| Anna Vissi – performing at Eurovision for the third time
Born in Cyprus, Anna started her musical career at the early age of six, attending the Cyprus Conservatory. At 12, she won the first prize at a local song contest. Her mother was so convinced of her daughter's talent that she moved the entire family to Greece from where, it was hoped, Anna would find it easier to launch a musical career.
She started a collaboration with Mikis Theodorakis (‘18 Lianotragouda Gia Tin Pikri Patrida’, ‘Grammata Apo Tin Germania’) and up until 1976 she worked with Stauros Koujoumtzis (‘Sagapo’, ‘Sta chronia tis ipomonis’ ), Giorgos Hatzinasios (‘To palikari’) and Doros Georgiadis (‘To palio to aeroplano’, ‘As kanoume apopse mian arhi’).
Anna later embarked on a close collaboration with Nicos Karvelas – who was already a well-known songwriter with many number one hits to his name – that is still going strong today. As well as writing most of her songs, Karvelas penned Greece's first ever rock opera ‘Demons’ and the musical ‘Mala’, especially for Anna.
Anna's collaboration with Nicos commenced in the early 1980s. Over the years they have worked on numerous projects together. Their shared passion for music has generated several hits: They have produced more than 20 number one hits such as ‘Kryvame Tin Agapi Mas’, ‘San Ta Pinasmena Peristeria’, ‘Oute Ena Sagapo’, ‘Dodeka’, ‘Eleni’, ‘Trellainomai’, ‘Paralio’, ‘Den Thelo Na Xereis’, ‘Min Psahnis Tin Agapi’.
1996-1997
After releasing her album ‘Klima Tropiko’ (‘Tropical Climate’), Anna dominated the Greek market. The album was an instant best-seller, achieving platinum status within a few months.
Anna toured Greece, performing more than 40 highly successful shows. After this tour, a new club was built especially for her, in which she performed a three-hour show. The club was sold out for several nights, making it the most successful one-woman performance ever held in Greece.
The Mayor of Athens asked Anna to accompany him to the 1996/1997 New Year's Eve celebrations in Parliament Square, at which she performed in front of more than 20,000 Athenians.
In February 1997, Anna won three Greek Music Awards for Best Female Singer, Best Interpretation and Biggest Airplay Song.
In the same year, she became the president of a children's charity on Cyprus. With just one performance, Anna raised more than £150,000.
Her album, ‘Travma’ (‘Wound’), was released in April 1997, reaching gold status in the first 12 days of its release. After that it went on to sell 150,000 units, attaining triple-platinum status in just six months. Anna was also introduced to American audiences with the single, ‘Forgive Me This’, produced by Céline Dion collaborator Ric Wake. The album ‘Travma’ was released in Australia.
1997-1998
Anna presented her new album ‘Antidote’ in the biggest record store in Pireus, where over 5,000 fans turned out to meet her, an event that was repeated in Thessaloniki where Anna did not even manage to reach the store! In just seven days, 'Antitode' sold over 80,000 copies, setting a new Greek sales record. She was also presented with a triple platinum award for ‘Travma’ by Sony Music Europe.
In March 1998, Anna won seven top awards at the Pop Corn Music Award Ceremony: Best Female Singer, Best Interpretation, Best Live Appearance, Best Album, Best Song, Best Album Cover, and Most Played Song on The Radio (‘Travma’), while her longstanding songwriter Nicos Karvelas won the Best Composition award for the song ‘Mavra Yalia’.
1998-1999
In February 1999, Anna Vissi performed two sold-out shows in London at the Forum Music Theatre and The Palladium Theatre. Anna also sold out shows on her first-ever mini tour of the USA, which took her to Los Angeles, Atlantic City, Chicago, Boston and New York City, where she performed at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.
The Los Angeles Times raved, “...a performance so charismatic, so filled with sheer magnetic talent... expect big things from this potential new international star.” The New York Times said, “With raised arms and delicately stepping feet, she was no unapproachable, packaged pop diva, but an irrepressible entertainer.”
1999-2000
Anna performed at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, 5 March, in front of members of the local Greek community, many Greek celebrities and a significant number of British fans who went to meet the extraordinary singer up close.
Anna’s entrance on stage was sensational. She performed an awesome two-and-a-half-hour show, in which she sung and danced continuously! The theatre's boxes and main floor were packed with an audience that sung with her on every song. On Sunday night the prestigious theatre witnessed some unforgettable moments, and was flooded with Greek music and much more...
Anna rewarded everyone who had come to see her perform. On the cry of “Rock and roll the whole Royal Albert Hall,” she performed four songs from her upcoming international English album live for the first time.
Everyone responsible for Anna's new album came to her millennium show: Paul Russel (Chairman of Sony Music Europe), Peter Asher (the internationally known producer), Brian Rawling (creator of most of the tracks on Anna's album) and Sony Music Europe's artist and strategic marketing managers.
Anna was preparing her first international project for over a year. She recorded her first full-length English-language debut album, which was eventually released throughout Europe during the summer. The first single from the album ‘Everything I am’ was composed by Nicos Karvelas, with lyrics by Paul Barry. The rest of the tracklisting includes songs by some of the top international songwriters such as Russ Ballard, Mark Taylor, Graham Stack, Steve Torch, Paul Stanley, Tina Shafer, Julian Harris, Danielle Gerber and, of course, Nicos Karvelas. The album was produced by Brian Rawling (Cher's ‘Believe’ and Enrique Iglesias); Ric Wake (Céline Dion) and Peter Asher (Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross and Cher).
