Mando (singer)

Mando Μαντώ
Birth name	Adamantia Stamatopoulou
Born	April 13, 1966 (1966-04-13) (age 45) Piraeus, Greece
Origin	Athens, Greece
Genres	Pop, dance, pop rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1983–present
Labels	PolyMusic Sony Music Greece Minos Alpha Records
Website	mando.gr

Mando (Greek: Μαντώ), born Adamantia Stamatopoulou (Greek: Αδαμαντία Σταματοπούλου), is a popular Greek singer. She was born in Piraeus on April 13 and raised in Athens by her jazz pianist father, Nikos Stamatopoulos and a classic soprano opera mother Mary Apergi. From a young age she began to develop her talent and interest in music, and was characterized as a "born musician". On 14 March 2010, Alpha TV ranked Mando the 23rd top-certified female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960), totalling five gold records.^[1]

Early life

At the age of four Mando could easily sing operatic arias, gospel and jazz music. Her parents, astonished by her musical capability, signed her with the National Conservatory for piano and music theory lessons. Meanwhile, she took up vocal training and dance lessons. At the age of ten, Mando began to teach herself how to play the guitar and various percussion instruments. Her dedication and passion quickly led her to compose her own melodies.

At the age of 14 along with her school work, her music, and her English and French lessons, she performed in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar", under the direction of Mimis Plessas and Dimitris Malavetas.

She has sung for various orchestras and as a member of various jazz groups and trios, working with music in all its textures: jazz, Greek, European, American, Arabic. She has sung and composed all types of music.

Personal life

Mando has two children, a boy and a girl and her sister, Chriso Stamatopoulou, was a contestant on the "Super Idol" reality television show.

Professional career

1983–2002

After the completion of her music studies and at the age of 18 she signed her first record contract with CBS, which gave her the international hit "Fill me up" and offered her the chance of an international career at a very young age. Mando remained in America for five years where she took up vocal training with Hal Sheaffer (vocal trainer of Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli) and interacted with many musicians, producers and with people who helped her talent grow. Her diverse knowledge and international edge defined her as the Greek artist with the international voice. Vangelis Yannopoulos, an A&R manager with record company Minos Emi heard of all these assets and signed Mando for her first album with the company that she stayed with for six successful albums:"Dos mou ena fili... Afto to kalokeri" (Give me a kiss... This summer), "Ptisi gia dio" (Flight for two), "Kinisi triti" (Third move), "Esthisis" (Senses), "I diki mas I agapi" (Our love), and "Anisiho vlema" (Uneasy look).

She has released four albums under the Sony label: "Ston evdomo ourano" (On the seventh sky), "Gia oles tis fores" (For all the times), "Prodosia" (Betrayal), "Se alli Diastasi" (In another dimension). She also released three CD singles under this label Mando's hits include "Danika" (Borrowed), "Faros" (Lighthouse), "Ston evdomo ourano" (On the seventh sky), "Esi" (You), "Fotia sta prepi" (Burn the have to's).

Her international tours have included cities such as Los Angeles, London, Paris, Toronto, Montreal, New York, and Chicago.

She has toured and collaborated with many established artists such as: Marinella, D. Mitropanos, Tolis Voskopoulos, Paschalis Terzis, C. Nikolopoulos, Dimitra Galani.

Mando has collaborated with the best songwriters in the Greek music business, such as Phoivos, A. Papadimitriou, K. Haritodiplomenos, N. Germanou, G. Theofanous, E. Giannatsoulia. Several of Mando's compositions have been sung by artists such as P. Terzis and K. Kouka.

Mando composes mainly on her guitar. She penned the track "Where You Are" for Jessica Simpson; it has been chosen as the theme song to 20th century Fox's film production titled "Here On Earth". It has sold more than one million copies.

An international collaboration is that with Jean Michel Jarre on one of his own tracks and sung by Mando in Greek with the title "Zoi" (Life); it will be included on her new album.

Another international collaboration is Mando's duet with Turkish top artist Sertab Erener, titled "Aşk/Fos" (Love/Light).

At the end of 2003, Mando recorded a new double album with Alpha records called Oi agapes fevgoun, ta tragoudia menoun (The loves are gone by, the songs remain).

2003: Eurovision

Mando's first attempt to enter the Eurovision Song Contest was in 1989; she was second, only one point behind Marianna. She took action against the Greek television station ERT because one of the jury members didn't vote. She won the ruling, but because it was too late to reverse the decision, Marianna went to Eurovision.

Mando was chosen to represent Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "Never Let You Go". She was placed 17th.^[2]

2008–present: Mando II and Afraid of the Dark

Mando planned a comeback for 2008 with two new albums: one Greek and one English. The first single from the Greek album titled "Dos Mou Logo Na Sotho" (" Δως Μου Λόγο Να Σωθώ ") is a rock song and was released as a music video on May 10, 2008, premiering on "Megastar". The album, titled Mando II was released on May 30, 2008 with twelve new tracks.

The English album, provisionally titled Afraid of the Dark, has evident American beats and is a very promising international album for Mando. Four songs from the album were released by means of her official Myspace and the album was expected to be released sometime in 2009 but it was cancelled.

Trivia and news

In 1992, Mando was the first Greek artist to form her own fan club. It now has more than 20,000 members. She was also the first artist to create her own website. Nowadays she appears at the night club 'Athens On The Rocks' alongside Pascalis and Greek singer and songwriter Sofia Arvaniti. In the period 1985-2007, she has sung with Anna Vissi, Nikos Karvelas and Vasilis Papakonstantinou, and has co-operated with songwriters such as Michalis Rakintzis and Costas Haritodiplomenos.

Discography

Main article: Mando's Discography

Studio Albums 1989: Dos Mou Ena Fili... Afto to Kalokairi (Give Me A Kiss... This Summer) 1990: Ptisi Gia Dio (Flight For Two) 1991: Kinisi Triti (The Third Move) 1992: Esthisis (Sensations) 1993: I Diki Mas I Agapi (Our Love) 1994: Anisiho Vlemma (Worried Stare) 1995: I Mando Ston Evdomo Ourano (Mando In The Seventh Heaven) 1997: Gia Oles Tis Fores (For All The Times) 1998: Prodosia (Betrayal) 2000: Se Alli Diastasi (In Another Dimension) 2003: Oi Megaliteres Epityhies (The Greatest Hits) 2003: Oi Agapes Fevgoun, Ta Tragoudia Menoun (Loves Go, Songs Stay) 2008: Mando II 2011: Perfection (TBA)

EPs 1986: "Fill Me Up" (With Your Love) 1986: "Set Yourself In Motion" 2001: "Mando & Coltrane Big Band" 2002: "Ligo Ligo" CD Singles 2003: "Never Let You Go"

References

1. ^ Chart Show: Your Countdown. Alpha TV. Airdate: 14 March 2010
2. ^ Simon Barclay. Eurovision Song Contest - The Complete & Independent Guide 2010. p. 116. ISBN 9781445784151. http://books.google.com/books?id=BfuBF7fOnyoC&pg=PA116&dq=%22Birgitta+Haukdal%22&hl=en&ei=dhtPTcODPIvSsAPKwqXeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Birgitta%20Haukdal%22&f=false. Retrieved 6 February 2011. 

External links

• Official website
• Official Internet fan club
• Myspace
• Mando II - Imeem Music Playlist

Preceded by Michalis Rakintzis with S.A.G.A.P.O.

Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003

Succeeded by Sakis Rouvas with Shake It

Persondata
Name	Mando
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Short description
Date of birth	April 13, 1966
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death