Despina Vandi
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| Despina Vandi | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Born | 22 July 1969 | |
| Origin | Kavala, Greece | |
| Genre(s) | Modern Laika , Pop, dance | |
| Years active | 1994 to Present | |
| Label(s) | Heaven Music | |
| Website | http://www.despinavandi.com | |
Despina Vandi (born Despina Malea, 22 July 1969, near Stuttgart-Tübingen, Southern Germany) is a Greek female singer who has sold almost one million records in Greece alone. She has been dubbed in interviews and publications of her country as 'the ultimate pop star' and the 'only Greek Star capable of an international career'. Despina has worked with all the big-namers of Greek contemporary pop music and her shows (mainly at Rex Music Theater) are heralded by the press as 'the best show in town'. She is the mother to little Melina, the product of her and husband Demis Nikolaidis, ex-international footballer and current President of AEK football club.
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[edit] Personal life
Although born in Germany, Vandi's family was from Kavala, Greece, where she and her family moved when she was six years old. As a result, she did not learn German, unlike the rest of her family. She went on to study psychology, philosophy, and education at the University of Thessaloniki.
[edit] Career
For the past Despina Vandi has released many albums throughout Greece and some albums have been distributed internationally. Despina Vandi started her career in 1994 after taking singing and phonetics courses.
[edit] 1994-2002
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 with Giannis Parios, a very popular singer at the time.
In 1996, Despina Vandi released her next album, Esena Perimeno, meaning "I am waiting for you". 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 proved to be a big year for Despina Vandi as she teamed up with popular songwriter Phoebus. Phoebus 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.
Despina Vandi'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.
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. Despina Vandi's next album Gia (2001), meaning "Hi" was a double album including 21 new songs. The album went quadruple 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.
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.
[edit] International Career
In 2003 she embarked on an international career, something Greek performers have had little success in accomplishing. Her first three international singles, Gia (2003), Opa Opa (2004) and Come Along Now (2005) entered the charts around the world, something that had not been achieved for decades by a Greek artist. Her first internationally-distributed albums are named after the songs Gia and Come Along Now.
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.
[edit] "Gia" Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Club Dance Airplay | 1 |
| Greece IFPI Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| Romania Airplay Singles Top 100 | 8 |
| Finland Top 20 Singles | 20 |
| Sweden Top 60 Singles | 25 |
| Australia Top 50 Singles | 35 |
| Germany Singles Top 100 | 36 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 39 |
| Australia Club Charts | 41 |
| Belgium Singles Top 50 | 42 |
| UK Singles Top 75 | 63 |
| Switzerland Top 100 Singles | 73 |
[edit] "Opa Opa" Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Greece IFPI Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| Denmark Top 20 Singles | 14 |
| Germany Top 100 Singles | 51 |
| Austria Top 75 Singles | 54 |
| Switzerland Top 100 Singles | 81 |
[edit] 2003 to Present
2006 starts off promising as it has been announced that Ministry of Sound (Vandi's European label) will present the world with a new video-clip of Despina's Jambi on the 23rd January 2006, at this year's Midem Festival in Cannes.
Her latest video clip named Amanes (after Jambi) is from the Stin Avli Tou Paradisou Special Edition album. Katiana Balanika stars in the video clip and the actual song is a duet with Giorgos Mazonakis a well known greek pop singer.
Special edition has been released in Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and in Turkey.
In Turkey its first week {first week of special edition} in charts was 2nd and names like Madonna, Placebo and others were after her.
Jambi finally started to be a big hit in Russia, Germany, Turkey and Despina Vandi plans to have a world wide tour with first steps Turkey, Germany and America.
In that summer she is going to release the Special Edition version of her "Garden Of Eden" {Stin Avli Tou Paradisou}album. The release will take place in Turkey,Russia,Ukraine,Hungary. Jambi will also be released as a CD-single in Portugal and America. In Russia she is going to release a DVD with her best Clips, similar to the one in Greece
Despina gave a very successful concert in the theatre of Lykavittos in Athens at the end of July 2006.
Despina Vandi released a new CD single called "Kalanta" in Greece on November 22nd 2006. It has already gone platinum. There is also an English version recorded called "Jingle Bells" and is playing on radios.
[edit] Discography
Studio Albums
- Gela Mou (1994)
- Esena Perimeno (1996)
- Deka Entoles (1997) (Platinum)
- Profities (1999) (Triple platinum)
- Gia (2001) (4 times platinum) ('Gia Gollectior's Edition' sales combined)
- Gia + Ante Gia - Collector's Edition (2002)
- Stin Avli Tou Pardisou (2004)
- Special Edition - Stin Avli Tou Paradisou (2005) (2X platinum - sales combined with original release of 'Stin ayli tou paradisou')
CD-Singles
- Spania (platinum)
- Ypofero (6 times platinum - the most successful single of all time in Greece, awarded by Richard Branson of Virgin)
- Ante Gia (double platinum,)
- Gia (Gold)
- Opa Opa
- Come Along Now (official song of the 2004 Olympics Coca Cola Campaign) (Platinum)
- Jambi
- Kalanta (platinum) - Greece Top 50 Singles - No. 1
Compilations and Miscellaneous
- The Best (of) (gold)
- Gia Collector's Edition (Geia + Ante Geia) (5 x Platinum)
- Gia (US edition)
- Come Along Now (Gia European edition)
- Live (platinum)
- Ta Laika tis Despinas
- Despina Vandi Ballads
- Despina Vandi Dance
- Stin Avli Tou Paradisou Special Edition (double platinum)
Local sales (only in Greece) total approximately 990,000 in eleven years.
