Pima

O'odham portraits
Total population
12,600 (1990)[1]
Regions with significant populations
United States ( Arizona)
Languages
O'odham, English, Spanish
Religion
Roman Catholicism, traditional tribal religion[2]
Related ethnic groups
Ak-Chin O'odham, Hia C-ed O'odham, Tohono O'odham

The Pima (or Akimel O'odham) are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona. The long name, "Akimel O'odham", means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham (meaning "desert people", formerly known as Papagos) of Eastern Papagueria and the Hia C-ed O'odham ("Sand Dune People", formerly known as Sand Papagos or Sand Pimas) of the Western Papagueria. They are also closely related to another river people, the Sobaipuri, whose descendants still reside on the San Xavier Indian Reservation or Wa:k (together with the Tohono O'odham) and in the Gila River communities^{[citation needed]}. The short name, "Pima" is believed to have come from the phrase pi 'añi mac or pi mac, meaning "I don't know," used repeatedly in their initial meeting with Europeans.^[1]

^[3]

Pima Stories of the Beginning of the World Summary[link]

The creation story of the Pima’s, or Akimel Oodham, starts out with one person, the Doctor of Earth. He was known as Juh-wert-a-Mah-kai and before him, there was no earth, no water, no sun, no light, no life, or anything. He created the world from perspiration on his chest called, moah-haht-tack. It took four times until the world actually formed. He first created a greasewood bush, which were abundant in Pima homelands, then ants, which enlarged the earth as they worked, and also created another Person out of his eye. This person could help him create other aspects of the earth, human beings and mountains. The person he created was named Noo-ee. After making Nooee he made the sun. It took him four tries again to create the sun by first, placing a hardened ball in the North, then the West, then the South but none of these worked. Finally he put it in the East and it worked. Juhwerta Mahkai gained more perspiration from his chest and created a man and woman. They produced more people but these people did not act the way Juhwerta Mahkai wanted them to, so he killed them by letting the sky fall. This happened four times, and on the last try he created the earth as it is now. The sun and the moon gave birth to Toehahvs, the coyote and from the North came another person named Seeurhuh. Seeurhuh made a young man who he set out to find a woman for marriage. He found a young woman and they did get married but were then forgotten. Juhwerta Mahkai, Nooee, and Toehahvs shared that there was a flood coming so word traveled. Juhwerta Mahkai made a hole in the earth to survive and people that did not join him drowned. The mountains were not high enough to escape the water. A doctor who was part of the people trying to find a highly elevated surface, tried to save everyone by using his powers but instead turned everyone to stone. After the flood, Seeurhuh, Toehahvs, and Juhwerta Mahkai all made dolls from the leftover clay. The different deformities of the dolls lead to the creation of different animals and beings. Seeurhuh makes fun of Juhwerta Mahkai’s dolls and due to his anger, he sinks into the ground leaving his waste. His body parts were used for creation.

Analysis of Symbolism and Comparison in Pima Creation Story[link]

The number four is used many times in The Pima Stories of the Beginning of the World. It is the pattern number of the Pimas and corresponds to the importance of three and seven as pattern numbers in the Western culture. The number four can represent the four seasons and four directions. Light is also an important factor in the Pima creation story and the story of Genesis in the Bible. In both stories, light was a major priority and one of the first things to be created. Due to the fact that light is an essential symbol in these stories of creation, they easily can represent rebirth or establishment and cleansing of a new world about to be made. The Pima creation myth has many differentiating factors from the Bible story of creation, Genesis. Regarding importance of numbers, Genesis has the pattern of number seven and this is important because God created the world in seven days. Christianity, in general today, also has other signs of the number seven such as the seven sacraments and seven deadly sins. This shows that the creation stories of certain religions and cultures lead the people to follow and believe the stories of how their world came about because they use them as guidance. The role of women is also contrasting in The Bible versus the Pima Stories from the Beginning of the World. This is because in the Bible, Eve, is looked upon as being curious rather than afraid of what will happen to her unlike the young woman afraid of marriage in the Pima creation story.

History prior to 1688[link]

File:Pima territory in 1700 CE.pdf The Pima Indians first called themselves Otama until the first account of interaction with non-Native Americans was recorded. Americans later corrupted the miscommunication into Pimos, which was adapted to Pima river people. During the early part of the nineteenth century, there were eight Pima villages on the Gila River whose names were bestowed by the Spanish missionaries such as Kina, Equituni, Uturituc, and Sacaton.

The Akimel O'Odham (anthropologically known as the Pima) are a subgroup of the Upper O'odham or Upper Pima (also known as Pima Alto) who's land were known as Pimería Alta. These groups are culturally related. They are thought to be culturally descended from the group archaeologically known as the Hohokam^[4]. The term Hohokam is a derivative of the O'odham word "Huhugam" (pronounced hoo-hoo-gahm) which is literally translated as "those who have gone before" but meaning "the ancestors".

