Mina turns 85: the Italian music legend who conquered the world

Today Mina, a timeless legend of Italian song, blows out 85 candles. A birthday that celebrates an extraordinary career, made of records, artistic revolutions and a radical choice: that of disappearing from the stage almost half a century ago, without ever ceasing to be an icon.

Born Mina Anna Maria Mazzini on March 25, 1940 in Busto Arsizio (Varese), the “Tiger of Cremona” has written indelible pages of Italian and international music. With over 1.500 songs performed, including masterpieces such as “Words, words”, “If by calling” e “Big big big”, is the Italian female artist with the highest number of records sold: more than 150 million worldwide, a record she shares with Adriano Celentano.

A voice without borders

Gifted with an uncommon singing talent, Mina He has ranged across genres and languages: from jazz to classical, from the Beatles to Neapolitan song, singing in English, French, Spanish, German and even Japanese. His last public appearance dates back to 1978, when he performed at the Teatro Tenda Bussola tomorrow of Lido di Camaiore. Since then, his voluntary retirement has only fueled the myth.

A historic exception was in 2001, when she agreed to be filmed in the PDU studios in Lugano during a recording session. That streaming, followed by 20 million people, remains one of the most followed digital events in Italy. In the same year, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi appointed her Grande Ufficiale al Merito della Repubblica.

Queen of TV and missed opportunities

Mina was not just music. With programs like Very song, Theater 10 e Milleluci (alongside Raffaella Carrà), revolutionized Italian television. Memorable are his duets with Gaber, Sordi and Battisti – the latter, in Theater 10 (1972), is considered by many to be “the eight minutes that changed Italian music”.

Yet, the cinema called her in vain: Fellini wanted her in Satyricon and Mastorna, Coppola for The Godfather. She refused, preferring music. Yet, her charm won over stars such as Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Liza Minnelli, who called her “the biggest”, admitting: “If I had gone to one of her concerts, I would have asked her for an autograph”.

Mina today: a legacy that never fades

Even away from the spotlight, Mina has never stopped innovating. The last decade has seen her collaborate with young talents such as Blanco (“A bit of joy”, 2023) and release albums as “I love you like crazy” (2023) and “Lover's Gassa” (2024).

With 72 studio albums, 145 singles and 24 number ones, Mina is an artist without age. And today, on her 85th birthday, the world of music bows once again to her legend. Forever the Tiger.