Anna Vissi

Anna Vissi (born December 20, 1957 has been crowned "The Queen of Greek Music" by Many Greek Magazines. "The Goddess", as she is otherwise known, has sold close to 1.5 million albums in Greece. In 2005, she also enjoyed success in the US, claiming the Number 1 position on the Billboard Dance Charts with 'Call Me'.

Career

Anna's career started when she arrived in Athens, Greece. She quickly signed on to the Minos record label and began working with composers Haris Alexiou and Nikos Karvelas (whom she later married). She represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest Anna was born in the city of Larnaca, in Cyprus. She started studying music at the age of 6, at a local conservatoire, while she was singing from 5 years old, every Sunday, in a place for children, where she used to go with her family. she participated with Lia, her elder sister, (and took the first price) in a competition for new talents, saying she was 14, although she was 12. Two years later, she was the main singer at Y. Kotsonis opus "Ayia Tilliria" which was also her first tv appearance. In 1973, her family moved to Athens, where she continued her studies in the National Conservatoire and also appeared with many well-known singers (G. Dalaras, H. Alexiou, V. Papakonstantinou, Y. Parios) in the famous night boites of Plaka, in Athens, while she was simultaneously studying Law at the University of Athens. In the meantime, she collaborated with many important greek composers: Mikis Theodorakis (1974/5), Stavros Kouyioumtjis (1974/5), George Hadjinassios (1974), Doros Yeorgiades (1974), Nicos Carvelas (1975) and Michalis Terzis (1976). In 1977 she went on tour with G. Dalaras and H. Alexiou, giving remarkable concerts with most known that at Rainbow, London (June). In the same year, she won the prize for Best Singer and Best Song (As Kanoume Apopse Mia Arhi / Let's make a start tonight) of the year at the Annual Song Festival of Salonica (Palai des Spor). Just before 1978, (October 1977) her first personal LP was released: As kanoume apopse mia arhi (Let us make a start tonight).

Related Topics:
Athens - Minos - Haris Alexiou - Nikos Karvelas - Greece - Eurovision Song Contest

