in the province of Rome.^[2][3] In 1985 he moved to Milan.^[2] Two years later, during the summer of 1987, while he was playing a DJ set in Palinuro, he met the record producer and talent scout Claudio Cecchetto, who proposed they begin working together.^[4] That same year Jovanotti released his first single, "Walking," and started working as a DJ for one of the most prominent national radio stations, Radio DeeJay,^[5] which was founded by Cecchetto five years earlier.

Career

Jovanotti in 1993.

His first studio album, Jovanotti for President, was released in 1988 and became the symbol of the Italian youth of the eighties, without any interest in ideologies and politics.^[6][7] Despite receiving strongly negative criticism,^[8] the album became a big commercial success, reaching the third position on the Italian Musica e dischi Albums Chart^[9] and selling over 400,000 copies in Italy.^[10] Moreover, the album spawned five singles, including the number-one hits, "Gimme Five" (also the name of his British TV show for Janet Street Porter's DEF II youth TV block on BBC Two^[11]) and "Gimme Five (Rasta Five)" and the songs "Go Jovanotti Go" and "Mix, Remix & The singers," which entered the Italian top 5.^[12]

In 1998, Jovanotti played a brief role in the movie I Giardini dell'Eden, directed by Alessandro D'Alatri.

The song "Piove" was released for the second season of The Sopranos as an ending credits track.

His 2005 CD, Buon Sangue, was influenced by both rock and old school hip hop. It is one of his most innovative works to date. Edoardo Bennato collaborated on one track, while bass player Saturnino co-wrote two of the songs.

Jovanotti in 2016.

In 2007 he was featured at the end of Negramaro's song, "Cade la Pioggia," of their CD, La Finestra, and in 2008 he released the new album Safari.

In 2008 he performed as guest artist on the track "Lugar Comum" from the album Encanto. At the end of 2009, he collaborated with Claudio Baglioni and Fabrizio Bosso, along with 70 other artists, in the song "Con tutto il mio cuore (with All My Heart)." On 1 January 2010 the group released "Baciami Ancora (Kiss Me Again)" for the soundtrack of a film by Gabriele Muccino.

In December 2010 he achieved a number one hit on the Italian Top 20 charts with "Tutto l'amore che ho." On 25 January 2011, he released his eighteenth album Ora. Later in 2011 he played at the Bonnaroo Music Festival.

Commitment

Along with the evolution of his sound, his social and political commitment for mainstream causes has increased since the 1990s. As a convinced pacifist, he frequently worked with organizations such as Make Poverty History, Amnesty International, and he has contributed to events dedicated to debt relief (Global Call to Action Against Poverty).

Jovanotti has a friendship with Bono due to their mutual quest for the cancellation of foreign debt in poor African countries. He also collaborated with Michael Franti of Spearhead on his Capo Horn and Ora albums. Both Michael Franti and U2 misspelled his name as Giovanotti in the liner note credits.

Television

Even though Jovanotti has never had a UK chart hit under his own name, he was briefly known in the United Kingdom as the presenter of the DEF II programme Gimme 5. The show, which featured a brief introduction each week by Jovanotti, showcased youth television programmes from around the world.^{[citation needed]} Starting in 1990, he also hosted the similarly formatted Earth to MTV for U.S. cable television; this music-video showcase competed with similar programming on VH1 (New Visions: Worldbeat), Bravo (Big World Cafe), and Spanish-language Telemundo (MTV Internacional) and Univision (Tu Musica).^[13]

In 2020 he released exclusively for RaiPlay the documentary in sixteen episodes "Non voglio cambiare Pianeta" (I don't want to change Planet) which he filmed whilst travelling from Chile to Argentina on his bicycle, between January and February 2020.^[14]

Gino Latino

Jovanotti was behind one of two rival Gino Latino italo house tracks in the early 1990s. His Gino Latino single, "Welcome", reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.

