Paparizou, determined to succeed with and fulfill her dreams of being an entertainer, joined childhood friend and fellow Swede-Greek Nikos Panagiotidis, at the age of seventeen, to form Antique. The duo quickly signed their first record label contract, with the Swedish record label Bonnier.
Despite the group's success, Antique broke up in 2003 on good terms, as the band had "run its natural course," and Paparizou set about going solo. She signed a solo recording contract with Sony Music and, in December 2003, released her first solo single, "Anapantites Klisis" (later released in English as "I Don't Want You Here Anymore"), a song written especially for her by singer and songwriter Christos Dantis. The single sales were strong, and it received a Gold certification in Greece.
Eurovision
Because of her popularity in Greece, where she ended up spending more and more time, Paparizou was approached to represent the country for a second time in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. She performed "My Number One", "Let's Get Wild", and "OK" on the Greek national final, with "My Number One"' winning the televote. There was also a song called "The Light in Our Soul", but it was later disqualified due to it being released prior to the contest, thus breaking the rules. The song went onto win the final contest (with backing vocals provided by Cypriot former Eurovision-participant Alex Panayi), and brought the contest to Greece for 2006 for the first time in the contest's history.
Paparizou re-released her first album Protereotita in Greece, with a second CD containing her Eurovision entrants, and English versions to previous songs, such as "I Don't Want You Here Anymore", "Antithesis", "okay" and "If You Believe Me"' as well as a ballad version of ("Ehis Kero na Mou Feris") "Louloudia". The 10 track CD was also available separately for those who already owned her debut album. A 16-track compilation of the Eurovision entrants and songs from her debut album was also released in Scandinavia, Switzerland and Turkey under the title, My Number One.
Paparizou's second album in Greek, Yparhi Logos, was released in Greece on April 12, 2006. The album consists of two discs, the first featuring 14 brand new tracks, including "Mambo!" and the second featuring nine live tracks from her Mad Secret Concert (including covers of "Don't Speak" by No Doubt, "Outside" by George Michael, "Smooth Operator" by Sade, "Like a Prayer" by Madonna and "Just Walk Away" by Céline Dion) as well as five new non-album tracks, and a remix of the title track, which is the second single. The album reached the platinum status.
On May 20, 2006, Elena graced the stage of Eurovision once more, to sing her song "My Number One" as the opening act. She later on sang "Mambo!", and then presented the award to the winners Lordi.
Across Europe, "Mambo!" started to be heard and seen; the video has premiered in France and is now showing in Poland and Romania. The song has peaked at number 1 on the RmF radio show for a successful two weeks and also peaked at number 1 on Polish Radio Kolor for many weeks. In Belgium, "Mambo!" has peaked at number 18. In Sweden, "Mambo!" has peaked at 5.
On 22 August, "My Number One" was released in the United States by Moda Records. The CD single contains 10 mixes and the radio edit. "Mambo!" will be released there later on in the year along with remixes.
Shortly the video for "Mambo!" will start airing in the United Kingdom. The promo of Mambo! has already been released and it will be released on 13th November by UK record company AATW (All Around The World).You can also find a remix of Mambo! on the new "dancemania" cd which was released in the United Kingdom.
Helena's song "Heroes" was released in Sweden and Finland on August 7 and was the official song of the 2006 European Athletics Championship in Gothenburg, where she also performed it at the event. On 22 August, My Number One was released in the United States by Moda Records. The CD single contains 10 mixes and the radio edit, peaking at number 8 on the Bilboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. "Mambo!" was also planned to be released there, however, as this single and the others of Elena's album did not earn much success outside of Sweden, the release of "Mambo!" in the US by Moda became an aborted project. Thus, the single was made available only through the US iTunes store.
Helena's debut English-language album The Game of Love, was released in some parts of Europe and in South Africa in late 2006. In Greece and Cyprus, the album quickly went to number one and received platinum certifications in both countries. The album was helped by the promotion of the singles which were previously released from Iparhi Logos, while the new single from the album "Teardrops" peaked at number one in Greece. However, the album failed to impress in other markets, failing to chart in many countries. Originally, the album was to be released all over Europe and possibly in the US as an attempt at an international career for Paparizou, however, the release date of the album was pushed back numerous times, and by April 2007 the album had been released in only 14 countries. The album contains six songs from her Greek-language album Iparhi Logos translated into English, with a further 6 new songs and a cover of Manos Hadjidakis. While "Teardrops" was the third single from the album in Greece, "The Game of Love" was scheduled to be the next international single, set for release in spring of 2007, however, the release of the single in Sweden was cancelled as the album's second single "Gigolo" peaked at number 11, becoming her second lowest charting single there, while the album itself peaked at number 18 in Sweden, becoming her lowest charting album there since Antique's debut album, Mera Me Ti Mera.
