Vicky Leandros facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vicky Leandros
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![]() Vicky Leandros in Franken, 2018
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Background information | |
Native name |
Βίκυ Λέανδρος
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Birth name | Vasiliki Papathanasiou |
Also known as | Vicky Leandros |
Born | Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, Greece |
23 August 1949
Genres | Pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer, politician |
Years active | 1965–present |
Vicky Leandros is a famous Greek singer who lives in Germany. Her real name is Vasiliki Papathanasiou, and she was born on August 23, 1949. She is the daughter of another well-known singer and composer, Leo Leandros. Vicky became famous around the world in 1967 when she represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "L'amour est bleu". This song became a huge hit everywhere. She became even more successful when she won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972, again for Luxembourg, with her song "Après Toi".
Vicky Leandros also spent some time in politics. In 2006, she was chosen as a town councillor in Piraeus, a harbour town in Greece. Her job was to help with the cultural and international growth of the city. She also served as the Deputy Mayor of Piraeus. However, in 2008, she decided to leave politics. She explained that the work was much more demanding than she expected, and it was too difficult to manage both her political duties and her singing career at the same time.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Vicky Leandros was born Vasiliki Papathanasiou in Palaiokastritsa, a beautiful place in Corfu, Greece. Her father moved to West Germany to further his music career. Vicky lived with her grandmother until she was eight years old. In 1958, she joined her parents in West Germany. After her parents divorced, she stayed with her father. Vicky showed her musical talent from a very young age. She quickly became known for her singing.
Becoming a Global Star
In 1967, Vicky Leandros represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest with "L'amour est bleu." Even though she came in fourth place, the song became a massive hit worldwide. Many other artists covered it. Soon, Vicky was singing in eight different languages, and her albums and singles were sold all over the world.
The 1970s: Eurovision Win and More Hits

In 1970, Vicky had her first TV show called Ich Bin. It was shown in 13 European countries and won many awards for being original and having interesting visuals. In 1971, it won the famous Bronze Rose of Montreux award. This was also when Vicky started using "Leandros" as her stage name, just like her father. Before that, she was simply known as Vicky. Famous guests like Julien Clerc and Deep Purple appeared on her show.
In 1972, Vicky represented Luxembourg at Eurovision for the second time. She won the contest with the song "Après Toi." This song was translated into English as "Come What May" and became a big hit in the United Kingdom. Globally, "Après Toi" sold over six million copies and earned a gold record. Vicky recorded the song in seven different languages. Later that year, her version of "O Kaymos (Sorrow)" also became a worldwide hit. In 1973, "When Bouzoukis Played" was another very popular song, selling well globally. In 1974, she had a number one hit in Germany with "Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz."
Vicky also became very popular in Japan during the late 1960s and early 1970s. She recorded many songs in Japanese, and her second Japanese single, "Watashi no Sukina Chocolate," was a notable hit. She also recorded many cover versions of popular songs.
In 1975, she recorded an album called Across the Water in the United States. This album was different from her previous work, mixing country, rock, and soul styles. Critics liked the album when it was released in the United States.
The 1980s: New Beginnings
In 1981, Vicky Leandros released the album Love is Alive, which included duets with famous singers like Demis Roussos and Johnny Hallyday. This album was for a United Nations charity event. Her comeback was confirmed in 1982 with the success of "Verlorenes Paradies." This song brought her back to the top of the music charts in many places after a few years.
In 1983, she released the album Vicky, which featured the popular song "Grüße an Sarah." This song is still often sung in her concerts. In 1984, the French version of another song, "A l'Est d'Eden," was a big success in France. This song and the Vicky album helped her make a notable comeback in Canada. She toured there in 1985 after many years.
After her 1985 album Eine Nacht in Griechenland, Vicky took some time off to focus on her family. This album achieved Gold status in Germany and the Benelux countries. In 1988, she released "Ich bin ich," which had a more rock-oriented sound. During this time, she focused mainly on her family life and her three young children. In 1989, she returned to her music career in Greece with her album Piretos tou Erota.
The 1990s: Continued Success
In 1990, Vicky Leandros released the album "Starkes Gefühl" (Strong Feeling). This album included a new version of "Apres Toi," her Eurovision winning song from 1972. She continued to have successful albums in Greece, such as "Prosexe" (1991) and "Andres" (1993). In Germany, she had successful singles like "Du Bist Mein Schönster Gedanke" (1994) and a duet with Tony Christie, "We're Gonna Stay Together" (1995).
From 1995 to 1998, she worked with German music producer Jack White. They released three albums that reached the Top-10. She also released the German version of the famous song from the movie Titanic, "Weil mein Herz dich nie mehr vergisst." This song became one of her highest-charting records since 1982.
The 2000s: Producing Her Own Music
In 2000, Vicky Leandros started producing her own records. Her album Jetzt / Now was a success, and her own songs received good reviews. A duet with Chris De Burgh was a highlight of the album. She appeared on the music charts in many countries, including Canada, China, and Japan, because several companies released "greatest hits" collections of her songs.
In 2003, she recorded a new album called Tragoudi Alliotiko. This album featured songs by the famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. It was a success in Germany, central Europe, and Greece. Vicky appeared on many TV shows in Germany and Greece, including galas with José Carreras. Theodorakis himself said that he considered her "among the two or three most important interpreters of [my] work."
In 2003, Vicky Leandros received two important awards from the Greek government for promoting Greek culture and music around the world. She also received an award from the Greek Orthodox Church for her work helping poor children in Africa. This award was given to her at a concert in October 2003 and is the highest honor the Greek Orthodox church can give. Vicky Leandros is the only woman to have received this honor so far. In 2005, she released a double album called Ich Bin Wie Ich Bin, which had new recordings of her songs. This album was popular in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
In March 2009, Vicky Leandros released a CD titled Möge der Himmel. This album had a new sound, mixing soul, R&B, hip hop, and rap. This change in her music style was big news and received mixed reviews.
Recent Career Highlights
Her next album, Zeitlos, released in 2010, went back to the idea of recording French songs and world hits in German. In 2011, she re-recorded her hit "L'amour est bleu" as "C'est Bleu" for the Scooter album The Big Mash Up. This unusual collaboration was a highlight of the album and was released as a single. A new studio album called “Ich weiss, dass ich nichts weiss” was released in 2015. Vicky Leandros co-composed most of the songs on this album, and the themes were based on her own life experiences. Vicky Leandros is planning to retire from touring in 2024 and is currently on her sold-out farewell tour.
Personal Life
Vicky Leandros was married to Greek businessman Ivan Zissiadis from 1982 to 1986. They have a son named Leandros Zissiadis, who was born in 1980. In May 1986, she married Enno von Ruffin. Enno von Ruffin has owned and managed his country estate, Gut Basthorst, since 1982. In 2005, Vicky and Enno separated after 19 years of marriage. They have two daughters: Maximiliane von Ruffin (born in 1985) and Alessandra von Ruffin (born in 1986).
Awards and Recognitions
Vicky Leandros has received many awards throughout her career, including gold and platinum records from all over the world. She has worked with many talented composers, producers, and conductors. Some of her notable awards include:
- 1967: Fourth place at the Eurovision with the song „L´amour est bleu“
- 1968: Goldene Europa
- 1971: Bronze Rose von Montreux for the TV-Show "Ich bin"
- 1972: First Place at the Eurovision with the song "Aprés toi“
- 1972: Best Selling Artist Internationally
- 1974: Goldene Europa
- 2001: Goldene Stimmgabel German pop
- 2003: Hospitality Zeus
- 2005: Woman of the year in Greece
- 2011: Commander of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Vicky Leandros para niños