Vicky Leandros

Vicky Leandros, whose real name is Vasiliki Papathanasiou, is a Greek-German pop singer. pop singerwho has been capturing the hearts of audiences for decades. She was born on August 23, 1952 on the Greek island of Corfu as the daughter of the well-known singer and producer Leo Leandros. She began her musical career at a young age and quickly became an international star.

Her breakthrough came in 1972 when she won the Eurovision Song Contest in Edinburgh with the French chanson “Après toi”. This triumph catapulted her onto the international music scene and made her one of the most famous faces in Europe. Her songs, often a mixture of chanson, pop and folklore, are characterized by their versatility and soulful interpretation.

Vicky Leandros has received numerous prizes and awards throughout her career and has sold over 55 million records worldwide. Her music is popular in many countries and her concerts are always sold out. In addition to her musical successes, she is also socially committed and supports various charitable causes. With 20 top 20 hits in the German singles charts, she is one of Germany’s most successful artists.

First publications and early successes

Vicky Leandros released her first single Messer, Gabel, Schere, Licht in July 1965, which reached number 16 in the sales charts in Germany. Her debut album Songs und Folklore followed in October 1966 on the Philips label. These early successes laid the foundations for her later career. In 1967, she represented Luxembourg at the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson in Vienna and reached fourth place with the song L’amour est bleu. Particularly noteworthy is the instrumental version of the song by Paul Mauriat, which received great international recognition.

Musical milestones

A highlight of her career was winning the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson (Eurovision Song Contest – ESC) in 1972 with the song “Après toi”. This event catapulted her onto the international stage and brought her worldwide recognition. “Après toi” was recorded in seven languages and sold over 7.8 million copies worldwide. Her ability to sing in different languages and styles contributed significantly to her international success.

In Germany, she celebrated her greatest success in 1974 with the hit Theo, wir fahr’n nach Lodz, which reached the top of the German charts. The album Ich liebe das Leben, released in August 1975, with another hit that stayed in the German charts for 19 weeks and reached number 10, is also considered an important milestone in her career.

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Collaboration with international artists

Leandros has worked with some of the most important composers, producers and conductors over the course of her career. These include Michel Legrand, Brad Shapiro and the Moody Blues. Of particular note is her collaboration with the Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, whose joint album was released in 2003. Despite this international collaboration, she has remained true to her own artistic identity, which is considered one of her greatest strengths.

Social and cultural resonance

Leandros’ music not only had a broad resonance in the music world, but also a deep cultural significance. Especially in countries such as Japan, where she enjoyed great success with her interpretation of “L’amour est bleu”, she developed a loyal fan base. Her songs, especially those in her mother tongue Greek, became symbols of cultural exchange and international understanding.

Retreat, comeback and later successes

In the 1980s, Leandros partially withdrew from the limelight to devote herself to her family. This move, surprising to many, showed a different side to her personality and emphasized the importance of family and personal values in her life. Despite this withdrawal, she remained present with occasional performances and releases.

The song Weil mein Herz dich nie mehr vergisst, the German version of the world-famous song My Heart Will Go On from the film Titanic, was a great success in 1998. In 2000, the album Jetzt was released, on which she presented her own compositions for the first time. Her album Möge der Himmel (2009), which was created in collaboration with Xavier Naidoo and Michael Herberger, reached number 26 in the German charts and is considered one of her best albums.

Vicky Leandros’ participation in the ProSieben show The Masked Singer in 2020, where she came sixth dressed as a cat, shows that she is still active in the new millennium. In 2021, she surprised her fans with the publication of a cookbook entitled Ein Hoch auf das Leben: My Kitchen for Family and Friends. In November 2022, Leandros finally announced that she would end her 50-year career as a singer in 2024 with a farewell tour. The announcement of her farewell tour in 2024 marks the end of an extraordinary career that has shaped generations over five decades.

Vicky Leandros at Inas Nacht

In the 125. episode in 2018, Vicky was on “Ina’s Night” in the “Zum Schellfischposten” invited. The show was hosted by Ina Müller.

20 well-known songs by Vicky Leandros

• Everything I have
• Goodbye, my friends
• As blue as the sea
• Colorful balloon
• Then you came
• The bouzouki sounded through the summer night
• You leave me my world
• Stop the world
• Today was the premiere
• Hey, Joe McKenzie
• I am
• I have seen love
• I love life
• Yes, yes, Peter is clever
• Carousel d’amour
• Red is love
• Tango d’amour
• Theo, we’re going to Lodz
• Do you know what dreams are made of
• Where is he?

Studio albums by Vicky Leandros

• 1966 Songs and folklore
• 1967 A Taste of … Vicky, A Taste of … Vicky international, L’amour est bleu, Love is blue
• 1968 A Taste of Vicky, Summertime Forever, Vicky, Le temps des fleurs
• 1969 I believe in you, I mikri mas istoria, Zoom sur Vicky
• 1970 Vicky (Je suis)
• 1971 I am, Pes mou pos boreis, I am
• 1972 Vicky Leandros, Après toi, Mono esi, Vicky Leandros
• 1973 My friends are the dreams, Itan mia vradia, Dreams are good friends, Ceux que j’aime
• 1974 Mein Lied für dich, My song for you, Ma chanson pour toi
• 1975 Across the Water, I love life, J’aime la vie
• 1976 I zoi einai oraia
• 1977 V. L., V. L. (Greece), Vicky Leandros (French), Du, du liegst mir im Herzen, Süßer die Glocken nie klingen
• 1978 Vicky Leandros, I am a girl, Poso s’agapo, Oh mi mama
• 1979 Vicky Leandros sings the most beautiful German folk songs
• 1981 I go new ways, Love Is Alive
• 1982 Irtha gia sena, Paradise Lost
• 1983 Vicky
• 1984 Vicky (French)
• 1985 One night in Greece
• 1988 I am me
• 1989 Piretos tou erota
• 1990 Strong feeling
• 1991 Just a moment, Proseche! Den tha kao xana
• 1993 Antres
• 1995 Love and life
• 1997 Feelings
• 1998 Because my heart will never forget you again
• 2000 now!
• 2001 now!, With open arms
• 2002 Christmas with Vicky Leandros
• 2003 Vicky Leandros sings Mikis Theodorakis, Tragouthi alliotiko
• 2005 I am as I am
• 2009 May the heavens
• 2010 Timeless
• 2012 Best of
• 2015 I know that I know nothing