 | This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. (April 2015) |
Helena Paparizou | |
|---|---|
| Έλενα Παπαρίζου | |
_(11)_(cropped).jpg) Paparizou in 2022 | |
| Born | Έλενα Παπαρίζου 31 January 1982 Borås, Sweden |
| Nationality | Greek-Swedish |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1999–present |
| Works | |
| Spouse |
Andreas Kapsalis (m. 2015) |
| Partner | Toni Mavridis (1999–2010) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Labels |
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Helena Paparizou (Swedish: [hɛˈlêːna papaˈrɪ̌tːsʊ, -ˈrǐːsʊ]; Greek: Έλενα Παπαρίζου, romanized: Élena Paparízou, pronounced [ˈelena papaˈrizu], born 31 January 1982, is a Greek singer, songwriter and television personality. Born and raised in Sweden to Greek parents, she launched her singing career in Sweden in 1999 as a member of the laïko (Greek folk music) and Eurodance duo Antique with friend Nikos Panagiotidis. The group released five studio albums between 1999 and 2003, and represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001.
Antique disbanded in 2003, and Paparizou signed a solo recording contract with Sony Music. Her debut solo single "Anapandites Kliseis" preceeding the album Protereotita (2004); her style had an emphasis on laïko, pop, and dance sounds. In 2005, she represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the song "My Number One", which won the contest for Greece for the first time. Paparizou attempted a career beyond Greece with English-language material, charting in a few countries abroad. Her three subsequent albums Iparhi Logos (2006), The Game of Love (2006) and Vrisko To Logo Na Zo (2008) all peaked at number one in Greece and reached platinum sales. Her fifth studio album Giro Apo T' Oneiro (2010) was also certified platinum. Paparizou's final release before she left Sony Music, Greatest Hits & More, was released in 2011.
Apart from singing, in the 2010s she moved into television as a judge on Dancing on Ice (2011) and as a contestant on Let's Dance (2012). Since 2016, Paparizou has been a judge on The Voice of Greece. She lived with her fiancé and manager Toni Mavridis from 1999 until their separation in 2011.
Paparizou has been awarded three Arion Music Awards, a European Border Breakers Award, 35 MAD Video Music Awardsand an MTV Europe Music Award. On 14 March 2010, Alpha TV ranked her as the 14th top-certified domestic female artist since 1960, having won seven platinum and four gold records. Paparizou was the most successful debuting female artist of the 2000s and established herself as one of the top acts of the latter half of the decade. In 2010, Forbes listed Paparizou as the 21st most powerful and influential celebrity in Greece.