Marinella (Greek: Μαρινέλλα) (born May 20, 1938) is one of the most popular Greek singers whose career has spanned several decades. She has sung professionally since 1957. Since the beginning of her career, she has released 66 personal albums and has been featured in albums of other musicians.

Early life [link]

She was born Kyriaki Papadopoulou (Κυριακή Παπαδοπούλου), in the city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece. Her parents were Greek refugees from Constantinople. She is the fourth and last child of a large family, which despite its poverty, was rich in love and in artistic vein. The whole family gathered around the turntable and sang, while her father tried to teach children the steps of the waltz and the tango.

From four years singing on the radio broadcast in "Pediki Ora (Child Time)" and later did ads for shops "Melka" in Thessaloniki, pushing the first pocket money. She participated in many performances of children's theater.

When was fifteen years old gave up to finish school, but in seventeen of stirring passion for theater and joins the troupe of Mary Laurent, a "mpoulouki" (so it was called the troupes who sailed to Greece from end to end) and plays roles of inspection. One day the singer of the troupe got sick and sought replacement of the Marinella willing to take its place. At the moment the Marinella sang was the moment when the Greek song won one of the best representatives of the. Marinella was the lead singer of the troupe. She later joined the Military Theater because the payment was better. At the same time she started her career as a singer at the center "Panorama" of Thessaloniki. There, Tolis Harmas would baptize her with the artist name "Marinella", inspired by his song.

She released her first song in 1957, "Nitsa, Elenitsa (Little Helen)". Her early career was marked by her collaboration with singer Stelios Kazantzidis. Together they managed to become the greatest duet of Greece, unsurpassed until today. From the night club "Luxembourg" in Thessaloniki where they did their first successful times, descended in Athens and from there enter the upward trend.

They sang the best composers of the era; Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Giorgos Mitsakis, Giorgos Zambetas, Apostolos Kaldaras, Theodoros Derveniotis, Stavros Xarchakos, Christos Leontis etc.

Marinella married Stelios Kazantzidis on 7 May 1964 and they toured together in Germany and the United States. They divorced in September 1966. Marinella then launched her own career and eventually in 1974 married singer Tolis Voskopoulos. This second marriage also ended in divorce in 1981.

Early career [link]

Marinella was the first Greek singer to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1974, placing eleventh with the song "Krasi, Thalassa Kai T' Agori Mou (Wine, sea and my boyfriend)". She also performed in several Greek musicals, both as singer and actress. Her popularity rose in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, with a string of successful albums and live shows. She developed a new standard for shows in the Greek night clubs, introducing costumes, dancing, and special lighting effects. Many of today's popular Greek singers have modelled their shows on Marinella's shows of the 1980s.

Later career [link]

In 1998, Marinella performed in the Megaron Music Hall of Athens, performing her older hits to great acclaim. Her concert at the small Olympic stadium of Athens in 1999 was a great success with more than 25.000 people.

In 2003, she collaborated with George Dalaras. They gave concerts in Athens and Thessaloniki as well as abroad. The tour was titled "Mazi (Together)" and the released CD from these performances reached platinum status. On April 10, 2003, the New York Times wrote about Marinella "Her voice was earthy and strong, and she had the presence of an actress as she danced a few teasing steps or brought dignity to longing" (by Jon Pareles).^[1]

In 2004, she released a brand new album with new songs by Nikos Antypas and Lina Nikolakopoulou, entitled "Ammos itane (It was sand)". In the same year she performed at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics, along with Dimitra Galani, Haris Alexiou, Yiannis Parios and George Dalaras.

In 2005, Marinella released a new album titled "Tipota den ginete tyhea (Nothing is random)", composed by famous Greek composer and lyricist Giorgos Theofanous. The album reached gold status and includes duets with famous Greek singers, such as Antonis Remos, Glykeria and Kostas Makedonas.

In 2006, two new compilations of Marinella were officially released, the first titled "Sti skini (On stage)" and containing older live recordings and the second one titled "Ta logia ine peritta - 50 Chronia tragoudi (Words are pointless - 50 Years of song)", which is a complete 8 CDs boxset with Marinella's greatest hits from the beginning of her career until her collaboration with Kostas Hatzis at "Resital".

