Marinella

For other uses, see Marinella (disambiguation).

Kyriaki Papadopoulou (Greek: Κυριακή Παπαδοπούλου; born 19 May 1938), known by her stage name Marinella (Greek: Μαρινέλλα), is a Greek singer whose career has spanned several decades. She is well regarded due to her impressive vocal range. Since the beginning of her professional singing career in 1956, she has released 66 solo albums, and has also been featured on many albums by other musicians. As of 2024, she remains active, at the age of 86, performing in concerts and weekly shows at nightclubs.

Marinella Μαρινέλλα
Marinella in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Kyriaki Papadopoulou
Born	May 19, 1938 (1938-05-19) (age 86) Thessaloniki, Greece
Genres	Folk, laïko, blues, rebetiko
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer, actress
Instrument	Voice
Years active	1956–present
Labels	PolyGram Greece, Minos EMI, BMG Greece, Universal Music Greece

Early life

Kyriaki Papadopoulou was born in the city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece. Her parents were Greek refugees from Constantinople. She is the fourth and last child of a large family, which despite its poverty, was rich in love and in artistic vein. The whole family gathered around the turntable and sang, while her father tried to teach children the steps of the waltz and the tango. From the age of four years singing on the radio broadcast in "Pediki Ora (Children's Hour)" and later did ads for shops such as "Melka" in Thessaloniki, earning her first pocket money. She participated in many performances of children's theatre.

At age 15, she gave up her budding career to finish school, but by seventeen, her passion for the theatre returned and she joined the artistic group of Mary Laurent, a "mpoulouki" (so called then the singer troupes that traveled Greece end-to-end for performances) and plays small roles. One day, the lead singer fell sick and sought Marinella as a replacement, who was willing to take the singer's place. Marinella then became the lead singer of the troupe. Additionally, she later joined the Military Theatre because the remuneration was better. At the same time she started her career as a singer at the "Panorama" centre of Thessaloniki, where Greek actor and singer Tolis Harmas coined the name "Marinella" for her, inspired by his song.

She released her first song in 1957, "Nitsa, Elenitsa (Little Helen)". Her early career was marked by her collaboration with singer Stelios Kazantzidis. Together they managed to become the greatest duet of Greece, unsurpassed even today. Starting at the night club "Luxembourg" in Thessaloniki where they enjoyed great success, they later moved to Athens, where they became widely known. They sang the songs of Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Giorgos Mitsakis, Giorgos Zambetas, Apostolos Kaldaras, Theodoros Derveniotis, Stavros Xarchakos, Christos Leontis, whom are considered the best composers of the era.

Marinella married Stelios Kazantzidis on 7 May 1964 and they toured together in Germany and the United States. They divorced in September 1966. Marinella then began a solo career and eventually married singer Tolis Voskopoulos in 1974. This marriage also ended in divorce in 1981.

Early career

In October 1970, Marinella participated in the V Festival Internacional da Cançao Popular – Parte Internacion (FIC) in Rio de Janeiro, representing Greece with the song "Kyra Giorgena (Wife of George)", finishing 4th among 38 countries. On October 24, 1970, the Billboard wrote "Marinella from Greece, knows audiences in Athens clubs, carries enchantment in her songs and the warmth of the sun in her voice" (by Henry Johnston).

Marinella was the first Greek singer to participate in the International MIDEM Festival of 1973 in Cannes with three new songs composed by Stavros Xarchakos. She also participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, placing eleventh with the song "Krasi, thalassa kai t' agori mou" ("Wine, sea and my boyfriend"). Initially Greek rock band Nostradamos had won the first Eurovision participation contest run by the state broadcaster ERT to represent Greece at Eurovision. However the band was not allowed to compete at Eurovision due to a scandal, and Marinella was sent instead.

She also performed in several Greek musicals, both as singer and actress. Her popularity rose in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, with a string of successful albums and live shows. She developed a new standard for shows in the Greek night clubs, introducing costumes, dancing, and special lighting effects.

