Kalomoira

Infobox musical artist
Name = Kalomoira
_el. Καλομοίρα


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Marie Carol (Kalomoira) Sarantis
Alias = Kalomoira (Stage Name)
Born = birth date and age|1985|1|31
West Hempstead, New York, United States
Died =
Origin = Greece
Instrument =
Genre = Pop
Occupation =
Years_active =
Label = Heaven Music
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.kalomoira.com
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Kalomoira ("Καλομοίρα" in Greek characters; born Marie Carol Sarantis,cite web |title=DCGreeks.com Member needs your help to make her cousin an 'Island Idol' |url=http://www.dcgreeks.com/dcgreeks_mailbag_20030416_carol_sarantis_for_island_idol.asp DC Greeks. Retrieved on March 23, 2008] cite web |title=Biography for Kalomoira Sarantis |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1738641/bio IMDb. Retrieved on March 23, 2008] January 31, 1985, West Hempstead, New York, United States),cite web |title=Steve and Maria's "Island Idol" |url=http://wbli.com/contests/islandidol_2_carol.html WBLI. Retrieved on March 23, 2008] also known simply as Kalomira or K-Moira, is a Greek American singer who achieved fame in Europe, especially Greece and Cyprus.

Early life

Kalomoira, known as Carol in America, hails from Nassau County, New York. She was born to Greek American restaurant owners Nikos (Nick) and Eleni (Helen) Sarantis on January 31, 1985 and has one sister.

Since childhood, Kalomoira's dream was to become a pop star.cite web |title=Greece 2008 |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/event/artistdetail?song=24488&event=1468 European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved on March 28, 2008] She took part in many extracurricular activities at school including drama productions and musicals. Her favorite instrument was the viola, which she studied for 9 years and played in the school orchestra. She was also Miss West Hempstead (Homecoming Queen) at her high school in 2003.

On a tip from her cousin, she entered and won second place at a music contest organized by WBLI Radio. Following her appearance, she participated as a supporting actress in several live shows with famous American artists, such as Jessica Simpson, LL Cool J and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Kalomoira entered the New York City auditions for Antenna's "Fame Story 2" (licensed from "Star Academy", a reality talent show similar to "American Idol" in the United States and "Fame Academy" in the United Kingdom) and was one of the two singers chosen from a group of 200 performers. Despite speaking primarily English, Kalomoira went to Greece after having completed one semester of college at Adelphi University where she was a music major, and competed on the three month long show.cite web |title=Long Island's Kalomira Sarantis Competing in Antenna's "Fame Story" |url=http://www.greeknewsonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1278 Greek News. Retrieved on March 29, 2008] Kalomoira placed first and her professional singing career began.

Fame Story

After the New York City auditions Kalomoira went to Greece for the start of "Fame Story 2". Kalomoira's first song was Katy Garbi’s “Μια φορά κι ένα καιρό” in which she swapped the lyrics “είμαι η Καίτη που αγαπούσες” (“I am Kaiti who you used to love”) with “είμαι η Καλομοίρα που αγαπούσες” (“I am Kalomoira who you used to love”). Her difficulties with Greek songs were not significant enough to hold her back.

Following the success of her first performance, she performed the popular song "Stand by Me". The following week, the challenge became bigger as she performed the Greek song “H Γκαρσόνα” ("The Waitress"), which seemed totally out of Kalomoira's vocal and style capabilityFact|date=May 2008. She was also told to perform Aliki’s song “Γατούλα” ("Pussycat"), written by Manos Hatzidakis. The songs became more challenging for the singer as her teachers in the academy pushed her to sing Greek songsFact|date=May 2008. Her next songs were “Ανάβεις φωτιές” ("You are lighting fires") and "Dancing Queen".

The judges assigned Kalomoira with Barbara Streisand’s "Woman in Love", a song with special vocal requirementshuh. Kalomoira fared well, but in the week that followed, Kalomoira's rendition of Stavros Ksarhakos’ “Ένα πρωινό” ("One morning") left the judges unimpressed. Next, Kalomoira chose to perform "La Isla Bonita" by Madonna and managed to stay in the game. This was followed by a duet with another participant (Nikos Mihas) in "Gucci των Μασάι" ("Masai's Gucci"), which gave her a chance to remain in the show for another week.

