Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
🎨

Haris Alexiou

arts Maturity 7-9 war conflict Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: war_conflict. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Haris Alexiou is one of the most famous singers in Greece.

Xaris Alexiou 2006 cropped
Xaris Alexiou 2006 cropped

Her career has lasted for over five decades. She is known for her charismatic voice and her strong presence on stage. People often call her "Haroula of Greece" because she is so loved. She has recorded more than thirty albums during her long career. Alexiou has performed in top musical theatres on all five continents. She has even sung at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Alexiou sings many different kinds of music. She performs modern songs and ballads, but she also sings traditional folk songs. She is well known for singing rebetika, which are traditional Greek songs. In 1975, she released her first personal album called "12 Laika Songs." One song from that time, "Dimitroula," became a very famous standard. She also worked with many great songwriters, such as Manos Loïzos and Thanos Mikroutsikos. These collaborations helped her create many hits that people still listen to today.

Her musical journey began in the early 1970s. In 1972, she took a big step by appearing on the album "Mikra Asia" (Asia Minor). This album was a huge hit in the 1970s. Later, in 1975, she began performing in "boites" in Plaka. These were small venues that offered a new way to hear music. She also worked with the famous composer Manos Hadjidakis in 1987. He invited her to perform in his club called "Sirius."

Alexiou has reached incredible success with her music sales.

Xaris Alexiou, Konzert im Konzertsaal der Universität der Künste, Berlin am 21. Oktober 2006
Xaris Alexiou, Konzert im Konzertsaal der Universität der Künste, Berlin am 21. Oktober 2006

Between 1977 and 2003, eight of her personal albums sold 11 million copies. This makes her the only Greek female artist to reach that number. In 2010, Alpha TV ranked her as the first top-certified female artist in Greece since 1960. She is the highest-selling Greek female artist. She also won a World Music Award for being the Best-Selling Greek Artist in 2004.

Her music is loved even outside of Greece. Many of her songs are very popular in Turkey. For example, her song "Ola Se Thimizoun" has been sung in Turkish by many artists. Some of these singers include Yeni Türkü and Erol Evgin. Alexiou has a family history that connects to different places too. Her father's side is of Arvanite origin. Her mother's side is of Anatolian Greek origin. This rich background is part of the music she shares with the world.

397 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (2)
File:Xaris Alexiou 2006 cropped.JPG
Xaris Alexiou 2006 cropped.JPG
File:Xaris Alexiou, Konzert im Konzertsaal der Universität der Künste, Berlin am 21. Oktober 2006.JPG
Xaris Alexiou, Konzert im Konzertsaal der...
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.