Marinella returned again to nightlife, by performing live with Giannis Parios in the winter season 2008 - 2009 at Diogenis Studio in Athens. Marinella is currently recording brand new songs in the studio with composer Giorgos Theofanous. The CD is expected to be released sometime in 2012.

Current activities [link]

	"Ta Logia Einai Peritta" noicon Marinella's hit "Ta Logia Einai Peritta"
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Marinella will be starting performing her successful show entitled "The Musical", in October 2010 at Palace Theatre in Athens.

Versatility [link]

Even though Marinella is often considered a singer of folk songs, her range is quite broad and has included a variety of musical styles including traditional, laika, pop, blues, and jazz. Marinella is characterised as "The Great Lady of Song" in Greece, where she is regarded with great respect. She rarely makes public appearances, and her concerts are few.

Discography [link]

Personal albums [link]

• 1964: Kazantzidis & Marinella
• 1965: Chrysos Diskos Kazantzidi & Marinellas (Gold disc)
• 1969: Stalia - Stalia (Drop by drop)
• 1969: Kazantzidis & Marinella
• 1969: Marinella
• 1969: Otan Simani Esperinos (When the evening bells are ringing)
• 1970: Ena Tragoudi Ein' I Zoi Mou (A song is my life)
• 1971: Marinella - Enas Mythos (A tale)
• 1972: Mia Vradia Me Tin Marinella (An evening with Marinella), Live
• 1972: Athanata Rebetika (Immortal Rebetiko)
• 1973: Albania
• 1973: Mia Vradia Me Tin Marinella Νο. 2 (An evening with Marinella no. 2), Live
• 1974: Marinella & Tolis Voskopoulos - Ego Ki' Esy (You and me)
• 1974: Marinella & Voskopoulos
• 1974: Marinella Gia Panta (Cyprus)
• 1975: Marinella Gia Panta (Marinella forever)
• 1976: Marinella & Kostas Hatzis - Recital, Live
• 1976: Alli Mia Fora (Once again)
• 1977: Marinella & Athenians
• 1978: I Marinella Tou Simera (Marinella of today)
• 1979: S' Agapo (I love you)
• 1980: I Marinella Se Tragoudia Tis Vempo (Marinella in songs of Vempo)
• 1980: Marinella & Kostas Hatzis - Tam tam, Live
• 1981: Marinella - Gia 'Senane Mporo (For you, I can)
• 1983: Gia 'Sena Ton Agnosto (For you, the unknown)
• 1984: Megales Stigmes (Great times)
• 1985: I Agapi Mas (Our love)
• 1986: Mia Nihta (A night)
• 1987: Marinella & Kostas Hatzis - Synantisi (Rencontre)
• 1988: Tolmo (I dare)
• 1989: Eisai Mia Thiella (You are a storm)
• 1990: Lege Mou "S' agapo" (Keep telling me "I love you")
• 1991: Kazantzidis & Marinella - Ta Tragoudia Tis Amerikis (The songs of America)
• 1992: I Marinella Tragouda Megales Kyries (Marinella sings Great Ladies)
• 1993: To Ximeroma Tou Erota (The dawn of love)
• 1997: Gia Proti Fora (For the first time)
• 1997: Tragoudia apo tis 45' Strofes
• 1998: I Marinella Tragouda Kai Thimatai (Marinella sings and remembers), Live
• 1999: Me Varka To Tragoudi (With boat the song), Live
• 2003: Marinella & George Dalaras - Mazi (Together), Live
• 2004: Ammos Itane (It was sand)
• 2005: Tipota Den Ginete Tihea (Νothing is random)
• 2005: Tipota Den Ginete Tihea (CD/DVD)
• 2005: Tipota Den Ginete Tihea (Double Disc)
• 2007: Marinella & Antonis Remos - Live

Collaborations [link]

