Irini Merkouri

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Irini Merkouri
Ειρήνη Μερκούρη


Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Born = birth date and age|1981|5|26
Died =
Origin = Greece
Genre = Modern Laika , Pop, dance
Years_active =
Label = Sony BMG
URL = http://www.eirinimerkouri.com

Irini Merkouri (Greek: "Ειρήνη Μερκούρη"; born in Ilion, Athens, on May 26 1981) is a Greek pop singer.

Career

Early life

Born was and raised in Ilion, Athens to a Greek father and a Romani mother. Merkouri 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. cite web | title = Ειρήνη Μερκούρη | url = http://www.sonybmg.gr/page/artist/artists_greek.asp?art_id=26 SONY BMG. Retrieved on February 16, 2008. el icon]

2001 - 2003: Debut Album & "Meine Mazi Mou Apopse"

Irini Merkouri signed with Sony Music Entertainment Greece and recorded her first solo album "Na Fysai I Anixi" in November 2001. On it, she sang a duet with Antonis Remos titled "Dio Mas" and also included was a Greek version of the French song "Si Tu Ouvres Tes Bras" titled "Iparhi Kai Theos". There were twelve songs total 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. cite web | title = NEA | url = http://www.eirinimerkouri.com/ Eirinimerkouri.com. Retrieved on February 16, 2008. el icon] Also on the album were th hits "Ematha Na Zo Horis Esena" and "Meina Mazi Mou Apopse".

2004: Sarbel & "Palirroia"

The year 2004 brought Sarbel's "Se Pira Sovara" in which Merkouri was featured. On the same CD Single, Merkouri and Sarbel also released a second duet together called "Agapi Mou Esi".

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

2005 - 2007: "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 her release of a CD single titled "Nai" (Yes). It contained two songs "Nai" and "Kane Ena Tsigaro". "Nai" was made into a video clip, and the single reached second on the IFPI Singles Chart for Greece. [ cite web | title = Ναι | url = http://www.sonybmg.gr/page/releases/releases_index.asp?modlink=1&acds_cat=1&global=GR&acds_id=51&a_id=26 SONY BMG. Retrieved on February 17, 2008. el icon]

Discography

Albums

*2002: "Na Fysai I Anixi"
*2003: "Mine Mazi Mou Apopse"
*2004: "Palirroia"
*2005: "Aneta"
*2006: "Argises"
*2008: "Upcoming Album"

CD Singles

*2007: "Nai"

References

External links

* [http://www.eirinimerkouri.com/ Official Site]
* [http://clubs.pathfinder.gr/merkouri_eirini Fan Club]
* [http://www.musiccorner.gr/biografies/merkouri_eir.html Biography (in Greek)]