Neapolitan Singer Wins Malafemmena Prize in June
- TURIN, Italy (AP) — Italian pop artist Napoleon is set to receive the prestigious Malafemmena Prize, an honor celebrating the legacy of Totò.
- Napoleon continues to push the boundaries of Italian pop, crafting a sound that is both international and elegant.
- “Jolie” sees Napoleon returning to the theme of love, filtered through his unique perspective.
Napoleon to Receive Malafemmena Prize, Releases New Single “Jolie”
TURIN, Italy (AP) — Italian pop artist Napoleon is set to receive the prestigious Malafemmena Prize, an honor celebrating the legacy of Totò. The award,previously won by Duran Duran,recognizes Napoleon’s contributions to Italian music. This announcement comes as Napoleon releases his new single, “Jolie,” available on all digital platforms since May 2.
Malafemmena Prize and Musical Evolution
Napoleon continues to push the boundaries of Italian pop, crafting a sound that is both international and elegant. He closed out 2024 with Teresa de Sio, revisiting his classic “I wish ‘and turn out.” Now, with “Jolie” (INRI Records/ADA Music Italy), he is charting a new course, signaling an upcoming record project.
“Jolie”: A Neapolitan Love Story
“Jolie” sees Napoleon returning to the theme of love, filtered through his unique perspective. The song paints a vivid picture of Neapolitan life, with romantic interludes set against the backdrop of foreign locales. It explores the complexities of fleeting glances and unfulfilled promises.
The track offers a raw and sincere emotional journey, oscillating between tenderness and disillusionment. It portrays a relationship marked by intense connections and unavoidable farewells. Napoleon uses familiar imagery to depict a love that is both painful and inescapable.
“‘jolie’ is a night story that smells of melancholy and truth, a story of intense and complex ties that are consumed between unread messages, sudden departures and returns that never come.”
– Napoleon
A Hybrid of Nostalgia and Modernity
The new single, “Jolie,” follows the release of ”I wish ‘and turn out,” a reimagining of Teresa de Sio’s classic. Napoleon’s version, released 42 years after the original, pays homage to the Italian-Neapolitan musical tradition while injecting a modern sensibility.
The music video for “I wish ‘and turn out,” features Teresa de Sio, co-author and original vocalist. Produced by Giordano Colombo, the track blends disco influences with a contemporary sound, appealing to a wide range of listeners.
Napoleon: From Songwriter to Solo Artist
Davide Napoleon,originally from Campania but now based in Turin,is an accomplished songwriter and producer. Before launching his solo career in 2020, he wrote for established artists through Sony Music Publishing. His initial singles,”Amalfi,” “Patience Brings,” and “Poor female,” drew inspiration from the life of Amalfi singer-songwriter Vito manzo.
Collaborations and Recognition
Napoleon’s songwriting career gained momentum after joining Sony ATV, where he penned “Just for a while” for Michele Bravi’s album “Paper souls.” He has also collaborated with Samuel romano of Subsonica and ale Bavo on “elephant” for the band Afterhorse. other notable collaborations include “I remember a bit of me” for Subject Gozzarz and “We lost ourselves” with Chiara Galiazzo.
In 2021, Napoleon began working with Valentina parisse on the tracks “Damn struggle” and “Every good,” collaborating with Chris Lord Alge. That same year, he joined the INRI label, finding a home for his songwriting project under the guidance of Pierpaolo Peroni.
Recent Successes
Napoleon’s single “Tears at sea” quickly gained popularity on Radio Deejay and other stations across Italy. In 2023,he released “Appointment at the Lungomare” via Virgin music LAS Italia/Universal music Italia,again working with Giordano Colombo.He also collaborated with Guè on “Tasta cover” and Kaze on ”The Garden of Maddalena.”
September saw the release of “Romantic noir,” followed by a second collaboration with Guè,”Hit Mania.” These tracks preceded the EP “Go and come back,” released in December. Napoleon’s recent work blends contemporary sounds with nods to the past,as evidenced by tracks like “Maletiempo feat. Yung snapp” and “Girl of the sea,” culminating in the reimagining of Teresa de Sio’s “Wish ‘and turn.”
