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Niccolò Fabi

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Niccolò Fabi
Fabi performing in Trento in 2012
Fabi performing in Trento in 2012
Background information
Born (1968-05-16) 16 May 1968 (age 56)
Rome, Italy
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1995–present
Labels
Websiteniccolofabi.it

Niccolò Fabi (born 16 May 1968) is an Italian singer-songwriter. He rose to national fame after competing in the Newcomers' section of the Sanremo Music Festival 1997, receiving the Mia Martini Critics' Award for his entry "Capelli".

As of 2021, he has released nine studio albums and a greatest hits album in Italy, as well as two compilation albums for the Hispanic market. During his career, Fabi also received two Lunezia Awards for the album "La cura del tempo" and for the song "Costruire".

Early life

[edit]

Niccolò Fabi was born in Rome on 16 May 1968.[1] His father, Claudio Fabi, was a record producer mainly active in the 1970s, when he was the artistic director of Lucio Battisti's label Numero Uno,[2] producing artists including the Premiata Forneria Marconi and Alberto Fortis.[3] When he was 5 years old, he started studying piano and classical music.[4] In 1981, he started playing drums.[1] He later entered a band performing songs by artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire,[5] and he also became the drummer of the Fall Out, a Police cover band.[6]

He started writing songs at the age of 14.[7] In 1986, Fabi also worked as a stage assistant during a tour by Alberto Fortis,[5] tuning his guitars.[8] In 1994, Fabi graduated in Philology.[1]

Music career

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1996–1997: breakthrough

[edit]

Fabi released his first single, "Dica", in 1996.[9] Thanks to the success of the song, the following year he took part in the Sanremo Music Festival, competing in the Newcomers' section with the song "Capelli".[10] The song received the Mia Martini Critics' Award in its category.[11] Shortly after the competition, Fabi released his debut album, Il giardiniere, which sold more than 100,000 copies in Italy.[12]

Thanks to the success of his first album, in April 1998 Fabi received a nomination for Revelation of the Year at the Premio Italiano della Musica, sponsored by the Italian radio network Radio DeeJay and the music magazine Musica!.[13]

1998: second studio album

[edit]

In 1998, Fabi competed once again in the Sanremo Music Festival, performing the song "Lasciarsi un giorno a Roma" in the "Big Artists" section.[14] The song was chosen as the lead single from Fabi's second studio set, released by Virgin Records on 10 April 1998.[15] The album also includes "Vento d'estate", a duet with Max Gazzè, which was performed won the music competition Un disco per l'estate.[16] As of February 1999, the album had sold 80,000 copies in Italy.[12]

2000–2001: Sereno ad ovest and Spanish-language debut

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In 2000, Fabi released his third studio album, preceded by the single "Se fossi Marco".[17] The single was also performed during the itinerant music competition Festivalbar, held throughout Italy during the summer of 2000 on broadcast by Italia 1.[18]

In 2001, Fabi also released his first album for the Hispanic maret. The self-titled set is a compilation album composed of tracks from Il giardiniere and Niccolò Fabi, including five Spanish language adaptation of his best-known hits.[19]

2003–2005: La cura del tempo

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In January 2003, Fabi released the single "È non è", preceding his third studio album, La cura del tempo.[19] The album also includes "Offeso", a duet with Fiorella Mannoia.[20] Italian jazz musician Stefano di Battista also appears playing sax on the tracks "Il negozio di antiquariato" and "Ora e qui".[21]

In 2004, he took part in the music festival O'Scià, organized by Claudio Baglioni in Lampedusa in order to bring attention to the illegal immigration phenomenon affecting the southernmost Italian island.[22] Two years later, Fabi recorded a duet with Edoardo Bennato. The song, "Non è amore", was included in Bennato's album La fantastica storia del pifferaio magico.[23]

2006–2007: Novo Mesto and compilation albums

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Niccolò Fabi performing in Ancona, Italy, on 14 August 2006

Niccolò Fabi's fifth studio album was released in February 2006. Titled Novo Mesto, it was named after the Slovenian city in which it was recorded.[24] The album was preceded by the single "Costruire", released on 23 December 2005.[25] In 2012, the song won the Lunezia Award in the section "Elite Award".[26]

In order to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Fabi's debut single, his first compilation album, Dischi volanti 96-06, was released in November 2006. The standard edition of the album is composed of two CDs, but a deluxe edition with an additional DVD was also released.[27] The only new song of the album, "Milioni di giorni", was released as a single.[28] It was also chosen as one of the ten finalists of the Premio Amnesty Italia Voices for Freedom in 2007, a prize recognizing songs with lyrics focusing on social themes.[29]

