Maria Odete Brito de Miranda de Souza (born 29 May 1959),[2][3] known professionally as Gretchen, is a Brazilian singer and media personality. Gretchen is the older sister of Brazilian country singer Sula Miranda, and mother of Brazilian politician Thammy Miranda. She is known for reinventing her music and image, and for keeping her autonomy within the music industry.[4] She has a vast musical repertory, and has been the source of some controversy throughout her career. Referred to as the "Rainha do Bumbum" ("Butt Queen"),[5] Gretchen has sold 15 million records over nearly four decades.[6][7]
Her professional name was inspired by the Brazilian movie Aleluia, Gretchen, which tells the story of a German Brazilian immigrant family.[8]
Career
After doing backing vocals for years, Gretchen appeared on a TV show in 1978 and soon recorded her debut single, "Dance With Me",[9]disco song inspired in Charo's "Dance a Little Bit Closer".[10] In 1980, 1981 and 1982, she released her three most successful albums: My Name Is Gretchen, You and Me, and Lonely.[9] These three albums featured songs that became hallmarks in her career, such as "Freak Le Boom Boom",[2] "Melô do Piripipi", "Conga Conga Conga".[2][9] She sold more than 15 million records worldwide.[11] Between 1980 and 1982, she grabbed the media's attention by making "sexy" music, while still enjoying popularity among children. After Lonely in 1982, she went on a downward spiral while trying to remain on the charts. Born as a Roman Catholic, Gretchen embraced the Protestant faith in the 1990s, and began singing gospel music.[9]
By the end of the 1990s, her hits had returned to the dance floors. With the emergence of Butt Music stars like Carla Perez, Gretchen was eventually recognized as a forerunner of the hip shakers.[5][9] The compilation 20 Super Sucessos came out in 1998 on Copacabana/EMI.
Gretchen signed a contract to star in a porn movie for Brazilian porn producers Brasileirinhas in 2006, following the example of Rita Cadillac, with whom she appeared in the 1982 pornochanchadaAluga-se Moças.[2] The movie, La Conga Sex,[12][13] was released by November, followed by another porn title, Carnaval 2007, released in February 2007.
Gretchen has become a pop culture and internet icon during the 2010s.[19] American recording artist Katy Perry claimed that "She is the internet!"[20] Alvaro Neder of AllMusic wrote about her rise to stardom and the impact of her dancing style:
Relying in her dizzying curves and hot dancing style, the Carioca vocalist Gretchen was launched in the late 70's by Mister Sam, soon performing around Brazil with the group Záccaro. After her TV debut at the Sílvio Santos show, she was invited to record "Dance With Me", but big hits ("Freak Le Boom Boom", "Melô do Piripiri", "Conga Conga Conga" "I Love You/Je T'Aime") came only between 1980-2 with My Name Is Gretchen, You and Me and Lonely. In that period, she became a popularity phenomenon, having been one of the most successful Brazilian artists, performing shows by the thousands and appearing regularly in the most famous TV programmes [...] With the decline of her vogue in the 80's, despite her efforts in the exploration of new fashionable rhythms like the lambada, she converted to Protestantism and became a gospel singer. In the 90's her hits became cults in the Brazilian elegant dance floors, and, with the success of similarly shaped and styled singers/dancers like Carla Perez and others revealed by É o Tchan and its epigones, Gretchen was finally acknowledged as the pioneer of a style.[21]
Personal life
Gretchen has seven children, five biological and two adoptive, including Thammy Miranda;[22] she is also the sister of Yara and Sula Miranda, who are also in the music business.
During her career, Gretchen had many boyfriends, who often appeared in the media as her husbands, totaling 17 alleged husbands,[23] when in fact there were five.[24] In 2015 the singer was living in Monaco, where she opened a clothing store. Gretchen resided in a duplex with her husband.[25]
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