Paula Fernandes de Souza (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈpawlɐ feʁˈnɐ̃dʒis]; born August 28, 1982 in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais) is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and arranger. In a poll organized among readers of VIP magazine in 2011, she was named the 16th "sexiest woman in the world." That same year, she was one of the most accessed on Google Brazil.
Biography
Born in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, she lived in a farm with her parents and her younger brother during her childhood. Fernandes started singing when she was eight years old, releasing her self-titled debut album two years later. Her second album, named Ana Rayo, was released in 1995, and was inspired by the A História de Ana Raio e Zé Trovão telenovela. Fernandes went to college to study Geography in Belo Horizonte when she was 18 years old, singing in pubs during this time. She recorded one of the theme songs of Rede Globo's telenovela América, named "Ave Maria Natureza", and released the album Canções do Vento Sul soon after that. Fernandes was nominated for the Best Popular Singer Award at Prêmio da Música Brasileira with that album. The song "Jeito do Mato" from her following album, Pássaro de Fogo, was a theme song in the Globo telenovela Paraíso, and her version of Ivete Sangalo's "Quando a Chuva Passar" was the main theme of the telenovela Escrito nas Estrelas. Fernandes released her first DVD in October 2010, and gained further recognition after she participated in two Rede Globo specials: the Roberto Carlos' end of year show, broadcast on December 25, 2010, and Show da Virada, broadcast during New Year's Eve, on December 31, 2010. Her live album, Paula Fernandes - Ao Vivo, released in 2011, was the top seller of that year. Fernandes became known in the rest of Latin America due to her collaboration on the Juanes song "Hoy Me Voy", released in his 2012 MTV Unplugged album. Her 2013 album Multishow ao Vivo - Um Ser Amor was nominated for the 2014 Latin Grammy Award for Best Sertaneja Music Album, with the title song being nominated in the Best Brazilian Song category. Paula was a singer with another, earlier, famous, group headed by another popular South American, Luciano, who is a story in and of itself. She adored his lead guitarist, and they had a fling, during her participation and duets with Luciano that were well-received, but her romance didn't end well. Earlier years, she sang a Luciano passion song "Saudade Bandida" but was not named the vocalist, or shown in the video. Paula did one album in English, entitled "Dust in the Wind" in the USA western style, see below (EMI). And she did one duet with Nashville star Shania Twain. Paula doesn't ascribe to being Selena's replacement, but outside the US, she rates in that league in popularity worldwide.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Certifications | Sales |
|---|
| Canções do Vento Sul | - Released: September 14, 2005
- Label: Sonhos & Sons
- Format: CD, digital download
| Gold (ABPD) | Brazil: 50,000+ |
| Dust in the Wind | - Released: February 16, 2007
- Label: EMI
- Format: CD, digital download
| Gold(ABPD) | Brazil: 50,000+ |
| Pássaro de Fogo | - Released: April 18, 2009
- Label: Universal Music
- Format: CD, digital download
| 3× Platinum (ABPD) | Brazil: 350,000+ |
| Meus Encantos | - Released: May 29, 2012
- Label: Universal Music
- Format: CD, digital download
| Diamond (ABPD) | Brazil: 1,000,000+ |
| Amanhecer | - Released: October 23, 2015
- Label: Universal Music
- Format: CD, digital download
| Gold (ABPD) | Brazil: 60,000+ |
Live albums
| Title | Album details | Certifications | Sales |
|---|
| Paula Fernandes: Ao Vivo | - Live album
- Released: January 26, 2011
- Label: Universal Music
- Format: CD, DVD, digital download
| 2× Diamond (ABPD)
Platinum (AFP) | Brazil: 4,000,000+ (CD/DVD)
Portugal: 150,000+ |
| Multishow Ao Vivo: Um Ser Amor | - Live album
- Released: October 22, 2013
- Label: Universal Music
- Format: CD, DVD, digital download
| Diamond (ABPD) | Brazil: 2,000,000+ (CD/DVD) |
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details | Certifications | Sales |
|---|
| Encontros pelo Caminho | - Compilation album
- Released: September 23, 2014
- Label: Universal Music
- Format: CD, DVD, digital download
| Platinum (ABPD) | 200,000 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|
| Brasil Hot 100 Airplay | Brasil Hot Popular Songs |
|---|
| 2005 | "Meu Eu em Você" | — | — | Canções do Vento Sul |
| 2009 | "Pássaro de Fogo" | 36 | 2 | Pássaro de Fogo |
| "Jeito de Mato" | 24 | 3 |
| 2010 | "Quando a Chuva Passar" | 29 | 20 |
| 2011 | "Pra Você" | 2 | 2 | Paula Fernandes: Ao Vivo |
| "Não Precisa" (duet with Victor & Leo) | 2 | 6 |
| "Sensações" | 60 | — |
| 2012 | "Eu Sem Você" | 2 | — | Meus Encantos |
| "Cuidar Mais de Mim" | 13 | — |
| 2013 | "Se o Coração Viajar" | 16 | — |
| "Um Ser Amor" | 4 | — | Um Ser Amor (EP) |
| "Não Fui Eu" | 3 | — | Multishow Ao Vivo: Um Ser Amor |
| 2014 | "Quem É" | 14 | — |
| "You're Still the One" (duet with Shania Twain) | 15 | — | Encontros pelo Caminho |
| 2015 | "Pegando Lágrimas" (duet with Chitãozinho & Xororó) | 17 | — |
| "Depois" (duet with Victor & Leo) | 29 | — |
| "A Paz Desse Amor" | 21 | — | Amanhecer |
| 2016 | "Piração" | 4 | — |
| As featured artist |
|---|
| 2010 | "Caminhoneiro" (duet with Dominguinhos) | — | — | Emoções Sertanejas |
| 2011 | "Meu Grito de Amor" (duet with Eduardo Costa) | 8 | — | De Pele, Alma e Coração Ao Vivo |
| "Over the Rainbow" (duet with Michael Bolton) | — | 28 | Gems: The Duets Collection |
| 2012 | "Long Live" (duet with Taylor Swift) | 1 | — | Speak Now World Tour Live (Brazilian edition) |
| "Hoy Me Voy" (duet with Juanes) | 54 | — | Juanes MTV Unplugged |
| "Criação Divina" (duet with Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano) | 6 | — | 20 Anos de Sucesso |
| 2013 | "Criação Divina" (duet with Michel Teló) | 6 | — | Sunset |
