Taleesa
{{Short description|Italian singer (born 1960)}}
{{Orphan|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Taleesa
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Emanuela Gubinelli
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1960|11|19}}
| birth_place =Matelica, Province of Macerata, Italy
| occupation = Singer
}}
Emanuela Gubinelli (born 19 November 1960 in Matelica) is an Italian singer. Throughout her career, she adopted several stage names: Marina Lai (3 singles, until 1984); Ross (1 single); Angie Starr (2 singles, 1991–1992); Donna Luna (3 singles, 1990–1992); Emanuella (1 single, 1992); Karin Rex (1 single, 1991); Mandy Gordon (1 single, 1991); Paula March (1 single, 1992); Talysha (1 single, 1991) - the best known of which is Taleesa.
As Taleesa she sang Eurodance songs, and became world famous{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/gazzettadelmolise/docs/11a28|title=11a by Gazzetta del Molise free press|website=Issuu|access-date=2025-04-18}} with the song Because the Night, in which she sang alongside the duo CO.RO.[https://radio.vinci-autoroutes.com/article/co-ro-feat-taleesa-because-the-night-1992--6587 radio.vinci-autoroutes.com/]
CO-RO FEAT TALEESA « BECAUSE THE NIGHT » (1992) {{in lang|fr}} The song was successful in several countries in Europe and South America, reaching number 1 in Spain and the top 10 in Belgium, France, Greece and Italy,{{cite web|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Co.Ro+Feat.+Taleesa&titel=Because+the+Night&cat=s|title=Swedishcharts.com – Co.Ro Feat. Taleesa – Because the Night|access-date=2021-10-04|work=Swedishcharts}} and selling over 660,000 copies worldwide. The song There's Something Going On also performed well.{{cite web|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Co%2ERo%2E+feat%2E+Taleesa&titel=There%27s+Something+Going+On&cat=s|title=Swedishcharts.com – Co.Ro Feat. Taleesa – There's Something Going On|access-date=2023-07-13|work=Swedishcharts}}
History
; As "Marina Lai"
Using the pseudonym Marina Lai, in 1977 she won the Festival di Castrocaro. This victory was followed by numerous appearances on radio and television broadcasts accompanied by the release of several successful 45 RPM singles. She lent her voice to jingles for television commercials, such as Postal Market. In 1982 she performed at the Sanremo Festival with the song "Centomila Amori Miei".{{cite web|url=https://bubinoblog.altervista.org/la-storia-del-festival-di-sanremo-1982/|website=bubinoblog.altervista.org|title=bubinoblog.altervista.org/la-storia-del-festival-di-sanremo-1982/|date=9 December 2016 |access-date=2025-04-18 |author1=Bubinoblog }} The song, although it did not reach the final, was a good sales success.
; As "Manuela"
From the second half of the 1980s onwards, she abandoned Italian pop and devoted herself to dance and techno-dance, adopting the pseudonym "Manuela". As "Manuela", she sang songs such as "I'm Crazy For You" and "Love For Free" (1988), which performed very well in the Italian music charts.
She also worked as a session musician, lending her voice to various dance projects, including Morena, for which she recorded 7 singles, Ann Sinclare and Linda Ross.
In 1990, she collaborated on the composition of the songs I say yeah and Keep on jammin by Stefano Secchi.
In the same years, he participated as a backing vocalist on the albums of Cristiano De André (1987 and 2001), Franco Fasano (Un cielo che non sai), Jo Squillo (Movimenti), Patrizia Bulgari (Il bar degli arrivisti) and Papa Winnie (One Blood One love). In 1987 he sang backing vocals on Den Harrow's Day by Day.
; As "Taleesa"
In 1992, she changed her stage name to Taleesa. It was in this year that she met the duo CO.RO. (Emanuele Cozzi and Maurizio Rossi), who wanted to record the song "Master and Servant", originally by Depeche Mode. The vocalist they had found did not please them, so they asked Taleesa, who had already worked with Maurizio Rossi on a single called "I Say Yeah", to audition.
To warm up her vocals, she began singing the song "Because the Night", originally released by Patti Smith. Emanuele Cozzi and Maurizio were impressed by her voice and as a result they decided to leave the Depeche Mode song aside and record Because the Night, released in 1992 and which was a great success in Europe. Taleesa was invited to participate in some tracks of the album that would be released by them. She also participated in the tracks "I Break Down and Cry", "There's Something Going On" (a cover of the singer Frida) and "4 Your Love".
In demand by several producers, in 1993 she recorded with Stefano Secchi the song "A Brighter Day", a cover of the song "Una storia importante" by Eros Ramazzotti, which was a huge success on the radio and dance floors.
In the summer of 1993, she began a collaboration with Aladino for the single Make It Right Now. Again with Aladino she participated in the songs Brothers in the Space, released in the autumn/winter of 1993/1994 and considered one of the most important songs of the nineties, and in Call My Name.
In the autumn of 1994, Taleesa began her solo career and the single I Found Luv was released. In December of the same year she participated in the creation of the Christmas song for Radio Deejay Radio Deejay 4 Christmas - Song for You.