In 2007, Fabi also released his second album for the Spanish market. Titled Dentro, it included both Italian-language tracks taken from his previous works and Spanish-language adaptations of previously released songs.[30] During the same year, he also appeared on the album Adelantando by Spanish band Jarabe de Palo, performing the Italian version of the song "Me gusta como eres", titled "Mi piace come sei".[31]

2008–2009: Violenza 124 and Solo un uomo

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In 2008, Fabi produced the project Violenza 124, featuring Italian artists with different musical styles and backgrounds. The involved artists, beside Fabi himself, are Subsonica's keyboardist Boosta, pop-rock singer-songwriter Roberto Angelini, strings group Gnu Quartet, post-rock band Mokadelic and the duo composed of Olivia Salvadori and Franco Mussida, two artists mixing opera with electronic music.[32] Each one of them was asked to independently develop the same basic idea on the theme of violence, and Fabi later mixed the produced results in a 36-minutes-long song which was released both as a freely available track on the Web and as a double CD, also including the original contributions of the involved artists as separate tracks.[32][33]

In 2009, he was among the 56 artists composing the supergroup Artisti Uniti per l'Abruzzo. The band recorded the song "Domani 21/04.09", a cover of Mauro Pagani's "Domani" released as a charity single to raise funds in support of the victims of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake.[34]

After splitting with Virgin Records, which released all his previous albums, Fabi signed a new contract with Universal Music, which released Fabi's sixth studio album, Solo un uomo, in May 2010.[35] The single with the same title was released to Italian radio stations on 17 April 2009.[36] Fabi later revealed he submitted the song for the Sanremo Music Festival 2009, it was rejected by the jury during the internal selection.[37]

Parole di Lulù and Ecco

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In July 2010, Fabi's daughter, Olivia, died from a meningococcal meningitis. After canceling his scheduled tour, Fabi decided to organize a mega-concert in her memory, involving several Italian singers and friends, including Elisa, Jovanotti, Fiorella Mannoia, Giuliano Sangiorgi, Max Gazzè, Daniele Silvestri, Samuele Bersani and Subsonica. All the proceedings from the concert were donated to build a children's hospital in Angola.[38][39][40] The concert was also released as a DVD, which also contributed raising funds for the same purpose. The DVD, titled Parole per Lulù, also included the track "Parole parole", recorded in studio with Mina and released as a single.[41]

In 2011, Fabi penned the song "Lontano da tutto", performed by Serena Abrami during the 61st Sanremo Music Festival,[42] and the track "Nel primo sguardo", performed by Laura Pausini as a duet with her sister Silvia and included in the album Inedito.[43]

Niccolò Fabi's seventh studio album, Ecco, was released on 9 October 2012.[44] The album, featuring guest appearances by artists including trumpeter Roy Paci and singer-songwriter Roberto Angelini, was preceded by the single "Una buona idea".[45][46] Ecco debuted at number 3 on the Italian Albums Chart, becoming his first top ten album.[47][48]

Fabi-Silvestri-Gazzè and Una somma di piccole cose

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In 2014 Fabi started together with Daniele Silvestri and Max Gazzè the musical project Fabi-Silvestri-Gazzè. The trio released a studio album (Il padrone della festa), a live album (l padrone della festa – Live) and made an extensive tour in Italy and Europe.[49]

In April 2016 Fabi released his eighth studio album, Una somma di piccole cose. The album peaked at the first place on the Italian hit parade.[50]

Personal life

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Fabi lives with his partner Shirin Amini, an Italian painter of Iranian origins.[51] In 2008, Shirin gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Olivia. Nicknamed Lulubella, she died on 4 July 2010 from a meningococcal meningitis. After canceling the scheduled summer tour, Fabi confirmed his daughter's death through his Facebook account.[52]

The couple's second child, Kim, was born on 17 September 2012.[53]

Discography

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Albums

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Studio albums

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List of albums, with chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Chart positions Certifications
ITA
[54]
Il giardiniere 15
Niccolò Fabi
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Virgin Records
  • Formats: CD
22
Sereno ad ovest
  • Released: 21 April 2000
  • Label: Virgin Records
  • Formats: CD
La cura del tempo
  • Released: 3 February 2003
  • Label: Virgin Records
  • Formats: CD
12
Novo mesto 11
Solo un uomo 22
Ecco
  • Released: 9 October 2012
  • Label: Universal Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
3
Una somma di piccole cose
  • Released: 22 April 2016
  • Label: Universal Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
1
Tradizione e tradimento
  • Released: 11 October 2019
  • Label: Universal Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2
[56]
Meno per meno 12
[57]
"—" denotes albums that did not chart.