Napoleon in the Spotlight: Receiving the Malafemmena Prize and Releasing ”Jolie”
Who is Napoleon?
Davide Napoleon, an Italian pop artist originally from Campania, is a songwriter and producer based in Turin. He launched his solo career in 2020 after writing for established artists. HeS known for blending contemporary sounds with nods to the past, and his new single “Jolie” is a prime exmaple of this.
What is the Malafemmena Prize?
The Malafemmena Prize is a prestigious award in Italy that celebrates the legacy of Totò, a renowned italian actor and comedian. It recognizes individuals for thier meaningful contributions to Italian culture.
Why is Napoleon receiving the Malafemmena Prize?
Napoleon is receiving the Malafemmena Prize for his contributions to Italian music. The award acknowledges his impact on the Italian music scene.
What is Napoleon’s new single called?
Napoleon’s new single is titled “jolie.”
When was “Jolie” released?
“Jolie” has been available on all digital platforms as May 2.
What is “Jolie” about?
“Jolie” is a song about a Neapolitan love story. It explores themes of love, fleeting moments, and unfulfilled promises within the context of Neapolitan life. The song offers a raw and emotional journey, depicting intense connections and certain farewells. According to Napoleon, “‘Jolie’ is a night story that smells of melancholy and truth, a story of intense and complex ties that are consumed between unread messages, sudden departures and returns that never come.”
What musical direction does “Jolie” explore?
“Jolie” marks Napoleon’s return to exploring the theme of love. It expands on his signature style while hinting at an upcoming record project. The song features his unique perspective, setting romantic interludes against foreign locales.
What is Napoleon’s musical style?
Napoleon pushes the boundaries of Italian pop music,crafting a sound that is both international and elegant. He blends contemporary sounds with nods to the past.
What other music has Napoleon released recently?
Before releasing “Jolie,” Napoleon released “I wish ‘and turn out,” a reimagining of Teresa de Sio’s classic. Other recent releases include:
“Tears at sea”
“Appointment at the Lungomare”
“Romantic noir” and ”Hit Mania” (collaborations with Guè)
The EP “Go and come back”
“Maletiempo feat. Yung snapp”
“Girl of the sea”
What collaborations has Napoleon been involved in?
Napoleon has collaborated with several artists, including:
Samuel Romano of Subsonica
Ale Bavo on “elephant” for the band Afterhorse
Subject Gozzarz
Chiara Galiazzo
valentina Parisse
Guè
Kaze
teresa de Sio
What are some of Napoleon’s earlier works?
Before his solo career, Napoleon penned “Just for a while” for Michele Bravi’s album “Paper souls.” His initial singles, “Amalfi,” “Patience brings,” and “Poor female,” were inspired by Amalfi singer-songwriter Vito Manzo.
Were has napoleon previously found success?
Napoleon’s single ”Tears at sea” quickly gained popularity on Italian radio stations, including Radio Deejay. In 2023,he released ”Appointment at the Lungomare” and collaborated with other artists on several tracks that achieved further recognition.
Summary of Notable Napoleon Songs and Collaborations:
Here’s a brief overview of key tracks and collaborations from the facts provided:
| Year | Song Title | Artists/Collaborators | Notes |
| ———– | ————————– | —————————————- | ———————————————— |
| 2020 | Amalfi,Patience Brings,Poor Female | Solo Artist | Initial singles |
| – | Just for a while | Michele Bravi | Songwriting for Bravi’s album “Paper souls” |
| – | elephant | with Subsonica,ale Bavo | Collaboration with band Afterhorse |
| – | i remember a bit of me | Subject gozzarz | Notable collaboration |
| – | We lost ourselves | Chiara Galiazzo | |
| 2021 | Damn struggle,Every good | Valentina Parisse | With Chris Lord Alge |
| 2023 | Tears at sea | Solo artist | Popular single |
| 2023 | Appointment at the Lungomare | Solo Artist and Giordano Colombo | |
| 2023 | Tasta cover | Guè | |
| 2023 | The Garden of Maddalena | Kaze | |
| 2023 | Romantic Noir | Solo Artist | |
|2024 | Jolie | Solo artist | New single |
| 2024 | Hit Mania | Guè | Second collaboration with Guè |