Gilla (born Gisela Wuchinger, February 27, 1950) is an Austrian singer who gained fame in the late 1970s during the disco era. Her career began under the guidance of German producer Frank Farian, who helped her land a deal with Hansa Records in 1974.
The song "Johnny" was one of the singer's popular hits, especially in Eastern Europe and the USSR. The line "Johnny, oh yeah" from the song became instantly recognizable and memorable to many listeners of the era. This disco track was a frequent staple of dance floors and clubs in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Gilla found her greatest fame through hits like "Tu es" ("Why Don't You Do It"), which reached No. 10 on the German charts, and a bold German-language version of "Lady Marmalade" with the provocative refrain "Willst du mit mir schlafen gehn?" ("Do you want to sleep with me?"). In 1978, her single "Bend Me, Shape Me" reached No. 11 on the Swiss charts.
Interestingly, despite relatively modest popularity in Western Europe, Gilla's work found significant fame in the countries of the socialist bloc, including the USSR and especially Russia, where her music resonated with young people. In post-Soviet Russia of the 1990s, her songs were often experienced as nostalgic reminders of 1970s-80s music.
After releasing her last single, "Cigarillo," in 1981, Gilla left the music business. In recent years, however, she has performed regularly in Russia, where her recordings still enjoy considerable popularity.