Gia (song)

"Gia"
Single by Despina Vandi
from the album Gia
Released December 19, 2001
(See release history)
Format CD single
Maxi CD
12 Vinyl
Enhanced CD
EP
Recorded 2003
Genre Dance pop, Eurodance, house
Length 4:09
Label Heaven Music
Ultra
Writer(s) Phoebus
Producer(s) Phoebus (with co-production by Bass Bumpers)
Certification Gold
Despina Vandi singles chronology
"Ande Gia"
(2002)
"Gia"
(2003)
"Come Along Now"
(2004)
Alternative covers
UK cover
Australian two-track edition cover
Audio sample
file info · help

"Gia" is a song recorded by Greek singer Despina Vandi. It was originally released as the first single off her 2001 multi-platinum Greek album also of the same name. Vandi signed with Ultra Records for the international release of the track, and in 2003 a CD single was made available in many markets, following by a 2004 US re-issued which included a new English-language version.[1]

"Gia" (A Greek meaning for the word "Hi") is best known for its blending of Arabian drums, Modern Laika, Eurodance-influenced techno beats and bilingual lyrics. It is also the first foreign-language Dance recording to top the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart, where it peaked at number one in 2004.[2][3]

"Gia" stayed on the charts of Billboard for 12 weeks and made Vandi one of the six artists that stayed so many weeks on the charts for 2004.[4]

The track has also been mashed-up with another Vandi single, "Come Along Now", which was released in 2004 as "Come Along Now Vs. Gia". It is featured on the Ministry of Sound's "The Annual 2005".[5]

According to the Greek "Chart Show" and IFPI, the song is in the third position in the Top 30 with the best songs of the most successful Greek artists during 2000-2009.[6]

The song has also been used by Romanian gymnast Catalina Ponor in her floor routine at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where she won the gold medal.

Music video

The original music video of the song was directed by Kostas Kapetanidis and was set in a temple with Vandi and four male dancers and featured a young child. In 2003, a new video was made for the Greek-English release of the song, which was also directed by Kapetanidis and was shot in Morocco.

Track listing

  1. Gia (DJ Gregory Remix)
  2. Gia (Milk & Sugar Remix)
  3. Gia (Bass Bumpers Extended Remix)
  4. Gia (Level K Remix)
  1. Gia (Bass Bumpers Radio Edit) - 3:00
  2. Gia (Original) - 4:09
  3. Gia (Milk & Sugar Radio Edit) - 3:19
  4. Gia (DJ Gregory Remix) - 7:59
  5. Everything I Dreamed - 3:18
  6. Gia (Video)
  1. "Gia" (Radio Edit)
  2. "Gia" (Milk & Sugar Radio Edit)
  3. "Gia" (Original Mix)
  4. "Gia" (Extended Mix)
  5. "Gia" (Milk & Sugar Remix)
  6. "Gia" (DJ Gregory Remix)
  7. "Gia" (Level K Remix)

Release history

Country Release date Format
Greece December 19, 2001
Worldwide September 22, 2003
United States August 27, 2004 EP
November 21, 2004 CD single

Charts

Chart (2001-2004) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 42
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 56
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 20
Germany (Media Control Charts)[10] 36
Greece (IFPI) 1
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[11] 22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 55
Romania (Romanian Top 100) 8
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[13] 19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 25
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 73
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company) 63
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[16] 39

References

Preceded by
"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" by Deborah Cox
Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay number one single (first run)
January 18–25, 2004
Succeeded by
"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" by Deborah Cox
Preceded by
"Hey Ya!" by OutKast
Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay number one single (second run)
February 8, 2004
Succeeded by
"Toxic" by Britney Spears