Bertè was born in Bagnara Calabra, Province of Reggio Calabria, southern Italy.
She started her singing career in 1974 with the album Streaking. She became successful the following year by releasing "Sei bellissima", a ballad that would have become one of her biggest hits, and the Normale o Super album.
In 1977 the album T.I.R. updated her sound, and two years later the LP Bandabertè spawned the hits "Dedicato", "E la Luna bussò" (the first Italian reggae song), "Folle città", and "Robin Hood".
Loredana next released two albums with a strong funky vibe. The first was Loredanabertè (1980) which included the huge hit "In alto mare"; the song was covered in 2004 by the group 2 black. In 1981 Bertè released Made in Italy, recorded with the American funk group Platinum Hook. The album included the single "Movie", probably the first Italian song featuring rap.
The following year she left her long-time producer Mario Lavezzi to record with a new producer, Ivano Fossati. With Fossati she recorded what many consider to be her masterpiece album, Traslocando, containing Loredana's signature song "Non sono una signora". The following years the albums Jazz (1983) and Savoir faire (1984) spawned two hits: "Il mare d'inverno", penned by Enrico Ruggeri, and "Ragazzo mio", a cover of a Luigi Tenco classic.
Bertè released an innovative album in 1985 called Carioca, which was a tribute to Brazilian singer Djavan and included "Acqua" and other hits. Many songs from the album were subsequently covered by The Manhattan Transfer.
Bertè became engaged to tennis champion Björn Borg in 1988, and they were married in September of 1989. Their marriage was reported as very troubled.
Bertè has had numerous notable performances at the Sanremo Music Festival, also known as the Festival della canzone italiana. Her first appearance was in 1986 with a rock song called "Re". For the performance, Loredana was dressed to look like a pregnant woman, which caused a scandal. Notably, the critic's award at Sanremo is called the Mia Martini after Bertè's sister, who won the first critic's award offered in 1982. To date, Bertè has not yet won a top award at the festival.
In 1988, along with her third participation at the Sanremo festival, she released the Io album with producer Corrado Rustici, who also worked with Whitney Houston.
In the spring of 1992 Bertè and husband Björn Borg officially split. Their divorce was finalized in 1993. Loredana was deeply affected by the disastrous marriage but found the strength to start recording a new album which she dedicated to her failed marriage. This album was Ufficialmente dispersi. That year, Mia Martini joined Bertè at Sanremo for a duet. Their song, titled "Stiamo come stiamo", was the first single of Bertè's new album. Later that summer, Bertè released a second song from the album. The single, titled "Mi manchi", was an Italian radio hit.
Bertè's also appeared at Sanremo in 1994 when she performed an emotional song called "Amici non ne ho". The song was a hit and was included in her first live compilation entitled Bertex Ingresso Libero. Her 1995 performance of the funky song called "Angeli & Angeli", a single from Bertè's Ufficialmente ritrovati, a greatest hits compilation.
On Friday, 12 May 1995, her sister Mia Martini committed suicide, causing Bertè to go into shock and suffer from depression.
In mid-1996 she began work on her following album, Un pettirosso da combattimento, considered by some to be one of her most beautiful recordings thus far. Relseased in 1997, the album is one of Bertè's most personal to date, featuring a new hard rock sound and lyrics based on the tragic loss of her sister. Bertè's seventh appearance at the Sanremo Festival featured a song titled "Luna", a desperate shout against her life.
Her second live compilation album was released in 1998 and was recorded with a live orchestra. In 2002 she returned to Sanremo for the eighth time with a song called "Dimmi che mi ami". That same year she dropped her current record label (one she had joined just some months before) and began searching for a new label. She eventually signed with NAR.
Bertè joined a reality show about music called Musicfarm in 2004. With the money she earned from her appearance she began to work on a new album. This album was her 2005 effort titled Babybertè, which was released in September, 2005. Her first album in seven years, the CD debuted at #2 in the official album chart making it one of her most successful album ever [citation needed]. The second single from the album, titled "Strade di fuoco", hit #3 in the official single chart. In May, 2006 the album was re-released with a bonus CD and a bonus DVD.
Liberte
Loredana Bertè Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fra le pecore in processione
Chi ha la faccia come il sedere
Ed in tasca una soluzione
Con chi ci predica la morale
E chi decide cosa è normale
Normale
Al diavolo ai buoni di professione
E chi dice resta al tuo posto
Che la mia unica vocazione
è essere solo un cane sciolto
Scelgo da me dove voglio stare
E tu continua pure a sbagliare
Le vostre regole truccate
Le verità già masticate
Vita da la favola sì
Ma vuoi in cambio l'anima
E non bussare alla mia porta perché
Non mi farò trovare
Ora e sempre
Niente potrà farmi più male
Finalmente
E non sto con ha smesso di pensare
Con chi dice non mi lamento
E ha paura anche solo ad immaginare
Di sfidare i mulini a vento
Con chi ripete piccola mia
Beata te che mangi pane e utopia
Io non seguo le regole del branco
Al guinzaglio una vita intera
Io l'ho già visto quello sguardo
Gli occhi del cane alla catena
E a comando scodinzolare
E alla luna, alla luna abbaiare
E le coscienze immacolate
I vostri sogni a puntate
Mi dai una favola, si
Ma vuoi in cambio l'anima
E non bussare alla mia porta perché
Non mi farà trovare
Ora e sempre
Niente potrà farmi più male
Finalmente
Sono il vento che s'alza
Nessuna appartenenza
Sono il pensiero randagio
Dolcezza, rabbia, disobbedienza
Sono la nave già partita
Guerra da disertare
Pronta ad urlare
La sola regola che c'è
Libertè
Libertè
Libertè
Non mi farò trovare
Ora e sempre
Niente potrà farmi più male
Finalmente
Niente potrà farmi più male
Finalmente
The song "LiBerté" by Loredana Bertè is an anthem of rebellion and non-conformity against the established norms of society. The opening verse suggests that the singer does not belong among the flock, whether that be in terms of political affiliations or religious beliefs, and that she rejects the idea that anyone has the authority to dictate what is considered normal. The line "Con chi ci predica la morale" ("With those who preach morality") implies that the singer is not interested in the opinions of those who tout their supposed moral superiority, but rather wish to live on their own terms.