On 21 January 2007, Paparizou was awarded with a "European Border Breaker Award" at the MIDEM Festival in Cannes, France. She was one of the ten new artists who received the awards which were created by the European Union in 2003 and are given every year to ten artists who manage to have success with their first album abroad. Elena won the award for her success with her first solo album Protereotita: Euro-Edition.
In May 2007, Paparizou re-released her album Iparhi Logos as Iparhi Logos: Platinum Edition with the seven track CD Single "Fos" including the hit "Mazi Sou". Helena released "Fos" as a separate CD Single four days before the re-packaging.[16] "Fos", went straight to number one in Greece following its release, making it Paparizou's fourth number one hit there.. The CD single was certified gold in its 12th week charting at number 2.
She released the song "3 is a magic number" in Sweden as part of a Swedish television advertisement for a mobile phone company. The song was originally a hit from Blind Melon back in 1996. The song immediately entered the charts in Sweden and stayed there for five weeks peaking at number 18.
In fall 2007, Helena Paparizou released a new song titled "To Fili Tis Zois" in Greece as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The song stayed at the number one position on iTunes Greece for many weeks. It also reached number one on the official "Nielsen Greece Top 20 Chart" for Radio Airplay for five weeks. The song was a big hit on Greek radios, and became one of the most listened songs of 2007. Paparizou also recorded a duet with popular TV presenter Nikos Aliagas called "I Zilia Monaksia" for his album "Nikos Aliagas & Friends: Rendez-Vous", which was certified gold. The song is a cover of the Pascal Obispo's hit " L' envie D' Aimer".
In early 2007, Helena had signed a contract to be the new face of Nokia Greece. For the promotion, Paparizou released the song "Ola Einai Mousiki" as part of their new advertising campaign for 2008. In January 2008, along with Sony BMG Greece, she teamed up with retailer Plaisio and released a special edition MP4 player called "MP4 Total Helena" (2GB) by Turbo-X. The MP4 player comes with a special "Greatest Hits compilation with 12 songs and five music videos only available with the purchase of the MP4 player.
In early 2008, Helena Paparizou started work on her Greek album Vrisko To Logo Na Zo, which was released on June 12, 2008.The first single off of the album, "Porta Gia Ton Ourano", was released on April 8, 2008, while the second single, "I Kardia Sou Petra", was released on June 2, 2008 to radio stations all over the Greece. The album received gold certification only one week after its release and Paparizou was awarded the gold disc on June 25, 2008. On July 7, 2008 the album reached number one on the Greek Albums Chart.
In July 2008, Helena launched a summer tour, her first large-scale tour, by visiting 29 cities all over Greece to promote the album. In an interview with Santorini FM, Paparizou announced that the tour would be shown on Alpha TV in December 2008.In July, Helena once again collaborated with retailer Plaisio through a promotion that included a special edition MP4 player called "TH4" MP4 by Turbo-X. The MP4 player came preloaded with Paparizou's new album, two bonus music videos and an exclusive backstage video.In August 2008, was also featured on the soundtrack to the Swedish movie Arn- Riket vid vägens slut where she contributed the Swedish language songs "Allt jag vill" and "Genom krig och kärlek", her first Swedish language recordings.
After almost two months, it was announced on September 1, 2008 that the album Vrisko To Logo Na Zo was certified platinum, and Helena received the award at a certification party held on September 16, 2008. On October 23, 2008, Paparizou appeared in Lithuania where she held a concert at the Siemens Arena in Vilnius, attended by approximately 10,000 people. She performed a majority of the set list from her summer tour and also some of her English songs from earlier in her career.
On October 30, 2008, Helena started appearances four nights a week with Pashalis Terzis at club Iera Odos which extended until January 2009.On December 22, 2008, "Pirotehnimata", the third single from Vrisko To Logo Na Zo, was released along with a remix to radio stations, peaking at number 8. Originally scheduled to be released in mid-September, the single's release was pushed back due to continued strong airplay of "I Kardia Sou Petra", which reached number one on the charts. The video clip for "Pirotehnimata" was filmed at Iera Odos in front of the music hall's large LCD screen. A repackaged box set edition of Vrisko To Logo Na Zo was also released as Vrisko To Logo Na Zo: Deluxe Edition on December 22, 2008, and featured the original CD along with a bonus DVD of the summer tour.[39] The summer tour was also released individually on DVD. "Eisai I Foni" was released along with a music video on February 25, 2009 as the fourth single from Vrisko To Logo Na Zo. The video was produced using Paparizou's performance of the song at Theatro Vrahon "Melina Merkouri" during her 2008 summer tour.
