Gretchen
- This article is about a porn star
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Maria Odete Brito de Miranda, known as Gretchen (✦May 29, 1959, in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian singer. She became notorious as the Rainha do Bumbum ("Queen of the Butt") in the late 1970s when, after doing backing vocals for years, she appeared on a TV show and soon recorded her debut album, "Dance With Me". In 1980, 1981, and 1982, she released her three most successful albums: My Name Is Gretchen, You and Me, and Lonely. These three albums featured songs that became hallmarks in her career, such as "Freak Le Boom Boom", "Melô do Piripipi", "Conga Conga Conga".
Biographical Information
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, she embraced the Protestant faith in the 1990s and began singing Gospel music. By the end of the 1990s, her hits had returned to dance floors. With the emergence of Butt Music stars like Carla Perez, Gretchen was eventually recognized as a forerunner of the hip shakers. The compilation 20 Super Sucessos came out in 1998 on Copacabana/EMI.
Gretchen signed a contract to star a porn movie for Brazilian porn producers Brasileirinhas in 2006, following the example of Rita Cadillac (Brazilian dancer), with whom she appeared in the Pornochanchada Aluga-se Moças in 1982. The movie, La Conga Sex, was released in November, followed by another porn title, Carnaval 2007, released in February 2007.
Career
After doing backing vocals for years, Gretchen appeared on a TV show in 1978 and soon recorded her debut single, "Dance With Me", a disco song inspired by Charo's "Dance a Little Bit Closer". In 1980, 1981, and 1982, she released her three most successful albums: "My Name Is Gretchen", "You and Me", and "Lonely". These three albums featured songs that became hallmarks in her career, such as "Freak Le Boom Boom", "Melô do Piripipi", "Conga Conga Conga". She sold more than 15 million records worldwide. 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.
By the end of the 1990s, her hits had returned to dance floors. With the emergence of Butt Music stars like Carla Perez, Gretchen was eventually recognized as a forerunner of the hip-shakers. 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 pornochanchada Aluga-se Moças. The movie, La Conga Sex, was released by November, followed by another porn title, Carnaval 2007, released in February 2007.
In 2008, she became candidate of Cidadania to be mayor of the city of Itamaracá.
On July 3, 2017, she was featured on Katy Perry's "Swish Swish" lyric video. She also appeared with Rita Cadillac in a Netflix Brasil commercial to promote the series GLOW.
Legacy and impact Gretchen has become a pop culture and internet icon during the 2010s decade. American recording artist Katy Perry claimed that "She is the internet!" 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 '70s 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 popular phenomenon, having been one of the most successful Brazilian artists, performing shows by the thousands and appearing regularly in the most famous TV programs [...] With the decline of her vogue in the '80s, 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.
Personal life
Gretchen has seven children, five biological and two adoptive, including Thammy Miranda; 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, when in fact there were five. Since 2015 the singer lives in Monaco, where she opened a new clothing store. Gretchen resides in a duplex with her husband.
Gretchen was portrayed by Emanuelle Araújo in the 2017 biographical film Bingo: The King of the Mornings.
Discography
- Albums
- 2002 25 Anos De Sucesso
- 2001 Me Deixa Louca
- 2000 La Pasion
- 1998 20 Super Sucessos
- 1997 A Nova Grethen
- 1996 Jesus Dance
- 1995 Sexy Charme Dance
- 1993 Vem Me Ver
- 1991 Cheiro & Chamego
- 1988 Gypsy
- 1987 Latino Americana
- 1983 Gretchen
- 1982 Gretchen Disco Show (Argentina)
- 1982 Gretchen Soy La Mujer (Argentina)
- 1982 Lonely
- 1981 You And Me
- 1979 My Name Is Gretchen
- Singles
- 1985 Le Bal Masque
- 1985 Hula Hula Ba Ba Ye
- 1984 Bate Bate Coração
- 1984 Melô do Pata Pata
- 1983 Melô do Xique Xique
- 1982 Allah-la-ô My Love
- 1982 Gretchen E Os Três Patinhos
- 1982 Melô do Piripipi
- 1981 Give Me Love
- 1981 Conga Conga Conga
- 1980 1,2,3...(One, Two, Three)
- 1979 Freak Le Boom Boom
- 1979 Outra Vez Mulher
- 1978 Dance With Me
Soundtrack
- Bar Esperança 1983, track Conga Conga Conga
- Elas Por Elas 1982, track Melô do Piripipi
Guest Appearances
- As Melindrosas Disco Baby 1978, Choir, Chorus
- Pirlimpimpim II 1984, track Milongueira da Sierra Pelada
- No Mundo da Crianca 1986, track Bumbum No Chão
- A Discoteca do Chacrinha 1999, Medley Freak Le Boom Boom, Me Gusta El Cha Cha Cha, Conga Conga Conga
External links
- Website official
- Gretchen's pornographic films at Brasileirinhas website Warning: Pornographic content
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