Biography of Nelly Furtado. Biography of Nelly Furtado (Nelly Furtado)

“I love it when music is in the spotlight, when the boundaries of genres are broken, when there is excitement, when people argue,” - this is how Nelly Furtado’s autobiography began, which she, then a teenager, sent along with her own demo tapes and amateur photographs to a wide variety of people. labels, in the hope that someone will eventually pay attention to her.

How could she have imagined, declaring her love for musical passions, how many of them would flare up around her and what kind of fighting would begin for the right to get her among the label’s clients. In the end, the winner in this heated struggle was DreamWorks, whose main priority has always been the artistry of the performer. And Nelly Furtado, without a doubt, knew how to impress: vocals like a soul diva, aplomb like a pop princess, and at the same time, a deep passion for ethnic music.

Nelly Furtado was born on December 2, 1978 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her parents came to Canada from Portugal. More precisely, even from the Azores Islands, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Her father was a bricklayer and her mother worked as a maid in a motel, and every summer during the holidays Nellie worked part-time to help her. Parents always supported their daughter in her musical interests, which appeared very early. At the age of four, the girl sang in public for the first time - a duet with her mother, who had been a singer in a church choir for many years. At the age of 9, Nellie began playing the ukulele, and at 12 she wrote her first song. Everything is as it should be for future stars. While her friends asked for dolls and clothes for Christmas, Nellie dreamed of receiving a synthesizer and a tape recorder from Santa Claus. During her school years, she was seen in a jazz band, a concert band and a marching band - and played the trombone everywhere. In addition, she continued to take vocal lessons and dance classes. The first serious passion of the future star was rhythm and blues and hip-hop. The walls of her room were covered with portraits of rappers from music magazines.

A trip to Portugal, the homeland of her parents, gave the girl fantastic new impressions. In one of the local clubs, 16-year-old Nelly participated for the first time in a local version of the MC competition - she simply climbed onto the stage, took the microphone and began to sing some rhyming text, composing words as she went. “In Portugal there is an interesting old musical tradition - cancoes desafios. In fact, this is spontaneous singing,” says the singer. “The essence of hip-hop is the same freestyle.”

Long-suffering parents, and passionate music lovers themselves, protested only once - when 17-year-old Nellie decided to go to Toronto. But it was impossible to overrule the stubborn girl. In Toronto, she found work at a company that installed security alarms, and at the same time created her first trip-hop group - so far only a duo - called Nelstar. The duo not only played music for themselves, but also recorded in the studio (Furtado composed all the songs herself) and even shot a video clip.

In the mid-90s, the girl fell in love with English rock (Radiohead, Verve, Oasis) and tried to write her own songs with the guitar, which, by the way, she only now began to master. But in fact, she was a creature of exceptional musical omnivory and could get carried away by literally everything: from TLC to Smashing Pumpkins, from Cornershop to Brazilian national music, and even the orchestra that performed marches, in which her Portuguese relatives played, delighted her. In order to convey my chaotic impressions and let all my influences speak out, I had to look for something new, create my own sound hybrid. An eclectic sound would be an adequate reflection of her linguistic freedom (Nellie sings in three languages ​​- English, Portuguese and Hindi), her multi-instrumentalism (plays guitar, ukulele and trombone) and multicultural influences (her childhood friends included Indians, Chinese, Africans, Hispanics and so on).

A new page in her life opened in 1997, when 18-year-old Nelly applied to participate in a vocal competition that was held in Toronto. The jury of the competition did not encourage the young artist in any way, but there was no point in being upset, because it was here that she met the manager of the popular Canadian project Philosopher Kings. Two members of this team, Brian West and Gerald Eaton, appreciating Furtado's prospects, began producing her and helped her make her first professional studio recording. And although Nelly herself was quite satisfied with the demo versions of the songs, she already had other plans. Most of all, the girl wanted to travel around Europe with a backpack on her shoulders, and not sit in Toronto and pore over textbooks, studying the art of composition. Nellie herself could not really determine what she really wanted. And only the constant persistence of West and Eaton, who did not lose touch with her and reminded her of her real calling, saved the matter.

The two musicians eventually dragged the singer into the studio and forced her to spend two weeks of intensive studio work, during which it turned out that the trio knew how to perfectly find a common language. The material from the studio sessions was on the tables of representatives of various labels, until DreamWorks signed a contract with Furtado in 1999. Nellie came into show business with a ready-made production team (West and Eaton), calling themselves Track & Field. In September 2000, Furtado was ready to present her debut album "Whoa Nelly!" (“Whoa, Nellie!”). The recording united and melted the most diverse experiences of the young artist, her passion for “black” music, popular and ethnic genres. The music that her parents loved and with which she grew up also played a role: ABBA, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Paula Abdul. The hobbies of her early youth were reflected - hip-hop and R&B: Kris Kross, De La Soul, Ice-T, New Edition, Bel Biv Devoe, Salt-N-Pepa, Jodeci.