• 1965: Manos Hatzidakis - Proti ektelesi
• 1965: Stelios Kazantzidis no. 3
• 1965: Tragoudia tis xenitias
• 1965: Christos Leontis - Katahnia
• 1966: Christos Leontis - Anastasi oneiron
• 1967: Anapolontas me ton Kazantzidi
• 1968: Mimis Plessas - Gorgones kai magkes
• 1970: Kazantzidis & Marinella sing Greek songs
• 1970: V Festival Internacional Da Canção Popular - Rio (Parte Internacional)
• 1971: Ena karavi gemato tragoudia
• 1971: 12 Syghrona laika hromata
• 1971: Christos Leontis - Dodeka para pente
• 1974: Kryfa minymata 1967 - 1974
• 1975: Tolis Voskopoylos - Ego ti eho ke ti tha 'xo
• 1976: Mikis Theodorakis - Politeia A'
• 1976: Tolis Voskopoylos - Smyrneika kai laika
• 1976: Tolis Voskopoylos - Otan tragoudo
• 1977: Nasos Panagiotou - Ilie megale
• 1977: O Kazantzidis se dimotika tragoudia
• 1978: Tolis Voskopoylos - Tragouda theatrine!
• 1979: 7 Asteria - 14 Epityhies
• 1979: Akis Panou - Ase me zoi
• 1980: Tolis Voskopoulos - 80
• 1980: To dekatriari tis epityhias no. 9
• 1981: Voskopoylos - Kardia mou moni
• 1981: Giannis Kalatzis - Gia olous
• 1982: Epityhies tou simera
• 1982: Tolis Voskopoulos - Den thelo na thymamai
• 1983: Epityhies tou simera
• 1983: Giannis Spartakos - 50 Chronia tragoudia
• 1984: Antonis Kalogiannis - Mikra erotika
• 1984: Ta dialegmena
• 1985: Gia ta pedia
• 1985: Antonis Kalogiannis - Kai pou les eutyhia
• 1985: Nakis Petridis - Laika monopatia
• 1985: Kostas Virvos - Tesseris dekaeties
• 1985: O Mikis Theodorakis sto Kentrikon (Live)
• 1985: Ta laika tis nyhtas
• 1987: Takis Bougas - Ring
• 1987: Ta kalytera
• 1988: Giannis Parios - Pistos
• 1989: Ola gia dio
• 1989: Trella ke agios o Theos
• 1989: Minos '90, ta souxe einai edo
• 1990: Ola mesa
• 1990: Prota ap' ola
• 1990: Kazantzidis - Anekdota tragoudia apo tis 33' strofes nο. 3
• 1990: Klisis, proklisis, prosklisis
• 1991: Mimis Plessas - I Pariziana
• 1991: Epityhies 20 asteron
• 1993: San palio cinema
• 1993: I megali othoni no. 1
• 1993: I megali othoni no. 2
• 1993: Minos '94, ta souxe einai edo
• 1994: Minos '95
• 1995: Vasilis Dimitriou - I prova tou nyfikou
• 1995: En plo (Ypourgeio Emporikis Nautilias)
• 1995: Kostas Hatzis - Tragoudia gia filous
• 1995: Chrysi diskothiki 1965
• 1995: Chrysi diskothiki 1974
• 1995: Chrysi diskothiki 1975
• 1995: Chrysi diskothiki 1976
• 1995: Chrysi diskothiki 1981
• 1995: Chrysi diskothiki 1988
• 1995: Chrysi diskothiki 1989
• 1995: Chrysi diskothiki 1990
• 1995: Ta prota ap' ola
• 1995: Minos '96
• 1996: Minos '97
• 1996: Kazantzidis - Tragoudia apo tis 45' strofes
• 1997: Zampetas - Tragoudia apo tis 45' strofes
• 2000: Stamatis Kraounakis - Ystera irthan i melisses
• 2000: Kazantzidis - Tragoudia apo tis 45' strofes no. 3
• 2002: O Stelios Kazantzidis tragouda Manoli Hioti
• 2002: Mimis Plessas - Iobilaion (Live)
• 2004: Fos (The official album of Athens) 2004
• 2005: Antonis Remos - San anemos
• 2005: Antonis Remos - San anemos (Special Edition)
• 2006: Den xero poso s' agapo - Tribute to Vicky Mosholiou (Live)
• 2006: Eurosongs (1974–2005)
• 2008: Mpampis Mpakalis - 40 megales epityhies
• 2008: Tha pio apopse to feggari - Tribute to Lefteris Papadopoulos (Live)
• 2009: Mimis Plessas - I megali othini oneirevetai
• 2010: Lina Nikolakopoulou - Hronia polla, tragoudi mou
• 2012: Natasa Theodoridou - Apenanti