Later career

Marinella and Alexios Priftis at the concert "Marinella: Forever... a Legend" which took place on August 29, 2022, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

On 27 April 1998, Marinella performed in the Athens Concert Hall, performing her older hits to great acclaim. Her concert at the small Olympic Stadium of Athens on 1 October 1999 was a great success with more than 25,000 people.

In November 2002, she collaborated with George Dalaras. They performed concerts in Athens and Thessaloniki as well as abroad. The tour was titled "Mazi (Together)" and the released live album from these performances reached platinum status in 2003.

Marinella performing at the concert "Marinella: Forever... a Legend", held on August 29, 2022, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

On 10 April 2003, The New York Times critic wrote about Marinella, "Her voice was earthy and strong, and she had the presence of an actress as she danced a few teasing steps or brought dignity to longing" (by Jon Pareles).

In March 2004, she released a brand new album with new songs by Nikos Antypas and Lina Nikolakopoulou, entitled "Ammos Itane (It was sand)". In the same year, on 29 August, she performed at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics, along with Dimitra Galani, Haris Alexiou, Yiannis Parios and George Dalaras. In December 2005, she released a new album titled "Tipota Den Ginete Tihea (Nothing is random)", composed by Giorgos Theofanous. The album reached gold status and includes duets with famous Greek singers, such as Antonis Remos and Glykeria. In 2006, two new compilations of Marinella were officially released, the first titled "Sti Skini (On stage)" and containing older live recordings and the second one titled "Ta Logia Ine Peritta – 50 Chronia Tragoudi (Words are pointless – 50 Years of song)", which is a complete eight CDs boxset with Marinella's greatest hits from the beginning of her career until her collaboration with Kostas Hatzis at "Recital". She returned to nightlife, by performing live with Antonis Remos at the Athens Arena in 2006–07 and 2007–08, with Giannis Parios at the Diogenis Studio in the winter season 2008–09, and with Natassa Theodoridou at the Votanikos in 2011–12, in Athens.

Health

On September 25, 2024, Marinella was set to perform at the iconic Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens. During the performance, audience members noticed that the 86-year-old singer appeared unwell, and she ultimately collapsed while singing her third song of the night. She was rushed to a private hospital, where she was diagnosed with a severe and widespread hemorrhagic stroke. After 21 days in intensive unit care, he was discharged and is recovering.

Discography

Studio albums

• 1964: Kazantzidis & Marinella – Megales Epitihies (Great hits)
• 1965: Chrysos Diskos Kazantzidi & Marinellas (Golden record)
• 1967: Anapolontas (Remembering with Stelios Kazanztidis and Marinella)
• 1969: Stalia - Stalia (Drop by drop)
• 1969: Kazantzidis & Marinella
• 1969: Otan Simani Esperinos (When the evening bells are ringing)
• 1969: Marinella
• 1970: Ena Tragoudi Ein' I Zoi Mou (A song is my life)
• 1970: Kazantzidis & Marinella Sing Greek Songs
• 1971: Marinella – Enas Mythos (A tale)
• 1972: Athanata Rebetika (Immortal Rebetiko songs)
• 1973: Albania
• 1974: Marinella Gia Panta (Marinella forever) – Cyprus release
• 1974: Marinella & Voskopoulos
• 1974: Marinella & Tolis Voskopoulos – Ego Ki' Esy (You and I)
• 1975: Marinella Gia Panta (Marinella forever)
• 1976: Alli Mia Fora (Once again)
• 1977: Marinella & Athenians
• 1978: I Marinella Tou Simera (Marinella of today)
• 1979: S' Agapo (I love you)
• 1980: I Marinella Se Tragoudia Tis Vembo (Marinella in songs of Vembo)
• 1981: Marinella – Gia 'Senane Mporo (For you, I can)
• 1983: Gia 'Sena Ton Agnosto (For you, the unknown)
• 1984: Megales Stigmes (Great times)
• 1985: I Agapi Mas (Our love)
• 1986: Mia Nihta (One night)
• 1987: Marinella & Kostas Hatzis – Synantisi (Meeting)
• 1988: Tolmo (I dare)
• 1989: Eisai Mia Thiella (You're a storm)
• 1990: Lege Mou "S' agapo" (Keep telling me "I love you")
• 1991: Stelios Kazantzidis & Marinella – Ta Tragoudia Tis Amerikis (The songs of America)
• 1992: I Marinella Tragouda Mimi Plessa (Marinella sings Mimis Plessa)
• 1992: I Marinella Tragouda Megales Kyries (Marinella sings great Ladies)
• 1993: To Ximeroma Tou Erota (The dawn of love)
• 1994: I Marinella Tragouda Hatzinasio (Marinella sings George Hadjinasio)
• 1995: Ta Prota Mou Tragoudia (My first songs 1967 – 1970)
• 1996: Ta Prota Mou Tragoudia Nο. 2 (My first songs No. 2 1971 – 1974)
• 1997: Gia Proti Fora (For the first time)
• 1997: Tragoudia Apo Tis 45' Strofes (Songs of 45' rpm vinyl records)
• 2004: Ammos Itane (It was sand)
• 2005: Tipota Den Ginete Tihea (Νothing is random)