As always, half of the success of the album was made by the well-chosen single “Like a Bird”. The actively promoted song and accompanying video turned Furtado into a very popular person. The song was recorded at least in the Top 30 of the American charts, occupying a place in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Soon the single began to storm the British chart, and the album itself rose to the English Top 10. The long-play "Whoa Nelly!", which received a gold certificate in Portugal and a number of other European countries, made a splash in Canada, where it finished on the second line of the chart. Furtado collected her harvest of awards at the Juno Awards ceremony. Meanwhile, the second single "Turn off the Light", which consolidated the success of the album, was awaiting an even louder commercial response. It is worth noting at least the first line of the club chart and sixth number on the Billboard Hot 100.

Among the young singer's fans were Elton John and Missy Elliott, and U2 invited her to warm up the audience before their American concerts. After the artist's participation in the "Area: One" tour, Moby, the organizer of this tour, called her "the most beautiful and talented woman in the world." When Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio came to Toronto on an official visit, the singer appeared on stage with the hit “Like a Bird” and was one of the few young artists who were entrusted with the honor of welcoming the head of a foreign state.

Nelly Furtado's first and second albums were separated by three years. During this time, the artist managed to conduct her own headlining tour in the United States, was nominated for a Grammy three times and became a 2001 winner in the category “Best Female Pop Vocal” for the track “Like a Bird.”

Nelly was already preparing to become a mother when she started recording the next album (her daughter was born a month before the official release date). The upcoming motherhood gave her new work "Folklore" a special softness and warmth. At the same time, having lost the naivety and youthful exuberance that characterized her first disc, Furtado produced a darker and more reflective work. Guest appearances on the album include Caetano Veloso, Bela Fleck, Justin Meldal-Johnsen and the Kronos Quartet. When the artist was just thinking about her future album, she wanted to make a modern folk record. As she worked, she fell more and more in love with the banjo, ukulele, dulcimer - all of these instruments can be heard on the album. The ultimate goal was now different - to focus on the composition, on the melodies, and not jump from one genre to another five times per song. The same producing tandem of Brian West and Gerald Eaton took on this task.

So far, the success of "Folklore" has been more modest than that of its predecessor - line 38 on the Billboard 200 chart compared to position 24 of "Whoa, Nelly!" The new single “Powerless (Say What You Want)”, which so far only started at position 30 on the mainstream chart, also began to advance in the ratings. But trouble has begun.

Nelly Furtado is a famous Canadian pop singer, a beautiful, successful woman. She gained worldwide fame after the release of her original album “I’m Like a Bird.”

Childhood in a large, friendly, multinational family

Nellie was born in one of the Canadian cities. She was brought up in a poor Portuguese family. Mom worked for a long time as a maid at a local hotel. Dad was a laborer at a construction site. The family also had a daughter, Louise Anna, and a son, Michael Anthony.

Nelly Furtado in childhood

The future singer spent her childhood in the neighborhoods of Colombia (a city in Canada), which brought together immigrants from different countries. The inquisitive Furtado was interested in the culture and customs of Africa, Asia, and India from an early age. The girl learned English, Indian, and Portuguese. At the age of 4, she performed at a concert where she sang the Canadian national anthem. On weekends, she and her family attended Catholic Church.

Nellie, developed beyond the weather, amazed teachers and peers. At school she got straight A's. Outside of school, she enjoyed playing the trombone, guitar, and piano. One of her hobbies was writing poems, which later became the lyrics of her songs.

After finishing school, Nellie moved to Toronto. There she met Tallis Newrick, a musician with whom she recorded a duet song. Soon the aspiring performer created her own project called “Nelstar”.

Rapid success

A significant event for Furtado was the competition of young talents held in her hometown of Toronto. The singer failed to snatch victory. But she met famous producers J. East and B. West. They were officials of the world famous Dream Works Records label. In the recording studio, the producers listened to the young performer again and offered her to sign a contract.

Nelly Furtado on stage

Furtado’s debut album – “Whoa! Nelly" went double platinum in America, and also held the record for 2000 on the Billboard 200 list. In this work, the singer mixed different musical genres. Nelly's triumph was supported by the Burn in the Spotlight world tour. The singer’s next album was released 3 years later, called “Folklore”. It included lyrical tracks with ethno notes. It did not cause any particular delight among fans of the singer’s work and critics.

