Helena Paparizou Biography
-
Elena Paparizou was born on January 31,
1982 in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län (Sweeden) to parents Volos and Karditsa [Giorgos and
Froso].Her parents were of Greek ancestry and moved to Greece when
she was a teenager. Because of her background, she was brought in a
uniquely culturally diverse atmosphere.
-
She took an early liking to performing
and began singing and dancing while she was a young child.
-
In 1999, at the age of seventeen, she
formed the band Antique with her childhood friend Nikos Panaiotidis
and quickly signed a contract with a record label (Bonnier, a Swiss
label).They went right to work and released their first album that
year Opa Opa (Mera Me Ti Mera – alternate name). The
single, “Opa Opa,” became an instant fan favorite and went to #1 on
the European pop charts.
-
In 2001, the band participated in the
Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen representing Greece, and came
in a very respectable third place.Their song, “I Would Die For You”
was also released as a single, and an album with the same name. Both
did very well on the music charts (the single went double platinum).
-
After a tremendous European tour,
Antique released two albums in 2002, Me Logia Ellinika and
Alli Mia Fora (Blue Love = English Title) – and both did very
well in the Greek and European markets.
-
In 2003, Helena decided to pursue her
own career and signed with Sony Music as a solo artist and releases
her first single in December entitled “Anapandeetes Klisis” (English
= Missed Calls), which quickly went gold.
-
During the first half of 2004, she
opened up for legendary Greek singer Antonis Remos at Studio Pireos
night club where she learned to refine her style and showmanship
under his tutorage. Later that year, she released her smashing debut
album Protereotita (English = Priorities), which was well
received by her fans.That winter and early into the following year,
she performed at the Fever Music night club, where she appeared
along side other great Greek singers such as Sakis Rouvas and Giorgos Mazonakis.
-
In 2005, she represented Greece again
at the 50th Annual Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev,
Ukrain. Competing against 23 other contestants, she came in first
place singing “My Number One.”Winning this prestigious has only
increased her fame and fan base even more.She released the song as a
single and then re-released Proteriotita in Europe with a
bonus CD, including “My Number One.”
-
Helena is working on her next album,
and is also an official ambassador for the Greek Ministry of
Tourism.
Biography by Ian Ripley,
PopStarsPlus.com, Sr. Staff Writer
This biography may be copied in part
or in whole for non commercial purposes online or in hard copy and must
contain: (1) the name of the author, (2) the text "copied with
permission from PopStarsPlus.com" and (3) a link to the page that
contains the original biography.
For
additions & corrections,
Click Here |
|
|