| Constantinos Christoforou | |
|---|---|
Christoforou representing Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Κωνσταντίνος Χριστοφόρου |
| Born | 25 April 1977 |
| Origin | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Genres | Pop, Soul |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Website | Official Site |
Constantinos Christoforou, Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Χριστοφόρου (b. 25 April 1977 in Limassol, Cyprus), is a very famous Cypriot singer. He has sung for Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest[1] on three occasions, in 1996, 2002 and 2005.
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Constantinos began his career at high school releasing his first EP "Tora Pou Milas" featuring his first 2 hit singles and a cover of Cyprus' entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1988. In 1996 he performed "Mono Yia Mas" in the Cypriot Final to win a place in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996. He easily won the right to represent Cyprus in Oslo, and there he won the 9th place. The song was released as a maxi single. The same year, at the age of 17, he became the first Cypriot artist to achieve triple platinum sales, with an album that was recorded in Cyprus and not in Athens, where the core of the Greek music industry is located. This album entitled "O,ti M' Afora" was released shortly after his entry in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest. The album featured "Mono Yia Mas" and the hit singles "Chroma Mavro", "To S' Agapo Pou M' Afora", "Giati Na Me Niazei". Famous Greek artist Bessy Argiraki made a guest appearance singing a duet with Constantinos on the album. In 1997 he started collaborating with best selling Greek artist Anna Vissi, providing vocals on her album Travma which was the best-selling album of the 1990s in Cyprus, and the best-selling album by a female artist of the 1990s in Greece. He also toured with Vissi in her sold out Trauma Tour in 1997 all over Greece and Cyprus and also Australia. He also collaborated with Greek star Sakis Rouvas. In Christmas 1998 he returned in Cyprus where he released the EP "2000 Keria". The single with the same title became a hit in Cyprus.
In 1999 he was chosen by the successful Cypriot composer, Georges Theofanous, to be the lead singer in the first boy-band of Greece, ONE. ONE became very popular and commercially successful in Greece and Cyprus, reaching platinum sales for their 3 albums.
In 2002 Konstantinos participated again in the Eurovision Song Contest in Tallinn, Estonia, this time as the leader singer of ONE representing Cyprus with the song "Gimme" and finishing in 6th place. The song was recorded in Spanish and was released in Spain. Together with ONE he had the chance in collaborating with the biggest stars of Greek music industry such as Giannis Parios and Anna Vissi again. In April 2003 he announced that he was leaving the band to launch a solo career in Greece.
His first single from his new solo career, "Alive" was again released exclusively in Cyprus and was the opening theme of the music show "@live". The song also featured in the Cypriot edition of his debut solo album "I Agapi Sou Paei" which was released in Greece and Cyprus in September 2003. The first single from the album to be issued in Greece was the title track which soon became a no1 hit. The album also featured the hit singles "Fevgo, Fovame Na Dino" and "Ma Den Me Afises". It also featured a duet with Anna Vissi, "Pote Mi Les Pote" which was an r'n'b remake of Nikos Karvelas 80s hit. The album was a big hit in Cyprus peaking at no1 of the Cypriot charts and achieving Platinum sales. It was also a hit in Greece peaking at no5 of the Greek IFPI charts. In September 2004 he released his third solo album (second in Greece) "Idiotiki Parastasi". The album was again a top 10 hit in Greece and no1 in Cyprus were it achieved gold status. The album featured hit singles such as "Etsi" and "Anarotieme". In 2005 he returned to the Eurovision Song Contest as a solo artist, this time singing "Ela Ela (Come Baby), (Έλα Έλα in Greek) alongside 1995 Greek entrant Elina Konstantopoulou, in Kiev and finishing in 18th place. The song was included on the Special Edition of "Idiotiki Parastasi" and was also released as a maxi-single in Greece and Cyprus. His fourth solo album (third in Greece) was released in September 2005 entitled "O Giros Tou Kosmou". The album peaked at no1 in Cyprus. In Greece it was released on the last day of the chart-week and with only the sales of one day it debuted at no12 in the album charts, which was its peak position. The album was not as successful as his previous although 3 singles were promoted "Molis Horisa", "Astinomia" and "Mila" a duet with Katerina Stanisi. In May 2006 he released the EP "Thes Na Kanoume Shesi?". The EP peaked at no1 of the Greek CD-Singles IFPI charts and the singles from the release became instant hits in Greece and Cyprus. The EP achieved for Constantinos his first certification as a solo artist in Greece (gold). The same year he announced that he was leaving his record label (EMI) to begin a new collaboration with Virus Music. Thus EMI released a best of compilation. In February 2007 his first album with Virus Music was released. The album was entitled "E Alithia Ine Mia" and debuted at no1 of the Cypriot charts and also entered the top 20 in Greece. Hit singles from the album included "Stasu Ena Lepto", "Mipos", "Ah Agapi".
