Eleftheria Eleftheriou
Encyclopedia
Eleftheria Eleftheriou is a Greek-Cypriot singer who is famous for her participation in the second season
of talent show The X Factor Greece
.
From a young age, Eleftheriou started learning piano, theory, harmony and history of music. At the age of 15 she started voice lessons and at age 16 she started participating as a soloist in RIK's
national folk orchestra. That same year, she was a candidate to represent Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
with the song " Play That Melody to Me" featuring Maria Zorli. Although she passed the first semi-final, she finished seventh in the national final. Despite not winning the national final, Eleftheriou decided to continue studying music and performance, enrolling at the University of Surrey. She started singing solo in the Cypriot music scenes at the age of 18, and performed in the musical "Rent" in Nicosia
for one season.
of new talent show The X Factor Greece
. Although she received three out of four yeses from the judges and was granted a spot in boot-camp, she decided not to participate in the show. A year later in 2009, Eleftheriou once again tried out for the show, and received four out of four yeses. Despite being a favorite to win, Eleftheriou was voted off the show during the fifth live episode. While the judges and host were shocked with elimination, host and singer Sakis Rouvas
offered her a spot to sing with him at the Club he was appearing for the winter season live on the show, which she accepted.
. A week before the formal presentation of the songs by Greek broadcast ERT, Eleftheriou's song "Tables are Turning" was leaked onto the web by an unknown party. As a result, the song was disqualified from the national final, while the leak also forced the broadcaster to release the rest of the national final songs prematurely the next day, in fear of further leaks.
Despite the disqualification, she released the song in Greek as "Kentro Tou Kosmou" (Center of the world) as the first single off her debut album to be released. A music video was shot and released shortly after. Both Greek and English version's of the song were released as digital downloads
on March 5, 2010.
Eleftheriou started appearing with Sakis Rouvas and Tamta at S-Club on December 11, 2009. On August 19, 2010, she started appearing with Nikos Vertis
at club Orama in Thessaloniki
. Initially scheduled to end by the beginning of October, the shows proved to be a success and have been extended throughout October.
On October 6, 2010, Eleftheriou released her new single titled "Otan Hamilonoume To Fos" (When we turn down the lights) with music by Giannis Iermias and lyrics by Faidon Samsidis.
On December 1, 2011, Eleftheriou announced that she had left Sony Music Greece and signed with Universal Music Greece
. She stated that it was her choice to leave Sony Music, as Universal Music made her a very good proposal. Eleftheriou further stated that she was currently in the process of searching for new songs to record.
The X Factor (Greece series 2)
The second series of the music talent show The X Factor Greece began airing on ANT1 on 2 October 2009, and was won by Stavros Michalakakos of Limassol , Cyprus on 12 February 2010. The show was presented for a second year by Sakis Rouvas...
of talent show The X Factor Greece
The X Factor (Greece)
The X Factor is the Greek version of The X Factor, a show originating in the United Kingdom. It is a television music talent show contested by aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions....
.
Early life
Eleftheria Eleftheriou was born and raised in Cyprus. Growing up she used to draw, dance and was an athlete, while she always had a passion for singing. At the age of nine she started courses at a conservatory.From a young age, Eleftheriou started learning piano, theory, harmony and history of music. At the age of 15 she started voice lessons and at age 16 she started participating as a soloist in RIK's
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation ) or CyBC is Cyprus's public broadcasting service, transmitting island-wide on four radio and two television channels. CyBC is a non-profit organization that utilises its entire income for the promotion of its main mission, which is the objective provision of...
national folk orchestra. That same year, she was a candidate to represent Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Cyprus participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with "Why Angels Cry" performed by Annet Artani. The song placed 15th in the semi-final with 57 points and therefore did not qualify for the final.-A Song for Europe:...
with the song " Play That Melody to Me" featuring Maria Zorli. Although she passed the first semi-final, she finished seventh in the national final. Despite not winning the national final, Eleftheriou decided to continue studying music and performance, enrolling at the University of Surrey. She started singing solo in the Cypriot music scenes at the age of 18, and performed in the musical "Rent" in Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
for one season.