Personal life

On 6 September 2008, Jovanotti married Francesca Valiani at Cortona, in the Church of Santa Maria Nuova. Their daughter Teresa was born in 1998. He dedicated the lullaby "Per te" to Teresa, one of the hits of the album Capo Horn (1999), and the song "Libera" from the album Lorenzo 2015 cc.^[15]

Discography

Main article: Jovanotti discography

Studio albums

• Jovanotti for President (1988)
• La mia moto (1989)
• Giovani Jovanotti (1990)
• Una tribù che balla (1991)
• Lorenzo 1992 (1992)
• Lorenzo 1994 (1994)
• Lorenzo 1997 - L'albero (1997)
• Lorenzo 1999 - Capo Horn (1999)
• Lorenzo 2002 - Il quinto mondo (2002)
• Buon sangue (2005)
• Safari (2008)
• Ora (2011)
• Lorenzo 2015 CC. (2015)
• Oh, Vita! (2017)
• Jova Beach Party (2019)
• Lorenzo sulla luna (2019)
• Il disco del Sole (2022)

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Parenti serpenti	Himself	Uncredited cameo
1998	The Garden of Eden	David
1998	Jolly Blu	Record label's president
2007	The Simpsons	Milo (voice)	Episode: "Husbands and Knives"

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Nomination	Work	Result
1996	MTV Video Music Awards	Best European Video[16]	"L'ombelico del mondo"	Nominated
1998	Premio Italiano della Musica	Italian Album of the Year[17]	Lorenzo 1997 - L'albero	Nominated
		Italian Song of the Year[17]	"Bella"	Nominated
		Italian Tour of the Year[17]	Lorenzo Tour 1997	Nominated
		Special Award – Radio DeeJay[18]	Himself	Won
1999	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Italian Act[19]	Himself	Nominated
2000	Premio Italiano della Musica	Song of the Year[20]	"Il mio nome è mai più" (with Ligabue & Piero Pelù)	Won
		Music Video of the Year[20]	"Il mio nome è mai più" (with Ligabue & Piero Pelù)	Won
	Lunezia Award	Best Singer-Songwriter Album[21]	Lorenzo 1999 - Capo Horn	Nominated
2001	Italian Music Awards	Best Tour[22]	Lorenzo Tour 1999	Nominated
		Best Music Video[22]	"File Not Found"	Nominated
2002	Premio Videoclip Italiano	Best Music Video of Research[23]	"Salvami"	Won
2005	Premio Videoclip Italian	Best Music Video by a Male Artist[24]	"(Tanto)³"	Won
2006	Premio Amnesty Italia	Voices for Freedom[25]	"Mani in alto"	Nominated
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Italian Act[26]	Himself	Nominated
	Premio Videoclip Italiano	Best Music Video by a Male Artist[27]	"Falla girare"	Won
2008	Mogol Award	Best Lyrics[28]	"Fango"	Won
	World Music Awards	Best-Selling Italian Artist[29]	Himself	Won
	Premio Videoclip Italiano	Special Award for the Art of Music Videos[30]	Himself	Won
	Musica e Dischi Critics' Prize	Best Italian Album[31]	Safari	Won
2009	Mogol Award	Best Lyrics[32]	"A te"	Nominated
2010	David di Donatello	Best Song[33]	"Baciami ancora" (from Baciami ancora)	Won
	Nastro d'Argento	Best Original Song[34]	"Baciami ancora" (from Baciami ancora)	Nominated
2011	TRL Awards	Superman Award[35]	Himself	Nominated
	Mogol Award	Best Lyrics[36]	"Le tasche piene di sassi"	Won
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Italian Act[37]	Himself	Nominated
	Musica e Dischi Critics' Prize	Best Italian Album – Pop & Rock[38]	Ora	Won
		Best Concert Tour	Lorenzo Live – Ora in Tour 2011–2012[38]	Won
	Rockol Awards	Best Italian Album[39]	Ora	Won
		Best Italian Single[39]	"Il più grande spettacolo dopo il Big Bang"	Nominated
		Best Italian Tour[39]	Lorenzo Live – Ora in Tour 2011–2012	Nominated
2012	TRL Awards	Superman Award[40]	Himself	Nominated
		Best Video[40]	"Il più grande spettacolo dopo il Big Bang"	Nominated
2013	MTV Italian Music Awards	TwITStar[41]	Himself	Nominated
	Medimex Awards	Artist of the Year – Special Award[42]	Himself	Won
2015	MTV Italian Music Awards	TwITStar[43]	Himself	Nominated
	Medimex Awards	Best Album[44]	Lorenzo 2015 CC.	Won
		Best Music Video[44]	"Sabato"	Won
		Best Concert Tour[44]	Lorenzo negli stadi 2015	Won
2016	Assomusica Award	Music Award for Best Visual Live Show 2015[45]	Lorenzo negli stadi 2015	Won
	Onstage Awards	Platinum Ticket – Most-viewed Italian tour in indoor arenas[46]	Lorenzo nei Palasport	Won
		Best Performer[47]	Himself	Nominated
		Best Tour[47]	Himself	Nominated
		Live Anthem[47]	"Gli immortali"	Nominated
		Best Look[47]	Himself	Nominated
2017	David di Donatello	Best Original Song[48]	"L'estate addosso"	Nominated