The chorus, which repeats the word "LiBerté" over and over again, emphasizes the idea that the singer values her personal freedom above all else. She rejects the idea of conforming to the norms of society, and instead chooses to follow her own path, even if that means making mistakes along the way. The repeated phrase "Niente potrà farmi più male" ("Nothing can hurt me anymore") suggests that the singer has been hurt or marginalized in the past, but has learned to rise above it.
The later verses of the song expand upon the idea of rejecting conformity, with the singer expressing disdain for those who blindly follow the herd, rather than forging their own path. The line "Gli occhi del cane alla catena" ("The eyes of a chained dog") paints a vivid picture of those who have become slaves to the rules and expectations of society, and the idea of being held back by a leash or a chain. Ultimately, the song is an appeal for personal freedom and self-determination, with the repeated refrain of "LiBerté" serving as a rallying cry for anyone who feels oppressed or constrained by social expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Io non sto fra libri e le bandiere
I am not interested in participating in ideological or political affiliations.
Fra le pecore in processione
I do not follow blindly the masses moving in groups.
Chi ha la faccia come il sedere
I do not trust those who speak out of both sides of their mouth.
Ed in tasca una soluzione
I do not believe that all problems can be solved with one simple solution.
Con chi ci predica la morale
I do not seek guidance from those who preach morality.
E chi decide cosa è normale
I do not accept the definition of what is considered normal.
Al diavolo ai buoni di professione
I reject those who claim to be good but are not true to their word.
E chi dice resta al tuo posto
I refuse to stay in one place if I do not want to be there.
Che la mia unica vocazione
My only calling in life is to be a free spirit.
è essere solo un cane sciolto
I choose to live my life without being tied down to anyone or anything.
Scelgo da me dove voglio stare
I make my own choices about where I want to be.
E tu continua pure a sbagliare
I won't judge others for their mistakes, but they can continue to make them without my involvement.
Le vostre regole truccate
I don't believe in following rules that are set up to deceive or manipulate.
Le verità già masticate
I don't trust those who present truths in a convoluted or dishonest way.
Vita da la favola sì
I understand that life can seem like a fairy tale at times.
Ma vuoi in cambio l'anima
I know that some things come at a great cost and can lead to losing one's spirit.
E non bussare alla mia porta perché
Don't expect me to be available for others to take advantage of.
Non mi farò trovare
I won't be found if I don't want to be found.
Ora e sempre
This is true for me now and forever.
Niente potrà farmi più male
Nothing can harm me anymore.
Finalmente
I have achieved a state of inner peace.
E non sto con ha smesso di pensare
I don't conform to society's expectations that one should stop thinking and questioning.
Con chi dice non mi lamento
I don't accept the notion that one should stop speaking up about injustice or other issues.
E ha paura anche solo ad immaginare
I won't allow fear to stop me from imagining a better world.
Di sfidare i mulini a vento
I am brave enough to challenge even the toughest obstacles.
Con chi ripete piccola mia
I don't find comfort in those who try to infantilize me or others.
Beata te che mangi pane e utopia
I don't envy those who live in a world of unrealistic dreams or wishful thinking.
Io non seguo le regole del branco
I don't adhere to societal norms that are often set up as a way to control the masses.
Al guinzaglio una vita intera
I refuse to live my life on a leash, beholden to others.
Io l'ho già visto quello sguardo
I have seen what happens to those who are trapped in a life of servitude.
Gli occhi del cane alla catena
Their eyes are like those of a caged and chained dog.
E a comando scodinzolare
They are forced to comply with those who hold the leash.
E alla luna, alla luna abbaiare
Even nature itself becomes a source of submission for them.
E le coscienze immacolate
I do not trust those who claim to have a spotless conscience.
I vostri sogni a puntate
I do not share in others' dreams that are artificially constructed or limited.
Mi dai una favola, si
I know that sometimes fiction can be useful or enjoyable.
Ma vuoi in cambio l'anima
But I won't give up my soul for it.
Sono il vento che s'alza
I am like the wind, ever-changing and free.
Nessuna appartenenza
I do not belong to anyone or anything.
Sono il pensiero randagio
My thoughts wander like a stray dog.
Dolcezza, rabbia, disobbedienza
I embody a range of emotions, including sweetness, anger, and disobedience.
Sono la nave già partita
I am already on my journey, leaving behind those who would try to stop me.
Guerra da disertare
I refuse to participate in any conflicts or wars that go against my values.
Pronta ad urlare
But I am willing to speak out when necessary.
La sola regola che c'è
My only rule is freedom.
Libertè
Freedom.
Non mi farò trovare
I won't be found if I don't want to be found.
Ora e sempre
This is true for me now and forever.
Niente potrà farmi più male
Nothing can harm me anymore.
Finalmente
I have achieved a state of inner peace.
Writer(s): Loredana Berte', Fabio Ilacqua
Contributed by John S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.