MAD Secret Concerts: Despina Vandi Live
Encyclopedia
MAD Secret Concerts: Despina Vandi Live is the fourth video album by Greek singer Despina Vandi
, released in 2006 by Heaven Music
in Greece and Cyprus.
material with Vandi performing covers of international music artists. The video centers mostly around retro themes, with songs mostly from the 1980s
, and focuses on disco
and dance
genres, including some R&B
, funk, and hip hop
sounds. Other songs that were performed but were not included on the track listing were "Fame
" by Irene Cara
and "Is It a Crime" by Sade
. The repertoire that Vandi had chosen were song that she described as a "life dream" of hers to sing when she was young, although she had not yet been given the opportunity. During her performance of Extreme
's "More Than Words
", she dedicated the song to someone who she revealed "he knows" who he is. The concert was produced in support by TIM
and Flocafe
and was performed in front of a small audience of 300 people that were previously chosen through a contest by MAD TV. One month of preparation was put into the concert and it was made possible with 100 technicians, 20 musicians, and 11 cameramen over 10 days of rehearsal. Vandi chose to conduct her concert in a different manner than had been done for the Elena Paparizou
concert, specifically by dancing into the crowd and singing rather than remaining stationary, as well as having a featured backing band, Blues Bug, that also had a role in main performances. Vandi did not sing in the performance of "Word Up
", but instead danced onstage as it was performed by the frontman of Blues Bug. In their concert review, MAD TV praised Vandi for the unique atmosphere she gave the show through her connection to the audience, the band, and musical director, Tony Kontaxakis, making it more fun and "funky". The direction was by Vandi's long time music video director
, Kostas Kapetanidis
, while the sound recording was directed by Kostas Kalimeris. The concert was the second MAD Secret Concert and was televised by ANT1
in May 2006.
Despina Vandi
Despina Malea , known by her stage name Despina Vandi , is a Greek singer. Born in Tübingen near Stuttgart, West Germany, Vandi's family returned to Kavala, Greece when she was six years old and she later enrolled at the University of Thessaloniki, but eventually dropped out to begin a career in...
, released in 2006 by Heaven Music
Heaven Music
Heaven Music is an independent record label in Athens, Greece, founded in 2001 by ANT1 Group. It is known for signing new and young artists.-Overview:...
in Greece and Cyprus.
Background
The video is made up entirely of English-languageEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
material with Vandi performing covers of international music artists. The video centers mostly around retro themes, with songs mostly from the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, and focuses on disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
and dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
genres, including some R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, funk, and hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
sounds. Other songs that were performed but were not included on the track listing were "Fame
Fame (Irene Cara song)
"Fame" is a pop song, written by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford that was released in 1980, and achieved chart success as the theme song to the Fame film and TV series. The song was performed by Irene Cara, who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original movie...
" by Irene Cara
Irene Cara
Irene Cara is an American singer and actress. Cara won an Academy Award in 1984 in the category of Best Original Song for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling." She is also known for her recording of the song "Fame", and she also starred in the 1980 film Fame.She married Hollywood stuntman...
and "Is It a Crime" by Sade
Sade (band)
Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock....
. The repertoire that Vandi had chosen were song that she described as a "life dream" of hers to sing when she was young, although she had not yet been given the opportunity. During her performance of Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
's "More Than Words
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
", she dedicated the song to someone who she revealed "he knows" who he is. The concert was produced in support by TIM
TIM
Tim may refer to:Names*Timothy or Tim, for short*Tim , the Australian moviePeople*Tim, the Oldenburg Baby, abortion survivor*Tim , popular K-pop solo singer*Tiny Tim , American singer, ukulele player, and musical archivist...
and Flocafe
Flocafé
Flocafé is a Greek franchise coffee house chain and belongs to Vivartia, a nutrition conglomerate brand that owns several similar franchises. It opened its first outlet in Athens in 1994 and now operates over 70 coffee houses in Greece, Cyprus and on several cruise ships.In 2006 it held a 10.2% of...
and was performed in front of a small audience of 300 people that were previously chosen through a contest by MAD TV. One month of preparation was put into the concert and it was made possible with 100 technicians, 20 musicians, and 11 cameramen over 10 days of rehearsal. Vandi chose to conduct her concert in a different manner than had been done for the Elena Paparizou
Elena Paparizou
Eleni "Elena" Paparizou , usually referred to abroad as Helena Paparizou, is a Greek-Swedish singer and occasional songwriter, who was born and raised in Sweden by Greek parents. She began her career there in 1999 as a member of the duo Antique, while she also worked briefly as a model for a...
concert, specifically by dancing into the crowd and singing rather than remaining stationary, as well as having a featured backing band, Blues Bug, that also had a role in main performances. Vandi did not sing in the performance of "Word Up
Word Up! (song)
"Word Up!" is a funk/hip hop song written and originally recorded by Cameo in 1986. Due to its heavy play on American dance and R&B radio, as well as music video play on MTV , the single became the band's most well-known hit.From the album of the same name, "Word Up!" was Nick's first US Top 40...
