Haris Alexiou

Haris Alexiou (, ; born 27 December 1950) is a Greek singer whose career has spanned over 5 decades. She is one of the most popular singers in Greece. She has worked with important Greek songwriters and composers, has performed at top musical theatres all over the world, and has received several awards. She has recorded over thirty albums and has been featured on albums of other musicians. On 14th March 2010, Alpha TV ranked Alexiou as the first top-certified female artist in Greece in the phonographic era (since 1960). She is the highest selling Greek female artist and third overall, behind George Dalaras and Yiannis Parios. Eight of her personal albums released between 1977 and 2003 have totaled 11 million sales, the only Greek female artist to do so.

She also has an audience in Turkey and her various songs were sung in Turkish especially "Ola Se Thimizoun" (Everything reminds me of you) as "Olmasa Mektubun" (Without your letter) by Yeni Türkü, Erol Evgin, Müslüm Gürses, Sevda Karababa and Pilli Bebek; Teli Teli Teli as "Telli Telli" (Demoiselle, demoiselle), Pes Mou Pos Ginetai (Tell me, how is it possible?) as "Maskeli Balo" (Masquerade) by Yeni Türkü, Athena and Ata Demirer; Mia Pista Apo Fosforo (A floor of phosphorus) as "Her şeyi yak" by (Burn everything) Sezen Aksu and Duman and as "Nefes Almak İstiyorum" (I want to breathe) by Yonca Evcimik; Krata Gia To Telos (Keep it to the end) as "Sebahat Abla" (Elder sister Sebahat) by Müslüm Gürses; Fevgo (I'm leaving") as "Durma Yağmur" (Rain don't stop) by Gripin.

She has lived in Athens since 1958, when she and her family moved there from Thebes. Her grandmother's family migrated to Thebes in 1924 from Smyrna. Her name was given to a street in Gaziemir, in İzmir province, Turkey.

Biography Alexiou has stated that she is of Arvanite origin on her father's side and of Anatolian Greek origin on her mother's side. Haris Alexiou appeared in the Greek music scene in the early 1970s. Her charismatic voice, combined with a unique way of performing and a strong stage presence, very soon led her success. She has worked with many Greek songwriters, has performed at the musical theaters on all five continents, and has received awards.

She has recorded over thirty albums and has collaborated with a range of other artists.

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

1990s

1990 began with her second collaboration with Thanos Mikroutsikos. The album was entitled This Cologne Lingers on for Years, with lyrics by Lina Nikolakopoulou. In October of the same year, she participated 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 Greek show business were present: Yiannis Parios, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Dimitra Galani, Chris Nikolopoulos, Alkistis Protopsalti, George Sarris, George Zambetas, Lakis Lazopoulos and the legendary Melina Mercouri.

In 1991, she appeared in the Attikon Theatre of Athens with a special show called "In Three Acts". In the first act, she sang songs by Hadjidakis, Loizos, Mikroutsikos and Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. In the second act, she hosted certain groups of modern Greek music and presented songs written by herself. The third act was a medley with her hits, old and new. She then presented this show in the State Theatre of Northern Greece, which for the first time accepted a Greek singer on its stage. With her concerts, sets new standards for musical shows, using state-of-the-art sound and light equipment and impressive decors. In autumn 1991, together with Costas Hadjis, she presented a show directed by Mauro Bolognini at the Rex Theatre in Athens and Radio City in Thessaloniki. Alexiou Sings Hadjis is the album that followed.

In 1992, she started her cooperation with PolyGram, successfully introducing a new style in her songs. The album Di' efchon (L'orale), with music by Nikos Antypas and lyrics by Lina Nikolakopoulou, came as something quite fresh in Greek discography, imparting a new impetus to Haroula's already long career. In 1993, the album was released in Japan, Belgium, France and Israel by PolyGram International. The French TV channel "MCM International" filmed and showed her concert at Lycabetus Theatre. The same year she traveled around the world with concerts in Cyprus, the US, Canada, Israel, several European countries, finishing in Paris at the Mogador Theatre.

