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| Birth Name(s) : Despina Malea |
Date of Birth: N/A |
| Status:
Single
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Partner:
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| Profession:
Musician |
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Full Despina Vandi Biography
Despina Vandi (Greek; ΔÎσποινα Î'ανδή) (born Despina Malea, 22 July 1969, near Stuttgart-Tübingen, Southern Germany) is a Greek singer famous mainly in Greece and Cyprus with international success too (mainly in Europe and the United States).
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 has one older brother and an older sister. Living in a lower middle-class family her dream was to become either an actress or a singer but she always knew that she should have something more solid as a background so she went on to study psychology, philosophy, and education at the University of Thessaloniki. At the start of her singing, Despina changed her last name to Vandi, to hide that she was singing from her parents.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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 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.The CD Single album cover of her latest double platinum release, Kalanta.
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.
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.
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).
Her new CD will be released November 27, 2007 and will be a double CD featuring 20 new songs. In October, she will start appearing with Vassilis Karras and Nino at the renovated music hall theater "Diogenis".Despina Vandi at live concert, Thessaloniki, Greece. |
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