Olga Souza
The Brazilian voice that powered Corona's global dance smash 'The Rhythm of the Night', becoming an unexpected icon of 90s Eurodance.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Brazilian singer·Birthday: July 16·Generation X
Biography
Olga Souza fronted the 1994 Eurodance hit 'The Rhythm of the Night' as Corona's lead vocalist. A model and dancer from Rio de Janeiro, she was living in Italy when producers Francesco Bontempi and Pete Glenister recruited her for their new project. Her Portuguese-accented English and charismatic presence drove the track to the top of charts across Europe. The song became a defining anthem of the 1990s dance era. Souza spent the next decade touring and recording as Corona's frontwoman, making her one of the most recognizable Brazilian figures on the global pop scene. All of it stemmed from that single, irresistible rhythm.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Olga was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Olga Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Olga's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As the lead singer of Corona, scored a worldwide hit with the 1994 dance single 'The Rhythm of the Night'.
- The album 'The Rhythm of the Night' sold over 3 million copies globally, propelled by her vocals.
- Performed with Corona at major international venues and festivals throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Did You Know?
She is a naturalized Italian citizen, having lived in Italy for much of her career.
Before joining Corona, she worked as a fashion model.
The music video for 'The Rhythm of the Night' was filmed in New York City.
“I brought the Brazilian sun to the dance floor, one beat at a time.”