Marinella’s "Γιατί Φοβάσαι" (Why are you afraid) was difficult for herFact|date=May 2008, but Kalomoira made it through to the next week’s "Περιττός" which was better received. She continued in the game with a performance of Britney Spears' "Oops!... I Did It Again". After many weeks of the competition, Kalomoira was one of the final six participants of the game with only two performances left. Her rendition of "Εϊ Καζανόβα" ("Hey Cazanova") equalled her success with Madonna’s "Express Yourself" in the final show. Kalomoira won the contest, earned 200,000 Euros and a recording contract with Heaven Music.

List of Fame Story Songs

* Intro - "Μια φορά κι ένα καιρό" (Once up on a time)
* Week 1 - "Stand by Me" duet with Giorgos Hristou
* Week 2 - "H Γκαρσόνα" (The Waitress)
* Week 3 - "Γατούλα" (Pussycat)
* Week 4 - "Ανάβεις φωτιές" (You are lighting fires) duet with Maro Lytra
* Week 5 - "Dancing Queen"
* Week 6 - "Ένα πρωινό" (One morning)
* Week 7 - "La Isla Bonita"
* Week 8 - "Gucci των Μασάι" (Masai's Gucci) duet with Nikos Mihas
* Week 9 - "Γιατί Φοβάσαι" (Why Are You Afraid)
* Week 10 - "Περιττός" (Unnecessary)
* Week 11 - "Oops!... I Did It Again"
* Week 12 - "Εϊ Καζανόβα" ("Hey Cazanova")
* Finale - "Express Yourself"

Professional career

2004–2006: The First Albums

Kalomoira performed in Thessaloniki’s FOCUS from July 8th to August 14th. While entertaining audiences by night, she was recording her first album by day. Outside of Greece, Kalomoira has appeared on NBC’s "Today Show" and "Access Hollywood," along with a number of other shows and websites. [cite web |title=Meet Kalomira: The Greek 'Idol' |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040820184842/http://www.accesshollywood.com/music/3666947/detail.html "Access Hollywood", August 19 2004. Retrieved on April 24, 2008] On September 1 2004, Kalomoira released her 15 track first album "Kalomoira" which went gold. She then toured Greece accompanied by the rest of the "Fame Story" participants with appearances in Athens’s "Thalassa". In the same year, she closed her season at the REX studio with Despina Vandi and Thanos Petrelis. Kalomoira received good reviews from critics and was awarded "Woman of the Year - Best Newcomer" by Life and Style magazine.

In 2005, Kalomira released her second album titled "Paizeis?" (You Playing?) with 12 songs, of which two were written and composed by her. She also agreed to appear with Elli Kokkinou, Andreas Stamos and Constantinos Christoforou at the Piraeus 130 music club. In her program, she included covers of songs such as "Scandalous," "Don't Cha" and "Don't Phunk with My Heart," in addition to songs from her first and second albums. On April 11 2005 she was a special guest on the first live concert of the first season of Star Academy Bulgaria.

In the fall of 2006, Kalomoira became the female co-hostess on the hit Sunday night show "Pio Poli Tin Kiriaki" alongside with Grigoris Arnaoutoglou on Mega Channel. In December, she released her third CD "I Kalomoira Paei Cinema" (Kalomira Goes to the Cinema). It features songs from classic Greek movies which Kalomoira re-vamped.

