Conference article

Anna Vissi: The Greek ‘Madonna’?

Ioannis Polychronakis
Faculty of Music, University of Oxford, UK

Download article

Published in: Inter: A European Cultural Studies : Conference in Sweden 11-13 June 2007

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 25:54, p. 509-519

Show more +

Published: 2007-11-27

ISBN:

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

In recent years Anna Vissi; the Greek pop-music star whose career has spanned over three decades; has been loudly promoted as the ‘Greek Madonna’; in an attempt to export her image and music to the international market as well as to redefine and increase her audience and appeal in Greece. While the purpose of this characterisation; which Vissi herself has embraced; is of course mainly commercial; it resonates with several crucial aspects of present-day Greek popular music. By observing the most significant characteristics of Vissi’s career; performing styles; personas and reception; this article examines some of the possible meanings of Vissi’s new image as ‘the Greek Madonna’. In particular; it focuses on the ways; in which she has arguably reaffirmed and/or reinterpreted traditional Greek popular music styles and the authenticity debate surrounding them. It ultimately argues that ‘the Greek Madonna’ remains typically Greek.

Keywords

No keywords available

References

Cowan; Jane K.; ‘Politics; Identity and Popular Music in Contemporary Greece’; Kampos: Cambridge Papers in Modern Greek; Vol.1; No.1 (Cambridge: Modern Greek Section; Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages; 1993); pp. 1-21.

Dawe; Kevin; ‘Between East and West: Contemporary Grooves in Greek Popular Music (1990-2000)’ in Goffredo Plastino; ed.; Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global sound (New York and London: Routledge; 2003); pp. 221-240.

Dragoumános; Pétros; Katálogos Hellenikes Discographías 1950-2000 [Catalogue of the Greek Discography 1950-2000]; 5th ed. (Athena: Dragoumános; 2000).

Dyer; Richard; ‘A Star Is Born and the Construction of Authenticity’; in Christine Gledhill; ed.; Stardom: Industry of Desire (New York: Routledge; 1991); pp. 132-140.

Panagakos; Anastasia; ‘Downloading New Identities: Ethnicity; Identity and Media in the Global Greek Village’; Identities; Vol.10; Nr.2; 2003; pp. 201-219.

Papageorgiou; Fouli T.; ‘Popular Music and the Music Industry in Greece’; in Alison Ewbank and Fouli T. Papageorgiou; eds; Whose ster’s Voice? The Development of Popular Music in Thirteen Countries (Westport-Connecticut and London: Greenwood Press; 1997); pp. 67-87.

Pennanen; Risto P.; Westernisation and Modernisation in Greek Popular Music (Tampere: University of Tampere; 1999).

Semítes; Kostas; Politike gia mia Demiourgike Helláda [Politics for a Creative Greece] (Athena: Ekdóseis Pólis; 2005).

Taylor; Timothy D.; Global Pop: World Music; World Markets (New York and London: Routledge; 1997).

Discography

Eurovision Song Contest Athens 2006; the Official Double DVD; CMC-EBU; C 00208-9. 2006.

Vissi; Anna; Fotiá [Fire]; L.P.; CBS Records; CBS 466286. 1989.

—— Klíma Tropikó [Tropical Climate]; C.D.; Columbia Records; COL 483908. 1995.

—— Anna Vissi Live; Double DVD; Sony Music Greece; COL 202760 7. 2004.

—— Call Me; CD single; Vanilla/Moda Records and Sony BMG. 2005.

Internet Resources

Anna Vissi’s biographical information: Dillon ; Charlotte; ”All Music Guide; Artists”; The Online Billboard Magazine http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=266351 (16 Aug. 2007).

Anna Vissi’s official international fan-webpage: http://www.anna-vissi.info/english/biography/01.html (16 Aug. 2007).

Anna Vissi’s official webpage: http://www.annavissi.net (16 Aug. 2007).

Anna Vissi’s videos:

A medley of some of her recent music videos on youtube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duymqg5-WFs (16 Aug. 2007).

Interview for GBTV in 2005: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGkRWHDes7E (16 Aug. 2007).

The official video clip of the song ”Call Me”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=algXWhcv3Ls (16 Aug. 2007).

The Greek rock remix of ”Call Me” in Greek [”Eísai”] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7HcDQIkFiM (16 Aug. 2007).

Anna Vissi on MAD TV in 2001 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTELLzIbbCs&NR in Greek (16 Aug. 2007).

Anna Vissi”s Eurovision performance on 20 May 2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRJJPpAqzGM (16 Aug. 2007).

Comments on Anna Vissi

Greek lyricist Éve Droútsa on Antenna TV in February 2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7tbIUJghVs&mode=related&search

(16 Aug. 2007). posted on esctoday.com by the member called Good Vibes [29723] on 15 Mar. 2006 at 00:56:27; http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/5784?id=5784&offset=702#reactions (16 Aug. 2007).

Christina Aguilera; live at the MTV Music Video Awards in 2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxJhOZLj1yI (16 Aug. 2007).

Guns ’n’ Roses; live at the Ritz; New York; on 02 Feb. 1988: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5wRW7I4Dqc (16 Aug. 2007).

Freddie Mercury; live at Wembley in 1986: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BApaVMqAVtc (16 Aug. 2007).

MAD TV website:

http://www.mad.tv/ (16 Aug. 2007); also see: http://www.mad.tv/mad4mad/?go=about&abid=16135 (16 Aug. 2007).

Stergíou; Leonídas; ”He Historía tes Hellenikes Teleórases” [”The History of Greek Television”] in the Greek newspaper Kathimerini; published on 04 Apr. 2006 in Greek http://portal.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_kathfiles_100030_04/04/2006_149723 (16 Aug. 2007).

Citations in Crossref