Nicoletta
Born: 1944-04-11 in Vongy [now Thonon-les-Bains], Haute-Savoie, France
Known For: Acting
Biography
Nicoletta Grisoni, longer name Nicole Fernande Grisoni-Chappuis, better known by her mononym Nicoletta (born 11 April 1944 in Vongy, now merged into Thonon-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France) is a French pop singer. Becoming very popular on French radio and television, where she had a number of hits in the 1960s and the 1970s, she was considered part of what is known as the French yé-yé generation heavily influenced by American music, particularly rhythm and blues, rock and roll and Beat music. She is mostly known for her version of "Mamy Blue". Nicoletta Grisoni was reportedly born to a mentally retarded woman who became pregnant as a result of rape. She reportedly chose the song "Mamy Blue" as a tribute to her mother. The original of the song was from the Spanish band Los Pop-Tops and had been the subject of many interpretations. She began her music as a member of her local church choir. She worked for a while in a laundry and at a medical clinic in addition to DJ-ing in the beginning 1960s developing contacts. Encouraged by French songwriter Léo Missir, she was signed to Barclay. Her initial hits included "L'Homme à la moto" (an earlier Edith Piaf song), "Pour oublier qu'on s'est aimé" (from Nino Ferrer, and "Encore un jour sans toi" (co-written by Guy Marchand and Léo Missir). 1967 saw the release of "La Musique" (adaptation from Ann Grégory), and "Il est mort le soleil", written by Pierre Delanoë and music by Hubert Giraud. The song was adapted and interpreted later on by Ray Charles under the title "The Sun Died", also covered by Tom Jones. As activist, she campaigned against play-back music, insisting she sing live in her appearances on television. She also supported the French general strike in May 1968, singing in its support. In 1971, she recorded a French version of "Mamy Blue", a gospel song composed by Hubert Giraud with massive success. It was a hit in many countries outside France as well. In 1973, she founded her own record label, "Rapa Nui", for producing and launching new talents. The same year she released "Fio Maravilla", another big hit for her. The origin was a Brazilian hit from Jorge Ben Jor about soccer player Fio Maravilha, adapted to French by lyricist Boris Bergman. In 1976, her French version of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, titled "Glory Alleluia" with new French lyrics and arrangement by André Pascal, became a Christmas hit. After a hiatus because of her marriage and bearing a child, she returned to music in 1983 with "Idées noires", as a duo with Bernard Lavilliers. In 1987, she took part in the opera Grandeur et décadence de la ville de Mahagonny (a French version of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht), playing the role of Jenny in the opera. The same year, she also took role of Esméralda in the musical comedy Quasimodo based on Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame composed by William Sheller. In the beginning of the 1990s, she suffered great financial problems despite releasing quality interpretations with collaborations from William Sheller, Richard Cocciante, Pierre Delanoë and taking part in galas. ... Source: Article "Nicoletta (singer)" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Filmography
2026
2025
- Je m'appelle Régine et je vous emmerde ! as Self : Chanteuse
- 50 ans de Numéro Un - Les Carpentier as Self : Guest
- La Grande Fête de Carcassonne as Self
- Laurent Gerra, l'anniversaire-événement as Self
2022
- The Unexpected Getaway as Self
- La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président as Self (archive footage)
2021
2019
- La Boîte à secrets as Self
- Aznavour by Charles as Self - Singer (archive footage)
2018
- Rembob'Ina as Self (chanteuse de soul et variété française)
- Shadows of the Past as Jeanne Leblanc
2016
- Amanda as Self
2013
2008
2001
- Star Academy as Self
1998
- Vivement dimanche as Self
1987
- Sacrée soirée as Self
- Le monde est à vous as Self
- Téléthon as Self
- Matin Bonheur as Self
- Collaricocoshow as Self
1982
- Champs-Elysées as Self
1977
- Fan School as Self
1976
- Police Commissioner Moulin as La mère de Valérie
- Les Jeux de 20 heures as Self
1975
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche as Self
- Midi Première as Self
- Numéro un as Self
- Système 2 as Self
1972
- Le Grand Échiquier as Self
- Midi trente as Self
1971
- Samedi soir as Self
- Cadet Rousselle as Self
- One Way Ticket as Rose
1968
- À bout portant as Self
1965
- Dim Dam Dom as Self
1959
- Discorama as Self