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

In 1995, the album 88 Nefelis Street was released; she wrote all the songs. For this album, in April 1995 at the Palais des congrès in Paris, she received the Prix Adami, an award given every year by the Académie Charles Cros to distinguished artists. The same year, she opened Studio Nefeli, where she presented her new songs, creating a new "Cafe Theatre" atmosphere. Dimitris Papaioannou was the director of the show.

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

In summer 1997, at the invitation of Olympic Games Committee "Athens 2004", she gave a concert at Pnyka Hill, very close to the Acropolis. Such was the success of this concert, she had to repeat it twice at the same location.

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

In October 1999, she sang along with Turkish singer Sezen Aksu, both in Athens and Istanbul, for the victims of the earthquakes which struck the two countries that year, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. This cooperation was repeated in summer 2000 in Istanbul and İzmir.

Since late 2022, Alexiou has appeared as the grandmother Haris in the Greek television series Maestro in Blue on Mega Channel in Greece and Netflix worldwide.

Discography

LPs/CDs

Collaborations 1972: Mikra Asia (by Apostolos Kaldaras, with George Dalaras) 1973: Byzantinos Esperinos (by Apostolos Kaldaras, with George Dalaras) 1974: Prodomenos Laos (by Mikis Theodorakis) 1974: Kalimera Ilie (by Manos Loizos) 1974: Gia Rembetes Kai Gia Filous (by Apostolos Kaldaras, with Dimitris Kondolazos and Kostas Smokovitis) 1974: Robinsones (by Apostolos Kaldaras, with Yiannis Parios) 1974: Odos Aristotelous (by Giannis Spanos) 1981: I synandisi (by Apostolos Kaldaras, with Ilias Klonaridis; Alexiou not credited)

Solo 1975: 12 Laika Tragoudia 1976: Haris Alexiou 2 1976: Laikes Kyriakes 1977: 24 Tragoudia 1979: Ta Tragoudia Tis Haroulas (with Manos Loizos) 1980: Ksimeronei 1981: Ta Tragoudia Tis Htesinis Meras (with Dimitra Galani) 1981: Ta Tragoudia Tis Yis Mou 1982: I Zoi Mou Kyklous Kanei 1983: Ta Tsilika 1984: Emfilios Erotas 1986: I Agapi Einai Zali (with Thanos Mikroutsikos) 1986: A Paris 1987: I Haris Alexiou Se Aprovlepta Tragoudia 1988: I Nihta Thelei Erota 1990: Krataei Hronia Afti I Kolonia 1990: I Diki Mas Nihta 1991: I Alexiou Tragoudaei Hatzi 1992: Di'Efhon 1994: Ei 1995: Odos Nefelis '88 1996: Gyrizontas Ton Kosmo 1997: Ena Fili Tou Kosmou 1997: Gyrizontas Ton Kosmo Kai Ena Fili Tou Kosmou 1998: To Paihnidi Tis Agapis 2000: Parakseno Fos 2000: Psythyri 2002: Cine Kerameikos 2003: Os Tin Akri Tou Ouranou Sou 2004: Anthologio 2006: Vissino Kai Nerantzi 2006: Gyrizontas Ton Kosmo Kai Ena Fili Tou Kosmou (Special Edition) 2007: Alexiou - Malamas - Ioannidis (Note: Certified Platinum by the IFPI). 2007: Afieroma Sto Mano Loizo 2009: I Agapi Tha Se Vri Opou Kai Na'sai 2012: Live Pallas 2012 2012: I Tripla 2014: Ta Oneira Ginontai Pali 2020: Ta Tragoudia Tis Xenitias

In the below table, the personal albums certified gold or platinum, in descending order by sales. The reeditions' sales are not included.