The Pima Alto or Upper Pima groups were subdivided on the basis of cultural, economic and linguistic differences into two main groupings:

known commonly as Pimas or River Pimas:

• Akimel O'odham (Akimel Au-Authm - “River People”, oft simply called Pima, lived north of and along the Gila River, the Salt River and the Santa Cruz River in Arizona)
  • On'k Akimel O'odham (On'k Akimel Au-Authm - “Salt River People”, lived and farmed along the Salt River)
  • Keli Akimel O'odham (Keli Akimel Au-Authm, oft simply Akimel O'odham - - “Gila River People”, lived and farmed along the Gila River)
• Ak-Chin O'Odham (Ak-Chin Au-Authm)^[5]
• Sobaipuri (also simply called Sobas, called by the neighboring Akimel O'odham as Rsársavinâ - "spotted", lived in the valleys of the San Pedro River and Santa Cruz River, were broken up by Arivaipa and Pinaleño Apache and sought refuge among the Tohono O'odham and Akimel O'odham, with whom they became merged)

known commonly as Papagos or Desert Pimas:

• Tohono O'odham (“Desert People”, the neighboring Akimel O'odham called them Pahpah Au-Authm or Ba:bawĭkoʼa - "eating tepary beans", which was pronounced Papago by the Spanish, lived in the semi-arid deserts and mountains south of Tucson, Tubac and south of the Gila River)^[6]
  • Kuitatk (kúí tátk)
  • Sikorhimat (sikol himadk)
  • Wahw Kihk (wáw kéˑkk)
  • San Pedro (wiwpul)
  • Tciaur (jiawul dáhăk)
  • Anegam (ʔáˑngam - “desert willow”)
  • Imkah (ʔiˑmiga)
  • Tecolote (kolóˑdi, also cú´kud kúhūk)
• Hia C-eḍ O'odham (“Sand Dune People”, also known by neighboring O'odham as Hia Tadk Ku:mdam - “Sand Root Crushers”,^[7] commonly known as Sand Papagos or Sand Pimas, lived west and southwest of the Tohono O'odham in the Gran Desierto de Altar of the Sonoran Desert between the Ajo Range, the Gila River, the Colorado River and the Gulf of California south into northwestern Sonora, Mexico, were known to the Tohono O'odham as U'uva:k or U'uv Oopad, named after the Tinajas Altas Mountains)
  • Areneños Pinacateños or Pinacateños^[8] (lived in the Sierra Pinacate , called by the Hia C-eḍ O'Odham Cuk Doʼag und den Cabeza Prieta Mountains in Arizon and Sonora)
  • Areneños (lived in the Gran Desierto around the mountains, which were home to the Areneños Pinacateños)

The Akimel O'odham lived along the Gila River, Salt River, Yaqui River, and Sonora River in ranchería-style villages. The villages were set up as a loose group of houses with familial groups sharing a central ramada and kitchen area with brush round houses surrounding. The O'odham are matrilocal, and familial groups tended to consist of extended families. The Akimel O'odham also lived in temporary field houses seasonally, to tend their crops.

The O'odham language variously called Oʼodham ha-ñeʼokĭ, Oʼodham ñiʼokĭ or Oʼodham ñiok is spoken by all O'odham groups. There are certain dialectal differences, but despite these all O'odham groups can understand one another. There are also some lexicographical differences, especially in reference to newer technologies and innovations.

The economy of the Akimel O'odham was primarily dependent on subsistence, and consisted of farming, hunting and gathering, although there was extensive trading as well. Farming was dependent on an extensive irrigation system that was constructed in prehistoric times^[4] and remains in use today. Over time canal systems were built and rebuilt according to the needs of the communities. The Akimel O'odham were experts in the area of textiles and produced intricate baskets as well as woven cloth. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, their primary military rival were the Apache and Yavapai, who raided their villages at times due to competition for resources, although they also established friendly relations with the Apache. Although the Akimel O'odham did have conflicts with other groups they are thought to have been primarily a peaceable people, because they never attacked Euroamerican settlers and they were most well known for their aid to immigrants. They did, however, participate in a war cult and had a well-developed battle strategy.

History after 1694[link]

Pima home in 1900.

Initially, the Akimel O’Odham experienced little intensive colonial contact, and early exchanges instead were limited to parties traveling through the territory or community members visiting settlements to the south. The Hispanic era (A.D.1694–1853) of the Historic period began with the first visit by Father Kino in 1694. Contact also was infrequent with the Mexicans during their rule of southern Arizona between 1821 and 1848. Nevertheless, the Akimel O’Odham were affected by introduced European elements such as new cultigens (e.g., wheat), livestock, metal, and especially disease.

The American era (A.D. 1853–1950), began in 1853 with the Gadsden Purchase, when southern Arizona became part of the United States. Euroamerican contacts with the Akimel O’Odham in the middle Gila Valley increased after 1846 as a result of the Mexican-American War. New markets were developed to supply grain to the military as well as to immigrants heading for California, and the Akimel O’Odham experienced a period of prosperity. Thereafter, interaction between Native American groups and Euroamerican settlers became increasingly tense, and the U.S. Government adopted a policy of pacification and reservation confinement of Native Americans. The GRIC was established in 1859.