The X Factor
In 2008, Eleftheriou auditioned for the first seasonThe X Factor (Greece series 1)
The first series of the music talent show The X Factor Greece began airing on ANT1 on 04 October 2008 and was won by Loukas Giorkas of Larnaca, Cyprus on 30 January 2009. The show was presented by Sakis Rouvas. It was also broadcast abroad via ANT1's international stations.-Auditions:Public...
of new talent show The X Factor Greece
The X Factor (Greece)
The X Factor is the Greek version of The X Factor, a show originating in the United Kingdom. It is a television music talent show contested by aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions....
. Although she received three out of four yeses from the judges and was granted a spot in boot-camp, she decided not to participate in the show. A year later in 2009, Eleftheriou once again tried out for the show, and received four out of four yeses. Despite being a favorite to win, Eleftheriou was voted off the show during the fifth live episode. While the judges and host were shocked with elimination, host and singer Sakis Rouvas
Sakis Rouvas
Anastasios "Sakis" Rouvas II , often referred to mononymously as Sakis, is a Greek musician, television and film artist, businessman, and former pole vaulter who is one of the most successful and influential entertainers of all time in Greece and Cyprus...
offered her a spot to sing with him at the Club he was appearing for the winter season live on the show, which she accepted.
List of X-Factor performances
- Live 1 - "Den Milo Gia Mia Nihta Ego" (Original Singer: Eleftheria ArvanitakiEleftheria ArvanitakiEleftheria Arvanitaki is a Greek folk singer. She originates from the island of Icaria...
) - Live 2 - "Kopse Kai Mirase Sta Dio" (Original Singer: Eleonora Zouganeli)
- Live 3 - "Kathe Fora Pou Me Kitazeis (Original Singer: Alkistis Protopsalti)
- Live 4 - Opening: "Girls Just wanna have fun"; Competition: "Stin Diskotek" (Original Singer: ElpidaElpidaElpida Karayiannopoulou , is a Greek singer who was one of the most successful singers in Greece and the Greek diaspora in the 1970s and 1980s....
) - Live 5 - "No OneNo One (Alicia Keys song)"No One" is a song by American recording artist Alicia Keys from her third studio album, As I Am. Written and produced by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and George M. Harry, and released as the album's lead single in September 2007...
" (Original Singer: Alicia KeysAlicia KeysAlicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
) - Live 9 - "Methismeni Politeia" (Original Singer: Anna VissiAnna VissiAnna Vissi , known as Anna Vishy in Cypriot Greek, is a Greek-Cypriot recording artist and actress...
) (Special guest singer on Christmas live special)
Professional career
Shortly after her elimination, Sony Music Greece signed Eleftheria and submitted her as a candidate to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Greece, in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, selected the song "Opa" sung by Giorgos Alkaios & Friends as their entry, by a national selection on 12 March 2010....
. A week before the formal presentation of the songs by Greek broadcast ERT, Eleftheriou's song "Tables are Turning" was leaked onto the web by an unknown party. As a result, the song was disqualified from the national final, while the leak also forced the broadcaster to release the rest of the national final songs prematurely the next day, in fear of further leaks.
Despite the disqualification, she released the song in Greek as "Kentro Tou Kosmou" (Center of the world) as the first single off her debut album to be released. A music video was shot and released shortly after. Both Greek and English version's of the song were released as digital downloads
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on March 5, 2010.
Eleftheriou started appearing with Sakis Rouvas and Tamta at S-Club on December 11, 2009. On August 19, 2010, she started appearing with Nikos Vertis
Nikos Vertis
Nikolaos Vertis is a popular Greek singer who was born in Gorinchem, Netherlands. To date, he has released five studio albums along with one CD single, and two special edition CD/DVD albums.-Early life:...
at club Orama in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
. Initially scheduled to end by the beginning of October, the shows proved to be a success and have been extended throughout October.
On October 6, 2010, Eleftheriou released her new single titled "Otan Hamilonoume To Fos" (When we turn down the lights) with music by Giannis Iermias and lyrics by Faidon Samsidis.
On December 1, 2011, Eleftheriou announced that she had left Sony Music Greece and signed with Universal Music Greece
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. She stated that it was her choice to leave Sony Music, as Universal Music made her a very good proposal. Eleftheriou further stated that she was currently in the process of searching for new songs to record.
Albums
| Year | Title | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | United album |
- |
Singles
- 2010 - "Kentro Tou Kosmou"
- 2010 - "Otan Hamilonoume To Fos"
- 2011 - "Never -Housetwins feat. Elle"