Compilation albums

[edit]
List of albums, with chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Chart positions
ITA
[54]
Niccolò Fabi
  • Released: 2001 (Spain)
  • Label: EMI
  • Format: CD
Dischi volanti 96-06
  • Released: 2 November 2006
  • Label: Virgin Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
18
Dentro
  • Released: 6 February 2007 (Spain)
  • Label: Virgin Records
  • Format: CD, download
Diventi Inventi 1997–2017
  • Released: 13 October 2017
  • Label: Universal Music
  • Format: CD, download
3
[58]
"—" denotes albums that did not chart or were not released.

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Nomination Work Result
1998 Premio Italiano della Musica Revelation of the Year[13] Himself Nominated
2007 Premio Amnesty Italia Voices for Freedom[29] "Milioni di giorni" Nominated
2003 Lunezia Award Critics' Award[59] La cura del tempo Won
2009 Premio Videoclip Italiano Best Video by a Male Artist[60] "Solo un uomo" Nominated
2012 Lunezia Award Elite Award[26] "Costruire" Won
2013 Nastro d'Argento Best Original Song[61] "Il silenzio" Nominated
Targhe Tenco Album of the Year[62] Ecco Won

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "Niccolò Fabi – La biografia" (in Italian). MTV Italy. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  2. ^ Elvira Serra (5 July 2010). "Fabi canta su Facebook il tormento per Lulù morta". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Niccolò Fabi". Corriere Fiorentino (in Italian). Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Niccolò Fabi – Biografia" (in Italian). Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b Enrico Deregibus (2010). "Niccolò Fabi". Dizionario completo della canzone italiana (in Italian). Giunti Editore. p. 184. ISBN 978-8809756250.
  6. ^ "Niccolò: solo un uomo?" (in Italian). Radiotelevisione svizzera di lingua italiana. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  7. ^ Gigi Vesigna (19 July 2009). "Il successo e l'accaduto". Famiglia Cristiana (in Italian). Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  8. ^ "Niccolò Fabi, discepolo di Alberto Fortis nonostante l'invettiva ai romani" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Niccolò Fabi – Biografia" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  10. ^ a b c "Niccolò Fabi, delicatezza e classe in concerto con gli Gnu quartet". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  11. ^ Mario Luzzatto Fegiz (22 February 1997). "Paola e Chiara: due sorelline conquistano Sanremo". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  12. ^ a b Pietro D'Ottavio (17 February 1999). "Ecco il suono di Roma". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Premio Italiano della Musica, tutte le nomination (per i vincitori, attendere lunedì sera)" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 16 April 1998. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  14. ^ Flavio Brighenti (21 February 1998). "Nuove Proposte e Big in gara" (in Italian). Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Niccolò Fabi, in aprile il nuovo album" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 23 March 1998. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Musica: il duo Gazzè-Fabi allo Stadio del Baseball di Nettuno" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 8 August 2011. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Ecco Fabi, cantautore filologo Sono un guardone dell'anima". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2 July 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Italia 1: Festivalbar, domani dall'Elba apre Shaggy" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 3 July 2000.
  19. ^ a b "E' non E', il nuovo singolo di Niccolò Fabi" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 19 December 2002. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  20. ^ "Primo singolo dal nuovo album del cantautore romano, rivendicazione di dignità per il suo mestiere". la Repubblica XL (in Italian). December 2002. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  21. ^ "La cura del tempo" (in Italian). RAI. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  22. ^ Antonio Ranalli (22 September 2004). "A Lampedusa O' Scia', odori, suoni, colori d'Isole d'Altomare con Barbarossa e Baglioni" (in Italian). Musicalnews.com. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  23. ^ Antonio Conti (26 October 2010). "Pifferaio contro la politica e tv". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012.
