Do you think you know everything there is to know about Anna Vissi?
1973
"Then: Classy start, with Ritsos and Dalaras. Just a good singer. Her love affairs wrote history.
Now: She's a demon! A hot woman and a great singer. She sings Karvelas and her love affairs go down in history.", Nikos Mouratidis, Nitro magazine, 2004
Now: She's a demon! A hot woman and a great singer. She sings Karvelas and her love affairs go down in history.", Nikos Mouratidis, Nitro magazine, 2004
1981
"We worked together with Anna Vissi and Υiannis Parios in 1980-81, in Diogenis. She already stood out at that time, because she had a correct voice and was always anxious to do something new and evolve. She was studying for hours. I deeply respect her!". Litsa Diamanti, Ethnos newspaper, 2004
1983
"Anna Vissi without Karvelas would be like Charis Alexiou. Greek music without Anna Vissi and Nikos Karvelas would be like the international one without Madonna!", Stamatis Kraounakis, Composer, 12/12/2003
1986
"If I were a singer, I would like to be Vissi. I do not think that there is anyone else who can turn all the ages on like she does. It's a matter of talent, star quality, temperament and braveness. I am jealous of her." Melina Merkouri, actress, politician
1987
1988
"You’ve got me in theatre and Anna in music", Aliki Vougiouklaki, actress
1994
1995
"It's my second CD collaboration with Nikos Karvelas. We are in the UK, where we are writing and recording the album. Vissi drops in and surprises us! Nikos writes "To Oreotero plasma tou kosmou" for me. Anna Vissi records its vocals and the song turns out to be a huge hit!" Lefteris Pantazis, on the show "Mega Star", 24/12/2009
1996
"In my opinion the best dressed singer is Anna Vissi. She makes anything she wears look good!", Filimon, Fashion designer.
1999
"A performance so charismatic, so filled with sheer magnetic talent... expect big things from this potential new international star", Los Angeles Times
"With raised arms and delicately stepping feet, she was no unapproachable, packaged pop diva, but an irrepressible entertainer", New York Times
"I read she was a fan of mine but after seeing and meeting Anna at Madison Square Garden I am her biggest fan.", Aretha Franklin.
2000
"I have collaborated with many people, but there isn’t anyone on earth like Anna!", Takis Kouvatseas
2003
"The following winter you are going to perform with Anna Vissi. Tell me five words that come to mind when you think of Anna".
"Star, superstar, megastar, unique, the only real star in Greece." Nino, singer
"Star, superstar, megastar, unique, the only real star in Greece." Nino, singer
2004
'Goddess Aphrodite of my musical Dodekatheon', Giannis Ploutarchos, singer
2005
"Vissi is a star, there can be no discussion about it. You accept her for what she does, just as you accept Sakis Rouvas. Vissi and Rouvas are the biggest stars, the big commercial names.", 30/5/2005, Manos Eleftheriou, famous lyricist
2006
"She is a rock star for a simple reason. Only a rock star would change the style she had created herself 6-7 years ago completely in just one night.", Petros Kostopoulos, Publisher of Down Town magazine
"Anna is a pro", Nikos Vourliotits, Goin'through leader, 17/9/2006 Kos concert
2008
"I liked Anna from the moment we said "hello". We understood each other immediately, we laughed a lot, we had chemistry. Then we started singing and I realised that Anna wants in her music the same thing I want: she wants it to be good. She just wants to listen to and sing wonderful music, nothing else. That’s the kind of people I want to work with. (...) (From her career in the past...) I consider Mala to be a masterpiece. I also liked "Paralio", "Eleni" and "Antidoto". Actually I told Anna to sing it at our joint concert in Kensington Palace.", Patrick Leonard, Down Town Cyprus, 9/11/2008
2009
"It’s their job to say things. Let them write whatever they want! (...) First of all, her name is now Eftalia. I re-baptised her. (...) Anna asked me to sing with her. At the beginning I was a bit cautious. How could I do such a thing in a vast place? That’s a chaos! They jump, they dance, there is a set on stage. But it went ok... She told me that she listened to some of my CDs and was impressed by my voice. She wanted this to be the surprise of the year, that we sing rebetiko together. Anna can sing rebetiko. She was a folk singer on the first place, so why wouldn’t she sing rebetiko?", Mario, on Alpha tv, for all the comments on her collaboration with Anna.
2010
«With the Karvelas – Vissi couple worked very hard when Nikos came to Sony Music. There is a tremendous amount of mutual respect between us and we had lots of good times on a daily basis together. I played a big part in the rebirth of Anna with the disk “Kati Simvainei” and Nick made his debut substantially with the album “Sa Diskos Palios” , which contained the hit “Kalokairines Diakopes” , where i participated as the executive producer. And fortunately, it is one of the few things which I don’t regret. Over the years they always loved me, I always loved them and the mutual respect still continues on.» Giorgos Poluchroniou, 25 years dodeka, Fannatics.gr, 12/10
«Anna Vissi is an outstanding singer. She's sparkly, she's talented and her heart loves what she's doing. I don't like her songs. So what? She is great!»Tania Tsanaklidou, July 2010
«I remember my collaboration with Anna with love. Seeing Anna at the start of her career as a performer, I could see that she would make a huge career. She was at Minos then, she sung ballads with her guitars. Right after that period she moved to Columbia and we did an album together, she wasn't afraid to sing anything and she won the audience because she believed in herself and her talent! I believed in her since then, she had an amazing sparkle.» Takis Mpougas, Espresso, August 2010
«There is good and bad music and the audience responds only to the acts with quality. Vissi was succesful this year because she worked. She may be considered to be in a different path, but she deserves to be a number one for all these years» Lavrentis Maheritsas, "Ego!Weekly", September 2010
«The Greek woman who is closer to the style of Lady Gaga is Anna Vissi! She's the only artist who can do and support everything!» Melina Aslanidou, Down Town, January 2010
«I have worked with the greatest artists of Greece, one of these people its Anna!» Haris Aleksioy, Megaro Mousikis Thessalonikis, April 25th, 2010
«I adore Anna Vissi. She's a wonderful singer. I've met her and i have all her songs on my i-phone. I like her a lot» Sarah Jessica Parker
2011
“When I first saw Anna on stage, I wanted to get up and dance with her. This is what Anna does, she wins you over, she takes you with her and she holds you there. She is always buzzing and never tired, just a like a small kid…Strong like a male and tender as any female”
Madame Figaro, March.