In an interview with Kosmoradio 95.1 during her summer tour, Helena stated that she would soon start work on a new English language album with a release slated for 2010.
Following the end of her performances at Iera Odos in late April, Helena Paparizou moved to club Thalassa on May 14 where she is performing for the summer. On April 10, 2009, Helena Paparizou released the single "Tha 'mai Allios", a new song, not included on her most recent album. It was composed by DonK with lyrics by Eleana Vrahali.
Helena made two commercials,including one for Organics Shampoo and another one for IVI Softdrinks.Helena that summer gave a concert in Paphos (Cyprus) and 7,500 people attented a brilliant performance from her.Helena was going to give a second concert in Heraklion(Crete) at 9th of September but it was cancelled due to the weather conditions.Helena stated at her interview in Ihos Fm,that a new greek album is going to be released at the begging of 2010.Also,according to Helena's official Facebook page,Crete will be the first place of the second summer tour at 2010! Helena came back from her summer holidays and continued her live performances at Thalassa People's Stage with 1550 and also with Loukas Giorkas until the 19th of September.
At 1st of September, MTV Greece announced Helena as one of the five Greek nominees for the Best Greek Act at MTV Europe Music Awards. Helena won for the Best Greek Act and then she was nominated among 23 nominees all over the Europe for the ultimate title of ''Best European Act''. Finally, Helena ended up in 7th place among the 23 nominees.
Now, Helena is on studio for recording her new songs for her upcoming fourth album which will be released the first months of 2010.
She began her career there in 1999 as a member of the duo Antique, while she also worked briefly as a model for a Swedish-Greek brand. After rising to recognition in Greece following its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001, the group based the remainder of its career there until Paparizou embarked on a solo career in 2003 and released her debut album Protereotita (2004), with emphasis on more pop sounds in addition to laïko. In 2005 she won the Eurovision Song Contest for Greece for the first time in the contest's history, with the song "My Number One", significantly contributing to her career. Following the victory, her album peaked at number one on the Greek Albums Chart and was certified double platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry of Greece, while she also briefly attempted a career beyond Greece with English-language material, charting in a few countries abroad. Her three subsequent albums Iparhi Logos (2006), The Game of Love (2006) and Vrisko To Logo Na Zo (2008) all peaked at number one in Greece and reached platinum sales. Her fifth studio album, Giro Apo T' Oneiro (2010), was also certified platinum.
Paparizou has also won three Arion Music Awards, a European Border Breakers Award, 15 MAD Video Music Awards—more than any other artist— and an MTV Europe Music Award. On 14 March 2010, prior to the release of her fifth album, Alpha TV ranked her as the 14th top certified female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960), totaling seven platinum and four gold records. Paparizou was the most successful debuting female artist of the 2000s and established herself as one of the top pop artists of the latter half of the decade. As of 2010, she has been certified for the sales of 167 thousand albums, 47.5 thousand singles, and 30 thousand digital downloads by IFPI Greece, in addition to 100 thousand total record sales in Greece as part of Antique,[2] as well as 24 thousand certified albums in Cyprus, and 20 thousand singles in Sweden during her solo career. In 2010, Forbes listed Paparizou as the 21st most powerful and influential celebrity in Greece and fourth highest ranked singer.
Mambo
Helena Paparizou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drives me to a door
Every little piece inside is knocking at your door
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Can't you see the signs?
Written by a maniac, his love has made me blind
Can't deny the poison gets me high
Just a little taste
Hey, hey, hey
I feel the mambo, aiya
A mambo, aiya
You make my heart move
Hey, hey, hey
Just like a mambo, aiya
I let it out
A mambo, a-heya
You were my obsession
Stuck into my heart
Never let you hit or run
Never set apart
Do it, do it, do it
Come and stay tonight
Wake up a little fantasy
Take a little bite
Can't you see? your love addicted me
Just a little taste, shook my life, it hit me like a drum
Play the game, and get me hypnotized
Wanna feel the vibe
So hey now Mr. whiz
Get the magic done
Let me sway up high
Baby, here I am
"Mambo" is a lively and upbeat song by Helena Paparizou, and the lyrics delve into the theme of love and its captivating effects. The song opens with Paparizou singing about how love has enveloped her, and now she is at the doorstep of her lover with her entire being yearning for him. She then implores him to see the signs and take her in, even though his love has blinded her. The feeling of love poisons her mind and intoxicates her, but she cannot deny the high that it brings. Love has shaken her life and hit her like a drum, and she feels like dancing to the mambo rhythm of love. In the chorus, Paparizou expresses how this love makes her heart move and lets out the mambo energy within her. She compares the feeling of love to the upbeat and contagious energy of the mambo dance.