Millions of TV viewers all over the world watched Anna make her international debut when she performed at the Miss Universe Pageant in her native Cyprus. Accompanied by her troupe of eight dancers, she sang ‘On A Night Like This’ from the new album. The stunning video for the Anna's first international single ‘Everything I Am’, was shot in Finland, directed by Antti Jokinen at Solar Films.
Not wanting to keep her fans waiting any longer, Anna released a Greek CD single titled ‘Agapi Ipervoliki’ (‘Love Excessive’) for the summer. The title track, which is a high-energy trance track, became the number one hit of the summer, earning the CD quadruple platinum status. She performed these six new smash hits during her 60 sold-out live appearances at a Greek summer music hall. Her performances included tracks from her international release which were choreographed by Shaun Fernandes (Boyzone).
In winter 2000, Anna was keen to make sure that everyone was aware of her explosive return! She released a Greek double album entitled ‘Kravgi’ (‘Scream’), showing her fans just what they had been missing during her two-year absence. Major hits emerged from ‘Kravgi’, such as the self-titled track, ‘Horis To Moro Mou’ (‘Without My Baby’), ‘Moni Mou’ (‘By Myself’), ‘Agapoula Mou’ (‘My Love’). Of course, this six-time platinum album was written by Nicos Karvelas.
2001
Athens saw in the new year with Anna, who was invited by the city’s Mayor, Dimitri Avramopoulos, to join him in counting down the start of 2001, and to launch the New Year's party at the Athens Syndagma square.
In April, Anna received five Popcorn Music Awards: Best Female Singer, Best Single for ‘Agapi Ipervoliki’, Best Vocal Performance for ‘Afti Ti Fora’, Best Video Clip for ‘Agapi Ipervoliki’ and Best Female Stage Performance.
During the month of April, Anna became the ambassador of good will for the Mac Aids Fund in Greece. The cosmetic's company Mac opened its first retail store in Greece, and officially invited Anna to promote the lipstick Mac Viva Clam III. The sales of this product were dedicated to the philanthropic cause of children with Aids.
In March, Anna released ‘Still In Love With You’, the second single from her international album with remixes by Soda Club.
The number one Greek female artist performed her biggest hits at ‘2001- A Peace Odyssey’, a cultural event for the Balkans which took place in Bucharest's central plaza Uniri on Wednesday, 6 June. Romania's telecommunication companies Rometelecom and Cosmorom, supported by the Greek telecom service OTE, organised the event. It was an impressive site that married music with modern art. International artist Emir Kusturica, in collaboration with producer and director Aggelos Hatziandreou, undertook the artistic direction of the event. The programme included a multimedia show, a performance from a local band and a concert by Emir Kusturica's band ‘No Smoking Band’. But the grand finale belonged to Anna. Her performance opened in front of a water screen and she wowed all 150,000 spectators. Emir's band accompanied Anna throughout her appearance, offering the audience a unique musical experience.
On 5 September, Anna gave a concert in Cyprus at the GSP Stadium. Even though she performs for her home country every year, this year's performance out-did all others. It was a radiant night full of emotion. Over 18,000 fans packed the stadium to watch the diva's three-hour performance and to see her presented with a disc to celebrate her album ‘Kravgi’ reaching seven-time platinum status.
‘Mala – I Mousiki Tou Anemou’ (‘Mala – The Music Of The Wind’): A true love story
Anna is an artist who continually strives to enrich herself and her music. She raised the curtain on a very special musical. ‘Mala’, a production that features 23 unique songs, a stellar cast of 60 and a live orchestra with 35 musicians, opened on 15 January 2002 at the Palace Theatre.
Taking chances is what Anna is all about. ‘Mala’ was a challenge that she planned to conquer in order to widen her artistic horizons. Not only did she prove herself as an accomplished actor, but she left audiences awe-struck at her inexhaustible on-stage talent.
The musical is a true love story that takes place during the second world war.
Anna performed the starring role, Leonidas Kakouris played the man who captures her heart.
Credits: Nicos Karvelas (music, script and libretto), Yannis Kakleas (direction), Yiorgos Gavalas (set design), Yannis Metzikof (costume design), Yiorgos Niarhos (musical direction).
The soundtrack to the musical was released containing all 27 symphonic tracks.
2003
Anna released an album featuring composers such as Kostantinos Christoforou, Nikos Karvelas, Sofi Papa, Alex Papakostantinou, Vangelis Vasiliou. ‘Paraksenes Ikones’ went double platinum in just six months! The single ‘Treno’ (‘Train’) was named the most popular song of the year.
2004
Anna was the main attraction at the celebrations for Cyprus' entry into the EU, performing in front of 100,000 people! She then went on a successful tour in England and the USA, which culminated in a huge concert in Cyprus on 3 September. She also performed at the Closing Ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, a great honour.
2005
The English version of ‘Ise’ (‘Call Me’) was released and Anna moved to the USA to promote it. The single was a great success, and the song peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Music Club Play Charts and number two on Billboard's Dance Radio Airplay Charts! It also made significant appearances on other charts around the world, in countries like Turkey, Israel, Bulgaria and many more! During the summer, Anna returned to Greece for the official release of the ‘Call Me’ single, which also included a second English song ‘Lie’, and an impressive appearance in Myconos at the ‘Soundwave’ festival! A month later, she released a new Greek CD ‘Nylon’. This was the first Greek CD to be released in a Dual Disc format, and included unreleased videos of the CD being made. She is now appearing at ‘Votanikos’ live music club. |