Nelly Furtado with her producer Timberland

In 2006, Nelly, under the leadership of the unsurpassed rapper Timbaland, Nelly recorded the album “Loose”. Video clips were shot for 2 tracks: “Say it right” and “Do it”, they took first place in the European music charts.

Nelly Furtado in the Waiting For The Night video

The release of the 4th album coincided with the singer's anniversary. Nellie recorded an entirely Spanish-language disc called “Mi Plan”. In just a few months, they managed to sell more than 1 million records. This work was distinguished by unusual covers in a duet with Tiesto and Pitbull.

Nelly Furtado in the video for "Manos Al Aire"

Then the famous records were recorded: “Mi Plan Remixes”, “The Best of Nelly Furtado”, “The Spirit Indestractible”, “The Ride”. In 2010, the singer performed at the opening of the Olympic Games in Vancouver with the song “Bang The Drum”.

Personal life of a Canadian beauty

The petite and fragile singer has always been the center of male attention. Furtado's first serious relationship with musician Jasper Gehania lasted about 4 years. A month before the release of her second album, the young couple gave birth to a daughter, Nevis. In the creative family there were frequent disputes and scandals, which led to separation.

Nelly Furtado with her second husband Demacio Castellon

After 3 years, Nelly introduced her new chosen one to fans and the public - sound engineer Demacio Castellon. After living in an official marriage for 8 years, the couple separated for unknown reasons. Nellie and Demacio did not have children together.

Singer Nelly Furtado now

The difficult breakup became a serious test for Furtado. Externally, the singer has changed a lot. Nellie hides her excess weight behind loose outfits. Now the most important thing in the life of a popular performer is raising her daughter Nevis. In her free time, the singer loves to bake.

Read about the lives of famous musicians

Name: Nelly Furtado

Age: 40 years

Height: 159

Family status: divorced

Nelly Furtado: biography

Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian pop star of Portuguese origin who has received worldwide recognition. The talent of the petite girl was not hindered either by her origin from a simple family or by the lack of connections in show business.

The singer's albums have repeatedly started at the top of the national charts, and her singles have brought her prestigious music awards.

Childhood and youth

A girl was born in the town of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on December 2, 1978. The newborn was named after the Soviet gymnast Nellie Kim. Her parents are Portuguese by nationality, originally from the Azores. His father, Antonio José Furtado, worked in construction, and his mother, Maria Manuela, was a cleaner at a local hotel. The family raised two more children - daughter Lisa Anna and son Michael Anthony.

Nelly spent her childhood in the neighborhoods of her hometown, which accommodated emigrants from Europe, Africa, Asia and India, which explains the girl’s passion for the national music of many peoples of the world. Her native languages ​​are Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi and English. The girl received her first stage experience at the age of 4, when she performed a folk song at a national holiday. The parents adhered to the Catholic faith, so all the children sang in the church choir.

Music

While still at school, Nellie began to learn to play musical instruments - trombone, ukulele, six-string guitar and piano. The active girl could be seen in the local jazz band and wind orchestra. Gradually, Nelly begins to write music and poetry; at the age of 12, the first songs appear from the pen of the young singer. His favorite genres are rap and hip-hop, which Furtado successfully masters.

As an adult, Nellie moves to live in Toronto. At the beginning of her creative career, having got a job as a secretary in a small company, the young artist creates her own group “Nelstar” in the capital. Nelly writes trip-hop music. Furtado meets musician Tallis Newcreek and releases several songs for a joint duet.

Luck came to the young singer unexpectedly. At the competition for young performers, which was held in Toronto, Nelly did not take a prize, but met talented producers Gerald Ethan and Brian West. The young people worked at Dream Works Records. Representatives of the influential label listened to the singer again in the studio and decided to sign a contract with Nelly to create her first solo album. The managers were not mistaken in their calculations.

The single from Furtado's debut disc "I"m Like a Bird" received international recognition, including a Grammy Award for Best Female Vocals and a Juno Award for Best Song of the Year. The album "Whoa! Nelly" went double platinum in the US. , and also remained on the Billboard 200 list for more than a year.In her first album, the Canadian singer boldly mixed styles and genres, while maintaining the naturalness and energy of her stage presentation.

When creating musical compositions, Nelly used elements of rock, folk, hip-hop, electronics and rhythm and blues. In the wake of this success, Furtado made her first world tour called “Burn in the Spotlight.”

After the tremendous success, Nellie began working on her second disc. This time the singer decided to delve into the musical intonations of the peoples of the world, calling the album “Folklore”. Each track of the album received a special sound, the record became much more lyrical and deeper.