The following years saw the arrival of large numbers of Euroamerican migrants to upstream locations along the Gila as well as along the lower Salt River. Uncertainty and variable crop yields led to major settlement reorganizations. The establishment of agency headquarters, churches and schools, and trading posts at Casa Blanca and Sacaton during the 1870s and 1880s led to the growth of these towns as administrative and commercial centers at the expense of others. By 1898 agriculture had nearly ceased within the GRIC, and although some Akimel O’Odham drew rations, the principal livelihood was woodcutting. The first allotments within Gila River were established in 1914. Each individual was assigned a 10-acre (40,000 m²) parcel of irrigable land located within districts irrigated by the Santan, Agency, Blackwater and Casa Blanca projects on the eastern half of the reservation. In 1917, the allotment size was doubled to include a primary lot of irrigable land and a secondary, usually non-contiguous 10-acre (40,000 m²) tract of grazing land.

The most ambitious effort to rectify the economic plight of the Akimel O’Odham was the San Carlos Project Act of 1924, which authorized the construction of a water storage dam on the Gila River and provided for the irrigation of 50,000 acres (200 km²) of Indian and 50,000 acres (200 km²) of non-Indian land. For a variety of reasons, the San Carlos Project failed to revitalize the O’Odham farming economy.

Over the years, the U.S. Government placed severe acculturative pressures on the Akimel O’Odham that have affected changes in nearly every aspect of their lives. Since World War II, however, the Akimel O’Odham have experienced a resurgence of interest in tribal sovereignty and economic development, as the community has become a self-governing entity, developed several profitable enterprises in fields such as agriculture and telecommunications, built several casinos, and begun the process of revitalizing their farming economy by constructing a water delivery system across the reservation.

Akimel O'Odham and the Salt River[link]

Fine Pima baskets, photographed around 1907 by Edward S. Curtis.

The Akimel O'Odham (“River People”) have lived on the banks of the Gila River and Salt River since long before European contact.

Their way of life (himdagĭ, sometimes rendered in English as Him-dag) was and is centered around the river, which is considered holy. The term Him-dag should be clarified, as it does not have a direct translation into the English language, and is not limited to reverence of the river. It encompasses a great deal because O'odham him-dag intertwines religion, morals, values, philosophy, and general world view which are all interconnected. Their world view/religious beliefs are centered around the natural world, and this is pervasive throughout their culture.

The Gila and Salt Rivers are currently dry, due to upstream dams that block the flow and the diversion of water by non-native farmers. This has been a cause of great upset among all of the O'odham. The upstream diversion in combination with periods of drought, led to lengthy periods of famine that were a devastating change from the documented prosperity the people had experienced until non-native settlers engaged in more aggressive farming in areas that were traditionally used by the Akimel O'odham and Apache in Eastern Arizona. This abuse of water rights was the impetus for a nearly century long legal battle between the Gila River Indian Community and the United States Government, which was settled in favor of the Akimel O'Odham and signed into law by George W. Bush in December 2005. As a side note, at times during the monsoon season the Salt river runs, albeit at low levels. In the weeks after December 29, 2004, when an unexpected winter rainstorm flooded areas much further upstream (in Northern Arizona), water was released through dams on the river at rates higher than at any time since the filling of Tempe Town Lake in 1998, and was a cause for minor celebration in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) was established on June 14, 1879 and is made of two very distinct Native American tribes: The Pima and the Maricopa. The diversion of the water and the introduction of non-native diet had devastating effects on the health of the people as well.

Modern life[link]

General Douglas MacArthur meeting Navajo, Pima, Pawnee and other Native American troops.

Douglas Miles (Akimel O'odham-San Carlos Apache), artist, youth advocate, and founder of Apache Skateboard.^[9]

Currently, the majority of the population is based in the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), although in historic times a large number of Akimel O'Odham migrated north to occupy the banks of the Salt River and formed the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). Both tribes are confederations of two distinct cultures that include the Maricopa. Within the O'odham people there are four tribes in the Southwest who speak the same language called the Gila River Indian Community (Keli Akimel O'Odham - “Gila River People”), the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (Onk Akimel O'Odham - “Salt River People”), the Ak-Chin Indian Community (Ak-Chin O'odham) and the Tohono O'Odham Nation (Tohono O'Odham - “Desert People”). The remaining band, the Hia C-ed O'odham ("Sand Dune People"), are not federally recognized, but reside throughout southwestern Arizona.

Today the GRIC is a sovereign tribe residing on over 550,000 acres (2,200 km²) of land in central Arizona. The community is divided into seven districts (similar to states) with individual subgovernments "council". It is self-governed by an elected Governor (currently William Rhodes), Lieutenant Governor (currently Joseph Manuel) and 18 member tribal council. The council is elected by district with the number of electees determined by district population. There are over 16,000 enrolled members overall.