", but instead danced onstage as it was performed by the frontman of Blues Bug. In their concert review, MAD TV praised Vandi for the unique atmosphere she gave the show through her connection to the audience, the band, and musical director, Tony Kontaxakis, making it more fun and "funky". The direction was by Vandi's long time music video director
Music video director
A music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...
, Kostas Kapetanidis
Kostas Kapetanidis
Konstantinos Kapetanidis, sometimes credited as Costas Kapetanidis, is a Greek music video director who is associated with the production company Anosi S.A...
, while the sound recording was directed by Kostas Kalimeris. The concert was the second MAD Secret Concert and was televised by ANT1
ANT1
Antenna, better known as ANT1, is a television network airing in Greece and Cyprus. The alternate spelling is play on words in Greek; ena is the Greek number 1, thus ANT1 is pronounced the same as Antenna . It launched on 31 December 1989, the same year as rival Mega Channel, and is owned by...
in May 2006.
Track listing
- Intro
- Beginning credits
- "Ain't NobodyAin't Nobody"Ain't Nobody" is a 1983 hit single by Rufus & Chaka Khan. It was released as a studio bonus track on the band's live album Stompin' at the Savoy. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart and twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart...
(RufusRufus (band)Rufus was an American funk band from Chicago, Illinois best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including "Tell Me Something Good," "Sweet Thing," and "Ain't Nobody."-Origins:...
& Chaka KhanChaka KhanChaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
) - Backstage Pt.1
- "Play That Funky MusicPlay That Funky Music"Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn...
" (Wild CherryWild Cherry (band)Wild Cherry was a funk/rock band best known for their funk song "Play That Funky Music".-History:Rob Parissi was raised in the steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio. Parissi graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed the band Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of...
) - "Think" (Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
) - "I'm So ExcitedI'm So Excited"I'm So Excited" is a song by American recording artists The Pointer Sisters. The track, written by The Pointer Sisters and Trevor Lawrence, was originally released in 1982 and saw a re-release in 1984. It is considered to be one of the group's signature songs.-Background:The song appeared...
(The Pointer Sisters) - "Walking on SunshineWalking on Sunshine (song)"Walking on Sunshine" is a song written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina and the Waves' 1983 eponymous debut full-length album. The re-recorded version was at first released on the band's 1985 self-titled album as the album's second single and reached No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States,...
" (Katrina & the Waves) - "Last Night a DJ Saved My LifeLast Night a DJ Saved My Life (song)"Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life" is a song written by Michael Cleveland for R&B–New Wave–dance group Indeep. It features vocals from Reggie and Rose Marie Ramsey, and its protagonists recall how they were bored to death until a DJ played a hot song and saved their lives by giving new energy to the...
" (IndeepIndeepIndeep was a 1980s New York-based R&B/New Wave group, best known for its post-disco song "Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life."-Career:The group was led by its songwriter-musician Michael Cleveland, and it was known for employing a strong disco-esque bass line and early hip hop lyrics backed by two...
) - Backstage Pt.2
- "Word UpWord Up! (song)"Word Up!" is a funk/hip hop song written and originally recorded by Cameo in 1986. Due to its heavy play on American dance and R&B radio, as well as music video play on MTV , the single became the band's most well-known hit.From the album of the same name, "Word Up!" was Nick's first US Top 40...
" (Performed by Blues Bug) (CameoCameo (band)Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s. Cameo was initially a 13-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo to avoid a lawsuit from Ohio Players, another group from that era. Since then, Cameo has recorded several...
) - "Don't Look Any FurtherDon't Look Any Further"Don't Look Any Further" is a 1984 single by former Temptations lead singer Dennis Edwards, featuring Siedah Garrett. The single was written by Franne Golde, Dennis Lambert and Duane Hitchings. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Black Singles chart and peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Track...
" (Dennis EdwardsDennis EdwardsDennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
feat. Siedah GarrettSiedah GarrettSiedah Garrett is an American songwriter and singer.-Biography:She appeared as a contestant on Password Plus in 1980.She performed "One Man Woman" on Quincy Jones' Grammy-Award winning "Back on the Block."...
) - "It's Raining MenIt's Raining Men"It's Raining Men" is a song written by Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer in 1979 originally for Dave Balfour's album Stars , and originally recorded by The Weather Girls in 1982...
" (The Weather Girls) - Backstage Pt.3
- "More Than WordsMore Than Words"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
" (ExtremeExtreme (band)Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
) - "Sweet DreamsSweet Dreams (Are Made of This)-Personnel:*Annie Lennox – vocals, keyboards, synthesisers, flute*David A. Stewart – guitar, keyboards, synthesisers, programming, backing vocals-Additional personnel:*Robert Crash - Guitar/ E-Drums/ Synth/ Robotic vocals...
" (EurythmicsEurythmicsEurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
) - End credits
Charts
| Chart | Providers | Peak position |
Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greek DVD Chart | IFPI | 1 | ||
| Cypriot Album Chart | All Records Top 20 | 1 |