Vinyl 45s 1970: Otan pini mia gineka A-side: "Otan pini mia gineka", H. Alexiou (H. Vasiliades, Pythagoras) B-side: "Periexomeno den exeis", Mpampis Tsetinis-Pitsa Papadopoulou (H. Vasiliades, Pythagoras) 1971: To parasinthima (Apostolos Kaldaras) A-side: "To parasinthima", Haris Alexiou (Apostolos Kaldaras) B-side: "Oi dyo zitianoi", Yannis Parios (Ap. Kaldaras, G. Samoladas) 1971: Tous antres tha katarasto A-side: "Tous antres tha katarasto", Haris Alexiou (G. Hadjinasios, N. Gabriilides) B-side: "Thaho tis grillies anoiktes", Haris Alexiou (G. Hadjinasios, N. Gabriilides) 1971: Irthe i agapi A-side: "Irthe i agapi (Efige i agapi)", Haris Alexiou-Tolis Voskopoulos (T. Voskopoulos, E. Lymperopoulos) B-side: "Pali monaxo to paidi", Haris Alexiou (T. Voskopoulos, E. Lymperopoulos) 1972: Hasapiko 40 A-side: "Hasapiko 40", Haris Alexiou (M.Hadjidakis, N. Gatsos) B-side: "Agapi mesa stin kardia", Haris Alexiou (M.Hadjidakis, N. Gatsos) 1972: Den yparxei eftyxia A-side: "Hasapiko 40", Haris Alexiou (M.Hadjidakis, N. Gatsos) [same as above] B-side: "Den yparxei eftyxia" Litsa Diamanti (G. Katsaros, Pythagoras) 1972: Mais A-side: "Mais", Haris Alexiou (G. Metsikas, M. Fakinos) B-side: "Tosa kai tosa ximeromata" Haris Alexiou (G. Metsikas, M. Fakinos) 1972: O marmaromenos vasilias, from the LP Mikra Asia A-side: "O marmaromenos vasilias", Haris Alexiou (Ap. Kaldaras, Pythagoras) B-side: "Mes stou Vosporou ta stena", [George Dalaras] (Ap. Kaldaras, Pythagoras) 1973: Maria me ta kitrina from the LP O, ti kosmos mpampa! A-side: "Maria me ta kitrina", Haris Alexiou (V. Dimitriou) B-side: "Aspra, kokkina, kitrina, mple", Haris Alexiou (D. Moutsis, G. Logothetis) 1973: San louloudi tsakismeno A-side: "San louloudi tsakismeno", Haris Alexiou (S. Kougioumtzis, K. Athanasiou) B-side: "Efyge to treno gia tin dysi", Haris Alexiou (S. Kougioumtzis, K. Athanasiou) 1973: Paei paei manoula mou A-side: "Paei paei manoula mou", Haris Alexiou (T. Soukas, Pythagoras) B-side: "To prosklitirio", Haris Alexiou (T. Soukas, Pythagoras) 1973: Kampana tou esperinou, from the LP Vyzantinos Esperinos A-side: "Kampana tou esperinou", Haris Alexiou (A. Kaldaras, L. Papadopoulos) B-side: "Kai na ‘mouna to palikari", George Dalaras (T. Soukas, Pythagoras) 1974: Ti talaiporia, from the LP Aspro Mavro A-side: "Ti talaiporia", Haris Alexiou (G. Hadjinasios, S. Tsotou) B-side: "Ola mas ta plouti", Yannis Parios (G. Hadjinasios, S. Tsotou) 1974: Poios to kserei, from the LP Kalimera ilie A-side: "Poios to kserei", Haris Alexiou (Manos Loizos) B-side: "Kalimera ilie", Kostas Smokovitis and Aleka Aliberti (Manos Loizos) 1975: Na kseres file... A-side: "Na kseres file", Haris Alexiou (Nasos Nakas) B-side: "Stis rizes t’ ouranou", Yannis Parios (Nasos Nakas) 1975: Dimitroula mou, from the LP 12 Laika tragoudia A-side: "Dimitroula mou", Haris Alexiou (old folk song) B-side: "Pos to lene", Haris Alexiou (H. Vasiliades, Pythagoras) 1976: Elenitsa, from