Among fans of pop compositions, it did not gain due popularity, which did not prevent the song “Forca” from being included in the musical accompaniment of the European Football Championship, which took place in 2004.

The album was created during the singer’s pregnancy, so it is not surprising that the song “Childood Dreams” appeared among the hits, which Nelly dedicated to the birth of her daughter. The video for the ballad “Try” pleased fans and the public with the emotional performance.

The creation of the third disc took place under the direction of hip-hop star Timbaland. The album “Loose” appeared in 2006 and immediately entered the Billboard 100 top list. Work on songs and videos for the third album took place in Latin America and the USA.

In 2007, “Loose” was recognized as the best-selling album of the year, the phenomenal popularity of which was explained by competent promotion, a preliminary world tour, and a large number of singles. The songs “Promiscuous”, “Maneater” and “All Good Things” became famous. Videos for the hits “Say It Right” and “Do it” were broadcast by the world’s leading music channels.

Among the popular compositions of this time are the duet between Nelly Furtado and musician James Morrison “Broken Strings”. The hit was the song “Give It to Me”, recorded together with Timbaland and. In 8 countries around the world, the single started at the top of the charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and in 2008 became a Grammy nominee in the category “Best Collaborative Pop Vocal Performance.”

A year after her thirtieth birthday, Nelly again delighted fans with the new collection “Mi Plan”, composed entirely of tracks in Spanish. The singer’s next work sold millions of copies in the USA, and also became the best record of the year in South America. The album's hit "Manos Al Aire" was remixed in collaboration with the singer, who performs under the stage name Pitbull. The series of remixes included adaptations of new songs that were created together with musicians K’os, N.E.R.D. The rethought compositions made up the “Best” collection.

The fifth disc “The Spirit Indestructible” in Nelly’s homeland did not achieve the expected popularity results, although sales still remained in the millions. Real success awaited the singer in Eastern European countries: for several weeks in a row, the single Waiting for the night, included in the collection, topped the TOP of the best European compositions in Russia and received a prestigious music award in Poland.

Another hit on the album, “Big Hoops” (“Bigger the better”), also brought success to the singer. Nelly presented it at the Billboard Music Awards. The song's rating was proven by its gold certification received in Canada.

At the opening of the Vancouver Olympics, Nelly Furtado appeared as a guest star. In a duet with the Canadian singer, she performed the song “Bang the Drum”, which was then included in the collection of musical compositions “The Sounds of Vancouver 2010”.

In addition to her career as a singer, Nelly Furtado also tried her hand as a film actress. The girl got her first experience in 2007, appearing in an episode of the series “CSI: New York.” The film about the criminologists of the American metropolis kept viewers in suspense at their TV screens for 9 seasons, and Furtado considered it a flattering offer for herself to appear in the plot of one of the episodes of the film.

Having developed a taste for working on a film set, a year later the artist starred in the full-length film, the noir thriller Max Payne.

Another film that appeared in Furtado’s filmography in 2010 was called “The Hockey Musical.” In the Canadian musical comedy, Nellie joined the main cast, transforming into a passionate fan of the hockey team. The audience was able to appreciate the singer's comedic talent.

Nelly Furtado has a short stature (159 cm) and a fragile physique (the artist’s weight did not exceed 49 kg). The singer monitored her diet and was actively involved in sports. Her blue eyes against the backdrop of long dark curls looked charming, even in those moments when the girl appeared in public without makeup.

Over time, the singer’s appearance has changed, which can be seen from numerous photos on Internet resources and social networks, including "Instagram".

After giving birth, the artist gained a little weight, which did not critically affect her image. For the album “Loose,” Furtado grew bangs, which stylists styled in a special way. On the eve of her 30th birthday, Nelly dyed her hair blonde for a while, and then returned to dark hair, but at the same time significantly shortened its length.

At the beginning of 2017, the Canadian singer no longer hid her plump figure. It was clear that Furtado felt comfortable at the new weight, although opinions were divided among fans. Some listeners even suggested that Nellie was pregnant again. Many advised the artist to urgently go on a diet. But there were also those who supported the singer.

The artist especially surprised fans with her appearance when she appeared at a performance at the Pride Island club in New York. Nelly took the stage in a tight white jumpsuit that did not hide her black bustier and bare back and was decorated with large shiny stars. Numerous photos of the pop diva were cited by the media as an example of an unsuccessfully chosen stage costume.

At the beginning of March 2017, the “updated” Nelly Furtado appeared on the program, where she told fans the secrets of her personal life and creative plans. The singer was awarded the Unstoppable Achievement Award Recipient for supporting the international educational children's foundation.

