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'{{BLP primary sources|date=January 2011}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = Irini Merkouri<br>Ειρήνη Μερκούρη |image = |caption = |background = solo_singer |birth_name = Chrysovalanto Chalilopoulou<br/>{{lang|el|Χρυσοβαλάντω Χαλιλοπούλου}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|5|26}} |death_date = |origin = [[Greece]] |genre = [[Laïka|Contemporary Laika]], [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Dance music|dance]] |years_active = |label = [[Sony BMG|Sony BMG Greece]] <small>(2002-2009)</small> <br>4Music <Small>(2009-present)</small> |website = http://www.eirinimerkouri.com }} '''Irini Merkouri''' ({{lang-gr|Ειρήνη Μερκούρη}}, {{IPA-el|iˈrini merˈkuri|pron}}; born in [[Nea Liosia|Ilion]], [[Athens]], on May 26, 1981) is a [[Greece|Greek]] pop and [[laïka]] singer of [[Romani people in Greece|Romani]] origin.<ref name=official/> ==Career== ===Early life=== Merkouri was born and raised in Ilion, [[Athens]] to [[Hellenization|Hellenized]]-[[Romani people|Romani]] parents.<ref>Ειρήνη Μερκούρη: «Η γιαγιά μου έστηνε τσαντίρι έξω από τη βίλα του γιου της»</ref> She began showing interest in being a singer at a very young age and at the age of seven she would mimic all the singers she would see on television.<ref name=sony>{{ cite web| title =Ειρήνη Μερκούρη| url =http://www.sonybmg.gr/page/artist/artists_greek.asp?art_id=26}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} SONY BMG. Retrieved on February 16, 2008. {{in lang|el}}</ref> ===2001–2003: Debut album and ''Meine Mazi Mou Apopse''=== Irini Merkouri signed a contract with [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony Music Greece]] and recorded her first solo album ''[[Na Fysai I Anixi]]'' in November 2001. As part of this album she sang a duet with [[Antonis Remos]] titled "Dio Mas" and a Greek version of the French song "Si Tu Ouvres Tes Bras" titled "Iparhi Kai Theos". The album included a total of twelve songs including the hits "Syntelia" and "Foties Anapste".<ref name=sony/> In June 2003, Merkouri released her second studio album, titled ''Mine Mazi Mou Apopse'' (Stay With Me Tonight). It consisted of 12 songs and included a remix of "Syntelia" which topped the airplay charts for 3 consecutive months.<ref name=official>{{ cite web | title = NEA | url = http://www.eirinimerkouri.com/ | access-date = 2006-03-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060303211942/http://www.eirinimerkouri.com/ | archive-date = 2006-03-03 | url-status = dead }} Eirinimerkouri.com. Retrieved on February 16, 2008. {{in lang|el}}</ref> The album also included the hits "Ematha Na Zo Horis Esena" and "Meine Mazi Mou Apopse". ===2004: Sarbel and ''Palirroia''=== In 2004, Merkouri was featured in [[Sarbel]]'s "Se Pira Sovara". In the same CD Single, Merkouri and Sarbel also released a second duet called "Agapi Mou Esi".<ref name=sony/> In June 2004, Merkouri released her third studio album, titled ''[[Palirroia]]'', which contained 15 new songs. The first single to hit the airwaves was "Ela", a song with a mix of both modern laika and ragga elements. The second single, "Pou Na Fantasto" became the first video clip of the album and was a big hit at clubs throughout [[Greece]]. The third single, "Krata Me Ksana", was written by Takis Damashis of [[C:Real]] and with his help Merkouri won the ''Arion Award'' for "Best Pop Singer".<ref name=official/> ===2005–2009: ''Aneta'', ''Argises'', & "Nai"=== On July 7, 2005, Merkouri released her fourth studio album, titled ''[[Aneta (Irini Merkouri album)|Aneta]]'' (Comfortably). It featured hits from her previous albums and also contained 7 new songs."<ref name=official/> The year 2006 brought Merkouri's fifth studio album, titled ''[[Argises]]'' (You Were Late). It contained 13 new songs including the hits "Pame Gi'Alla" and "Miso Lepto" which became a video clip. Christos Pazis performs a duet with Merkouri called "Argises".<ref name=official/> Merkouri finished off 2007 with the release of a CD single titled "[[Nai (song)|Nai]]" (Yes). It contained two songs "Nai" and "Kane Ena Tsigaro". "Nai" was made into a video clip, and the single reached the second place on the [[IFPI]] Singles Chart for Greece.<ref>{{ cite web| title =Ναι| url =http://www.sonybmg.gr/page/releases/releases_index.asp?modlink=1&acds_cat=1&global=GR&acds_id=51&a_id=26| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20080612123445/http://sonybmg.gr/page/releases/releases_index.asp?modlink=1&acds_cat=1&global=GR&acds_id=51&a_id=26| archivedate =2008-06-12}} SONY BMG. Retrieved on February 17, 2008. {{in lang|el}}</ref> Shortly after, Merkouri recorded a new album in the studio with Sony BMG Greece. After internal disagreements with Sony BMG, Merkouri reportedly severed ties with label in 2009, and it is unknown what will happen with the unreleased material. Merkori signed with newly established label E.DI.EL. in 2009, which later re-branded to 4Music. In mid-2009, Merkouri digitally released the song "Parakseno Agori". ==Discography== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ===Albums=== *2002: ''[[Na Fysai I Anixi]]'' *2003: ''Mine Mazi Mou Apopse'' *2004: ''[[Palirroia]]'' *2005: ''[[Aneta (Irini Merkouri album)|Aneta]]'' *2006: ''[[Argises]]'' {{col-2}} ===CD singles=== *2007: "[[Nai (song)|Nai]]" {{col-end}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060303211942/http://www.eirinimerkouri.com/ Official Site] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20030925201834/http://clubs.pathfinder.gr/merkouri_eirini Fan Club] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928083742/http://www.musiccorner.gr/biografies/merkouri_eir.html Biography (in Greek)] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Merkouri, Irini}} [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Greek laïko singers]] [[Category:21st-century Greek women singers]] [[Category:Greek pop singers]] [[Category:Greek Romani people]] [[Category:Singers from Athens]] [[Category:Sony Music Greece artists]] [[Category:Romani singers]]'