Gia (song)

Last updated
"Gia"
Despina Vandi - Gia (international edition).jpg
Single by Despina Vandi
from the album Gia
ReleasedDecember 19, 2001 (2001-12-19)
Length4:09
Label
Songwriter(s) Phoebus
Producer(s) Phoebus (with co-production by Bass Bumpers)
Despina Vandi singles chronology
"Ande Gia"
(2002)
"Gia"
(2001)
"Come Along Now"
(2004)
Alternative cover
VandiGiaAustraliaMini.jpg
Australian two-track edition cover

"Gia" is a song recorded by Greek singer Despina Vandi. It was originally released as the lead 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]

Contents

"Gia" (the Greek word for "Hi") is best known for its blending of Arabic drums, modern laïka, Eurodance-influenced 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 Billboard charts for 12 weeks and made Vandi one of six artists that stayed the most weeks on the charts in 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]

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)

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 (Official German 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
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [16] 39

Release history

CountryRelease dateFormat
GreeceDecember 19, 2001
VariousSeptember 22, 2003
United StatesAugust 27, 2004EP
November 21, 2004CD single

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Despina Vandi</span> Greek singer (born 1969)

Despina Malea, known as Despina Vandi, is a Greek singer. Born in Tübingen near Stuttgart, Germany, Vandi's family returned to Kavala, Greece when she was six years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven (Bryan Adams song)</span> 1985 single by Bryan Adams

"Heaven" is a song by the Canadian singer and songwriter Bryan Adams recorded in 1983, written by Adams and Jim Vallance. It first appeared on the A Night in Heaven soundtrack album the same year and was later included on Adams' album Reckless in 1984. It was released as the third single from Reckless and reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in June 1985, over a year and a half after the song first appeared on record. The single was certified Gold in Canada in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silence (Delerium song)</span> 1999 song by Delerium

"Silence" is a song by Canadian electronic music group Delerium featuring Canadian singer and co-writer Sarah McLachlan, first released as a single in May 1999. Over the years, its remixes have been hailed as one of the greatest trance songs of all time, over two decades after its initial release. The Tiësto remix of the song was voted by Mixmag readers as the 12th-greatest dance record of all time.

<i>Gia</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Despina Vandi

Gia is the fifth studio album by Greek singer Despina Vandi. It was released on 19 December 2001 by Heaven Music and has sold more than 400,000 units and stands at five fold-platinum in Greece. Since release, it has been re-released several times and has become one of the best-selling albums of all time in Greece. According to the DVD "Guide of the Greek discography" which is compiled privately by Petros Dragoumanos, it is the best selling album for the last 20 years in Greece. In 2010, Alpha TV's Chart Show, which uses statistics also compiled by Mr. Dragoumanos, ranked the album as the third most successful album in terms of sales in Greece during 1985-2009 and the most successful album from 2000-2009. It also certified quadruple-platinum in Cyprus and gold status in Turkey. Additionally, the album was licensed to 35 territories.

"Opa Opa" is a song by Greek singer Notis Sfakianakis, released as a single from his second album Ise Ena Pistoli in 1992. Opa Opa is a laïko dance song and was written and produced by singer Giorgos Alkaios in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebus (songwriter)</span> Musical artist

Phoebus, sometimes spelled Phivos or Foivos, is a well-known songwriter in both Greece and Cyprus. Phoebus is mostly known for his music through Despina Vandi and Katy Garbi, although he has composed albums for many other artists in Greece and Cyprus. A high percentage of the albums he composes receive certification making him one of the most successful Greek songwriters of the 1990s and 2000s, selling 6,000,000 records. In 2009, he founded his own record label, The Spicy Effect, to which he has signed various artists, many of whom he has collaborated with in the past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Despina Vandi discography</span>

