Chrysovalanto Chalilopoulou (; born 26 May 1981), known professionally as Irini Merkouri (, ), is a Greek pop and

laïko Laïko or laïkó (, ; "

ong Ong or ONG may refer to: Arts and media * Ong's Hat, a collaborative work of fiction * “Ong Ong”, a song by Blur from the album The Magic Whip Places * Ong, Nebraska, US, city * Ong's Hat, New Jersey, US, ghost town * Ong River, Odisha, ...

of the people", "popular

; ) is a Greece, Greek folk-pop music genre in accordance with the tradition of the Greeks, Greek people. Also referred to as "folk song" or "urban folk music" () in its plural for ...

singer.

Career

Early life

Merkouri was born and raised in Ilion,

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

Hellenized Hellenization or Hellenification is the adoption of Greek culture, religion, language, and identity by non-Greeks. In the ancient period, colonisation often led to the Hellenisation of indigenous people in the Hellenistic period, many of the te ...

Romani Romani may refer to: Ethnic groups * Romani people, or Roma, an ethnic group of Indo-Aryan origin ** Romani language, an Indo-Aryan macrolanguage of the Romani communities ** Romanichal, Romani subgroup in the United Kingdom * Romanians (Romanian ...

parents. She began showing interest in being a singer at a very young age and at the age of seven she would mimic all the singers she would see on television. SONY BMG. Retrieved on February 16, 2008.

2001–2003: Debut album and ''Meine Mazi Mou Apopse''

Irini Merkouri signed a contract with Sony Music Greece and recorded her first solo album '' Na Fysai I Anixi'' in November 2001. As part of this album she sang a duet with

Antonis Remos Antonis Remos (, ; born Antonios Paschalidis, ; 19 June 1970) is a Greek singer. Biography Early life He was born in Düsseldorf, West Germany. Later his family moved back to their native Thessaloniki, Greece, where he finished school. During h ...

titled "Dio Mas" and a Greek version of the French song "Si Tu Ouvres Tes Bras" titled "Iparhi Kai Theos". The album included a total of twelve songs including the hits "Syntelia" and "Foties Anapste". In June 2003, Merkouri released her second studio album, titled ''Mine Mazi Mou Apopse'' (Stay With Me Tonight). It consisted of 12 songs and included a remix of "Syntelia" which topped the airplay charts for 3 consecutive months. Eirinimerkouri.com. Retrieved on February 16, 2008. The album also included the hits "Ematha Na Zo Horis Esena" and "Meine Mazi Mou Apopse".

2004: Sarbel and ''Palirroia''

In 2004, Merkouri was featured in

Sarbel Charbel Michael (; ; born 14 May 1981) known mononymously as Sarbel, is a British-Cypriot pop singer. His singles include " Se Pira Sovara", and albums '' Parakseno sinesthima'', ''Sahara'' and '' Kati san esena''. Ηe represented Greece in th ...

's "Se Pira Sovara". In the same CD Single, Merkouri and Sarbel also released a second duet called "Agapi Mou Esi". In June 2004, Merkouri released her third studio album, titled '' Palirroia'', which contained 15 new songs. The first single to hit the airwaves was "Ela", a song with a mix of both modern laika and ragga elements. The second single, "Pou Na Fantasto" became the first video clip of the album and was a big hit at clubs throughout

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. The third single, "Krata Me Ksana", was written by Takis Damashis of C:Real and with his help Merkouri won the ''Arion Award'' for "Best Pop Singer".

2005–2009: ''Aneta'', ''Argises'', & "Nai"

On July 7, 2005, Merkouri released her fourth studio album, titled '' Aneta'' (Comfortably). It featured hits from her previous albums and also contained 7 new songs." The year 2006 brought Merkouri's fifth studio album, titled '' Argises'' (You Were Late). It contained 13 new songs including the hits "Pame Gi'Alla" and "Miso Lepto" which became a video clip. Christos Pazis performs a duet with Merkouri called "Argises". Merkouri finished off 2007 with the release of a CD single titled "

Nai Nai or NAI may refer to: Music * ''Nai'' (album), an album by singer Anna Vissi * Nai (pan flute), a wind instrument, also known as a pan flute (Romania and Moldova) * "Nai" (song), a 2007 CD single by Irini Merkouri Organizations * NASA Astro ...

" (Yes). It contained two songs "Nai" and "Kane Ena Tsigaro". "Nai" was made into a video clip, and the single reached the second place on the

IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a non-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland and founded in Italy in 1 ...

Singles Chart for Greece. SONY BMG. Retrieved on February 17, 2008. Shortly after, Merkouri recorded a new album in the studio with Sony BMG Greece. After internal disagreements with Sony BMG, Merkouri reportedly severed ties with label in 2009, and it is unknown what will happen with the unreleased material. Merkori signed with newly established label E.DI.EL. in 2009, which later re-branded to 4Music. In mid-2009, Merkouri digitally released the song "Parakseno Agori".

Discography

Albums

*2002: '' Na Fysai I Anixi'' *2003: ''Mine Mazi Mou Apopse'' *2004: '' Palirroia'' *2005: '' Aneta'' *2006: '' Argises''

CD singles

*2007: "

References

External links

Official SiteFan Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merkouri, Irini 1981 births Living people Greek laïko singers 21st-century Greek women singers Greek pop singers Greek women pop singers Greek Romani people Singers from Athens Sony Music Greece artists Romani singers Romani women singers