Haris Alexiou (Greek: Χάρις Αλεξίου) is a Greek singer. She is one of the most popular singers in Greece and has been commercially successful since the 1970s.

History

Haris Alexiou appeared in the Greek musical scene in the early '70s. Her charismatic voice, combined with a unique way of performing and a strong scenic presence, very soon brought her fame.

Alexiou has worked with important Greek songwriters, performed at top musical theatres all over the world and has received several awards. She has recorded over thirty albums, has been featured on albums of other musicians and is always open to new ways of creating music. Alexiou's concerts set higher standards for musical shows, by using state of the art sound and light equipment and impressive decors.

In September 2003, the Haris Alexiou album entitled To the End of your Heaven was released. It includes thirteen songs written by various composers and lyricists. Four of these songs are written by Haris Alexiou. The rest are written by well known Greek songwriters such as Antonis Vardis, George Theofanous, Manolis Famelos, "Ekinos + Ekinos" (Tassos Voyadjis and Solon Apostolakis), Makis Seviloglou, Panayotis Yatrakos and Sophia Argyropoulou. Two of the songs are performed by Haris Alexiou, one with Yannis Kotsiras and one with Filipos Pliatsikas of the PYX-LAX group. It is a work that compiles a variety of styles including the "laiko" (traditional popular music), ballads and modern songs, but all with a common concept regarding the sound. The whole work is characterized by a direct approach to the public as it includes thirteen short subjects in which every listener can discover something of themselves.

The first significant step in her career was her participation whith George Dalaras in the album Mikra Asia (Asia Minor) written by Apostolos Caldaras and Pythagoras in 1972. A historic album, the biggest hit of the '70s and rightfully included in "MINOS-EMI's 100 Greatest Hit of the Century".

In 1973 Haris participated in the albums Kalimera Ilie (Good Morning, Sun) by Manos Loizos and Lefteris Papadopoulos, Byzantinos Esperinos by Apostolos Kaldaras and Lefteris Papadopoulos and Odos Aristotelous (Aristotelous Street) by Yannis Spanos and Lefteris Papadopoulos. Meeting Manos Loizos was the beginning of a lifelong friendship and a prolific professional collaboration.

In 1975, her first personal album 12 'Laika' Songs was released. One of them, "Dimitroula" became an all time standard. That same year, she appeared in "boites" in Plaka, imposing a new way of presenting songs, completely different from the conventional popular night clubs. It is the first year after the fall of the military junta, a time for the political songs and the revival of "rebetika" songs, and Haris Alexiou sang traditional songs, ballads, modern songs, folk songs and rebetika. For long periods of time, she appeared with George Dalaras, Dimitra Galani, Basilis Papakonstantinou and Yannis Parios. Her concerts in stadiums and theatres, with songs written by Loizos, Papadopoulos, Nikolopoulos, Spanos, Theodorakis, Kuyumdjis and others, were incredibly successful. Since then she has been affectionately referred to as "Haroula" (Our Little Joy).

In 1979, the album, Ta tragoudia tis Haroulas (Haroula's Songs) was released. Manos Loizos had written the music and the lyrics were written by Manolis Rassoulis and Pythagoras. From this album,"O Fantaros" ("The Soldier") became a hit, while "Ola Me Thymizoun" ("All Things Remind Me of You") is considered one the most beautiful Greek ballads of all time.

The '80s start with two huge hits: "Fevgo" ("I'm Leaving") and "Ximeroni" ("Day Breaks"). Songs of Yesterday, her album with Dimitra Galani includes ballads which also receive lots of airplay. Alexiou continued to record traditional and folk songs, rebetika, and laika, and gave concerts in Greece and abroad.

1983 is the year of the album Tsilika, a true collector's item, with old rebetika songs written between 1900 and 1935.

1986 is the year of her first cooperation with composer Thanos Mikroutsikos. The album is entitled I Agapi Ine Zali with lyrics by Alkis Alkeos, Nikos Kavadias, Andreas Mikroutsikos and Babis Tsikliropoulos. The title song is an instant hit. "Eleni" and "Erotikon" from the same album, are also very successful. That same year Haroula conquers the French public appearing in "Theatre de la Ville", getting great reviews from the French press. After that she gives concerts in Cyprus, Tunisia, Germany and many cities all over Greece.

In 1987, world famous Greek composer, Manos Hadjidakis, invites her to appear in his club "Sirius" with the "Unpredictable Songs". He directs and later records several songs with her. That summer, lexiou sang in Hadjidakis' concerts all over Greece.

In 1988 she worked with "Fatme" a group of young and talented artists. She also worked with Paolo Conte, a well known Italian singer/songwriter. They appeared together at the Palace Theatre of Athens. She has two of his songs recorded with Greek lyrics by Lina Nikolakopoulou.