Bibliography

• Yo, brothers and sisters. Siamo o non siamo un bel movimento?, Milano, Vallardi, 1988.
• Cherubini, S.l., Soleluna, 1993.
• Il grande boh!, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1998. ISBN 88-07-70102-2; Milano, Feltrinelli, 2000. ISBN 88-07-81604-0
• Quarantology, 1966-2006, Milano, Rizzoli, 2006. ISBN 88-17-01165-7
• La parrucca di Mozart, Torino, Einaudi, 2009. ISBN 978-88-06-20054-1
• Per te, Roma, Gallucci, 2009. ISBN 978-88-6145-086-8
• Viva tutto!, Add Editore, 2010. ISBN 978-88-96873-18-2
• Gratitude, Torino, Einaudi, 2013. ISBN 978-88-06-21834-8
• Sbam!, Milano, Mondadori, 2017. ISBN 978-88-04-68543-2

References

1. "Buon compleanno Jovanotti! – Fotogalleria – Foto 1 di 11". la Repubblica (in Italian). 27 September 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
2. "Jovanotti – La biografia di Jovanotti" (in Italian). Wuz.it. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
3. "Buon compleanno Jovanotti! – Fotogalleria – Foto 1 di 11". la Repubblica (in Italian). 27 September 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
4. "L'incontro con Cecchetto" (in Italian). MSN. 2 February 2011. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
5. "Buon compleanno Jovanotti! – Fotogalleria – Foto 3 di 11". la Repubblica (in Italian). 27 September 2006.
6. Tummino Titti (21 April 2002). "Jovanotti, la musica e l'impegno". la Repubblica (in Italian).
7. Andrea Laffranchi (27 December 2005). "Temevo un altro flop. Il futuro? Potrei fare tv". Corriere della Sera (in Italian).
8. "Buon sangue tour 2005" (PDF) (in Italian). www.eventiverona.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
9. "Gli album più venduti del 1988" (in Italian). www.hitpadadeitalia.it. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
10. "Jovanotti si sposta al Palaeur". Corriere della Sera. 16 April 1994. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
11. "TVARK Media Player". www.tvark.org. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
12. "Indice per artista: J" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
13. McLane, Daisann (23 September 1990). "Pop View: Around the Dial, and Around the World". The New York Times. p. A.26. Retrieved 5 October 2024 – via ProQuest.
14. Ragone, Martina (25 May 2020). "Non voglio cambiare pianeta". Il Messaggero Italiano (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2020.
15. Jovanotti insieme alla figlia Teresa, 'tali e quali', cinguetta mamma Francesca Valiani (Italian)
16. "Mtv censura gli affreschi di Giulio Romano". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 28 July 1996. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
17. "Tutte le nomination del P.I.M. 1998". la Repubblica. 25 March 1998. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
18. "Premio Italiano della Musica". la Repubblica (in Italian). 3 March 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
19. "MTV Europe Music Awards: scatta la caccia ai superfavoriti, a Jovanotti il premio per l'Italia?" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 11 November 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
20. Antonio Dipollina (13 April 2000). "Lacrime e canzoni ricordando De André". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 1 December 2015.
21. "Da Jovanotti a Baglioni, i candidati al Premio Lunezia" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 29 April 2000. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
22. "Le nomination agli Italian Music Awards: quasi un plebiscito per i Lùnapop" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 12 January 2001. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
23. "Jovanotti al M.E.I." Rockol.it. 12 November 2002. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
