Benny Benassi
Encyclopedia
Marco Benassi better known as Benny Benassi, is a Grammy Award winning Italian disc jockey
(DJ) and record producer of electro house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction
". On October 28, 2009, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Records
artist Benny Benassi placed #26, 13 spots higher than the previous year.
, DJ/producer Benassi, also known as The Rave Father, started DJing alongside cousin Alle Benassi in the late 1980s in their hometown, before moving to Larry Pignagnoli
's Off Limits production studio in the mid 1990s, creating music for various acts, including Whigfield
, J.K. and Ally & Jo.
Benassi first hit the dance floors with projects of his own, in 2001, with the single "I Feel So Fine", released under the name KMC with vocals by Dhany
. The track first climbed the charts in Benassi's native Italy, and soon became a #1 hit in the UK club charts.
Moving from house to electro, "Satisfaction
" took Benassi's success worldwide a year later with high-profile DJs like Carl Cox
, Darren Emerson
, and Roger Sanchez
offering praises. The track reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
after the Ministry of Sound
record company replaced the original video (an almost still picture of the band, overlayed with graphics) with a video of models using power tools.
Released in 2003, the "campy" and "quirky" Hypnotica
was Benassi's solo debut album. At the end of 2004, he won the European Border Breakers Award for Hypnotica, which racked up the most sales for an Italian album outside Italy.
Benassi often works with vocalists Paul French and Violeta, who are collectively known as The Biz. He produced a group with cousin Alle, called Benassi Bros.
, a project designed to shine the spotlight on the two Biz vocalists, Paul French and Violeta Claudia and other guest singers. A year after the release of Hypnotica, thr album Pumphonia
marked their first full length release. And, in 2005, Benassi Bros. released their second album …Phobia
.
Some of Benassi's singles
have charted high in the United Kingdom
and have been played worldwide in clubs
. Remixes for OutKast
, Goldfrapp
, and Felix da Housecat
followed. Benassi also remixes music of his contemporaries, such as Tomcraft
and Fischerspooner
.
In 2005, Benassi founded the record label Pump-Kin Music. The focus of the label is primarily new and unsigned producers. The stated aim of the venture is to give exposure to some of the lesser known DJ/production talent across the world.
In August 2007, Benassi released a remix of Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise". The video for the track was created by Eclectic Method and features a montage of live footage from Public Enemy. It premiered on imeem.com. In February 2008, "Bring the Noise" won a Grammy for best Remix (Dance).
His album Rock 'n' Rave
was released on June 16, 2008. The first single from the album was "I Am Not Drunk."
Benassi also broadcasts the one-hour long The Benny Benassi Show on Sirius XM Radio's channel Area.
In 2010, Benassi released "Electro Sixteen", a video for Benny Benassi vs. "Iggy Pop
", “Electro Sixteen,” published by Ultra Records, which is an experimental music video featuring more than 15,000 photographs from his DJ set at New York’s Electric Zoo Festival.
On May 24, 2010, "Spaceship", which featured Kelis
, apl.de.ap
and Jean-Baptiste, was selected as the Song of the Day on About.com, with the site calling Benassi's production "tight and melodic, [while] Kelis turns in a fantastic performance." The single was released via digital download on the 21st of August, and charted at #18 on the UK Dance singles chart on 28th August."
On January 23, 2011, Benny Benassi released the music video for "Electroman", a single featuring T-Pain
.
Benassi is featured on the track "Beautiful People
", off Chris Brown's latest album, F.A.M.E.
.
On June 7, Benny Benassi released a new album titled Electroman, which includes several singles, such as "Cinema", "Electroman", "Spaceship" and "Control".
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
(DJ) and record producer of electro house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction
Satisfaction (Benny Benassi song)
"Satisfaction" is a Benny Benassi track from his 2003 album Hypnotica. The track was Benassi's debut single and most successful song, peaking at number 2 in the UK. It was also used in a TV commercial for an Australian beer, and Wendy's hamburgers...
". On October 28, 2009, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Records
Ultra Records
Ultra Records is an American independent electronic dance music record label. Ultra was formed in New York City in 1995 by former Polygram and Virgin Records executive Patrick Moxey, who is still currently the owner...
artist Benny Benassi placed #26, 13 spots higher than the previous year.
Career
A native of Reggio EmiliaReggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
, DJ/producer Benassi, also known as The Rave Father, started DJing alongside cousin Alle Benassi in the late 1980s in their hometown, before moving to Larry Pignagnoli
Larry Pignagnoli
Alfredo "Larry" Pignagnoli is a well-known Italian producer and is behind several international dance hits. He runs the production unit Off Limits in Italy...
