Tina Arena

Biography

Tina Arena has been a household name in Australia since the late seventies when, from the age of 7, she was beamed into millions of homes every weekend as Tiny Tina, the pint-sized vocal dynamo who starred in Johnny Young's - Young Talent Time. Even back then her voice and looks singled her out as a unique Australian talent. By her mid teens she was signed as a solo artist to EMI and then Sony Australia where her 1994 (10 x platinum ) album "Don't Ask" jettisoned her to the international stage. 'Chains' and 'Sorrento Moon' were top 5 hits which held for countless weeks on charts and radio play lists around the world - and so began Tina's International music career.

The follow up 1997 'In Deep' album featured the tracks 'Burn' and the Foreigner cover 'I Wanna Know What Love Is' which were also play listed internationally. By now Tina was spread between the US, UK, France , Australia (and everywhere in between) as different territories hailed her successes. Her duet with Mark Anthony 'I Want to Spend My Life time Loving You' from the Mask of Zorro sound track was a huge hit across Europe and particularly in France where Tina's follow up, French language single "Aller Plus Haut" sold over a million copies.

Since then both 'Just Me' (2001) and her '1994-2004 Greatest Hits' have achieved multi-platinum sales in France and Australia and her recent resigning to Columbia France has Tina Arena due to release her next studio album by the end of 2005.

Tina has toured the world for the decades and recorded a total of seven albums in three languages. She has lived in Los Angeles, Paris and London.

Dubbed by fans and critics the world over as a 'voice supreme', Tina's career highlights are almost too numerous to mention.

She has received countless nominations and awards as a singer, stage performer and song writer; from the ARIA's to the Brits and the World Music Awards. Her songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Country artist Winona Judd, Jodie Messina to the 2004 Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan. Tina has performed with legends like Stevie Wonder, Lionelle Richie and Donna Summer as well as appearing in lead roles for the musical productions of Cabaret and Notre Dame in Australia, France and in London's West End.

As a 37 y.o mother-to-be, she still dominates the stage.
Tina will appear on Sat. 2nd July 2005 at the Palais de Versailles, Paris alongside, The Cure, Jamiroquai, Sheryl Crow and Andreas Bocelli as part of the Live8 beneifit concert being held there.

The past decade has proved an amazing journey for Tina Arena. From the ground breaking release of her multi platinum album "Don’t Ask" (1994) to the internationally renowned "In Deep" (1997) and more recently "Just Me" (2001), the Melbourne born superstar has become one of Australia's most significant female performers of all time.

Her long list of achievements is impressive and includes sales of more than four million albums, numerous awards, leading roles in the West End's Notre Dame De Paris and Sydney's Cabaret and even performing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony. The release of "Tina Arena's Greatest Hits 1994-2004" commemorates these ten sensational years in the spotlight and features a collection of her biggest hits to date.

"All the songs on the album are deeply personal and represent different periods and experiences of my life. As a singer/songwriter I have worked really hard to try to tell a story and hope that people identify with it in some way, whether they do when they listen to it for the first time or five years later. It's like passing something on and that's always been my philosophy."

In addition to hits like "Chains", "Burn," "Sorrento Moon" and "Symphony Of Life", the 18-track retrospective also includes two brand new songs, "Take Me Apart" and the sultry pop single "Italian Love Song". Its clip was shot in a small fishing village in Southern France and features a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop.

"We shot the video in a stunning medieval town called Collioure. I discovered it in July when I was there on holidays with my family and when we needed somewhere to film this I knew it would be the perfect place. The locals were fantastic, so accommodating. Even the town mayor introduced himself and was so gracious about having us there."

The locals' warm reaction reflects the way Tina has been embraced throughout Europe. Following her phenomenal success in Australia with "Don't Ask", her career took off internationally in 1998, when her duet with Marc Anthony – "I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You" - topped the charts in France leading to sales of more than a million copies for "In Deep" and Tina becoming a French music icon.

"I didn’t have any expectations. I've never gone in with any preconceived thoughts other than doing a good job and working hard and trying to come out of it learning something. And it's been amazing, you know, learning another language and immersing myself in the French culture. It's really has enriched my tapestry."

Despite her many successes, Tina admits the last ten years have been somewhat of a wild ride, but the one thing that remained constant along the way was the support of her fans who she dedicates this record to.

"This album is for the public. It's for the audience who have been so incredibly brave to have followed my musical journeys over the last decade. The last ten years have been fantastic but there have been many ups and down along the way. This last year I've really taken stock. I've sat back and led a fairly simple life. Really simplifying the complications of the past, which took years to unravel. I had to find myself and I had to be proud of what I've achieved. I took time out to smell the roses and, you know what, they smell beautiful."

Tina Arena's Greatest Hits 1994-2004 in store on October 17.