Recently, the lives of the capital’s residents were turned upside down by Taylor Swift’s concerts – a three-day city paralysis, apartments rented for several thousand złoty per night and crowds of “swifties” on the streets were an interesting phenomenon discussed widely in the media. A moment earlier, thanks to the documentary “I am Céline Dion”, a discussion about another popular queen of the scene was heated. Now JLo, Beyoncé, Adele or Rihanna, once Madonna, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner – female voices that have won hearts all over the world and… records of album sales. ARTE.tva free streaming platform, pays tribute to two dark-skinned divas and recalls their colorful biographies.
TINA TURNER – THE QUEEN OF ROCK AND LIFE
When the news of Tina Turner’s death broke on May 24, 2023, the world stopped for a moment. During her lifetime, due to her achievements and stage presence, she was hailed as the queen of rock and roll, an icon, and an immortal legend. As Beyoncé wrote, “My beloved Queen. I love you endlessly. I am grateful for your inspiration. You are strength and endurance. You are the embodiment of passion.” The artists and organizers of this year’s Grammy Awards also dedicated a special moment to Tina Turner: Fantasia Barrino honored her memory with a performance, and Oprah Winfrey herself announced the show, emphasizing the legacy of the “queen of rock and roll.”
Her passing has further underscored the enormous impact she has had on music history. After all, she was one of the artists who practically defined mainstream rock in the 1980s. She was also one of the world’s most profitable artists in terms of album sales (estimated at 180 to 200 million copies sold) and concert earnings, and one of the most popular singers in history. She has been nominated for 100 music awards and won 70 of them, including eight Grammy Awards, making her the most awarded female rock and roll artist in the history of the recording industry.
Documentary available on ARTE.tv Tina Turner. My Songs. My Life on ARTE.TV by Schyda Vasseghi, traces Tina Turner’s musical legacy and follows the paths she paved for a new generation of black artists, not only in terms of standing, but also in terms of a new style, look, and character of performance. In the film, legendary singer Nona Hendryx and producer Martyn Ware reminisce about their encounters with Tina Turner, while Kim Holmes of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in New York brings her most popular choreographies to life – all in a timeline telling the story of her rich life. Combined with captivating archival footage and the author’s personal observations, the film, the documentary, creates a moving portrait of the great diva of contemporary music.
RIHANNA – FROM MUSIC, THROUGH BUSINESS, TO REPRESENTING HER HOMELAND
In November 2021, Barbados, a small Caribbean island, broke away from the British crown to become a republic. During the ceremony, the prime minister of the world’s youngest republic, honored Rihanna, the most important representative of her homeland, with the Order of National Heroes of Barbados, which entitles her to use the title “The Right Excellent” before her name for the rest of her life. Thanks to her hard work, Rihanna has become a global pop icon – she is the winner of nine Grammy Awards, five American Music Awards, 22 Billboard Music Awards and two Brit Awards. She has sold over 250 million records worldwide, which currently makes her the second best-selling female artist of all time. In 2012, Time included her among the 100 most influential people in the world, and Forbes recognized her as the fourth most important celebrity. But how did it all start?
In December 2003, through a mutual friend, Rihanna met American music producer Evan Rogers. The singer and two members of her high school band auditioned for Rogers. The producer said that “the minute Rihanna walked into the room, the other two girls stopped existing.” During the audition, the singer sang a cover of Destiny’s Child’s “Emotion,” impressing the producer so much that he invited her to a second meeting, during which he suggested she record with Carl Sturken at their New York studio. Later that same year, the artist recorded her first hit, “Pon De Replay.”
After years of a dynamic career, Rihanna plays a dual role – an artist who attracts millions of listeners and a representative of a young nation that is just emerging from its colonial past. She carries the identity of the entire island on her shoulders. How does this Barbadian singer, model, songwriter, fashion designer and businesswoman combine her private life, her global career as an artist and her country’s ambassador? The film is available on ARTE.tv Rihanna: Ambassador of Pop Music tells the story of Rihanna’s dizzying career.