Personal life

Nelly Furtado has been married twice. The artist lived with her first husband, instrumentalist Jasper Gehania, for 4 years, giving birth to a charming daughter, Nevis. The girl was named after the Caribbean island where the couple vacationed on their honeymoon.

Soon after the birth of the child, the union broke up, and Nellie had to raise the baby alone for three years.

In 2008, Furtado became the wife of Cuban-born sound engineer Demacio Castellon. The marriage lasted more than 8 years, after which a divorce followed. Nelly and Demacio did not have any common children.

Nelly Furtado now

On March 31, 2017, the Canadian singer’s next album, “The Ride,” was released. For the album, the performer chose an indie style and exclusively solo vocals. The premiere of the hits “Islands of Me”, “Pipe Dreams”, “Cold hart truth” took place back in 2016. The disc was created at the Nelstar Music recording studio.

Now Nelly Furtado devotes a lot of time to charity; she is a member of various organizations, including a foundation that opposes racism. The singer also gives concerts not only in her homeland or in Latin American countries, but also in Europe. At the end of July 2018, a video version of one of Furtado’s performances was included in the program of the IX Vienna Music Film Festival, which took place in Yekaterinburg.

Discography

• 1998 – “Nelstar’s Songs”
• 2000 – “Whoa, Nelly!”
• 2003 – “Folklore”
• 2006 – “Loose”
• 2009 – “Mi Plan”
• 2010 – “Mi Plan Remixes”
• 2010 – “The Best Of Nelly Furtado”
• 2012 – “The Spirit Indestructible”
• 2017 – “The Ride”

Nelly Furtado is a Canadian star who has gained worldwide fame. The spectacular brunette devoted her entire life to music, and is still loved by the audience. Until recently, every appearance of a woman aroused the admiring glances of men and the envy of women, but now changes in the appearance of the famous artist only cause bewilderment among fans. We'll figure out what happened to the star today.

Biography of Nelly Furtado

Nelly Kim Furtado was born on December 2, 1978 in the small town of Victoria, in the Canadian state of British Columbia. The newborn baby was named after Soviet Union gymnast Nelly Kim, although her parents were from the Azores, Portugal. Antonio's father Jose Furtado worked in construction, and his mother Maria Manuela worked as a maid in a local hotel.

In addition to the girl herself, the family raised two more children - son Michael Anthony and daughter Lisa Anna. Our heroine spent her entire childhood in the colorful neighborhoods of her native town, which sheltered immigrants from Europe, India, Asia and Africa, which subsequently determined the girl’s passion for the national music of different peoples of the world.

Spanish, Portuguese, English and Hindi became understandable and native to her. The little girl first appeared on stage at the age of 4, and it was then that she performed a folk composition at a national holiday. Due to the fact that the parents were Catholics, the children systematically sang in the choir at the church.

The creative path of Nelly Furtado

• The girl mastered playing musical instruments at school. She preferred trombone, Hawaiian and 6-string guitar, and piano.
• The lively girl could be seen in jazz bands and brass bands. Gradually, the girl begins to write poetry and music, and at the age of 12 she has her first original song. Furtado's favorite genre is hip-hop.
• After coming of age, Nellie moved to Toronto and got a job as a secretary in a small company, but did not give up creativity. She creates her own group “Nelstar”, for which she writes hip-hop songs. At the same time, the performer met musician Tallis Newkirk, and released several songs for her debut.
• Success fell unexpectedly on the young star after participating in a competition for young performers in Toronto. There, the singer did not receive first place, but met successful, talented producers Brian West and Gerald Ethan from Dream Works Records, and with whom she later signed a solo contract.

• The composition from the debut disc “I’m Like a Bird” received international recognition, including a Grammy Award and the “Best Song of the Year” award.
• Album "Whoa, Nelly!" went platinum twice in the US and stayed on the Billboard 200 for over a year. The peculiarity of the album is that the singer mixed genres and styles, while maintaining the energy and naturalness of her performance.
• On the wave of success, the celebrity first made the “Burn in the Spotlight” world tour in 2001-2002.
• The next album, 2003, “Folklore,” became much more lyrical and deeper. The collection itself did not find sufficient attention among listeners, but the song “Forca” was included in the musical accompaniment of the 2004 European Football Championship.
• Elton John and Missy Elliott became ardent fans of the artist's work, and the group U2 invited the artist to perform at their concerts.

The flowering of Nelly Furtado's creativity

• The third disc, “Loose,” was created with the help of hip-hop star Timberland in 2006. Immediately after its release, the album entered the Billboard 100 top list, and in 2007 the album was named the best-selling album of the year. In 2008, at the presentation of the album in Russia, Dima Bilan performed as an opening act for the singer.
• In 2007, Timberland performed the song “Give it to me,” with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake singing with him. The artists received a Grammy Award for best joint performance of a song.

