Mónica Naranjo

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Mónica Naranjo
Birth name Monica Naranjo Carrasco
Born May 23, 1974 (age 34)
Origin Figueres, Catalonia, Spain
Genre(s) Latin Pop, Dance-Pop
Years active 1981-present
Label(s) SonyMusic
Website www.monicanaranjo.com

Mónica Naranjo Carrasco (born May 23, 1974) is a Spanish singer born in Figueres, a village in Catalonia near Cadaqués, Spain. She is one of the most popular singers in Spain. She has sold over 8 million albums worldwide.

[edit] Biography

She started singing at a very young age. Cristobal Sansano became her first producer. After signing with Sony Music, she recorded her debut album, Mónica Naranjo, in 1994. 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 of 1995, the artist received acclamations during a performance at Mexico City's Metropolitan Theater. Taking advantage of her popularity, a 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, an homage to the great Italian Diva 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 extremely disappointing... having sold only 176,000 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 2003, 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 50,000 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.

Her new single Europa was officially launched on February 29th, 2008 on her official site and it has climbed to #1 in the Spanish Download Chart and Maxi Single. MN Tarántula, her new album will be available in stores on April 22th, 2008. The album is expecting to reach the Spanish Top on Wednesday 30th April.

[edit] Discography

Cover Information
Mónica Naranjo
  • Released: March 14, 1994
  • Chart positions:
  • Worldwide Sales: +2.500.000
  • Singles:
    • El amor coloca
    • Fuego de pasión
    • Sola
    • Sólo se vive una vez
    • Supernatural
    • Óyeme
Palabra De Mujer
  • Released: June 6, 1997
  • Chart positions:
  • Worldwide Sales: +3.000.000
  • Singles:
    • Entender el amor
    • Desátame
    • Empiezo a recordarte
    • Pantera en libertad
    • Ámame o déjame
    • Tú y yo volvemos al amor
    • Las campanas del amor
    • Rezando en soledad
Minage
  • Released: March 16, 2000
  • Chart positions:
  • Worldwide Sales: +1.500.000
  • Singles:
    • Sobreviviré
    • If you leave me now
    • Perra enamorada
    • Enamorada
    • Ahora ahora
Minage (Special Edition)
Chicas Malas
  • Released: November 9, 2001
  • Chart positions:
  • Worldwide Sales: +400.000
  • Singles:
    • Chicas Malas
    • Sacrificio
    • No Voy a Llorar
    • Ain't it better like this
Bad Girls
  • Released: February 24, 2003
  • Chart positions:
  • Worldwide Sales: +70.000
  • Singles:
    • I Ain't Gonna Cry
    • I Don't Wanna Take This
Colección Privada
  • Released: May 6, 2005
  • Chart positions:
  • Worldwide Sales: +200.000
  • Singles:
    • Enamorada De Ti
Tarantula
  • Released: April 22, 2008
  • Chart positions: #1 Spain
  • Worldwide Sales: +60.000
  • Singles:
    • Europa
    • Todo Mentira