Today the Gila River Indian Community is involved in various economic development enterprises that include three casinos, golf courses, a luxury resort, a western themed amusement park, various industrial parks, landfills and construction supply. The GRIC is also involved in agriculture and runs its own farms and other agricultural projects. The Gila River Indian Reservation is home of Maricopa (Piipaa, Piipaash or Pee-Posh - “People”) and Keli Akimel O'Odham (also Keli Akimel Au-Authm - “Gila River People”, a division of the Akimel O'Odham - “River People”).

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is smaller in size and is governed by an elected President and tribal council as well. They are also involved in tribal gaming, industrial projects, landfills and construction supply. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) is home of the Onk Akimel O'Odham (also On'k Akimel Au-Authm - “Salt River People”, a division of the Akimel O'Odham - “River People”), the Maricopa of Lehi (call themselves Xalychidom Piipaa or Xalychidom Piipaash - “People who live toward the water”, descendants of the refugee Halchidhoma), the Tohono O'Odham (“Desert People”) and some Keli Akimel O'Odham (also Keli Akimel Au-Authm - “Gila River People”, a other division of the Akimel O'Odham - “River People”).

The Ak-Chin Indian Community is located in the Santa Cruz Valley in Arizona. The community is composed mainly of Ak-Chin O'odham (Ak-Chin Au-Authm, also called Pima, another division of the Akimel O'odham - “River People”) and Tohono O'odham, as well as some Yoeme As of 2000, the population living in the community was 742. Ak-Chin is an O'odham word that means the "mouth of the arroyo" or "place where the wash loses itself in the sand or ground."

As was previously mentioned during the discussion of the diversion of the Gila River, the Keli Akimel O'odham and the Onk Akimel O'odham have various environmentally based health issues that can be traced directly back to that point in time when the traditional economy was devastated. They have the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the world, much more than is observed in other U.S. populations. While they do not have a greater risk than other tribes, the Pima people have been the subject of intensive study of diabetes, in part because they form a homogeneous group.^[10] The general increased diabetes prevalence among Native Americans has been hypothesized as the result of the interaction of genetic predisposition (the thrifty phenotype or thrifty genotype as suggested by anthropologist Robert Ferrell in 1984^[10]) and a sudden shift in diet from traditional agricultural goods towards processed foods in the past century. For comparison, genetically similar O'odham in Mexico have only a slighter higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes than non-O'odham Mexicans^[11]

Customs[link]

From age ten until the time of marriage, neither boys nor girls were allowed to speak their own names. The penalty was bad luck and the name of a deceased person is not used. The word or words in the name however are not dropped from the language. Children were given careful oral instruction in moral, religious and other matters. In addition, set speeches, which recited portions of cosmic myth, were a feature of many ceremonies and were especially important in the preparation for war. These speeches were adapted for each occasion but the general context was the same.

Pimas of note[link]

• Ira Hayes (1923–1955), Marine Paratrooper and Iwo Jima flagraiser

See also[link]

• Pima Indian Revolt
• O'odham language
• Man in the Maze
• List of dwellings of Pueblo peoples

Notes[link]

This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (November 2011)

References[link]

• DeJong, David H. Forced to Abandon Our Fields: The 1914 Clay Southworth Gila River Pima Interviews. 2010. ISBN 978-1-60781-095-7.
• Ortiz, Alfonzo, volume editor. "Handbook of North American Indians. v. 10 Southwest." Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1983.
• Pritzker, Barry. A Native American Encyclopedia. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-19-513877-5.
• Waldman, Carl. Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. New York: Checkmark, 1999. ISBN 0-8160-3964-X

External links[link]

• Gila River Indian Community, official website

Clarence William Dupnik (born January 11, 1936) is an American law enforcement official. Dupnik was appointed Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, in February 1980 to fill a vacancy rising from the resignation of his predecessor, Richard Boykin. He won election in his own right in September 1980, and has been re-elected every four years since. Dupnik is a member of the Democratic party.

Life and career[link]

Dupnik was born in Helena, Texas, and grew up in Bisbee, Arizona. He attended the University of Arizona in Tucson. He graduated from polygraph training school Keeler Institute in Chicago, the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, and the Urban Affairs Executive Institute at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He joined the Tucson Police Department in 1958, as a Patrol Officer, eventually rising to Major in charge of Field Operations. In 1977 he was appointed Chief Deputy with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, and in 1980 he was appointed Sheriff. He was elected seven times to four-year terms as Sheriff.^[1]

Because Pima County shares a border with Mexico, Dupnik's office handles a wide range of illegal immigration^[2] and drug trafficking matters.^[3]

Dupnik also won the contest to name the Tucson Toros baseball team.^[4]

On June 22, 2011, Dupnik announced he would be dedicating about 20 officers to a task force to jail people for letting off fireworks on the 4th of July, to protect against sparking new wildfires.^[5]

Political views[link]

Dupnik was a vocal opponent of Arizona's anti-illegal immigrant bill SB 1070. In April 2010, Dupnik used drastic language to criticize the law, calling it "racist," "disgusting" and "stupid" as well as unessential.^[6]

In September 2010, Dupnik criticized the Tea Party movement at an immigration forum, publicly claiming the movement was associated with bigotry.^[7]