2007–present: Eurovision & New Album

At the end of 2007, Heaven Music chose Kalomoira to be their contestant in the 2008 National Final to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. [cite web |title=Kalomira; the dealine, the songs and a party |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=2134 Oikotimes. Retrieved on January 23, 2008] Kalomoira picked an R&B style upbeat song with a Greek feel composed by Konstantinos Pantzis with lyrics by Poseidonas Giannopoulos titled "Secret Combination". [cite web |title=Η Καλομοίρα σε "secret combination" |url=http://www.mad.tv/news/?id=28414&c= MAD TV. Retrieved on January 23, 2008 Gr icon] The song has an "American production" feel to it. [cite web |title=Greece: Kalomoira's composer exclusive |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10238 ESCToday. Retrieved on January 24, 2008] On February 3 2008, Kalomoira and Kostas Martakis' songs for Greece's national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 were leaked on the web. ERT had previously stated that they would not release the songs before a press conference on February 6, 2008. [cite web |title=Two national final songs leaked on the web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=2427 Oikotimes. Retrieved on February 3, 2008] On February 27 2008, Kalomoira won the National Final with "Secret Combination" and represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. To promote the song, Kalomoira had a pre-Eurovision tour and visited several Eurovision countries throughout March and April. [cite web |title=Greece: Kalomira's promo tour kicks off |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10906 "Oikotimes". Retrieved on March 23, 2008] In the first semi-final, held on May 20 2008 Kalomoira fared well coming in first place while at the Eurovision final, on May 24, she came in third behind Russia and Ukraine with 218 points.

Kalomoira announced on her online diary that she recorded her new album during September and October 2007 in Greece. It is named "Secret Combination the Album", was released on May 29 2008 and containd songs in both Greek and English, including "Secret Combination". There is also a bonus rap remix of "Secret Combination" by Master Tempo. The writers are Konstantinos Pantzis, Tasos Vougiatzis and Sunny X. [cite web |title=Η Καλομοίρα στο studio |url=http://www.mad.tv/news/?id=30181&c=el icon "MAD TV", May 1 2008. Retrieved on April 30, 2008]

Kalomoira has been in New York for months after Eurovision because of her sister's baby and has not done any promotion for the new album, which is her lowest charting.cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/news/read/12180|title=Greece: Kalomira puts career on ice|last=Floras|first=Stella|date=2008-07-31|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite web |title=Παρατάει το τραγούδι η Καλομοίρα?? |url=http://www.starbuzz.gr/?c=135&a=3743el icon "Starbuzz", June 28 2008. Retrieved on July 10, 2008] [cite web |title=Kalomira stops singing career? |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3729el icon "Oikotimes". Retrieved on July 10, 2008] cite web|url=http://mad.tv/news/?id=31860&c=|title=Φως στο τούνελ για το Καλομοιράκι|date=2008-07-29|publisher="MAD TV"|language=Greek|accessdate=2008-08-03] In an interview with "Downtown Magazine", Kalomoira's father stated that she was treated "like dirt" by Heaven Music and that she may or may not continue her singing career, but that it is up to her, and she will make her decision some time in August. In response, Makis Pounetzis, CEO of Heaven Music, claimed that he was "surprised" by Kalomoira's remarks and couldn't offer an explanation, though he did say that her contract would be honored should she choose to go back and sing again.

As a pop icon

Many young people surveyed are considerably tempted to join the ranks of Fame Story, having Kalomoira in mindFact|date=May 2008. Also in 2004, she had a minor credited role in the Greek TV drama series "I Lampsi", playing the part of Jennifer, where veteran director Nikos Foskolos compared her to Aliki Vougiouklaki. As of early 2006 she co-hosted the Good Morning show "Proinos Kafes" in ANT1 TV.

Kalomoira has been profiled as belonging to the very light-hearted side of pop music. Although she is famed for her high charisma, natural charm and overall innocent image, she usually sings about cliché boy-girl relationships and falling-in-love songs. Her audience is mostly amongst the young teenagers and early twenty-somethings. Her image makers have been trying to establish an 'innocent' ingenue look for her, which has resulted in caricaturingFact|date=May 2008.

Discography

All the albums listed underneath were released and charted in Greece and Cyprus.

Studio albums

Video albums

Music Videos

* "Nomizeis"
* "Petheno Gia Sena"
* "Proti mou Fora"
* "Paizeis"
* "Ki Olo Perimeno"
* "Medley ("Crazy Girl", "Mambo", "Riko Riko Rikoko" (T'Agori Mou), "Thelo Ta Opa Mou")
* "Secret Combination"

Guest Appearances

* "Do What You Wanna Do" - ("59's Finest - The Five Nine Ep") (2004)
* "Teleftea Efkairia" - (Single by "Filoi Gia Panta") (2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.kalomoira.com/ Kalomoira.com] - official website in English and Greek.
*
* [http://www.kalomoira-sarantis.es/ Kalomoira-Sarantis.es] - official website in Spanish.