's Off Limits production studio in the mid 1990s, creating music for various acts, including Whigfield
Whigfield
Sannie Charlotte Carlson , best known as Whigfield and also as Naan, is a Danish singer best known for the song "Saturday Night", a hugely popular single during the summer of 1994.-Biography:...
, J.K. and Ally & Jo.
Benassi first hit the dance floors with projects of his own, in 2001, with the single "I Feel So Fine", released under the name KMC with vocals by Dhany
Dhany
Dhany is an Italian dance music vocalist. She is most known for her work with Italian dance music producers Alessandro and Benny Benassi.-Albums:* Quiero Respirar #Quiero Respirar 4:01#Shut Up 3:35...
. The track first climbed the charts in Benassi's native Italy, and soon became a #1 hit in the UK club charts.
Moving from house to electro, "Satisfaction
Satisfaction (Benny Benassi song)
"Satisfaction" is a Benny Benassi track from his 2003 album Hypnotica. The track was Benassi's debut single and most successful song, peaking at number 2 in the UK. It was also used in a TV commercial for an Australian beer, and Wendy's hamburgers...
" took Benassi's success worldwide a year later with high-profile DJs like Carl Cox
Carl Cox
Carl Cox is a British techno and house music DJ.-Biography:Cox grew up in Oldham, Lancashire, before attending Glastonbury High Boys secondary modern school on Glastonbury Road in Morden. Cox began his career as a hardcore and rave DJ in the mid 1980s...
, Darren Emerson
Darren Emerson
Darren Emerson is a dance music DJ, and former member of the UK electronic music outfit, Underworld.-Career:Emerson began mixing Hip-Hop records at the age of 14, and by 16 was DJing regularly at local venues...
, and Roger Sanchez
Roger Sanchez
Roger Sanchez, also known as Roger S. and The S Man, is a Grammy award-winning American House music DJ who has scored many hits in the European and World Charts...
offering praises. The track reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
after the Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
record company replaced the original video (an almost still picture of the band, overlayed with graphics) with a video of models using power tools.
Released in 2003, the "campy" and "quirky" Hypnotica
Hypnotica
Hypnotica is the debut album of DJ/Producer Benny Benassi which was released in 2003. The album was titled as Benny Benassi Presents the Biz, where the Biz are the singers Paul French and Violeta. It reached the top five in the French Album charts and left the top 20 after a month. For Hypnotica,...
was Benassi's solo debut album. At the end of 2004, he won the European Border Breakers Award for Hypnotica, which racked up the most sales for an Italian album outside Italy.
Benassi often works with vocalists Paul French and Violeta, who are collectively known as The Biz. He produced a group with cousin Alle, called Benassi Bros.
Benassi Bros.
Benassi Bros. is an Italian dance group. The members of the group, Benny Benassi and Alle Benassi, started DJing in the late '80s in their hometown, before moving to Larry Pignagnoli's Off Limits production studio in the mid-'90s, creating music for various acts, including Whigfield, J.K. and Ally...
, a project designed to shine the spotlight on the two Biz vocalists, Paul French and Violeta Claudia and other guest singers. A year after the release of Hypnotica, thr album Pumphonia
Pumphonia
Pumphonia is a dance album released by the Benassi Bros. in 2004. It is the group's, which consists of cousins Alle and Benny Benassi, debut album.-Track listing:...
marked their first full length release. And, in 2005, Benassi Bros. released their second album …Phobia
…Phobia
...Phobia is the second studio album by electronic musicians Benassi Bros., released in 2005. It is the follow-up to their debut album Pumphonia...
.
Some of Benassi's singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
have charted high in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and have been played worldwide in clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
. Remixes for OutKast
OutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
, Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
, and Felix da Housecat
Felix da Housecat
Felix da Housecat is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat....
followed. Benassi also remixes music of his contemporaries, such as Tomcraft
Tomcraft
Tomcraft is a German DJ and producer. He is specialized in progressive house and progressive trance and is better known for having created the tracks "Loneliness" and "Prosac", working alongside Eniac....
and Fischerspooner
Fischerspooner
Fischerspooner is an electroclash duo and performance troupe formed in 1998 in New York. The name is a portmanteau of the founders' last names, Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner...
.
In 2005, Benassi founded the record label Pump-Kin Music. The focus of the label is primarily new and unsigned producers. The stated aim of the venture is to give exposure to some of the lesser known DJ/production talent across the world.
In August 2007, Benassi released a remix of Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise". The video for the track was created by Eclectic Method and features a montage of live footage from Public Enemy. It premiered on imeem.com. In February 2008, "Bring the Noise" won a Grammy for best Remix (Dance).