2011 Tucson shootings[link]

Dupnik's office was responsible for security and later oversaw local response and investigation of the 2011 Tucson shootings. Dupnik stated that he felt that the level of vitriol in political discourse created an atmosphere where violence was likely. "It's not unusual for all public officials to get threats constantly, myself included. That's the sad thing about what's going on in America: pretty soon we're not going to be able to find reasonable, decent people willing to subject themselves to serve in public office."^[8] Conservatives criticized Dupnik's comments as misplaced and uninformed.^[9] In an interview with Fox News' Megyn Kelly, Dupnik stated that he had not seen evidence linking the shooting to discussions in the media, but believed the issue had to be raised.^[10] Representative Trent Franks stated "I'm especially disappointed in the sheriff because we were looking to him for straight facts and he politicized this. I don't want to be unkind but I was disappointed."^[9]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Clarence Dupnik profile via Pima County Sheriff's Department

Laura Pausini
Pausini on 30 April 2009, performing in Barcelona during her World Tour 2009
Background information
Birth name	Laura Alice Rossella Pausini
Born	(1974-05-16) 16 May 1974 (age 38) Solarolo, Province of Ravenna, Italy
Origin	Emilia–Romagna, Italy
Genres	Soul, pop, pop rock, Latin pop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1993–present
Labels	CGD, CGD East West, Atlantic, Warner
Associated acts	Eros Ramazzotti, Hélène Segara, Andrea Bocelli, Tiziano Ferro
Website	www.laurapausini.com

Laura Alice Rossella Pausini, omri (Italian pronunciation: [pauˈziːni]; born 16 May 1974) is an Italian soul singer-songwriter. She debuted in 1993, winning the newcomer artists' section of the 43rd Sanremo Music Festival with the song "La solitudine",^[1] which became an Italian standard^[2] and an international hit, reaching the top spot on the Italian Singles Chart^[3] and the top 10 in France and the Netherlands.^[4]

Her eponymous debut album was released in Italy on 18 May 1993 and later became an international success, selling two million copies worldwide.^[5] Her second studio album, Laura, was released in 1994 and confirmed her success, selling 3,000,000 copies worldwide^[6] and spawning the hit singles "Strani amori" and "Gente". In November 1994 she released her first Spanish language album, titled Laura Pausini and composed of ten songs included in her previous works. The album was certified Diamond by the Association of Phonographic and Videographic of Spain,^[7] making her the first non-Spanish artist to sell more than 1,000,000 copies in Spain.^[8]

During her career, she won three Latin Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Album, with her records Escucha (2005),^[9] Yo canto (2007)^[10] and Primavera anticipada (2009).^[11] On 8 February 2006 she also became the first Italian female artist to win a Grammy Award,^[12] receiving the prize for Best Latin Pop Album with Escucha.^[13] As of November 2011, she had released 10 Italian-language studio albums, 9 Spanish-language albums and a greatest hits album. In 2004, Allmusic's Jason Birchmeier considered Pausini's sales "an impressive feat for someone who'd never really broken into the lucrative English–language market".^[14]

Biography[link]

Childhood and early beginnings[link]

The elder of two daughters, Laura Pausini was born in Faenza (Province of Ravenna, Italy)^[15] to Fabrizio Pausini and Gianna Ballardini^[16] and raised in Solarolo.^[17][A] Her first live performance was on 16 May 1985, when she sang together with her father in a piano bar in Bologna.^[18] Since then, her father started giving her singing lessons^[19] and she continued to perform alongside him in local piano bars. In the meanwhile, she also started singing in a church choir.^[20]

In 1987 she recorded her first demo album, produced by her father and released to promote her live shows. Titled I sogni di Laura, it consisted of 8 covers and 5 new songs.^[21] In 1991 she participated in the Castrocaro Music Festival singing Liza Minnelli's "New York, New York", but failed to reach the final stage of the competition.^[18]

Career breakthrough: 1993[link]

Her career was launched in 1993, when she debuted in the newcomer artists' section of the 43rd San Remo Music Festival. On 27 February, she won the competition with her entry "La solitudine",^[1] which later became one of her best-known hits.^[22] In March 1993, the song peaked at number one on the Italian Singles Chart,^[3] maintaining the top spot for three consecutive weeks.^[23] Following the success obtained with her first single, she signed a contract with Warner Music Italy to produce her first professional album, Laura Pausini.^[24] Released by CGD Records in May 1993,^[17] the album reached the sixth position on the Italian Albums Chart,^[25] selling 400,000 copies in Italy.^[26]

In late 1993, the album was released in the rest of Europe, peaking at number three on the Dutch Albums Chart.^[27] Moreover, "La solitudine" became a radio hit in Belgium and the Netherlands,^[28] and peaked at number five on the French Singles Chart and at number two on the Dutch Singles Chart.^[4]

The album also spawned the singles "Non c'è" and "Perché non torna più".