This page includes the discography of singer Despina Vandi. Vandi began a musical career in 1994 after signing with Minos EMI. She released two albums with little success, Gela Mou (1994) and Esena Perimeno (1996), before beginning an exclusive collaboration with composer Phoebus, which would eventually become one of the most successful partnerships in Greek history, and striking commercial success with her third and fourth albums Deka Endoles (1997) and Profities (1999), the latter which reached multi-platinum status. In the 2000s, Vandi and Phoebus began experimenting with more contemporary, radio-friendly pop influences in combination with laiko repertoire to much initial success. Her single "Ipofero" (2000) became the best-selling Greek single of all time ; after the success Vandi and Phoebus signed to new-found independent label Heaven Music with Gia (2001) remaining the label's biggest sales success, and one of the biggest-selling albums of all time in Greece. For the sales of Gia, Vandi became the first of four artists recording in Greece to receive a World Music Award for "World's Best Selling Greek Artist". With Gia earning success in neighboring markets as well, Vandi embarked on a career abroad briefly to some mild success; she became the first Greek artist to chart on any Billboard chart, reaching number one on the Hot Dance Airplay Chart for 2 weeks and 39 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The next two international singles, "Come Along Now" and "Opa Opa", achieved worldwide recognition. "Come Along Now" was heard all around the world in Coca-Cola's ads, and "Opa Opa" reached number 3 on the Hot Dance Radio Airplay of Billboard. Vandi released her first live album in 2003 before taking a maternity leave after having her first child. During this time, both her former and current label released a number of compilations and video albums to capitalize on her recent marketability. Vandi returned with another multi-platinum record, Stin Avli Tou Paradeisou, before another maternity leave. 10 Hronia Mazi (2007) was released as a celebration of her 10-year collaboration with Phoebus. In 2009 Vandi and Phoebus announced that they were leaving Heaven Music in favor of a new label founded by Phoebus. The biggest music channel in Greece, MAD TV, in tribute to the 10 years since its foundation called Despina Vandi as the biggest female Greek star in Greek music. Vandi has sold over 1 million records.

<i>10 Hronia Mazi</i> 2007 studio album by Despina Vandi

10 H.M. is an album released by Greek singer Despina Vandi starting on December 6, 2007. It is her 12th album from the beginning of her career, and her 10th album with Phoebus. It is also her first studio album of new material since her 2004 release of Stin Avli Tou Paradisou. The album is dedicated to the 10-year collaboration with Phoebus and features a track of the same name. The album is a triple CD, with the first CD containing pop/rock songs, the second CD containing Modern Laika songs and third CD containing new remixes of older songs. The album is completely written and produced by Phoebus and released by Heaven Music. The main sponsor is WIND Hellas.

<i>Profities</i> 1999 studio album by Despina Vandi

Profiteies is the fourth studio album by Greek singer Despina Vandi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thelo</span> 2007 single by Despina Vandi

"Thelo" is a song by Greek singer Despina Vandi. On October 10, 2007 (10/10), Despina released the song simultaneously on all radio stations and TV stations across Greece at 10 AM. It marked her 10th anniversary of collaborating with the composer Phoebus. The song topped Nielsen's Radio Airplay chart for 8 consecutive weeks in Greece. It is the first single released from the album 10 Hronia Mazi.

<i>Stin Avli Tou Paradeisou</i> 2004 studio album by Despina Vandi

Stin Avli Tou Paradeisou is the sixth studio album by Greek singer Despina Vandi. It was released in Greece on 24 November 2004 by Heaven Music and certified platinum, selling over 40,000 units. It was re-released with four new songs and a bonus DVD, and renamed Special Edition: Stin Avli Tou Paradeisou on 7 December 2005. With the combination of both releases, the album certified double-platinum in Greece.

<i>Ante Gia</i> 2002 EP by Despina Vandi

"Ante Gia" is an EP maxi single by Greek singer Despina Vandi released on December 19, 2002 by Heaven Music. The entire EP was written and produced by Phoebus in promotion of the reissue of Vandi's 5× Platinum album Gia, which was reissued as Gia + Ante Gia and as a box set as Gia + Ante Gia: Collector's Edition. The EP contains all new material, with the title track being a response to the single "Gia" (Hello), inspired by that song but in a negative lyrical context. The remix of the songs "Spania" and "Giatriko" is licensed by Vandi's former label Minos EMI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ipofero</span> 2000 single by Despina Vandi

"Ipofero" is the second EP by Greek artist Despina Vandi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The World Is Mine (David Guetta song)</span> Song by David Guetta

"The World Is Mine" is a song by French DJ David Guetta, featuring vocals from singer JD Davis. The track was released as the third single from Guetta's second studio album, Guetta Blaster on 22 November 2004. Three years later, in 2007, the track was released as a single in the United States as the follow-up to "Love Don't Let Me Go ", along with the Guetta Blaster album. The background samples Someone Somewhere in Summertime by Simple Minds in 1982. Thanks in part to support from Dance radio outlets like BPM, "The World is Mine" would end up giving Guetta his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart in June 2007. The track was also the first single and only single from Guetta Blaster to be released in the United Kingdom.

