Gigi D'Agostino
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Luigino Celestino di Agostino (; born 17 December 1967), known professionally as Gigi D'Agostino (), is an Italian DJ,
remix A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...
er, singer and record producer. In 1986, he started his career as a DJ spinning
Italo disco Italo disco (variously capitalized, and sometimes hyphenated as Italo-disco) is a music genre which originated in Italy in the late 1970s and was mainly produced in the early 1980s. Italo disco evolved from the then-current underground dance, p ...
. His biggest chart successes include " Bla Bla Bla", " Another Way", a cover of
Nik Kershaw Nicholas David Kershaw (born 1 March 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. Kershaw came to prominence in 1984 as a solo artist. He released eight singles that entered the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart during the ...
's " The Riddle", " La Passion", "
Super Super may refer to: Computing * SUPER (computer program), or Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer, a video converter / player * Super (computer science), a keyword in object-oriented programming languages * Super key (keyboard butt ...
" and " L'Amour Toujours", all in the years 1999 and 2000. The hookline of "L'Amour Toujours" was also used for the 2018 hit remix/mashup " In My Mind".


Early life and education

Born in
Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...
, Italy on 17 December 1967, to parents from
Salerno Salerno (, , ; nap, label= Salernitano, Saliernë, ) is an ancient city and ''comune'' in Campania (southwestern Italy) and is the capital of the namesake province, being the second largest city in the region by number of inhabitants, after ...
,
Campania Campania (, also , , , ) is an administrative Regions of Italy, region of Italy; most of it is in the south-western portion of the Italian peninsula (with the Tyrrhenian Sea to its west), but it also includes the small Phlegraean Islands and the i ...
, D'Agostino spent his childhood between
Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...
and
Brescia Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and ''comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo. ...
, where the Media Records studios are located. As a child, D'Agostino wanted to be someone in the world of
disco music Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric piano ...
. Starting out working as a
stonemason Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...
and a fitter, he began his musical career as a DJ by organizing parties in clubs. His debut was in a club near Turin called "Woodstock". He worked also in a small club called Palladio in Cascinette d'Ivrea (30 km north from Turin) from 1987 until around 1992 and in a club called Le Palace in the
Valentino Castle The Valentino Castle ( it, Castello del Valentino) is a historic building in the northwestern Italian city of Turin. It is located in Parco del Valentino, and is the seat of the Architecture Faculty of the Polytechnic University of Turin. It is on ...
Garden in Turin. He was resident DJ of an Italian disco named Ultimo Impero from 1993 to 1998.


Career


1990s

D'Agostino's first release was ''Noise Makers Theme'', a double-A-sided record with a track by Daniele Gas on the other side, which launched the Noise Maker label, under the direction of Italo house producer
Gianfranco Bortolotti Gianfranco Bortolotti (; born 2 May 1959) is an Italian electronic music producer and manager of Media Records and Media Studio. He was a member of Cappella, and 49ers who had several hits, and Fits of Gloom, who had a UK No. 47 hit with "Heaven ...
. D'Agostino would continue working with Gas, as well as
Mauro Picotto Mauro Picotto (born December 25, 1966) is an Italian electronic music producer and DJ, and previously a member of the Italian Euro house group "R.A.F.". He became well known as a solo artist with songs including "Komodo (Save a Soul)", "Pulsa ...
's production team in the following years. As a DJ, D'Agostino is known as one of the "pioneers of Mediterranean Progressive Dance", consisting of minimalistic sounds and Latin and Mediterranean melodies. As a record producer, D'Agostino's uses the pseudonym "Gigi Dag"; he transforms a piece, originally destined for the discos, into a success for the mainstream public. After successes like the track "Sweetly", he joined the team of Bortolotti, the general manager of Media Records and suddenly reached the top of the hit parades. His single "FLY", published in 1996 with BXR Noise Maker, the label created by Media Records for Mediterranea progressive house, reached the top of the sales in Italy. This was followed by his single "Gigi's Violin". Subsequently, D'Agostino released the song "Angel's Symphony" with R.A.F. by
Mauro Picotto Mauro Picotto (born December 25, 1966) is an Italian electronic music producer and DJ, and previously a member of the Italian Euro house group "R.A.F.". He became well known as a solo artist with songs including "Komodo (Save a Soul)", "Pulsa ...
, a friend from Media Records. His biggest project was the self-titled album ''
Gigi D'Agostino Luigino Celestino di Agostino (; born 17 December 1967), known professionally as Gigi D'Agostino (), is an Italian DJ, remixer, singer and record producer. In 1986, he started his career as a DJ spinning Italo disco. His biggest chart successes ...
'', consisting of 19 tracks, which sold over 60,000 copies. After his rise to success, D'Agostino's musical style changed, with his sound becoming more melodic, at midway between
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
and
progressive Progressive may refer to: Politics * Progressivism, a political philosophy in support of social reform ** Progressivism in the United States, the political philosophy in the American context * Progressive realism, an American foreign policy par ...
, with more energetic and melodious sonorities and less obsessive rhythms, also known as
Italo dance Euro-Dance (sometimes referred to as Euro-NRG, Euro-electronica or Euro) is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s in Europe. It combines many elements of hip hop, techno, Hi-NRG, house music, and Euro-Disco. This ...
. In 1997, he released the single " Gin Lemon", followed by "Your Love (Elisir)" (1998), "Cuba Libre" (1999), and " Bla Bla Bla" (1999). He later released the album ''Eurodance Compilation'', which contained five unpublished tracks. With this compilation, he earned a platinum disc and was awarded "Best Producer in 1999" at the Italian Dance Awards. In October, D'Agostino released another hit single, entitled " Another Way". In 1999, his album '' L'Amour Toujours'' (released in 2001 in the United States) included 23 tracks on two CDs, with the hit song " L'Amour Toujours" bringing him to the 10th position in the sales parade in Italy; as a result, he earned another Platinum Disc. His 1999 single " Bla Bla Bla" became a major hit in Europe. He described the single as "a piece I wrote thinking of all the people who talk and talk without saying anything!"