24. "Comunicato Stampa: Premio Videoclip Italiano, i vincitori" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 18 November 2005. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
25. "Premio 'Una canzone per Amnesty 2006': Jovanotti e De Gregori tra i candidati" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 14 February 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
26. Giuseppe Videtti (3 November 2015). "Justin, re degli Mtv Awards. Miglior artista italiano i Finley". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 30 November 2015.
27. "Chiude il PVI 2006. 'And the winners are...'" (in Italian). 18 November 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
28. "A Jovanotti Premio Mogol per Fango". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
29. "Winners World Music Awards 2008: The Winners". entertainment.ie. 10 November 2008. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
30. "Premio Videoclip Italiano, ecco il programma della decima edizione" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
31. "Musica: a Jovanotti e Coldplay il Premio della Critica di Musica & Dischi" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 21 November 2008.
32. "Premio Mogol: Povia vince la seconda edizione, Cremonini è il più votato dai nostri lettori". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
33. "David di Donatello, tutti i premi". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
34. "Nastri d'Argento – tutte le cinquine". la Repubblica (in Italian). 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
35. "Trl Awards 2011, tutte le nomination" (in Italian). Excite.it. 28 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
36. "Jovanotti, Le tasche piene di sassi vince il Premio Mogol". La Stampa. 15 June 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
37. Federica Palladini (19 October 2011). "I Modà vincono il Best Italian Act". Elle (Italian Edition) (in Italian). Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
38. "Premio della critica a Jovanotti e Adele". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). 1 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
39. "Rockol Awards 2011, i vincitori: Adele trionfa, bene Jovanotti, Liga e Coldplay" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
40. "TRL Awards 2012: scopri i nominati e vota ora!" (in Italian). MTV Italy. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
41. "Conto alla rovescia per gli Mtv Awards... Da seguire in diretta su Max". Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 12 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
42. "Musica: a Jovanotti premio speciale dell'Academy Medimex" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
43. "MTV Awards 2015: Via al VOTO! Scopri tutte le categorie e sostieni i tuoi artisti preferiti!!!" (in Italian). MTV Italy. 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
44. Gabriele Antonucci (16 October 2015). "Jovanotti: Lorenzo 2015 cc premiato dal Medimex come miglior album". Panorama (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
45. "Lorenzo Jovanotti, il Premio Assomusica a coronamento del tour" (in Italian). 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
46. "TimMusic Onstage Awards: Ecco i vincitori!" (in Italian). RAI. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
47. Luca Marra (16 March 2016). "Tim Music On Stage Awards 2016: ospiti, nomination. Su Rai 2 il 18 marzo". International Business Times (in Italian). Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
48. "David di Donatello 2017: scopri tutte le candidature21" (in Italian). Sky Italia. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.

External links

• (in Italian) Official website
• Interview and music videos of Jovanotti in performance in San Francisco on PBS "Sound Tracks presents Quick Hits"
• Aliases