She studied art in Paris and in the 60s moved to London. During this period she got to know the most prominent designers, musicians and artists belonging to the artistic circles she frequented. Her preferences were predominantly for the Surrealist movement and for bodily expression, since she has also studied the art of mime. The meeting with Dali changed her life.
In the following 15 years she became the only woman friend, the muse and confidant of the great artist and his wife Gala. She lived in their house in Cadaquès (Spain) and accompanied them when they moved to New York and Paris in the winter. Although he had declared that a woman should never paint, Dali became her mentor, allowing her to work alongside him and teaching her all she knows about art and its techniques.
He took her to visit all the great museums of the world, acting as her guide in the discovery of artists from his own highly individual point of view. Famous throughout the world as a pop singer, she soared to celebrity when her first song entered the international hit parades, but this not lead her to neglect the passion of her life: painting.
In 1975, disillusioned by a shallow but surprisingly conservative fashion industry and encouraged by boyfriend David Bowie, who paid for singing and dancing lessons, Lear decided to launch a career in music. Bowie recommended her a Hungarian voice coach Florence Wiese-Norberg, with whom he also worked.[16] She would record a demo song called "Stars" with him, however, the track still remains unreleased
In 1980 she had her first show in Rotterdam. Encouraged by the success of this and the publicity generated by the media, she went on to display in Paris, Berlin, Milan and Geneva, attracting the attention of the European collectors. She likes to recall the fact that she waited 20 years before having the chance to show her paintings and she is grateful to Dali for having been her friend and teacher. Pop icon Amanda Lear has recorded 15 studio albums and has released some 60 singles to date and has so far sold approximately 15 million albums and 25-30 million singles worldwide.
2012 saw the release of a new album "I Don't Like Disco", from which a few single were taken including La bete et la belle and I Don't Like Disco.
Her latest news can be read on her official site: www.amanda-lear.com.
I Am A Photograph
Amanda Lear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am in colour and softly lit
Over exposed and well blown up
Carefully printed and neatly cut
You can look at me for hours
I won't mind, I let you dream
From the page of a magazine
Of course I am a bit retouched
And my colour has been processed
But cameras always erase
Fear Lurking behind a face
I am a lie and I am gold
But I Shall never grow old
My lips are parted
But they're not for kissing
My eyes are open
But I'm not listening
My breasts are round
But my heart ist missing
I am a photograph, I am a photograph
I'm better than the real thing
I am a glossy photograph
I am appearing by the magic
Of a Nikon automatic
Maybe I'm just a piece of paper
But some think that I am better
Cause photograph do not complain
Or cry, or love, or suffer
The song "I Am A Photograph" by Amanda Lear portrays the superficial nature of the entertainment industry and the way society objectifies and idolizes celebrities. The title of the song itself is a metaphor for how the artist's image has been commoditized and reduced to a mere photograph, stripped of any genuine emotions or experiences. The opening lines "I am a glossy photograph, I am in color and softly lit" emphasize this idea of the artist as a product, perfected and crafted to fit the expectations of the entertainment industry.
The song then goes on to describe the superficiality of the image, "Of course, I am a bit retouched, and my color has been processed", suggesting that the artist's image has been altered and manipulated to create a perfect facade, hiding the real struggles and experiences behind the image. The line "But cameras always erase fear lurking behind a face" emphasizes the idea that the artist's real emotions are lost in their image, and that the image itself is a mask for the true self.
The final refrain, "I am a photograph, I am a photograph, I'm better than the real thing" suggests that society values and idolizes the perfect, manufactured image over the reality of the artist. The song overall speaks to the way society places value on the superficial, and the way that the entertainment industry commodifies and objectifies artists.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a glossy photograph
I am a picture that is brightly colored and shining
I am in colour and softly lit
I am brightly colored and lit in a way that is pleasing to the eye
Over exposed and well blown up
I have been edited and enlarged to look better than the original
Carefully printed and neatly cut
I was produced with care and precision
You can look at me for hours
I am captivating and can hold your gaze for a long time
I won't mind, I let you dream
I have no feelings and cannot be hurt by your fantasies
From the page of a magazine
I am often found in magazines
Of course I am a bit retouched
My imperfections have been removed through editing
And my colour has been processed
My coloring was enhanced using digital tools
But cameras always erase
Cameras have the power to remove our fears and weaknesses
Fear Lurking behind a face
Often people hide their fears behind a smile
I am a lie and I am gold
I am not a representation of reality, but appear valuable to some
But I Shall never grow old
I will always remain the same, preserved in time
My lips are parted
I am presented in an alluring way
But they're not for kissing
I am only an image, not a real person
My eyes are open
My eyes are depicted as being alert and attentive
But I'm not listening
I cannot listen, as I am only a photograph
My breasts are round
My figure is idealized and desirable
But my heart ist missing
I lack depth, emotion, and substance
I'm better than the real thing
I am an idealized version of reality and therefore, better
I am appearing by the magic
I was created through technological wizardry
Of a Nikon automatic
I was created using a specific brand of camera
Maybe I'm just a piece of paper
I am a flat representation of a person, not a real person
But some think that I am better
Some prefer me to real people, as I am not flawed
Cause photograph do not complain
I am silent and cannot voice my complaints or discomfort
Or cry, or love, or suffer
I cannot experience the range of emotions that real humans are capable of
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Наталия Родина
Шикарно!!!!
04opocin
Title track from her debut album ''I am a photograph'', released in April 1977.
Maurizio Gigli
Unique
LostinParis
Elle chante comme un casserole mais elle semble toujours aussi sympathique.
S Showgirl
la vraiment comme une casserole mais on l aime toujours
Triadafillos Orfanos
ok, a bit bad voice, but at least she sang live