How a 90s dance anthem became a viral football chant
In short: Gala Rizzatto dominated the European charts in the late 1990s with her breakout album. Yet, her most enduring legacy might be a song that escaped the club scene to become a global sporting phenomenon, fueled by internet culture and football terrace chants.
Born in Italy on 6 September 1975, Gala achieved massive international success with her debut album, Come into My Life. The album contained multi-platinum hits such as "Freed from Desire", a track that hit the Top 3 on charts throughout the Middle East, Russia, South America, and Europe. By 1998, the album had sold over six million records worldwide. In 1996, the magazine Musica e Dischi named her the year's best female singer in Italy. She also earned a Diamond recording award in France and a Gold record in the United Kingdom.
The singer's career has been marked by significant shifts in independence and geography. After signing with Universal Records in Italy in 1998, she later broke her contract following the 2001 death of her manager, Steve Fargnoli, and returned to New York. In Brooklyn, she established her own label, Matriarchy Records, in 2008, releasing the album "Tough Love" in 2009.
While her original hits remain staples of the dance genre, "Freed from Desire" has found a second life through unexpected channels. In 2016, a Wigan Athletic supporter uploaded a version titled "Will Griggs on Fire" to YouTube. This sparked a trend where fans from Northern Ireland, England, and Wales created their own versions for players during UEFA Euro 2016, transforming the pop track into a viral football chant. During UEFA Euro 2016, the track's popularity surged as fans across various nations adapted it for their players. This cultural shift helped cement the song's status as a global terrace anthem.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Gala (singer)
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