In May 2008 he released the EP "Istoria 2008" (History 2008) which features 3 covers and two new songs. First single from the EP was "Afto To Vradi Tha Ne Diko Mas" feat Konsantina (originally performed by Konstantina) which peaked at no1 in Cyprus and in the top 10 in Greece. Second single came in September and was "Erhese Esy" (You Come). The singles hits top 10 in Cyprus.
On November it was announced that a new album was on the works and the plans were to be released on February 2009.
Leaving the EP aside Konstantinos released the digital single "Hristougenna" (Christmas) in December 2008. The single was not too much of a success though.
On January 1, it was announced that the single "Afto To Vradi Tha Ne Diko Mas" was voted as the best single of the year by the audience of Super FM Radio in Cyprus.
No more information were given on Konstantinos' expected album and further career moves up until, May 2009 when his new song "Alios" was first broadcasted by Super FM and later was released as a radio single, the first from his new album. On June on an interview Konstantinos announced himself that instead of an album an EP was going to released with "Alios", "Kalokairi" (the second single) and 3 more ballads. The EP was supposed to be released by Sony BMG as the single of "Alios" was.
But on a surprise turn, an album was released on 13 July (shortly after the release of single "Kalokairi"). The album contained 10 songs but in reality the album consists of 6 new songs, 3 covers (1 being a cover from an 80's Greek hit single, 1 the opening titles song for the season 2001-2002 of the hit Cypriot comedy "Sto Para Pente", 1 of the hit single by Giorgos Papadopoulos composed by Konstantinos himself, that was released in Cyprus in 2007) and a new version of his hit single "Erhese Esy". Also the album was released not by Sony BMG but by Konstantinos himself giving the distributing rights to his old company Minos EMI. Not official statement was given for his leave from Virus Music and from what accually happen with Sony BMG.
Despite the low sales performance of the album, the singles of "Alios" did quite well. The leading single peaked at no1 of the Cyprus charts as well as the third single "Etsi Ine I Agapes" with the remixes of each single gaining much airplay and club spins, while 2nd single "To Kalokeri" reached top 10. In December 2010 "O Tilefonitis" was released as the fourth single from the album with a Christmas remixed version of the song gaining much popularity.
In Greece the album and the singles did not meet any kind of success although the title track received a quite satisfying amount of airplay.
In December 2009 it was announced the Constantinos was selected as one of the 10 artists to compete for the right to represent Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. His song's title is "Angel". The Cypriot final took place in Nicosia in February 2010. "Angel" finished on 2nd place missing the winning spot by Jon Lilygreen and The Islanders and their song Life Looks Better In Spring. Still the "Angel" managed to climb to the top 5 of the Cypriot charts.
On Autumn 2010 Constantinos appeared on Romanian TV, where he announced that he is planning some releases there. In June 2010 a new single by Constantinos was released on radio. Is the cover of the 90s hit by Elina Konstantopoulou "Otan To Tilefono Ktipisei". On December 2010 a new single "Gia Ola Ikanos" (Capable Of Anything), was released hitting top 10 in Cyprus and top 50 in Greece. It is not yet known if an album will be released any time soon.
In Spring 2011 he performed a series of gigs, in the famous stage of RED in Nicosia where he presented for the first time a new song entitled "Kokkino" (Red), written especially for his shows there. Also during the promotion of the show, he announced in ANT1 Cyprus TV programme "Vale Atenna", that he is preparing his 7th studio album, which will include a duet with famous Greek singer Eleni Demou.
Constantinos is also a composer and lyricist and he has composed songs for many famous Greek singers. His biggest success as a composer was the song "Erimi Poli" performed by Anna Vissi which peaked at no1 of the Cypriot charts. He also composed a song for Yiannis Parios.
ALBUMS
MAXI-SINGLES/EPs
COMPILATIONS
WITH ONE
Released in Greece and Cyprus:
AS COMPOSER
1996 - Ότι μ' αφορά (Oti m’afora)
Allios – Original Release
| Preceded by Alex Panayi with Sti Fotia |
Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 |
Succeeded by Chara & Andreas Constantinou with Mana Mou |
| Preceded by Voice with Nomiza |
Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest (as Member of ONE) 2002 |
Succeeded by Stelios Constantas with Feeling Alive |
| Preceded by Lisa Andreas with Stronger Every Minute |
Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 |
Succeeded by Annette Artani with Why Angels Cry |