Spanish-language debut and international success: 1994–1995[link]

In February 1994, Pausini participated for the second time in the Sanremo Music Festival, competing in the "Big Artists" section with the song "Strani amori". The song ranked third in the competition^[29] and was included in her second studio album, Laura, released in February 1994. According to CGD Records, the album sold 150,000 copies in Italy in its first week, with initial shipments of 200,000 copies.^[30] It also peaked at number one on the Dutch Albums Chart and entered the charts in Belgium and Switzerland,^[31] selling three million copies worldwide.^[6] Other singles from the album were "Gente", "Lui non sta con te" and "Lettera".

In November 1994, Pausini released her first Spanish-language album, Laura Pausini, a compilation of ten adapted versions of hits from her first two Italian albums. The record became the best selling album of 1994 in Spain^[32][33] and was later certified Diamond by the Association of Phonographic and Videographic of Spain,^[7] selling more than 1,000,000 copies in Spain and making Pausini the first non-Spanish artist to achieve this result.^[8]

The album was successful in Latin America too, being certified Platinum by the Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers^[34] and by the Asociación Colombiana de Productores de Fonogramas.^[35] Moreover, the first four singles from the album, "La soledad", "Se fue", "Amores extraños" and "Gente", entered the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks.^[36] Thanks to these results, Billboard ranked Pausini the second female revelation of 1994, after Mariah Carey.^[37][38] In 1995 Pausini also received the World Music Award for Best Selling Italian Recording Artist^[39] and the Lo Nuestro Award for Best New Artist of the Year.^[37][40]

Pausini's first record for the Anglophone market was a self-titled compilation released in 1995, including 9 Italian-language hits and an English-language version of her first single, "La solitudine (Loneliness)",^[41] adapted by Tim Rice^[42] and released as a single in the United Kingdom on 19 June 1995. However, the album and the single failed to chart.

[edit] Third album and World Wide Tour 1997: 1996–1997

Following the success obtained by Pausini's debut Spanish album, her third album was released in 1996 both in Italian and Spanish, starting "a practice that [has] come to define her career and compound her success".^[14] The album, titled Le cose che vivi / Las cosas que vives, was released on 12 September 1996 and was preceded by the single "Incancellabile".^[43] A special edition of the album was released in Brazil, featuring three additional bonus tracks in Portuguese.^[44]

On 1 March 1997, Pausini launched from Ginevra the World Wide Tour in support of her new album, giving concerts around the world for four months.^[45] The album sold 3,500,000 million copies worldwide^[6] and was certified Platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, for European sales exceeding 1,000,000 copies.^[46]

[edit] La mia risposta / Mi respuesta and second World Tour: 1998–1999

In 1998, Pausini released La mia risposta / Mi respuesta, her fourth studio album, including a song penned by Phil Collins.^[47] The album was dubbed by music critics as a mature work, with influences from soul music,^[47] but was a moderate commercial success, selling two million copies worldwide.^[6]

To promote the album, Pausini began in early 1999 the La mia risposta World Tour '99, during which she performed in theatres throughout Europe.^[48] On 1 June 1999, she was one of the artists performing along with Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti in Modena during his annual "Pavarotti and Friends" concert.^[49] Pavarotti and Pausini duetted in the Italian version of the aria Dein ist mein ganzes Herz, titled Tu che m'hai preso il cuor, from Franz Lehár's operetta Das Land des Lächelns. The live performance was later included in the album Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Guatemala and Kosovo.^[50]

In 1999 she also contributed the Richard Marx composition "One More Time" to the Message in a Bottle soundtrack.^[51] The track was produced by David Foster^[52] who was featured on piano.

[edit] Tra te e il mare / Entre tú y mil mares and greatest hits album: 2000–2001

In 2000, she recorded the song "The Extra Mile" for the soundtrack of the movie Pokémon 2000: The Power of One.^[53][54] The song was included in the album Tra te e il mare / Entre tú y mil mares, released on 11 September 2000 and preceded by the homonymous single, written by the Italian pop singer Biagio Antonacci.^[55] The album also features the song "Viaggio con te", awarded in 2001 with the Italian Lunezia Award for Best Songwriter of the Year.^[56]

2001 saw the release of Pausini's first hits compilation both in Italian and Spanish: The Best of Laura Pausini: E ritorno da te / Lo mejor de Laura Pausini: Volveré junto a ti. The first single's video, "E ritorno da te" / "Volveré junto a ti", was filmed by Italian film director Gabriele Muccino.^[57] The album also includes the single "Una storia che vale" and features guest appearances by Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil in "Seamisai"^[58] and by Italian singer Nek, who plays the bass in "Non c'è".^[59] Supported by the 2001/2002 World Tour, which started in Miami on 19 October 2001,^[58] the greatest hits became one of Pausini's biggest commercial successes, selling 700,000 copies in Italy and 800,000 copies in France.^[60]

On 30 November 2002, Pausini released Live 2001-2002 World Tour, her first live DVD, filmed during the concert she gave in Milan on 2 December 2001.^[61][62]