• In 2009, a new collection “Mi Plan” was published entirely in Spanish. It became the best in South America, and Nelly Furtado and Pitbull created a dance remix for the song “Manos Al Aire”. This and other interesting remixes were included in the “Best” collection.
• The album “The Spirit Indestructible” became mega-popular in Eastern Europe, leading the TOP of the best compositions in Russia for several weeks, and earned an award in Poland.

• Nelly Furtado performed with Bryan Adams at the opening of the Vancouver Olympics. There they sang the song “Bang the Drum” as a duet.

Appearance Nelly Furtado

• At the very beginning of her long career, Nelly Furtado looked like a gentle elfin due to her very short height (159 cm) and petite build (49 kg). The artist always monitored her menu and was actively involved in fitness. Her blue eyes against her dark hair looked enchanting even without makeup.
• Over time, the girl’s appearance has changed, which is easy to track from numerous photos and videos from the singer’s personal Instagram page.

• Changes in the star’s appearance became noticeable after giving birth; she became overweight, but this had virtually no effect on the singer’s image.

• While working on the album “Loose,” Nelly Furtado let her bangs go, which were styled in a special way by her hairdressers.
• In 2008, the star dyed her locks and became a bright blonde, but this color did not suit her appearance at all. Then Nelly Kim returned to her brown hair, but noticeably reduced the length of her curls.

• Photos of Nelly Furtado in 2017 from the Pride Island Festival event blew up the Internet. The star has changed beyond recognition, so fans did not even immediately recognize the bright singer of the “zeros” in the active brunette.

Nelly Furtado gained a lot of weight after her divorce from Demacio Castellon, gaining 30 extra pounds. The attention of the audience was attracted not only by the fact that the miniature singer had previously gained weight, but also by the heroine’s concert outfit.

The 38-year-old singer opted for a revealing pink jumpsuit and a sparkling fringed bra. Fat Furtado in a ridiculous outfit looked strange, but it looked like the artist was completely comfortable in her new weight, she was just living and enjoying herself on stage.

Personal life of Nelly Furtado

In total, the artist was married twice.

• First husband Jasper Gehania. The heroine lived with him for 4 years, the couple had a beautiful daughter, Nevis. The girl's name is in honor of the Caribbean island where the daughter was conceived.

• In 2008, Madame Furtado married sound engineer Demacio Castellon, with whom the marriage lasted 8 years and then broke up.

Nelly Furtado now

• On March 31, 2017, a new record “The Ride” of indie style and solo vocals was released.
• The singer collaborates with the record company Nelstar Music.
• The star appeared on Larry King's program, in which she told viewers the secrets of her creative and personal life.

• For her support of the international children's educational foundation, Nelly Kim received the Unstoppable Achievement Award Recipient.

Interesting moments from an interview with Nelly Furtado

• I love everything British: Liverpudlian fish chips, mangoes from Kensington Market. It's especially nice that British journalists describe me better than I really am.
• I was crazy about the band Oasis, I even wanted Liam Gallagher to ask me out on a date, I even wrote letters, but he never asked me.
• I love Ronaldo after Euro 2004. He plays with great passion and his hitting of the ball is simply breathtaking.
• Fame came too quickly, and there was a lot of it. I felt like a fraud because people loved me not for my music, but for my image.
• Playboy magazine offered me $500,000 to shoot on the cover, but at the time, at 22, I didn’t want that kind of fame, but if they offered it to me today, I would most likely agree.

Now the star is completely happy with her life and appearance, but the fans are divided into two hostile camps. Some admire Furtado’s talent at any weight, while others criticize her for letting herself go. What do you think about the famous star's new appearance? Write your impressions in the comments.

Video: Timberland – “Give It To Me” with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake

21 chord selections

Biography

“I love it when music is in the spotlight, when the boundaries of genres are broken, when there is excitement, when people argue,” began Nelly Furtado’s autobiography, which she, then still a teenager, sent along with her own demo tapes and amateur photographs to the most to various labels, in the hope that someone will eventually pay attention to her. How could she have imagined, declaring her love for musical passions, how many of them would flare up around her and what kind of fighting would begin for the right to get her among the label’s clients. In the end, the winner in this heated struggle was DreamWorks, whose main priority has always been the artistry of the performer. And Nelly Furtado, without a doubt, knew how to impress: vocals like a soul diva, aplomb like a pop princess, and at the same time, a deep passion for ethnic music.