His album Rock 'n' Rave
Rock 'n' Rave
-Disc 1:#"Finger Food" – 7:11#"My Body" – 6:11#"Shocking Silence" – 8:33#"U Move U Rock Me" – 5:04#"Who's Your Daddy" – 5:20#"Here and Now" – 5:49#"Rock 'n' Rave" – 5:03#"I Am Not Drunk" – 5:04...
was released on June 16, 2008. The first single from the album was "I Am Not Drunk."
Benassi also broadcasts the one-hour long The Benny Benassi Show on Sirius XM Radio's channel Area.
In 2010, Benassi released "Electro Sixteen", a video for Benny Benassi vs. "Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
", “Electro Sixteen,” published by Ultra Records, which is an experimental music video featuring more than 15,000 photographs from his DJ set at New York’s Electric Zoo Festival.
On May 24, 2010, "Spaceship", which featured Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
, apl.de.ap
Apl.de.ap
Allan Pineda Lindo, Jr. better known as apl.de.ap , is a Filipino-American rapper, record producer, and occasional drummer who is best known as a member of The Black Eyed Peas.-Early life:Pineda was born in Belfast...
and Jean-Baptiste, was selected as the Song of the Day on About.com, with the site calling Benassi's production "tight and melodic, [while] Kelis turns in a fantastic performance." The single was released via digital download on the 21st of August, and charted at #18 on the UK Dance singles chart on 28th August."
On January 23, 2011, Benny Benassi released the music video for "Electroman", a single featuring T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
.
Benassi is featured on the track "Beautiful People
Beautiful People (Chris Brown song)
"Beautiful People" is a song by American recording artist Chris Brown featuring Italian DJ Benny Benassi. It was written by Brown, with Jean Baptiste, Marco Benassi and Allessandro Benassi, with the latter two also handling its production. The song was released as the third single from Brown's...
", off Chris Brown's latest album, F.A.M.E.
F.A.M.E. (album)
F.A.M.E. is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Chris Brown, first released on March 18, 2011 by Jive Records. Brown worked with several record producers and songwriters for the album, including Kevin McCall, Jean Baptiste, Brian Kennedy, DJ Frank E, The Underdogs and The...
.
On June 7, Benny Benassi released a new album titled Electroman, which includes several singles, such as "Cinema", "Electroman", "Spaceship" and "Control".
Discography
- HypnoticaHypnoticaHypnotica is the debut album of DJ/Producer Benny Benassi which was released in 2003. The album was titled as Benny Benassi Presents the Biz, where the Biz are the singers Paul French and Violeta. It reached the top five in the French Album charts and left the top 20 after a month. For Hypnotica,...
(2003) - PumphoniaPumphoniaPumphonia is a dance album released by the Benassi Bros. in 2004. It is the group's, which consists of cousins Alle and Benny Benassi, debut album.-Track listing:...
(2004) - ...Phobia (2005)
- Rock 'n' RaveRock 'n' Rave-Disc 1:#"Finger Food" – 7:11#"My Body" – 6:11#"Shocking Silence" – 8:33#"U Move U Rock Me" – 5:04#"Who's Your Daddy" – 5:20#"Here and Now" – 5:49#"Rock 'n' Rave" – 5:03#"I Am Not Drunk" – 5:04...
(2008) - ElectromanElectroman (album)-Release History:...
(2011)
Awards and nominations
- 2011 - Benny Benassi was rated #27 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJS.
- Benny Benassi recently was rated #7 on DJ Poll Top 100 on www.thedjlist.com.
- 2008 - Benny Benassi won the Best Remixed Recording at the 50th Grammy Awards50th Grammy AwardsThe 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. Kanye West received the most nominations, with eight. Amy Winehouse was the big winner, winning a total of five awards. Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters won Album of the Year,...
for his remix of Public Enemy's Bring the NoiseBring the Noise"Bring the Noise" is a song by the hip hop group Public Enemy. It was included on the soundtrack of the 1987 film Less Than Zero and was also released as a single that year. It later became the first song on the group's 1988 album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back...
. - 2006 - Benny Benassi "Hit my Heart" opened The 2006 Victoria Secret Fashion Show.
- 2004 - Three nominations at Dancestar, Miami and won the best video award.
- 2004 - DJ MAG's Top 100 DJs: Benny became number eighteen, the highest new entry.
- 2004 - European Border Breakers Award for Hypnotica, the Italian album that sold most in Europe outside Italy.
- 2003 - Number one in the Top 100 dance tracks on the Ministry of Sound Internet radio.
- 2003 - DJ MAG tune of the year in UK.
- 2003 - Revelation of the year – Italian Dance Music Awards.
- 2003 - Dance revelation of the year – Danish Music Award.
- 2003 - Nominated for international revelation of the year – NRJ Awards, France.