Paparizou goes on to discuss how her love interest has become her obsession, stuck deep in her heart. She implores him to stay with her tonight and wake up their fantasies. She then acknowledges that his love has addicted her, and she cannot resist just a little taste of it, which shook her life and hit her like a drum. She encourages her lover to play the game and hypnotize her, wanting to experience the vibe of love. She then calls out to the mystical Mr. Whiz, who could perform magic, to let her sway high and feel the mambo rhythm of love.
Overall, "Mambo" captures the essence of love's euphoric effects, and Paparizou delivers it with an energetic and lively performance.
Line by Line Meaning
Love has got me caught up
Love has captured me and I can't escape its hold
Drives me to a door
Love motivates me to take a chance and pursue a new relationship
Every little piece inside is knocking at your door
My heart longs for your love and every beat is a plea to be with you
Tell me, tell me, tell me
I'm desperate for you to reveal your feelings towards me
Can't you see the signs?
I've been trying to show you my love through subtle hints and gestures
Written by a maniac, his love has made me blind
My intense love for you has made me lose my senses and act in irrational ways
Can't deny the poison gets me high
Even though I know our love is dangerous, I can't resist the thrill and intensity it brings
Just a little taste
All it takes is a small gesture from you to make me fall even deeper in love
Shook my life, it hit me like a drum
Your love has had a profound impact on me, like a powerful rhythm that echoes throughout my life
Hey, hey, hey
An expression of joy and excitement
I feel the mambo, aiya
I'm swept away by the vibrant and energetic feeling of the music
A mambo, aiya
A reference to the style of music and dance called mambo
You make my heart move
Your love has a powerful effect on me, making my heart beat with excitement and happiness
Just like a mambo, aiya
My love for you is as passionate and lively as the music and dance of the mambo
I let it out
I express my love and emotions freely and openly
A mambo, a-heya
A continuation of the reference to mambo music and dance
You were my obsession
My focus and attention are consumed by thoughts of you
Stuck into my heart
Your love has taken root deeply within me and is a fundamental part of who I am
Never let you hit or run
I'll never let you go or give up on our love, no matter what challenges we may face
Never set apart
We belong together and nothing can ever come between us
Do it, do it, do it
I'm eager and enthusiastic about expressing my love and taking a chance on our relationship
Come and stay tonight
I want you to stay with me and experience the passion and excitement of our love
Wake up a little fantasy
Let's enjoy the thrill of living out our wildest dreams and desires together
Take a little bite
Let's take a chance on love and see where it leads us
Can't you see? your love addicted me
I'm hopelessly addicted to your love and can't imagine my life without you
Play the game, and get me hypnotized
Tease and flirt with me, and I'll be completely entranced by your charms
Wanna feel the vibe
I want to experience the passion and energy of our love together
So hey now Mr. whiz
I'm calling out to you, hoping you'll take the lead and show me what love is all about
Get the magic done
Put your charm and charisma to work and sweep me off my feet
Let me sway up high
Let our love lift us up and carry us to new heights of happiness and joy
Baby, here I am
I'm ready and waiting for you to take the next step in our relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDER PAPACONSTANTINOU, MARKUS JENS DANIEL ENGLOF, SAMUEL PER WAERMO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sneakyrabbit3465
I hear:
Can't deny
Your voice it's gets me high
Just a little taste
SHOOK my life
And hit me like a drum
You are my obsession
Stuck into my heart
Never let you here to run
Never SAIL apart
Do it, do it, do it
Come and stay tonight
Wake up in a fantasy
And take a little FLIGHT
@brysingz35
My dance class is doing a routine to this song so glad I found out what its called so now I can practice. 😊
@arar-lz6xw
2023 still on!!! She’s a legend! ❤❤❤❤
@nuruljanahdyson6323
10 years on,still a great song!
@dogdiaries
Its been around for 10 years?
calls all the radio stations: Great news, I found all of your AWESOME music.
@samanthanicholson3661
Its impossible to sit still to this song :p
@zoefang4563
This is soooo addictive. I played this countless times <33
@theob2672
Could have easily been a worldwide success!
@4knabernossi
Love that song!
@zachsignorello2802
Great song really pumps me up
@MrScanko
2021 here! still awesome song!