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1978 she was proposed by ERT (Greek National Television) to represent Greece at the 23rd Eurovision Song Contest. There were two songs to select from: Poso s' agapo (How much I love you) and Kos Nobel (Mr Nobel). Finally, due to controversies between the composers of the songs, her participation was disqualified and Tania Tsanaklidou went to the contest.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1980, Anna took place at the 25th Eurovision Song Contest (Congresgebouw, Hague), representing Greece. She sang Autostop (Hitch-hiking) with Epikouri and ended 13/19 with 30 pts. Two years later, she represented Cyprus at the 27th ESC (Conference Center, Harrogate), with the song Mono i agapi (Only love) ended 5/18, with 85 pts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1983 she married Nicos Carvelas, a very talented composer, with whom she collaborated in 1975. After their marriage, she started a close collaboration with her husband, that lasts until nowadays, making a big turn in her career. Since 1975, all her releases have become gold and platinum and Anna has been, along with George Dalaras and Haris Alexiou, one of the top selling greek singers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1986, she participated at the Cypriot National Final for Eurovision Song Contest, with the song Thelo na gino star (I wanna be a star), taking the second place. This song is still unreleased.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some of her most succesful albums: I epomeni kinisi (The next move, 1986), Tora (Now, 1988), Empnefsi (Inspiration, 1988), Fotia (Fire, 1989).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1989 she made her debut as a radio producer at ANT1 Radio. Her radio programme had the title of one of her songs: Ta koritsia ine atakta (Girls are naughty) and was aired every weekend. The same year she participated with the song Klaio (I'm crying / unreleased) at the Greek National Final for Eurovision Song Contest, ending second.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the early 90s, she was the first (after famous singer Marinela) to mount spectacular shows in Greece, along with Carvelas, starting with her appearances at Diogenis Pallace (Fotia era) and then at Rex (presenting the famous Anna Vissi Show).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In November 1991, a big dream of Anna and Nicos came into being. It was Daimones (Demons), the first greek rock opera, based on a libretto by Stavros Sideras and staged at Atticon Theatre, in Athens, for two years. Roger Williams was the director and Anna Vissi (queen, Rozanne), Yiannis Samsiaris (Daniel) and John Modinos (inquistor) the leading actors. Critics were flattering while Demons were played in foreign tv stations and attracted the attention of Broadway agents. A year after, in October 1993, she had the leading role of Aphrodite, in the one act opera by Stavros Sideras Ode to the Gods, that was held only once, in Limassol (Cyprus), during the celebrations for the Commonwealth Day. The president of the Republic of Cyprus, G. Clerides and the queen Elizabeth II were between the audience.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The following years Anna and Nicos released albums that became gold and platinum: Lampo! (I'm shining!, 1992) with latin influences, Emis (Us, 1992), Live! (1993), Re! (Hey, you!, 1994), O! Kipros (Oh! Cyprus, 1995) with traditional cypriot songs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1994 she was the hostess at the ANT1 weekly tv show Me agapi Anna (Lovingly Anna), while one year after she gave a concert in Cyprus, supporting the deffence of the island.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1996 Anna released the double platinum album Klima tropiko (Tropical climate, 1996). She rules the whole greek market! After giving more than 40 successful concerts all over Greece, she mounted a spectacular, three-hour show at the club Gazi. She is the most successful one-woman performer-artist of Greece. At New Year's eve (1997), by invitation of the Mayor of the city of Athens, she performed in the Parliament Square, in front of more than 20 000 people. In the same year a new album was released, called Travma (Wound, 1997) that became gold in less than two weeks and three times platinum in only six months. In the same year, Epic released a promo single, containing the song Forgive me this (1997). Producers were Peter Asher and Ric Wake (Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole). After a while, a new cd single was released with the same song along with Crush, Black sunglasses and Eleni as well as a re-release of her multi platinum album Travma with a bonus cd, containing songs from previous albums, only in Australia.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1998, she released a new greek album, Antidoto (Antidote, 1998) that sold more than 80 000 copies in just a week, breaking all the previous records. She then gave a sold-out charity concert at the Presidential Palace in Cyprus with the presidential orchestra of the russian confederacy (Telethon) and continued with two sold-out concerts in London, in February 1999 (Forum Music Theatre, Palladium Theatre), and a mini tour in the USA, giving concerts in Los Angeles, Atlantic City, Chicago, Boston and New York (Madison Square Garden). Jurnalists and everyone that saw her was astonished. The Los Angeles Times wrote: "...a performance so charismatic, so filled with sheer magnetic talent... expect big thinks from this potential new international star", while the New York Times wrote "with raised arms and delicately stepping feet, she was no unapproachable, packaged pop diva, but an irrepressible entertainer".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In April 2000, she performed at London's Royal Albert Hall, at the so-called "millennium show", with her own magical way of singing, full of passion and energy, in front of people from Sony International, marketing managers from Europe, and fans from the UK. In the next month, the 13th of May, she performed One a night like this (prod. and com. Brian Rowling, from her forthcoming international album) at the Miss Universe Pageant, at Eleftheria Stadium, in Cyprus, accompanied by eight dancers (choreographer: Shaun Fernandez).