<i>Come Along Now</i> (album) 2005 compilation album by Despina Vandi

Come Along Now is the first international compilation album and fifth compilation album overall by Greek singer Despina Vandi in 2005. It was later repackaged and released in Greece in 2006 by Heaven Music. The album achieved mild success following her debut international release Gia. The album featured her first three international singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come Along Now</span> 2004 single by Phoebus feat. Despina Vandi

"Come Along Now" is a song by Greek singer Despina Vandi released by Heaven Music in 2004. In the spring of 2004, Phoebus teamed up with Coca-Cola to compose the tune that would accompany all of Coca-Cola’s activities in its Olympic sponsorship agreement. Phoebus composed the song "Come Along Now" with Despina Vandi singing it, and the tune was heard all around the world in Coca-Cola's ads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koritsi Prama</span> 2010 single by Despina Vandi

"Koritsi Prama" is the two part first single from Greek singer Despina Vandi's eighth studio album C'est La vie (2010). Written by Phoebus, Part 1 was released as a radio single on March 22, 2010, and marks Vandi's first release on The Spicy Effect. On April 27, 2010, the song was released as a digital single.

<i>Cest la Vie</i> (Despina Vandi album) 2010 studio album by Despina Vandi

C'est La Vie is the eighth studio album released by Greek singer Despina Vandi. Initially, the album was distributed exclusively via a bundling with the newspaper "Real News" on 13 June 2010, marks the first LP released on label "The Spicy Effect", as well as her first studio album of new material since 2007's 10 Hronia Mazi. The album contains eleven songs, composed and produced entirely by Phoebus, with Zoi Grypari having written the lyrics on two songs, Vaggelis Konstandinidis on one song, and one song which is a co-production with a member of German band Schiller, Christopher von Deylen. The album was released via magazine stores of sale on 24 June 2010 in a one disc edition featuring five additional remixes and a fan magazine dedicated to Despina Vandi. Also, was released via traditional points of sale on 29 June 2010 in a double disc edition featuring seven additional remixes, including the five remixes from the second edition

Giati Fovase is a Greek-language song performed by Greek recording artist Despina Vandi from her live album Despina Vandi Live. It was released as a promotional cd-single from the album in 2004. The song was recorded from her sold-out live concert in Lycabettus theatre in Athens in 2003.

<i>Allaxa</i> 2012 studio album by Despina Vandi

Allaxa is the ninth studio album by Greek singer Despina Vandi. It was released on 27 April 2012 by The Spicy Effect and received double-platinum certification, selling over 24,000 units. It was produced and written by Phoebus and constitute the last cooperation of them. On 26 April 2012, Despina revealed on her Twitter account that after the release of the singles Mou 'Heis Perasei and Girismata, she will release a full-length album.

References

  1. Despina Vandi – Gia
  2. Δέσποινα Βανδή: "Μ' αρέσει να τραγουδάω τα πάντα" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. MAD TV, April 15, 2008. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
  3. Hot Dance Airplay - Gia Billboard , March 20, 2004. Retrieved on June 24, 2020.
  4. "31/01/2004 | H…"Despina Vandi" στο Ν.1 του Billboard!". Archived from the original on 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  5. "(UK) : Various - Ministry Of Sound: The Annual 2005 : CD - Free Delivery". Play.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  6. "CHART SHOW: Το Γειά στα καλύτερα τραγούδια 2000-2009" . Retrieved 2010-06-02 via YouTube.[ dead YouTube link ]
  7. "Despina Vandi – Gia". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. "Despina Vandi – Gia" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Despina Vandi: Gia" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  10. "Despina Vandi – Gia" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  12. "Despina Vandi – Gia" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. "Despina Vandi – Gia" Canciones Top 50.
  14. "Despina Vandi – Gia". Singles Top 100.
  15. "Despina Vandi – Gia". Swiss Singles Chart.
  16. "Despina Vandi Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2020.