Nelly Furtado was born on December 2, 1978 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her parents came to Canada from Portugal. More precisely, even from the Azores Islands, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Her father was a bricklayer, and her mother worked as a maid in a motel, and every summer during the holidays, Nellie worked part-time to help her. Parents always supported their daughter in her musical interests, which appeared very early. At the age of four, the girl sang in public for the first time - a duet with her mother, who had been a singer in a church choir for many years. At the age of 9, Nellie began playing the ukulele, and at 12 she wrote her first song. Everything is as it should be for future stars. While her friends asked for dolls and clothes for Christmas, Nellie dreamed of receiving a synthesizer and a tape recorder from Santa Claus. During her school years, she was seen in a jazz band, a concert band and a marching band - and played the trombone everywhere. In addition, she continued to take vocal lessons and dance classes. The first serious passion of the future star was rhythm and blues and hip-hop. The walls of her room were covered with portraits of rappers from music magazines.

A trip to Portugal, the homeland of her parents, gave the girl fantastic new impressions. In one of the local clubs, 16-year-old Nelly participated for the first time in a local version of the MC competition - she simply climbed onto the stage, took the microphone and began to sing some rhyming text, composing words as she went. “In Portugal there is an interesting old musical tradition - cancoes desafios. In fact, this is spontaneous singing,” says the singer. “This kind of freestyling is the essence of hip-hop.”

Long-suffering parents, and passionate music lovers themselves, protested only once - when 17-year-old Nellie decided to go to Toronto. But it was impossible to overrule the stubborn girl. In Toronto, she found work in a company that installed security alarms, and at the same time created her first trip-hop group - so far only a duo - called Nelstar *. The duo not only played music for themselves, but also recorded in the studio (Furtado composed all the songs herself) and even shot a video clip.

In the mid-90s, the girl fell in love with English rock (Radiohead, Verve, Oasis) and tried to write her own songs with the guitar, which, by the way, she only now began to master. But in fact, she was a creature of exceptional musical omnivory and could get carried away by literally everything: from TLC to Smashing Pumpkins, from Cornershop to Brazilian national music, and even the marching orchestra in which her Portuguese relatives played delighted her. In order to convey my chaotic impressions and let all my influences speak out, I had to look for something new, create my own sound hybrid. An eclectic sound would adequately reflect her linguistic freedom (Nellie sings in three languages ​​- English, Portuguese and Hindi), her multi-instrumentalism (plays guitar, ukulele and trombone) and multicultural influences (her childhood friends included Indians, Chinese, Africans, Hispanics and so on).

A new page in her life opened in 1997, when 18-year-old Nelly applied to participate in a vocal competition that was held in Toronto. The jury of the competition did not encourage the young artist in any way, but there was no point in being upset, because it was here that she met the manager of the popular Canadian project The Philosopher Kings. Two members of this team, Brian West and Gerald Eaton, appreciating Furtado's prospects, began producing her and helped her make her first professional studio recording. And although Nelly herself was quite happy with the demo versions of the songs, she already had other plans. Most of all, the girl wanted to travel around Europe with a backpack on her shoulders, and not sit in Toronto and pore over textbooks, studying the art of composition. Nellie herself could not really determine what she really wanted. And only the constant persistence of West and Eaton, who did not lose touch with her and reminded her of her real calling, saved the matter.

The two musicians eventually dragged the singer into the studio and forced her to spend two weeks of intensive studio work, during which it turned out that the trio knew how to perfectly find a common language. The material from the studio sessions was on the tables of representatives of various labels, until DreamWorks signed a contract with Furtado in 1999. Nellie came into show business with a ready-made production team (West and Eaton), calling themselves Track & Field. In September 2000, Furtado was ready to present her debut album “Whoa, Nelly!” (“Whoa, Nellie!”). The recording united and melted the most diverse experiences of the young artist, her passion for “black” music, popular and ethnic genres. The music that her parents loved and with which she grew up also played a role: ABBA, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Paula Abdul. The hobbies of her early youth were reflected - hip-hop and R&B: Kris Kross, De La Soul, Ice-T, New Edition, Bel Biv Devoe, Salt-N-Pepa, Jodeci.

As always, half the success of the album was made by the well-chosen single “I’m Like a Bird”. The actively promoted song and accompanying video turned Furtado into a very popular person. The song was recorded at least in the Top 30 of the American charts, occupying a place in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Soon the single began to storm the British chart, and the album itself rose to the English Top 10. The long-play “Whoa, Nelly!”, which received a gold certificate in Portugal and a number of other European countries, made a splash in Canada, where it finished on the second line of the chart. Furtado collected her harvest of awards at the Juno Awards ceremony. Meanwhile, the second single “Turn Off the Light,” which cemented the success of the album, was awaiting an even louder commercial response. It is worth noting at least the first line of the club chart and sixth number on the Billboard Hot 100.