Discography
- 1979 - Io vivo/Mi manchi un po' (como "Marina Lai")
- 1982 - Centomila amori miei/Mi piaci di più (como "Marina Lai")
- 1984 - Vola/Romantico animale (como "Marina Lai")
- 1985 - Dancing in paris (como "Angel")
- 1987 - I'm crazy for you (como "Emanuela Gubinelli")
- 1987 - Love for free (como "Emanuela Gubinelli")
- 1989 - Touch my heart (como "Angel")
- 1990 - I will never try to change you (como "Donna Luna")
- 1990 - Fire (como "Powerband")
- 1991 - Come on come on (como "Donna Luna")
- 1991 - Everibody my be wrong (como "Citizen Kane")
- 1991 - Baby i'm sorry (como "Giselle")
- 1991 - Leave me alone (como "Licia")
- 1991 - let my try again (como "Jackie Moore")
- 1991 - Hold me in your arms (como "Karin Rex")
- 1991 - Hold me please (como "Angie Starr")
- 1991 - Living for love (como "Talysha")
- 1991 - Tokyo night (como "Mandy Gordon")
- 1991 - Baby don't stop (como "8 a.m.")
- 1991 - Chica Boom (como "Mio Tipo")
- 1991 - Baby i'm sorry (como "Giselle")
- 1991 - When i'm with you (como "Lilac")
- 1991 - Tokyio night (como "Mandy Gordon")
- 1992 - Me and you (como "Helen k")
- 1992 - Love me do (como "Angie Sue")
- 1992 - i promise My Heart (como "Ross")
- 1992 - Can do it forever (como "Virgin")
- 1992 - Tell me I'm on the one (como "Virgin")
- 1992 - Baila macho (como "Paula Marsch")
- 1992 - If I can't have you (como "Donna Luna")
- 1992 - Just in time (como "Angie Starr")
- 1992 - Satisfied (como "Emanuella")
- 1992 - Save your love (como "Skin Deep")
- 1993 - You're so crazy (como "Virgin")
- 1994 - Promise (como "No Name")
- 1994 - Shy boy (como "Dolly")
- 1995 - Don't Drop me (como "Ann Sinclare")
- 1995 - Piece of my heart (como "She's An Rebel")
- 1996 - Love and Fire (como "Ann Sinclare")
- 1996 - Run 4 fun (como "Dolly")
- 1996 - Feelin Blue (como "Jilly")
- 1996 - Sexy Lady (como "Jilly")
- 1996 - Light my fire (como "Linda Ross")
- 1996 - Suit case sally (como "Sally Rendell")
- 1996 - Heart of Stone (como "Leslie Parrish")
- 1996 - Sexy Shok (como "Anika")
- 1996 - Made in italy (como "Gipsy & Queen")
- 1997 - Like ah rainbow (como "Ann Sinclare")
- 1997 - Eternity (como "Linda Ross")
- 1997 - Let the music take control (como "Serena")
- 1998 - Riding in the sky (como "Linda Ross")
- 1998 - In the name of passion (como "Anika")
- 1998 - Kiss kiss kiss me (como "Vanessa")
- 1999 - I wanna go (como "Ann Sinclare")
- 2000 - Hi go (como "Vanessa")
; As "Taleesa"
- 1992 - CO.RO. featuring Taleesa Because the Night
- 1992 - Stefano Secchi featuring Taleesa We are easy to love
- 1993 - Stefano Secchi featuring Taleesa A brighter day
- 1993 - CO.RO. There's something going on
- 1993 - CO.RO. 4 your love
- 1993 - Aladino. featuring Taleesa Make it right now
- 1993/94 - Aladino. featuring Taleesa Brothers In The Space
- 1994 - Aladino. featuring Taleesa Call My Name
- 1994 - I found luv
- 1995 - Burning up
- 1995 - Let me be
- 1996 - Falling in love
- 1996 - I wanna give
- 1996 - Jambalaya (on the Bayou)
- 1997 - Internet love
- 1998 - you and me
- 1998 - kisses kisses, bye bye
- 1998 - Beach boy
- 2000 - De La Cruz featuring Taleesa Listen to my heart
- 2000 - De La Cruz featuring Taleesa My love is a DJ*
- 2002 - De La Cruz featuring Taleesa there's no right*
- 2003 - De La Cruz featuring Taleesa in my mind
- 2003 - over you
- 2005 - Dj Stefy featuring Taleesa The promise you made
- 2005 - De La Cruz featuring Taleesa where you belong
- 2009 - Javi Crecente featuring Taleesa in my mind
- 2009 - muthagroove featuring Taleesa My body and soul
; As "Morena"
- 1992 - Open your heart
- 1992 - Everyday
- 1993 - Stop me
- 1994 - Got to feel it
- 1996 - FAITH FULL
- 1996 - mUSIC TAKES MY BREATH AWAY
- 1997 - ready for love
; As "Angel"
- Singles
- 1985 - Dancing in Paris (que pasa)
- 1989 - Touch my heart
; As "Bella & Blue"
- Singles
- 1991 - Magic
- 1991 - Toy joy my boy
- 1992 - A reason to love