In 1989, "The Show in on". It is the musical show which she presents for two years, together with Dimitra Galani and Yannis Parios, in Athens and Thessaloniki. An album with the same title resulted from this work.

1990 begins with her second cooperation with Thanos Mikroutsikos. The album is entitled This Cologne Lingers on for Years with lyrics by Lina Nikolakopoulou. In October of the same year, she participates in the most important concert of the decade in Peace and Friendship Stadium of Athens. In this festive concert, called "Our Own Night", all the big names of modern Greek show business are present: Yannis Parios, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Dimitra Galani, Chris Nikolopoulos. Alkistis Protopsalti, George Sarris, George Zambetas, Lakis Lazopoulos and the legendary Melina Merkouri.

In 1991 she appeared in Attikon Theatre of Athens with a special show called In Three Acts. In the first act she sings songs by Hadjidakis, Loizos, Mikroutsikos and Brecht-Weill. In the second act she hosted groups of modern Greek music and presented songs she had written herself. The third act is a medley with her hits, old and new. She then presents this show in the State Theatre of Northern Greece, which for the first time accepted a Greek singer in its stage. In autumn 1991, together with Costas Hadjis, presents a show directed by Maouro Bolognini at Rex Theatre in Athens and Radio City in Thessaloniki. Alexiou Sings Hadjis is the album that follows.

In 1992 she starts her cooperation with Polygram, successfully presenting a new style in her songs. The album Di' efchon( L'orale) with music by Nikos Antypas and lyrics by Lina Nikolakopoulou comes as something quite fresh in the Greek discography, giving a new thrust to Haroula's already long career.

In 1993 the above album is released in Japan, Belgium, France and Israel by Polygram International. The French TV channel MCM International films and shows her concert at Lycabetus Theatre. The same year she travels around the world with concerts in Cyprus, USA, Canada, Israel, several European countries, finishing in Paris at the Mogador Theatre.

In 1994 her album Hey! is released with music by Nikos Antypas and lyrics by Lefteris Papadopoulos and Aris Davarakis. The summer of the same year, she appeared in Herod Atticus Odeon with a show directed by Mauro Bolognini. In October, it's her first and very successful appearance in Japan.

In 1995, the album 88 Nefelis Street is released. The songs of this album are all written by Alexiou herself. For this album, in April 1995, at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, she receives the "Prix Adami", an award given every Year by the Charles Cross Academy to distinguished artists. That same year, she opened Studio Nefeli where she presented her new songs, creating a new "Cafe Theatre" atmosphere. Dimitri Papajoannou was the director of the show.

In 1996, she wrote the lyrics for "Nefeli's Tango" on Celtic musician Loreena McKennit's music. This song along with other live recordings from her concerts around the world, is included in the album Around the World '92-'96. "Nefeli's Tango", for several months is one of the ten top songs of World Music in Europe.

In summer 1997, responding to the invitation of Olympic Games Committee "Athens 2004", she gave a concert at Pnyka Hill very close to Acropolis. It was so successful, that a second show was added.

1998 is the year of The Game of Love, her second album with songs written solely by Alexiou. The recording took place at the Studio Guillaume Tell in Paris with Greek and foreign musicians. That same year, she toured Northern and South America with Nikos Papazoglou. In December she appeared in Athens at Diogenis Studio which is reconstructed in order to meet the demands of the show she presented with Chris Nikolopoulos. The show was directed by Dimitri Papaioannou again.

In October 1999, she sang along with the famous Turkish singer Sezen Aksu, both in Athens and Istanbul, for the victims of the earthquakes which afflicted the two countries that year, under the auspice of the Ministry of Culture. This cooperation is repeated in summer 2000 in Istanbul and Izmir, giving both women standing ovations.

In September 2000, the album Whispers is released. This album is unique in that Alexiou sings her favourite songs accompanied only by piano and acoustic guitar. In October, she presents these songs in Music Palace of Athens and in the ancient Epidaurus Odeon accompanied by a small musical ensemble. That same year, she established her own record company: "Estia". In December, the first album is released, titled Strange Light. In this album, she collaborates with songwriters with whom she successfully worked with in the past. Strange Light becomes Lumière Etrange and is released all over Europe by Universal-France. At the same time, Haroula toured Europe giving concerts at prestigious theatres, conquering both audiences and critics. Her tour ended with a wonderful appearance at Theatre Olympia in Paris.

2002 was another creative year for Haroula. She appeared on the Keramikos Music Hall, this time singing more "laika" songs. In this show, Lavrentis Macheritsas and other younger artists participate. The result is the album: Keramikos Live.

From Greece to Australia, from Russia to Africa, from America to Japan, Haris Alexiou shows the world the powerful impact of the Greek song. She proudly states that the Greek song, through its poets and composers, made her love and better understand the history and culture of Greece.

Links

Photo of Haris Alexiou

Official website of Haris Alexiou