[edit] From the Inside, the debut in the United States: 2002–2003

In 2001, Pausini started working with producers such as Patrick Leonard and John Shanks^[63] on her first English language album, From the Inside.^[64] Released in Canada, Mexico and the United States by Atlantic Records on 5 November 2002, the album did not get the expected success, selling 100,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen-Soundscan.^[65] The album singles "Surrender" and "If That's Love" reached the top spot on the Hot Dance Club Songs Chart,^[66] but Pausini, disappointed at her English language debut being ignored in the U.S. outside the club scene, abandoned the promotion for From the Inside.^[67] The album was later released in Europe too, selling 800,000 copies worldwide.^[60]

In 2003 Luciano Pavarotti invited her for the second time to the "Pavarotti and Friends" concert, where they duetted again in "Tu che m'hai preso il cuor".^[68]

[edit] Resta in ascolto / Escucha and the Grammy: 2004–2005

Laura Pausini during the presentation of her album Resta in ascolto / Escucha in 2004.

In October 2004 Pausini released her eight studio album, Resta in ascolto / Escucha. Influenced by international artists including Phil Collins and Celine Dion,^[69] the recording is on the subject of a break-up and was written in 2002, during her separation from her ex-boyfriend and producer Alfredo Cerruti.^[70]

The album features the song "Mi abbandono a te" / "Me abandono a ti", co-written by Pausini, Rick Nowels and Madonna. It also includes the ballad "Vivimi" / "Viveme", written by Biagio Antonacci, and the single "Benedetta passione" / "Bendecida pasión", penned by Italian rock-star Vasco Rossi.^[71] Well received by music critics,^[72][73] the album is mainly focused on themes of anger, bitterness,^[70] desire for independence^[74] and interior peace,^[71] but also features a song about the Iraq War, in which Pausini sings about Ali Ismail Abbas, a boy who was severely injured in a nighttime rocket attack near Baghdad in 2003.^[75]

The album debuted at number one on the Italian Albums Chart^[76] and sold 350,000 copies in Italy.^[77] Its Spanish version later won Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards of 2005^[9] and Best Latin Pop Album at the 48th Grammy Awards,^[13] making Pausini the first Italian female artist to win a Grammy Award.^[12]

Pausini made a guest appearance on Michael Bublé's 2005 live album Caught in the Act, singing a duet with Bublé of Lou Rawls' hit "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine". The duet was placed on both the audio CD, and the full concert DVD that aired on PBS as an episode of Great Performances.

At the 2006 Lo Nuestro Award, Pausini was nominated in the sections Album of the Year for Escucha, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Viveme"^[78] and won the Award for Best Female Pop Artist.^[79]

In January 2005, Pausini started a new tour to promote the album.^[80] The concerts she gave at the Zénith de Paris on 22 and 23 March 2005 were filmed and released as a live album in November 2005, titled Live in Paris 05.^[81]

[edit] Io canto and the concert in San Siro: 2006–2007

Pausini performing during the Festival Teatro-Canzone, in memory of Italian singer Giorgio Gaber, on 21 July 2007.

In November 2006, Pausini released the album Io canto / Yo canto, consisting of covers of Italian pop rock songs.^[82] On the album liner notes, Pausini wrote: "here is the music I listen to when I'm at my saddest, or when I feel a moment is special, the songs I used to sing as a young girl when I first started performing, and above all those which taught me to love music, and how music can move you so deeply, regardless of its genre or style".^[83]

The album also features duets with Tiziano Ferro, Juanes and Johnny Hallyday.^[84] It debuted at number one on the Italian Albums Chart and held the top spot for 8 non-consecutive weeks.^[85] It also became the best-selling album of 2006 in Italy, selling 500,000 copies in less than two months.^[86] On 8 November 2007, the album won Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards.^[10] Laura dedicated the award to the memory of Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.^[87][88] Later on during the show she sang "Vivere (Dare to Live)" alongside Italian singer Andrea Bocelli.^[10]

In Summer 2006, Pausini played a Juntos en Concierto tour with Marc Anthony and Marco Antonio Solís,^[89] consisting of 20 concerts throughout the United States.^[90]

On 2 June 2007, Laura Pausini was the first female artist to play at the San Siro Stadium in Milan,^[91] in front of a crowd of 70,000 spectators.^[92] On 30 November 2007, the concert was released on CD and DVD, under the title San Siro 2007.^[93]

[edit] Primavera in anticipo, Amiche per l'Abruzzo and Laura Live World Tour 09: 2008–2010

Pausini spent the first months of 2008 recording her tenth studio album, Primavera in anticipo / Primavera anticipada. The Spanish language edition of the album was released on 11 November 2008,^[94] while the Italian language edition was released in Italy on 14 November 2008.^[95] The album was preceded by the single "Invece no" / "En cambio no", released on 24 October 2008^[96] and promoted with an appearance in Piazza Trinità dei Monti in Rome on 14 November 2008.^[97] The album also features a the single "Primavera in anticipo (It Is My Song)" / Primavera anticipada (It Is My Song)", a duet with British singer-songwriter James Blunt.^[98] In November 2009 the album won Best Female Album at the Latin Grammy Awards.^[11] In 2010 Pausini also won the Lo Nuestro Award for Female Artist of the Year.^[99]