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some months later, her first international single was released: Everything I am (2000), containing the original version and three remixes of the song (Almighty Mix, Eiffel 65 RMX, Groove Brothers Remix) and a song on greek and english lyrics (Moro mou, no tomorrow). She also filmed her first video clip of that single, directed by Antti Jokinen (Solar films, Finland), that costed 80 000 000 drachmas (310 000 dollars). Apart from the english single, she also released a greek single, Ayapi ipervoliki (Excsessive love, 2000) containing six new songs. Having sold, in 10 weeks, more than 75 000 singles, it became triplum platinum and finally five times platinum, selling more than 100 000 copies. To promote the single, she presented a unique for the greek standarts show at Asteria with Nicos Carvelas and the boy band ONE and Shaun Fernandez as a choreographer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In September 2000, she gave a charity concert at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia (Cyprus) in front of 12 000 people, with ONE and a group of dancers from Sony International, singing songs from the very beginning of her career (1973 - 2001). The concert was said to be unique for all over Greece and Cyprus. In the same year, she released Everything I am (2000), containing 12 songs by Russ Ballard, Mark Taylor, Graham Stack, Steve Torch, Paul Stanley, Tina Shafer, Julian Harris, Danielle Gerber and of-course Nicos Carvelas. Producers of the album were Brian Rawling (Cher, Enrique Iglesias), Ric Wake (Celine Dion) and Peter Asher (Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross, Cher). In Greece, after a week, tha album reached gold status (20 000 +), while Australia, S. Africa, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Turkey, Finland, Norway and Asia started promoting it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In November 2000 her new greek album was released, entitled Kravyi (Scream, 2000), reaching double platinum status in just some hours, and breaking all the records and finaly became 7x Plantium - a double album with 24 new songs and a duet with Kety Garbi. Some months later, she started presenting a show with Garbi and the boyband ONE in Fever, while she accepted the invitation of the Mayor of Athens to perform in the Parliament Square, at the celebrations of the New Year's Eve 2001. Just before Easter, a second single from her international album was released, I'm still in love with you with remixes (Radio Edit, Soda Club Radio Mix, Soda Club Mix, Soda Club TV Track) and production by Brian Rawling.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In June 2001 she was the main singer in a spectacular production in Bucharest (Unirii square, nearby river Dambovitei) along with the No smoking band and the famous cinema director and producer Emir Kusturica. The concert (2001, Peace Odyssey) included a multimedia show, opening with a waterscreen that wowed more than 150 000 who were present, marrying music with the most modern expression of art. Kusturica along with producer and director Agelos Hadjiandreou undertook the artistic direction of the event.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Three months later (3rd of September) she gave a concert in Cyprus (GSP Stadium), singing and dancing in front of more than 18 000 viewers, for more than 3 hours. Just a day before, he was awarted for the seven times platinum Kravyi.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She described her next step, as the diamont of her career, a challenge she set to conquer, searching for new expressional dimensions: the music theatre Mala, i mousiki tou anemou (Mala, the music of the wind, 2001), based on a true love story that took place during II WW, in Auschwitz, between Mala Zimetbaum and Edward Galiñski. Not only did she pass ger acting ambitions with flying colors, but she left in awe everyone, critics and public, who observed her inexhaustible talent on stage. The play, which was staged at Pallace Theatre in Athens (19th of Jannuary 2002), was writen by Nicos Carvelas, directed by Yiannis Cacleas and accompanied by a symphony orchestra conducted by George Niarchos.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Next year she was in Fever club in Athens, performing with one of the most important greek singers, Yiannis Parios ("the singer of love") with whom she had already collaborated in the late 70s. There, she promoted her new album X (X, 2002) - producer: George De Angelis.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In September 2003, she gave another one sold-out concert in Cyprus, at the Tzirion Stadium in Limassol, with songs from her 30 years career. Also, she was awarded with a prize for her whole contribution, from the Cyprus Paraolympic Organization, while a square in Larnaca was named after her. She also met and talked with the president of the Republic of Cyprus, in the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just before 2004, her new album was released: Paraxenes Ikones (Strange images, 2003). To promote the album, she started appearing in Diogenis Studio, with Constantinos Christoforou, Nino and Hi5 (popstars) band.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On the 31st of March 2004, she performed in the Liberty Square, (Nicosia) at a concert part of the celebrations for Cyprus's entry at the European Union, after official invitation from the Republic of Cyprus.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In May 2004 she went on a small tour in England and USA, with Labis Livieratos (with whom she collaborated back in the early 90s), while in Jule her album Paraxenes ikones was re-issued (Paraxenes ikones summer special edition, 2004) with bonus cd single The remixes (2004). On 29th of August 2004 she performed at the closing ceremony of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, in Athens. She then gave a concert in Cyprus, on 3 September, at the GSP Stadium, in Nicosia, where she sang for the first time her new english song Call me (Ise caption). After that concert she moved to the USA, for the preparation and promotion of her single Call me that has been included in the playlists of major radio stations, both in USA and Europe and in the Billboard Charts The single, which features 12 remixes, went to number 1 on the Billboard hot dance music club play. Anna performed at the Legendary Copacabana in New York City for the KTU PartyGras. During the winter and till the Summer or 2005 Anna went around to clubs as apart of her Mini-USA Tour. Anna's New Greek Album is to be scheduled to be released in September of 2005 and is Called "Nylon". Nylon will be the First Dual CD EVER in Greece. Many dual disks have been released worldwide.

Related Topics:
Copacabana - New York City

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With one Cd acting as a CD and the other a DVD. The cd includes Rock, dance, Ballads and Rap. Anna will be singign with the Lead singer of the Hip-hop Group Goin' Through called "Erotas H Polimo" (love or war.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The English Album is said to coume out in spring 2006 or around march 2006, This CD will be a USA release and not an Import. USA Tour 2006 Is also in the Works

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~