  24. ^ Fabrizio Finamore (31 January 2006). "Esce "Novo Mesto", il cd registrato dal cantautore nel paese balcanico". Il Tempo (in Italian). Archived from the original on 23 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Niccolò Fabi: il singolo 'Costruire' anticipa l'uscita del nuovo album" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  26. ^ a b "Arisa, Nomadi, Venditti, Subsonica e Annalisa tra i vincitori del Premio Lunezia 2012 annunciati" (in Italian). RAI. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  27. ^ "Niccolò Fabi – Dischi volanti 96-06" (in Italian). 12 November 2006. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  28. ^ "I dischi volanti di Niccolò Fabi". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. 6 November 2006. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  29. ^ a b "Selezionate le dieci canzoni candidate al Premio Amnesty Italia 2007" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  30. ^ "Secondo disco in spagnolo per Niccolò Fabi". Rockol.it. 20 March 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  31. ^ "Jarabe de Palo: Adelantando, per cambiare. In positivo" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  32. ^ a b Ernesto Assante (4 November 2008). "Fabi: Non faccio canzoni ma musica per il web". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  33. ^ "Artisti Vari – Violenza 124" (in Italian). Rockol. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  34. ^ Rita Celi (5 May 2009). "La musica italiana per l'Abruzzo. 56 artisti cantano per ricostruire". la Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  35. ^ "Niccolò Fabi torna con Solo un uomo: Un disco nato quasi per caso" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  36. ^ Martina Neri (16 April 2009). "Niccolò Fabi: Solo un uomo nuovo singolo in rotazione radio da domani 17 aprile" (in Italian). Musicalnews.com. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  37. ^ Massimo Poggini (24 February 2012). "Niccolò Fabi: Sanremo è lontano da tutto". Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  38. ^ Martina Neri (24 August 2010). "Niccolò Fabi organizza Parole di Lulu', il 30 Agosto nella valle del Treja" (in Italian). Musicalnews.com. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  39. ^ Katia Riccardi (27 October 2010). "Niccolò Fabi, note e parole per Lulù. Un concerto per festeggiare la vita". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  40. ^ Sandra Casarale (31 August 2012). "Tutti insieme per Lulù. L'omaggio del pop alla figlioletta di Fabi". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  41. ^ "Niccolò Fabi: Parole parole con Mina anticipa il dvd live Parole per Lulù" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  42. ^ "Serena Abrami". La Stampa (in Italian). 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  43. ^ Marinella Venegoni (10 November 2011). "Pausini, per Inedito, comanda lei. Ballads, Fossati, Nannini, la sorella". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  44. ^ "Niccolò Fabi, settimo album è Ecco". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012.
  45. ^ Paola De Simone (5 October 2012). "Ecco – Niccolò Fabi" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  46. ^ "Niccolò Fabi: 'Una buona idea' anticipa il nuovo disco. Ascolta qui il brano" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  47. ^ "Francesca Michielin prima su iTunes con Riflessi di me" (in Italian). Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana. 19 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  48. ^ "Hit parade, Muse si confermano in vetta" (in Italian). Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012.
  49. ^ "Oggi esce il cofanetto di Fabi, Silvestri e Gazzè". Radio Italia. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  50. ^ Raffaella Oliva (22 May 2016). ""Finalmente primo in classifica" Doppio sold out per Niccolò Fabi". Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  51. ^ "Niccolò Fabi di nuovo papà". TGCOM (in Italian). 20 June 2012. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  52. ^ Alessandro Alicandri (5 July 2010). "Niccolò Fabi: lutto di massa su Facebook. Ma la qualità merita attenzione anche senza una morte..." Panorama. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  53. ^ "Niccolò Fabi ritrova il sorriso, di nuovo papà col piccolo Kim". Leggo (in Italian). 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  54. ^ a b Peak positions on the Italian Albums Chart:
  55. ^ "Italian album certifications – Niccolò Fabi – Una somma di piccole cose" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 27 March 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Una somma di piccole cose" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  56. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 42 (dal 11.10.2019 al 17.10.2019)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  57. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 49 (dal 02.12.2022 al 08.12.2022)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  58. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 42 (dal 2017-10-13 al 2017-10-19)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  59. ^ "Presentato il Lunezia 2003, premi per Oxa, Fabi e Cremonini" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 10 July 2003. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  60. ^ "Premio Videoclip Italiano: ecco i semifinalisti. Al via le votazioni" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  61. ^ "Cinema: Nastri d'Argento, tutte le candidature" (in Italian). ASCA. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  62. ^ "Targhe Tenco 2013, "Ecco" album dell'anno. Con Fabi vincono Basile, Appino e Giovanardi". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2 October 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
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