2000s

In 2000, his remake of the
Nik Kershaw Nicholas David Kershaw (born 1 March 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. Kershaw came to prominence in 1984 as a solo artist. He released eight singles that entered the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart during the ...
song "The Riddle" sold 1,000,000 copies in Germany and 200,000 copies in France. He also released the albums ''Tecno Fes'' (August 2000) and ''Tecno Fes - EP, Vol. 2'' (December 2000). In 2001, he released ''L'Amour Toujours EP'', consisting of three songs: two new versions of "L'amour Toujours" and "Un Giorno Credi", a single made in collaboration with
Edoardo Bennato Edoardo Bennato (born 23 July 1946, Naples, Campania, Italy) is an Italian singer-songwriter. He is the brother of the singer-songwriter Eugenio Bennato. He is considered one of the greatest Italian rockers, a genre that he has often combined wi ...
. "Un Giorno Credi" reached the top of the parades in Italy and became one of the most played songs in the national and international music networks. He was also awarded with "Best DJ-Producer of the Year" at the "Red Bull Awards" in Italy. In 2001, he also released the hit "Super", as a result of a collaboration with Albertino (an Italian music artist), which won him the awards "Best Dance Producer" at the PIM (Italian Music Award) and "Public Award" at the Danish DJs Award in
Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...
, Denmark. In December of that year, he released ''Il Grande Viaggio'', a compilation of his favourite songs, including old
electronic Electronic may refer to: *Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor * ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal *Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device *Electronic co ...
pieces and new rhythms and melodies. As a result, he was awarded with "Best Dance Producer" at the Italian Dance Awards. In 2003, he released the song "Ripassa" in the EP '' Underconstruction 1: Silence'', a hit which is very important for his next productions. This song helped influence
Lento Violento Lento violento, sometimes shortened to simply lento, is a style of electronic dance music that developed in Italy. Its name means ''slow (and) violent'', as this style typically has a tempo between 85 and 115 BPM. It consists of a hard kick, l ...
, a subgenre that had yet to be distinguished. On 15 July 2004, his compilation "Euro Dance" won Platinum certification with 120,000 copies sold in just a few weeks. In December 2004, D'Agostino released his fourth studio album, ''
L'Amour Toujours II ''L'Amour Toujours II'' is the third studio album by Italian DJ Gigi D'Agostino, released in on 16 December 2004 through Media Italy Records. It is a sequel to his 1999 album '' L'Amour Toujours''. Track listing Side one #"Welcome to Paradise ig ...
''.D'Agostino has played in some well-known clubs throughout Europe, including in Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, and England (in 1996, he played at the
Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publishing business and fitness studio. James ...
in London with
Mauro Picotto Mauro Picotto (born December 25, 1966) is an Italian electronic music producer and DJ, and previously a member of the Italian Euro house group "R.A.F.". He became well known as a solo artist with songs including "Komodo (Save a Soul)", "Pulsa ...
). In 2006, he created his own new record label called "Noisemaker Hard" to differentiate the style of music released under his older record label, "Noisemaker". In 2007, D'Agostino released '' Lento Violento ...e altre storie'', a compilation which contains two CDs and his new 35 Lento Violento songs. Most important "hits" of the album are "Cammino" (a collaboration with Dimitri Mazza) and "Vorrei Fare una Canzone" (a collaboration with Gerolamo Sacco) according to YouTube views. After some months, he released the compilation ''La musica che pesta'' under the name "Lento Violento Man", which contains two CDs for a total of 38 unmixed tracks. From 2005 until January 2010, he had radio programs, on the Italian ''Radio m2o Musica allo Stato Puro'' (in English: "Music at the Pure State"), called "Il Cammino di Gigi D'Agostino" and "Quello che mi piace ". They consist of DJ sets played by Gigi, and featured new remixes of his songs and songs by Italian and international artists.