Laura Pausini during the mega-concert Amiche per l'Abruzzo on 21 June 2009

On 21 June 2009, Pausini organized a mega-concert in the San Siro Stadium in Milan, raising money to support the victims of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake. The concert, named Amiche per l'Abruzzo, involved 43 Italian female singers^[100] and was later released on a DVD, which sold 250,000 copies in Italy.^[101]

In the meanwhile, Pausini began on 5 March 2009 from Turin the World Tour 2009,^[102] which reached Europe in May 2009^[102] and then South America and the United States in Autumn 2009.^[103][104] The last leg of the tour took place in Italy in November 2009.^[105] A CD of the tour, along with a DVD, was released on 27 November 2009 with the title Laura Live World Tour 09 / Laura Live Gira Mundial 09.^[106] The album also includes three new song, the singles "Con la musica alla radio" / "Con la musica en la radio", "Non sono lei" / "Ella no soy" and "Casomai" / "Menos mal".^[106]

[edit] Inedito and the 2012 World Tour: 2011–present

Laura Pausini during a show from the Inedito World Tour in January 2012

On 30 December 2010, Pausini announced her eleventh studio album,^[107] Inedito / Inédito, released both in Italian and Spanish on 11 November 2011.^[108] The title and the tracklist of the album were announced through Pausini's website on 10 September 2011. The first single from the album, "Benvenuto" / "Bienvenido", was released on 12 September 2011.^[109][110]

In order to promote the album, Pausini engaged the Inedito World Tour, starting with 11 shows in Italy in late December 2011.^[111] The tour reached Latin America in January and February 2012,.^[112] The European leg of her tour visited the principle arenas of France,Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Holland, and concluded at the Royal Albert hall in London. ef>"Laura Pausini, le date del tour europeo" (in Italian). musica.excite.it. 11 April 2011. http://musica.excite.it/laura-pausini-tour-europeo-2011-tutte-le-N70779.html. Retrieved 30 July 2011. </ref>

The album also spawned the singles "Non ho mai smesso"^[113] / "Jamás abandoné",^[114] "Bastava" / "Bastaba"^[115] and "Mi tengo" / "Me quedo".

Artistry[link]

Laura Pausini is described as a mezzo-soprano^[116] with a classic and powerful voice.^[117][118] Due to her voice, Pausini has been compared by music critics to various female artists, including Milva,^[119] Celine Dion,^[120][121] Mariah Carey^[121] and Barbra Streisand.^[122]

At the beginning of her career, she has been described by music critics as a teen idol^[123] mainly singing about adolescent love affairs and problems.^{[124][125][126]} She was also strongly criticized for her songs, described as too much melancholic^[127] and trivial.^[128] Starting from her 1998's La mia risposta / Mi respuesta, Italian music critics considered her as a more mature singer^[124] and later praised her simplicity^[129] and her voice,^[130] describing Pausini as an interpret of her years.^[131]

Although her music is mainly based on typical Italian melody,^{[132][133][134]} her musical style evolved during her career, with influences from various genres, including Latin music,^[135] soul music^[8][47] and rock music.^[136] According to Musica e dischi's Antonio Orlando, the key elements in Pausini's style are romanticism, optimism, melancholy and surrounding melodies.^[137]

Starting from her 1996's album Le cose che vivi / Las cosas que vives, Pausini has also co-wrote most of her songs^[137][138] and starting from her 1998's La mia risposta / Mi respuesta she has been involved in the production of her albums.^[139]

Personal life[link]

Pausini left her hometown in 1995, when she moved to Milan with her partner, manager and producer Alfredo Cerruti Jr.^[140][141] Their relationship ended in 2002. Between 2002 and 2005 Pausini was romantically involved with her new manager, Gabriele Parisi.^[70] She is currently engaged with the Italian guitarist, composer, music producer and former singer Paolo Carta.^[142][143]

Pausini describes herself as a Roman Catholic woman,^[53][144] but expressed doubts about Roman Church's position on various themes, including contraception, abortion and premarital sex.^[145] In September 2000 she explained her position during an interview to the Italian newspaper la Repubblica:^[53]

I believe so much in God, and the Pope is the man I want to meet the most in the world. I've known him in 1996. I just have a few doubts about the Catholic Church, like for example the discrimination against homosexuals. I don't understand why they condemn racism, but at the same time they take issue with gay people.

Honours[link]

– Commander Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: Awarded the fourth highest civil honor in Italy, by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi on 6 February 2006.

Discography[link]

• 1993: Laura Pausini
• 1994: Laura
• 1994: Laura Pausini (Spanish)
• 1996: Le cose che vivi / Las cosas que vives
• 1998: La mia risposta / Mi respuesta
• 2000: Tra te e il mare / Entre tú y mil mares
• 2002: From the Inside
• 2004: Resta in ascolto / Escucha
• 2006: Io canto / Yo canto
• 2008: Primavera in anticipo / Primavera anticipada
• 2011: Inedito / Inédito

Tours[link]

Awards[link]

Notes[link]

References[link]