Napoli Idols


  • Photographer
    Marika Dee
  • Prize
    Honorable Mention
  • Date of Photograph
    May and June 2013
  • Technical Info
    Nikon D4

Seventeen-year-old Fortuna is famous in the popular neighbourhoods of the southern Italian city of Naples. Ten years ago she started out as a singer of neomelodica music, a genre which mixes traditional Neapolitan music and pop music. The neomelodica music scene is a real money-making business involving hundreds of people and businesses: adult and child singers, composers, TV stations etc. The child’s family invests a considerable amount of money in the hope that this may lead to opportunities. Private parties make up the largest chunk of revenue; it’s not uncommon for a child to perform at several events per day.

Story

Seventeen-year-old Fortuna is famous in the popular neighborhoods of the southern Italian city of Naples. She is part of an army of neomelodici, child and adult singers of neomelodica music, a genre which mixes traditional Neapolitan music and pop music. The love for neomelodic music is widespread among the popular classes in and around Naples.
The neomelodica music scene is a real money-making business involving hundreds of people and businesses: composers, impresarios, video producers, recording studios, TV stations etc. Some players in this business have been linked to organized crime, very much present in this region.
Families invest a considerable amount of money in the hope that it may lead to opportunities for their child. With competition fierce, the need for self promotion is high. Almost all children have recorded one or more CDs, but most income is generated by performing at private parties such as wedding celebrations, confirmations and street festivals. In high season, running from May to August, it’s not uncommon for a child to perform at several events per day. Having debuted at the age of seven, at seventeen Fortuna is already a veteran. According to her father-manager every year she has around 350 gigs; last year she broke her all-time record with a dozen performances in one day.
Children dream of spreading their fame all over Italy but it’s very rare for neomelodici to break into the mainstream music business. Most likely they will be stuck in the local circuit of restaurants, banquet halls and piazzas.

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