2010s

In August 2011, he released a digital single ''Stay With Me''. This was released a few months after he postponed the release of his upcoming album ''Mondo Reale''. In May 2017,
CBC News CBC News is a division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on the corporation's English-language operations, namely CBC Television, CBC Radio, CBC News Network, and CBC.ca. ...
reported that his music is popular in the remote Canadian
Inuit Inuit (; iu, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ 'the people', singular: Inuk, , dual: Inuuk, ) are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories ...
community of
Arviat Arviat (, syllabics: ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ; formerly called Eskimo Point until 1 June 1989) is a predominantly Inuit hamlet located on the western shore of Hudson Bay in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada. Arviat ("place of the bowhead whale") is ...
, where D'Agostino's "slicing, bass-heavy beats have a lot in common with the music of traditional Inuit drum-dancing." In 2018, along with Dynoro, Gigi released "In My Mind" which became an international hit.


Logo

Since the release of his album Bla Bla Bla in 1999, many of his future covers will feature the following logo. The author of the emblem is unknown. The mark represents the character 舞, and is taken from the Chinese language and translated to English means ''dance''.


Discography


Studio albums


Extended plays


Compilations

* '' A Journey into Space'' (1996) *'' Le Voyage Estate'' (1996) * ''The Greatest Hits'' (1996) (
best-of A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...
album) *''Progressiva'' (1996) *''Progressiva Hyperspace'' (1997) * '' Il Grande Viaggio Di Gigi D'Agostino Vol. 1'' (2001) * '' Il programmino di Gigi D'agostino'' (2003) *''Live at Altromondo'' (2003) * ''Benessere 1'' (2004) *''Live at Altromondo 2'' (2004) * '' Laboratorio 1'' (2004) * ''Laboratorio 2'' (2005) * ''Laboratorio 3'' (2005) * '' Disco Tanz'' (2005) * '' Some Experiments'' (2006) * '' Lento Violento ...e altre storie'' (2007) * '' La Musica Che Pesta (as Lento Violento Man)'' (2007) * '' Suono Libero'' (2008) *''Movimenti Incoerenti Vol.'' 1 (2009) *''Movimenti Incoerenti Vol.'' 2 (2009) *''Movimenti Incoerenti Vol.'' 3 (2009) * ''The Essential Gigi D'Agostino'' (2009) (Austria and Germany only) (best-of album) * ''Ieri & Oggi Mix Vol. 1'' (2010) * ''Ieri & Oggi Mix Vol. 2'' (2010) * ''Gigi D'Agostino Collection Vol. 1'' (2019) *''Gigi D'Agostino Collection Vol. 2'' (2019)


Singles


DJ Magazine ''DJ Magazine'' (also known as ''DJ Mag'') is a British monthly magazine dedicated to electronic dance music and DJs. Founded in 1991, the magazine is adapted for distribution in the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, Lat ...
Top 100 DJs


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:D'Agostino, Gigi 1967 births Living people Arista Records artists Eurodance musicians Italian dance musicians Italian DJs Italian electronic musicians Musicians from Turin Electronic dance music DJs People of Campanian descent