Among the young singer's fans were Elton John and Missy Elliott, and U2 invited her to warm up the audience before their American concerts. After the artist’s participation in the “Area: One” tour, Moby, the organizer of this tour, called her “the most beautiful and talented woman in the world.” When Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio came to Toronto on an official visit, the singer took the stage with the hit “I’m Like a Bird” and was one of the few young artists who were entrusted with the honor of welcoming the head of a foreign state.

Nelly Furtado's first and second albums were separated by three years. During this time, the artist managed to conduct her own headlining tour in the United States, was nominated for a Grammy three times and became a 2001 winner in the category “Best Female Pop Vocal” for the track “I’m Like a Bird.”

Nelly was already preparing to become a mother when she started recording the next album (a month before the official release date, her daughter was born). The upcoming motherhood gave her new work “Folklore” a special softness and warmth. At the same time, having lost the naivety and youthful exuberance that characterized her first disc, Furtado produced a darker and more reflective work. Guest appearances on the album include Caetano Veloso, Bela Fleck, Justin Meldal-Johnsen and the Kronos Quartet. When the artist was just thinking about her future album, she wanted to make a modern folk record. As she worked, she fell more and more in love with the banjo, ukulele, dulcimer - all of these instruments can be heard on the album. The ultimate goal was now different - to focus on the composition, on the melodies, and not jump from one genre to another five times per song. The same producing tandem of Brian West and Gerald Eaton took on this task.

So far, the success of “Folklore” is more modest than that of its predecessor - line 38 on the Billboard 200 chart compared to position 24 of “Whoa, Nelly!” The new single “Powerless (Say What You Want)” also began to advance in the ratings, which so far only started at position 30 on the mainstream chart. But trouble has begun.

In 2006, the singer presented her new album. She called it "Loose" after spontaneous and creative decisions while working on the album.
Recording took place all over the world - from Brazil to Los Angeles. At the moment, this is the performer’s most successful album, most warmly received by critics. In it, Nelly boldly mixed styles and rhythms, achieving an individual sound that was unique to her.
The results of the experiments were the megahits “Say It Right” and “Give It To Me,” which featured Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

In March 2009, Nelly Furtado announced through Peretz Hilton's blog that the new album would be in Spanish and called "Mi Plan", and the first single would be the song "Manos Al Aire" ("Hands in the Air"). The album contained 12 tracks, with the second single being "Mas", released on July 21. The third single was the song "Mi Plan" (ft. Alex Cuba), which launched on iTunes on August 11, 2009, and "Bajo Otra Luz" (ft. Julieta Venegas and Mala Rodriguez) became the fourth and final single of the album, which was released on September 1 2009. Nelly also recorded the duet “Suenos” (“Dreams”) with Alejandro Fernandez. The video for the song “Manos Al Aire” was released on July 29th. On November 11, 2010, Nelly received an award at the Latin Grammy Awards for her album "Mi Plan" and became the first Canadian artist to win a Latin Grammy award.

On February 12, 2010, Nelly Furtado sang a duet with Bryan Adams at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The song was called "Bang The Drum" and was released on the album Sounds of Vancouver 2010.

In October 2010, Nelly Furtado received a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame. On October 26, 2010, “Mi Plan Remixes” was released, containing 12 remixes of songs from “Mi Plan”. On November 16, 2010, Nelly’s first collection of hits, entitled “The Best of Nelly Furtado,” was released. The first single from the album was the song "Night is Young", which premiered on BBC Radio 1 on October 3, 2010. The best-of collection contained two new songs in addition to Night is Young: "Girlfriend in the City" and "Stars" - left over from the days of Loose.

On July 2, 2011, Nelly performed a new track that will appear on her new album, an acoustic ballad called “Mystery.” The new album is called “The Spirit Indestructible” and will be released in September 2012. This album will be similar to the first work "Whoa, Nelly!", but will contain urban, alternative elements and a light reggae sound. Bands that influenced the sound of this record range from Janelle Monae, The xx, and Florence + the Machine. Produced by The Neptunes, Tiësto, Timbaland, Rick Nowels, Ryan Tedder and Rodney Jerkins. The first single from The Spirit Indestructable was "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)", which was released on April 17, 2012 and hit radio stations in North America on May 1, 2012. Furtado continues to work with hip-hop producer Salaam Remi, who previously worked on her 2010 single "Night Is Young." Nelly Furtado plans to promote the album for at least 2 years with her world tour.
Furtado also began recording an album in Portuguese, as she previously recorded an album entirely in Spanish, Mi Plan.