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Despina Vandi (copied from despinavandi.gr)
Blessed with a striking voice and an abundance of talent, Despina Vandi is undoubtedly one of the most
popular artists to emerge in recent times. A pop icon and one of the most commercially successful artists
in the history of Greek Music.
Despina Vandi began her first steps to stardom a decade ago. Her striking voice and natural presence were
undeniable, and it was only a matter of time before she signed her first recording deal.
Her debut album "GELA MOU" (Smile at Me), recorded and released in 1994 by Minos-Emi, delivered
her first moment in the spotlight, while "ESENA PERIMENO" ("Waiting For You"), her second
album, was a turning point for her image as a pop icon. The latter album delivered several hit singles,
steadily building Despinas' fan base.
In December 1997, after numerous tours around the world (across America and Europe),
she teamed up with the multi talented songwriter, composer and producer Phoebus, a
collaboration which resulted in a series of chart topping singles and multi- platinum albums.
Their first collaboration was "DEKA ENTOLES" ("Ten Commandments"), a defining new
album. Despina Vandi became the newborn star of the Greek music industry,
with a string of hit singles and incredibly successful appearances.
In 1998, Despina once again collaborated with Phoebus, achieving two hit singles
that preceded her fourth solo album "PROPHITIES" ("Prophecies"), which proved to
be a goldmine. Released at the beginning of 2000 the album achieved gold status
on the first day of its release, and it was platinum within a month.
At the end of 2000 Despina and Phoebus entered the history books with the release
of the new single "IPOFERO" ("I Am Suffering"). The single has broken all records and today stands
as the biggest selling single in Greece achieving six times platinum status.
Later that year, Richard Branson invited Despina Vandi and Phoebus to London,
where he honored both their outstanding creative collaborations, which set new heights for the Greek music industry.
In the autumn of 2001, Despina Vandis' career reached a new peak of commercial
success and publicity. She and Phoebus chose to sign with HEAVEN, a new dynamic recording company,
part of the Athena Group (the largest media group in Greece). By the end of this year Despina was
setting new trends and breaking more records. Shortly after filling the center of Thessalonica for
a free concert, she released "GIA" ("Hi"), her new, double album, written and composed once again
by Phoebus. "GIA" achieved four times platinum status in just eleven days of its release. Taking into
account the rate, the time period, and the number of sales achieved, this particular album is considered
to be an unprecedented success for Greek music standards.
Her success was sealed recently with an international award. Despina Vandi was honored with the award
of the "Worlds' Best Selling Greek Artist for the year 2001" at the 14th Annual World Music Awards which
were held on March 6th 2002 in Monte Carlo. This was a great success for Despina Vandi and Greece since it is
the first time that an artist who resides and works in Greece has been honored at these awards.
The global success came shortly ago with her song "GIA". Having gone multi platinum in the Greek market,
the song, written and composed by Phoebus, broke into the international music scene, over the past
summer, and assumed prime position in the play lists of celebrated DJs and clubs worldwide.
"Gia" performed the impossible by reaching the No1 spot in both the USA and the UK
(according to the official Billboard and Music Week charts), managing to knock international hits off the top spot!
Since then, it has been released, as a CD single in Europe, the USA, Australia, Turkey and Northern Africa
while it has been included in more than 120 compilations, worldwide.
Recently, Despina Vandi received her second international award. The No1 radio station of Portugal
"Radio Nova Era" honored her with the award of the "Best international dance artist for the year 2004"
at the Gala Radio Nova Era which took place on April 24th in Porto.
Her second international single, "Opa-Opa", produced by Phoebus and Bass Bumpers, has already
been released around Europe, with great success, while her first studio album, which is currently
being recorded, will reach the international audience during the winter.
Despina Vandi also is the performer of the single "Come Along Now", the song that will accompany all
of Coca-Colas' activities in the context of its Olympic Sponsorship agreement. At the end of August Des
Vandi is going to perform live at the Beat stock Festival in New York.
After ten years of hard work and five albums, and thanks to her amazing voice and appearance and her
superb live performances, Despina Vandi is undoubtedly an artist with "star quality". Her work with Phoebus
is considered groundbreaking in Greece and their collaborations will continue to set new trends for years to come.
Still in the early part of her career, she will continue to blossom musically, creatively setting the pace for the
Greek market as well as breaking barriers as she now looks to achieving International success.
(copied from this page.)
1994-1996: Early years
Despina Vandi's first album was released in 1994 under the Minos EMI label.
The album's name was Gela Mou which translates to "Smile at Me".
This album was distinguished by her duet To Adieksodo (No Way Out)
written by Vassilis Karras, with Giannis Parios, a very popular
singer at the time.
In 1996, Despina Vandi released her next album, Esena Perimeno, meaning
"You're the one i'm waiting for". Hits on this album include Esena Perimeno,
Den Pethainei I Agapi, and Efiges songs written by her friend and now musical
director Tony Kontaxakis.
1997-1999: Popularity established
1997 proved to be a big year for Despina Vandi as she teamed up with popular
songwriter Phivos. Phivos wrote the songs of Despina Vandi's next album,
Deka Entoles (Ten Commandments). This album was awarded platinum status
in Greece. Despina Vandi's partnership with Phoebus would turn out to
be a very successful one for many years to come. With the success of
"Deka Entoles" Despina Vandi quickly became popular in the Greek Music
industry with a string of hits and popular appearances.
