Mónica Naranjo Carrasco (born May 23, 1974) is a Spanish singer born in Figueras, a village in Spain to Andalusian parents. She has sold over 8 million albums worldwide.
She started singing at a very young age. Cristobal Sansano became her first producer.
In 1994 she recorded her debut album, Mónica Naranjo, after singing with Sony Music. The album resulted in the hit songs Sola, Solo Se Vive Una Vez, El Amor Coloca, Oyeme, "Supernatural" , "Fuego de pasión" and "Llorando bajo la lluvia". She was nominated for "Eres Awards". In November 1995, the artist received acclamations during a performance at Mexico City's Metropolitan Theater.
In 1997 taking advantage of her popularity, she released her second album, Palabra de Mujer, was issued. The album was a hit, managing to sell more than 2 million copies in the United States, Latin America and Spain, thanks to songs such as Desátame, Tú y Yo Volvemos al Amor, Pantera en Libertad, Entender el Amor and Empiezo a Recordarte.
In 2000 she released her third album, Minage, a tribute to the Italian singer Mina. In an interview that year, she mentioned that the album was like nothing her producers expected:
They were expecting another "Palabra de Mujer" album, but more than just a hit, I wanted something to let the world know that I am also a fanatic, and that there are many great artists/singers out there who deserve more recognition. An example of such an artist is Mina Mazzini.
In 2001, she released Chicas Malas, an album with several collaborations, among them Diane Warren, Gregg Alexander, John Reid, Sam Watters, and many more. Having such worldwide-known influences, the album sales were disappointing, having sold only 120,000 copies in its first year, it is the lowest-selling studio album in her Spanish-singing career—It was an extremely commercial dance album that did not achieve the success hoped for.
In 2002, as claimed by her fans, she decided to make a big leap into the English public by recording the English version of Chicas Malas, Bad Girls. A huge attempt to the International market, selling only 5,000 copies online, the album had almost no success. But the single "I Ain't Gonna Cry" did get Mónica some recognition in continental Europe.
In 2005, after a long musical rest, Mónica returned with a greatest hits album, Colección Privada, a big success that only contains one new song, Enamorada de Ti. With this album, Mónica closes a stage in her life and career. In December, she sang Punto de Partida with Rocío Jurado in a TV homage titled Rocío... Siempre.
In 2008, her new single Europa was officially launched on February 29, on her official site and it has climbed to #1 in the Spanish Single Charts. Tarántula, her new album, is available in stores since April 22, reaching number 1 in Spain, being certified Platinum. She has just released a limited special edition of the album, with a DVD and a book with pictures of the "Tarántula era".
2009 was published Adagio, a review of its 15-year career, with all his hits, accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City.
Following the success of his latest album Tarantula, Monica Naranjo embarked on the tour Adagio Tour in which he offered a new vision of his songs and symphonic CD + DVD is a reflection of this journey.
The concert is included in this album that was recorded on October 16, 2009 at the Teatro de la Ciudad de Mexico, D. F., with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City, one of the most prestigious in America, directed by Pepe Herrero, who also signed the new orchestral arrangements.
The CD contains 16 songs: El despertar, Europa, Immensidad, Desatame, Que imposible, Usted, Empiezo a recordarte, Sobrevivire, Oyeme, Todo mentira, La soledad, Siempre fuiste mio, Kambalaya, Amame o dejame, Amor y lujo and El reecuentro. The audio was mixed and mastered by John M. Vinader. On December 10, was released the album in Mexico and the U.S. January 19.
In 2011, she sang the theme song for Mexican telenovela, "Emperatriz".
2012, NEW ALBUM. Today, Monica and her team are still finalizing the details of new work by artist: A Opera-Rock.
Concept: This is an album to accompany a novel, a story which will serve as a connecting thread of songs from the new job and this novel. The album will be in Spanish with a few strokes in other languages, and have a style "Opera-Rock".
Production: We have the production itself Monica and Oscar Tarruella, and arrangements Pepe Herrero and Chris Gordon. Pepe Herrero arrangements will more disco classics on the other hand, the manager of alternative arrangements is Chris Gordon.
Released: Although it was initially hoped her release would be the end of 2011, Monica said in recent interviews that will launch in 2012.
Despite all the secrecy surrounding this new album by the singer, Monica launched a video on their last 3 Adagio concerts of his tour that featured a seabed, and the words "The sea hides a secret".
Studio AlbumsYear Album ES [1] MX [2] Sales 1994 Mónica Naranjo Released: March 14, 1994 1st studio album - 1 US: Latin Platinum (200,000)[3]
Worldwide: 1,500,000 1997 Palabra De Mujer Released: June 10, 1997 2nd studio album 2 (6) 1 Spain: 10xPlatinum (1,000,000)
US: Latin Platinum (200,000) IFPI: Platinum (1,000,000) Worldwide: 2,000,000 2000 Minage Released: March 16, 2000 3rd studio album 1 (4) 7 Spain: 3xPlatinum (300,000)
Mexico: Gold (100,000)[4] Worldwide: 500,000 2001 Chicas Malas Released: November 9, 2001 4th studio album 4 27 Spain: Platinum (100,000)
Worldwide: 200,000 2003 Bad Girls Released: February 24, 2003 4th studio album (1st English album) - - Worldwide: 30,000 2008 Tarántula Released: April 22, 2008 5th studio album 1 30 Spain: Platinum (80,000)
Worldwide: 100,000
CompilationsYear Album ES MX Sales 2001 Grandes Éxitos Released: 2001 1st compilation album Released only in Mexico - - 2005 Colección Privada Released: May 6, 2005 2nd compilation album 3 - Worldwide: 100,000
[edit] Live albumsYear Album ES MX Sales 2009 Stage Released: March 22, 2009 1st live album 1 33 2009 Adagio Released: December 1, 2009 9 55