Compilations [link]

• 1974: Ta oraiotera tragoudia mou
• 1976: Kazantzidis & Marinella
• 1976: Portraita
• 1978: Ta prota mou tragoudia
• 1980: Portraito
• 1982: 15 Chronia Marinella
• 1983: Ta 14 hasapisa tou xthes kai tou simera
• 1987: 14 apo ta oraiotera tragoudia mou
• 1988: Marinella forever
• 1988: Gia panta (Ta erotika)
• 1992: I Marinella tragouda Mimi Plessa
• 1992: Marinella & Antonis Kalogiannis - Synaisthimata
• 1993: Ego ki' esy (I megales epityhies)
• 1993: Chryses epityhies
• 1993: Kazantzidis & Marinella - Megales epityhies
• 1994: I Marinella tragouda Hatzinasio
• 1995: Ta prota mou tragoudia 1967 - 1970
• 1995: I megales epityhies
• 1996: I Marinella tragouda Zampeta και Panou
• 1996: I Marinella tragouda Plessa και Spano
• 1996: Ta 45aria tis Marinellas
• 1996: Ta prota mou tragoudia nο. 2
• 1996: I megali kyria tou Ellinikou tragoudiou
• 1997: Marinella & Kostas Hatzis - Recital for two
• 1997: I foni ke o mythos - 30 Chronia tragoudi
• 1998: I Marinella se aprovleptes erminies
• 1998: Ta agapimena
• 1999: Ta tragoudia mou (Diva)
• 2000: Ta megala tragoudia
• 2000: Ta erotika
• 2001: Ta tragoudia tou aiona
• 2002: I megalyteres epityhies
• 2002: Chrysa tragoudia
• 2003: Marinella - Mia agkalia tragoudia (4 CDs Boxset)
• 2005: Marinella
• 2005: Ego (The very best of EMI years) 1957 - 1995
• 2006: Ta kinimatografika tou Kazantzidi
• 2006: Kazantzidis & Marinella - Asteria tou Ellinikou tragoudiou
• 2006: Kazantzidis & Marinella - I teleftaies ihografisis
• 2006: Sti skini
• 2006: Ta logia ine peritta - 50 Chronia tragoudi (8 CDs Boxset)
• 2006: Ta logia ine peritta - 50 Chronia tragoudi (6 CDs Boxset)
• 2007: Tragoudia apo ton kinimatografo ke to theatro
• 2008: I foni & o mythos (4 CDs)
• 2009: Ta tragoudia mias zois (5 CDs)

DVD's [link]

• ΙΙΙ F.I.C. Festival Internacional Da Canção 1968 Rio
• 2004 - Athens 2004 Olympic Games

Marinella in Greek Cinema [link]

The following table is a record of all instances of Marinella in films of Greek cinema, from the 1960 by 1966 with Stelios Kazantzidis and from 1967 by 1970 itself.

Video sampling [link]

• Video of Marinella singing the song "Kyra Giorgena" at the TV show "Nana Mouskouri with the Athenians" on BBC, in 1971
• Video clip of the song "Krasi, thalassa ke t' agori mu" (Eurovision '74) 1974
• Video clip of the song "Na pezi to tranzistor" (Αlbum "I Marinella tou simera") 1978
• Video clip of the song "Vasanismeni Kyriaki" (Αlbum "Gia proti fora") 1997
• Marinella singing the song "Asteri sto parathyro (Star in the window)" (Film "Gymni sto dromo") in 1969

References [link]

External links [link]

• Marinella - Fan Club in Pathfinder
• ΜΑΡΙΝΕΛΛΑ - Διαδικτυακό Αφιέρωμα