Later that year, Despina experimented with acting. She was asked to play
a guest star role in the hit television show "Dio Xenoi" (Two strangers").
Despina accepted the role and made her first appearance on television.
She played a singer of a local small city, who was able to change the
sexuality of the main gay character. She managed to gain good reviews
for her acting talent. After that she received many proposals for both TV,
Cinema and Musical, but has turned them down to focus on music.
Despina's next album Profities (Propecies) was released in 1999 and went
gold status the day of its release. It eventually became a triple platinum
album in Greece. Later that year Despina gave her first sold-out solo
concert at the concert hall of Lycabettus with 7.000 audience.
2000-2002: Further Success
In 2000, Despina Vandi released the single Ypofero meaning "I Suffer".
The single went six-times platinum and was awarded as being the most
successful single of all time in Greece, by Richard Branson of Virgin.
Despina Vandi and Phoebus decided to sign with Heaven Music, a new break-out
record label in 2001 owned by the Athena Group (the largest media group
in Greece). Despina's next album Gia (2001), meaning "Hi" was a double
album including 21 new songs. The album went 4x platinum in only 11 days.
Many of the songs on the album became hits not only Greece, but also
in neighboring countries such as Turkey and Lebanon. Shortly after,
Despina gave a free concert in Thessaloniki drawing in a reported
62,000 people.
In 2002 Despina was awarded as World's best-selling Greek Artist at the
World Music Awards of 2002. It was the first time that this award was
given to Greek artist who actually lives and works in Greece. For her
acceptance speech, Despina said "Above all though, I would like to
thank my Greek fans around the world. I dedicate this award to all
the Greeks who have supported me with their love all these years
and it is because of them that I find myself here at this moment."
2003: International Career
With "Gia" having gone multi platinum in the Greek market, some of the
songs broke out into the international market in neighboring countries.
Seeing potential in an international career, she embarked on one in
2003.
Her first three international singles, Gia (2003), Opa Opa (2004)
and Come Along Now (2005) entered the charts around the world. Her
first internationally-distributed albums are named after the songs
Gia and Come Along Now.
She made an appearance on the hit-international show Top of the Pops
where she performed her song "Gia" as she was included in some of that
week's best-selling popular music artists.
Her work has been remixed by celebrated global DJs and producers, such
as Armand Van Helden, Milk & Sugar, Nick Skitz, Roger Sanchez, Junior
Vasquez, Pete Tong, Bass Bumpers, DJ Gregory, Level K, XTM,
Minimal Chic and Highpass amongst others.
Her records Gia and Opa Opa have been Records of The Week on
BBC Radio 1's dance shows. Despina Vandi has also won many international awards.
Gia and Opa Opa have both charted on the Billboard Dance charts,
with Gia reaching number 1.
At the end of August (2004) Despina performed live at the Beatstock Festival in New York.
2004-2007
Despina's next studio album was released at the end of 2004, titled
Stin Avli Tou Paradisou. It went on to be successful, reaching
a double platinum status.
In 2006, the album was repackaged and included 5 new songs including
a duet with Giorgos Mazonakis. For the video clip, Katiana Balanika
guest starts in it.
Special edition has been released in Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Ukraine,
Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and in Turkey.
Despina gave a very successful concert in the theatre of Lycabettus
in Athens at the end of July 2006.
Despina Vandi released a new CD single called "Kalanta" in Greece
on November 22, 2006. It went 2x platinum. The videoclip "Kalanta"
was released on 19th of December. She then made a video to her next
hit "Mehri Mai Mina", which appears on the Kalanta single too.
Despina Vandi performed her last show ever at the Rex Music Theater
on February 18 and it will mark and end to singing there for the
past seven years. Due to her pregnancy, Despina isn't planning any summer concerts this year.
On 21 August 2007, Despina gave birth to a healthy boy, her second
child after Melina.
Despina has shown a great sensitivity for people in need especially
for children. Only in the period of 2000-2006 she has given more than
5 huge benefit concerts and managed to gather nearly 1,000,000 euros
for charitable purposes. She was awarded from Mariana Vardinogianni
(President of the Child and Family Foundation and Ambassador of
Good Will in UNESCO) for her total work. Despina also worked on the
new album Sehnsucht (Longing) of the german band Schiller which will be realesed in 2008.
2007
On October 10, 2007 (10/10) Despina released her new single "Thelo"
(I Want) simultaneously on all radio stations and TV stations across
Greece at 10 AM. It also marked her 10 year anniversary of collaborating
with Phoebus (composer). The song reached the top of the Nielsens'
Radio Airplay chart for Greece.
On November 15, 2007, Despina released her second single from the new
album called 10 Hronia Mazi (10 Years Together), which is also the name
of the new album. The song is about the 10 year collaboration with Phoebus.
Her new CD was released December 6, 2007 and is a triple CD featuring
15 new songs. The first CD features 8 new pop and rock songs, while
the second CD features 7 new Laika songs. The third CD is a "bonus"
and features some of the best songs from Despina and Phoebus with new
mixes as a thank you to their fans. The album achieved platinum
certification on the first day. On December 20, she will start
appearing with Vassilis Karras and Nino at the renovated music hall
theater "Diogenis". Despina also worked on the new album Sehnsucht
(Longing) of the German band Schiller (band) which will be released in 2008.
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