the LP 12 Laika tragoudia A-side: "Elenitsa", Haris Alexiou (old folk song) B-side: "Tsachpin", Haris Alexiou (old folk song) 1976: Erinaki, from the LP Haris Alexiou 2 A-side: "Erinaki", Haris Alexiou (old folk song) B-side: "O doctor", Haris Alexiou (old folk song) 1976: I garsona, from the LP Haris Alexiou 2 A-side: "I garsona", Haris Alexiou (old folk song) B-side: "Ela pare me", Haris Alexiou (G. Sarris, L. Papadopoulos) 1977: Esenane tha dialega, from the LP Laikes Kyriakes A-side: "Esenane tha dialega", Haris Alexiou (S. Kougioumtzis, L. Papadopoulos) B-side: "Treis i ora nychta", Haris Alexiou (S. Kougioumtzis, M. Eleftheriou) 1977: Matia mou matia mou, from the LP Laikes Kyriakes A-side: "Matia mou matia mou", Haris Alexiou (S. Kougioumtzis, L. Papadopoulos) B-side: "Ta mavra koroideveis", Haris Alexiou (S. Kougioumtzis, M. Eleftheriou) 1981: O fantaros (juke box 45 rpm single) A-side: "O fantaros", Haris Alexiou (M. Loizos, M. Rasoulis), from the LP Ta tragoudia tis Haroulas B-side: "Ksimeronei", Haris Alexiou (A. Vardis, H. Alexiou), from the LP Ksimeronei 1982: Omorfe mou kosme A-side: "Omorfe mou kosme", Haris Alexiou (Nasos Nakas-Nanopoulos) B-side: "Parapono", Giorgos Sarris (Nasos Nakas-Nanopoulos) 1985: Kokkino Garifallo, from the Yannis Parios’ LP Ego ki esy A-side: "Kokkino garyfallo", Yannis Parios and Haris Alexiou (Nikos Ignatiadis) B-side: "Lovely mandolin [Kokkino garifallo]", Yannis Parios and Haris Alexiou (Nikos Ignatiadis, S. Fassois) 1985: Gia ta paidia A-side: "Gia ta paidia", Haris Alexiou, Bessy Argiraki, Anna Vissi, Tolis Voskopoulos etc. (A. Papadimitriou, Ph. Nikolaou) B-side: " Gia ta paidia [Instrumental]", Haris Alexiou, Bessy Argiraki, Anna Vissi, Tolis Voskopoulos etc. (A. Papadimitriou, Ph. Nikolaou) 1986: Mplexan oi grammes mas, from the Fatmé's LP Vgainoume ap’ to tunnel A-side: "Mplexan oi grammes mas", Fatmé feat. Haris Alexiou (Nikos Portokaloglou) B-side: "Pote tha se varetho", Fatmé (Nikos Portokaloglou) 1990: Mia pista apo fosforo A-side: "Dimitroula mou [1990 cover]", Haris Alexiou (old folk song) B-side: "Mia pista apo fosforo", Haris Alexiou (Th. Mikroutsikos, L. Nikolakopoulou), from the LP Krataei xronia afti i kolonia 1992: Magissa, from the LP Di’ Efhon (promo single) A-side: "Magissa", Haris Alexiou (N. Antypas, L. Nikolakopoulou) B-side: "Di’ Efhon", Haris Alexiou (N. Antypas, L. Nikolakopoulou) 1992: Na ziso i na pethano, from the LP Di’ Efhon (promo single) A-side: "Na ziso i na pethano [Extended New Version]", Haris Alexiou (N. Antypas, L. Nikolakopoulou) B-side: " I sinavlia", Haris Alexiou (N. Antypas, L. Nikolakopoulou) 1994: Ei, from the LP Ei! (promo single) A-side: "Ei", Haris Alexiou (N. Antypas, L. Papadopoulos) B-side: "S’ Ehasa", Haris Alexiou (N. Antypas, L. Papadopoulos) 1995: Oi filoi mou, from the LP Odos Nefelis ’88 A-side: "Oi filoi mou", Haris Alexiou (Haris Alexiou) B-side: "Minoraki", Haris Alexiou (Haris Alexiou)