Actress, singer, dancer - among the thousands of words that could be used to describe Rafaella Carrà, superstar is the only world able to encompass all the talents of this Italian icon. Born in Bologna in 1943, she began her career appearing in Italian film before moving to Hollywood in 1965, famously appearing alongside Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan’s Express. Tiring quickly of life in Los Angeles, however, she moved back to Italy the following year and went on to become the international success we know her as today. She shone in Italian television on variety shows which allowed her to showcase all of her talent and vibrant personality, and went on to establish her pop star status in Spain and South America too.
RAFFAELLA CARRÀ
arte e cultura
Carrà is widely regarded as having transformed Italian pop culture during her career. Her lyrics, outfits, and routines were branded racy by conservative Italian values, and she endured criticism and censorship throughout her career. The Vatican newspaper named her “too provocative” for her appearance as the first woman to show her navel on Italian public television in 1971 during her performance of ‘Tuca Tuca’, and her dance routine with Enzo Paolo Turchi caused further scandal, involving them touching each other’s heads, shoulders, hips, and legs. She became both a feminist and LGBT icon for her lyrics. From her encouragement of women to take charge in the bedroom in ‘A far l’amore comincia tu’, and her open discussion of homophobia in Italy during the 70s in ‘Luca’, she was certainly ahead of her time. Francesco Vezzoli described her as having
RAFFAELLA CARRÀ