Marinella in Greek cinema

The following table is a record of all instances of Marinella in films of Greek cinema, from the 1960 by 1966 with Stelios Kazantzidis and from 1967 by 1970 itself.

Year	Movie title	Director	Songs
1960	I kyria dimarhos	Roviros Manthoulis	"Gia 'mas pote min ximerosi", "Ziguala", "Allaxane ta pragmata"
1962	Κλάψε, φτωχή μου καρδιά (Klapse, ftohi mou kardia)	Kostas Strantzalis	"Fevgo me pikra sta xena"
1965	Παίξε μπουζούκι μου γλυκό (Paixe, bouzouki mou glyko)	Kostas Strantzalis	"Fevgo me pikra sta xena"
1965	Αφήστε με να ζήσω (Afiste me na ziso)	Andreas Katsimitsoulias	"Emis mazi tha zisoume"
1965	Adistaktoi	Dinos Katsouridis	"Pios dromos eine anihtos"
1965	Η Προδομένη (Prodomeni)	Christos Kyriakopoulos	"Mes stis agapis mas to tzaki", "Tora pou s' eho anagki"
1965	Τιμωρία (Timoria)	Andreas Katsimitsoulias	"Na fygo, na fygo", "Prodomenes kardies"
1965	Οι καταφρονεμένοι (Oi katafronemenoi)	Nikos Varveris	"Orkizome stin antriki timi mou"
1965	Δεν μπορούν να μας χωρίσου (Den boroun na mas horisoun)	Christos Kyriakopoulos	"Me to voria"
1966	Οι άγγελοι της αμαρτίας (Oi angeloi tis amartias)	Andreas Katsimitsoulias	"Na fygo, na fygo"
1967	I hartopaihtra	Kostas Karagiannis	"Dos' mou agapi", "Eime hartorihtra fina"
1968	Ο πιο καλός ο μαθητής (O pio kalos o mathitis)	Kostas Andritsos	"Stalia – stalia"
1968	Mermaids and Rascals	Giannis Dalianidis	"Anixe petra", "Anixe Petra (Mpate koritsia sto horo)"
1969	Gymnoi sto dromo	Giannis Dalianidis	"Asteri sto parathyro", "Dio aderfia"
1969	O blofatzis	Vasilis Georgiadis	"Pios ein' aftos"
1969	I pariziana	Giannis Dalianidis	"Dos' mou t' athanato nero", "Zografismena sto harti", "To megalo finale tis Parizianas"
1969	Ησαϊα...μη χορεύεις (Isaia... mi horeveis)	Kostas Karagiannis	"Pali tha klapso"
1970	Κρίμα...το μπόι σου (Krima... to boi sou)	Kostas Karagiannis	"Krima to mpoi sou"