Madame Figaro, March.
“Openly declaring your love for Greek music, you must have a particular artist in mind..
- Oh yes! I love Anna Vissi! She is both an amazing performer and singer. I have seen many of her live videos from various appearances on the internet, she is mesmerising.
-Why only online though? On the 16th of this month she will begin her new Show…Perhaps it is chance for you to see her up close and personal seen as you are here?
-Arghhhhh (annoyed) I cannot believe this is happening to me again! I am always missing seeing her show by one or two days! A few years ago, I got a ticket to see one of her concerts in Zante and at the last minute I had to fly to Paris for “work” and I had to leave 2 days before her show. Now, on the 16th I must go back to Zante to finish filming my new music video.
Ttralala.gr, 28th December
- Oh yes! I love Anna Vissi! She is both an amazing performer and singer. I have seen many of her live videos from various appearances on the internet, she is mesmerising.
-Why only online though? On the 16th of this month she will begin her new Show…Perhaps it is chance for you to see her up close and personal seen as you are here?
-Arghhhhh (annoyed) I cannot believe this is happening to me again! I am always missing seeing her show by one or two days! A few years ago, I got a ticket to see one of her concerts in Zante and at the last minute I had to fly to Paris for “work” and I had to leave 2 days before her show. Now, on the 16th I must go back to Zante to finish filming my new music video.
Ttralala.gr, 28th December
- What stands out for you in Anna’s career after all these years?
-Her daring nature, her ballsy attitude and the fact that, at some point, she changed direction and audience. She “got rid” of the old Anna Vissi and voila, gave us the new Anna.
22 February, Exclusive interview at Fannatics.gr
-Her daring nature, her ballsy attitude and the fact that, at some point, she changed direction and audience. She “got rid” of the old Anna Vissi and voila, gave us the new Anna.
22 February, Exclusive interview at Fannatics.gr
2013
“Unfortunately, well respected and successful singers, such as Anna Vissi, represented Greece in Eurovision 7 years ago....It was a mistake. Anna should have welcomed Eurovision and not taken part in it. She lost much of her status and credibility. I would not have done it if I were her. She is Anna Vissi! She should not have taken part!
Stamatis Gonidis, May 2013, EGO
Stamatis Gonidis, May 2013, EGO
“I have nothing bad to say. I enjoy talking about Anna because with me she was exemplary. Anna is more than just a clever artist. Anna respected me. This is something very important for someone like me who sings the Rebetiko style of music in front of such a big pop star. She never once imposed boundaries.”
28/03 – Mario on FTHis TV
28/03 – Mario on FTHis TV
“Anna is a fantastic woman. I only have good memories of her similarly to when I worked with Alexiou. Both give you so much space and time whereas other singers used to get slightly jealous. Even to this day actually, some still do.”
26/09 – Mary Linta, Kathimerini newspaper.
26/09 – Mary Linta, Kathimerini newspaper.
“Both Anna and I are very lucky because each one of us chose her own way to express herself and was able to be loved by her audience. We are what we want to be. Our commitment to what we do pays off in the long run. Each of us is unique and carves out their own path and destiny.
12/09 – Haris Alexiou, yupiii.gr
12/09 – Haris Alexiou, yupiii.gr
2014
“Would you collaborate again with other colleagues, like Anna Vissi?”
Why not? I do not have barriers or limitations in my choice of who I work with. In any case, it is never just my choice but a joint decision of both artists. It takes two to tango! On the other hand, it depends on the season, the timing, the reason for collaboration. Seen as you mentioned Anna, we have worked together on many occasions, I met her at the start of her career and we worked really well together! She is a legendary artist!”
01/04 - Yiannis Parios, Interview on Joy TV
Why not? I do not have barriers or limitations in my choice of who I work with. In any case, it is never just my choice but a joint decision of both artists. It takes two to tango! On the other hand, it depends on the season, the timing, the reason for collaboration. Seen as you mentioned Anna, we have worked together on many occasions, I met her at the start of her career and we worked really well together! She is a legendary artist!”
01/04 - Yiannis Parios, Interview on Joy TV
“(Ntalaras) trapped (Anna Vissi) in a musical repertoire that was more suited to him rather to her. This is something she later commented upon in retrospect."
Makis Matsas, “Behind the scenes of 40 years of Greek Music” by Dioptra Editions.
Makis Matsas, “Behind the scenes of 40 years of Greek Music” by Dioptra Editions.