Opa Opa
Encyclopedia
"Opa Opa" is a song originally performed by Notis Sfakianakis
from his second album Ise Ena Pistoli in 1992. It was written and produced by singer Giorgos Alkaios
years earlier, and is one of Sfakianakis' most notable of his early works. The song has been covered by a number of artists.
released by the Greek-Swede duo Antique
in 1999, that reached gold status in Sweden
.
"Opa Opa" was Bonnier Amigo
's first international hit release in 2000.
released in 2004. It is the fourth version of the song originally written and composed in the 1980s by Giorgos Alkaios
. Antique
and Notis Sfakianakis
have also covered the song.
The music video was directed by Kostas Kapetanidis
. The video is shot over six scenes, with Vandi changing outfits a total of seven times. The video begins with a flash of Vandi's logo, while she can be faintly seen in a red bikini through transluscent glass of a sauna; the same shot was used to create the cover of the single. The video returns to this scene numerous times throughout, sometimes with other females appearing in the shot and sometimes with Vandi and a male. It also features Vandi and friends sitting around and later dancing at a club, and on a boat, while there are a further two scenes of Vandi singing alone in front of a background, one of which she appears on top of a motorcycle. During the climax of the song, Vandi punches through glass with her bare fist.
Notis Sfakianakis
Panagiotis Sfakianakis is a Greek singer of laika music, who is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time in Greece and Cyprus. Sfakianakis began his career in 1985, opening at nightclubs for other artists. He was discovered by Sony Greece and released his debut album Proti Fora...
from his second album Ise Ena Pistoli in 1992. It was written and produced by singer Giorgos Alkaios
Giorgos Alkaios
Giorgos Alkaios is a Greek recording artist. His career began in 1989 after appearing on a Greek reality show. Following a brief period of stage acting, Alkaios dedicated himself to music. His first single, "Ti Ti", made him popular in Greece. His distinctive musical style fuses Greek and Oriental...
years earlier, and is one of Sfakianakis' most notable of his early works. The song has been covered by a number of artists.
Antique cover
"Opa Opa" is the debut singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
released by the Greek-Swede duo Antique
Antique (duo)
Antique was a Greek singing duo consisting of Elena Paparizou and Nikos Panagiotidis originating from Sweden which combined Greek popular music and lyrics with a Nordic dance pop beat. Both Paparizou and Panagiotidis were born and raised in Sweden by Greek parents...
in 1999, that reached gold status in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
"Opa Opa" was Bonnier Amigo
Bonnier Amigo Music Group
Cosmos Music Group is an independent record company based in Stockholm, Sweden.Bonnier Amigo Music Group was formed in 2001 when record company and distributor Amigo Musik merged with record company Bonnier Music. BAMG claims to be the biggest independent record company in Scandinavia with a...
's first international hit release in 2000.
Track listing
- "Opa Opa" (radio edit) - 3:36
- "Opa Opa" (extended mix) - 5:07
- "Rhythmos" - 5:03
Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
1999 |
| Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
|
| Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
Charts
"Opa Opa" fared well in the charts. It entered the Swedish charts on July 15, 1999 and remained for 16 weeks, peaking at number 5. The song entered the Norwegian charts where it peaked at nine staying charting for eight weeks. "Opa Opa" also charted in Switzerland where it peaked at number 51, charting for five weeks.| Chart | Peak position |
Weeks on charts | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swedish Singles Chart | 5 | 16 | Platinum |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 9 | 8 | - |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 51 | 5 | - |
Despina Vandi cover
"Opa Opa" is a single by popular Greek artist Despina VandiDespina Vandi
Despina Malea , known by her stage name Despina Vandi , is a Greek singer. Born in Tübingen near Stuttgart, West Germany, Vandi's family returned to Kavala, Greece when she was six years old and she later enrolled at the University of Thessaloniki, but eventually dropped out to begin a career in...
released in 2004. It is the fourth version of the song originally written and composed in the 1980s by Giorgos Alkaios
Giorgos Alkaios
Giorgos Alkaios is a Greek recording artist. His career began in 1989 after appearing on a Greek reality show. Following a brief period of stage acting, Alkaios dedicated himself to music. His first single, "Ti Ti", made him popular in Greece. His distinctive musical style fuses Greek and Oriental...
. Antique
Antique (duo)
Antique was a Greek singing duo consisting of Elena Paparizou and Nikos Panagiotidis originating from Sweden which combined Greek popular music and lyrics with a Nordic dance pop beat. Both Paparizou and Panagiotidis were born and raised in Sweden by Greek parents...
and Notis Sfakianakis
Notis Sfakianakis
Panagiotis Sfakianakis is a Greek singer of laika music, who is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time in Greece and Cyprus. Sfakianakis began his career in 1985, opening at nightclubs for other artists. He was discovered by Sony Greece and released his debut album Proti Fora...
have also covered the song.
The music video was directed by Kostas Kapetanidis
Kostas Kapetanidis
Konstantinos Kapetanidis, sometimes credited as Costas Kapetanidis, is a Greek music video director who is associated with the production company Anosi S.A...
. The video is shot over six scenes, with Vandi changing outfits a total of seven times. The video begins with a flash of Vandi's logo, while she can be faintly seen in a red bikini through transluscent glass of a sauna; the same shot was used to create the cover of the single. The video returns to this scene numerous times throughout, sometimes with other females appearing in the shot and sometimes with Vandi and a male. It also features Vandi and friends sitting around and later dancing at a club, and on a boat, while there are a further two scenes of Vandi singing alone in front of a background, one of which she appears on top of a motorcycle. During the climax of the song, Vandi punches through glass with her bare fist.
Track listing
- "Opa Opa" (Bass Bumpers video edit)
- "Opa Opa" (Bigworld radio mix)
- "Opa Opa" (Chippe mix)
- "Opa Opa" (Milk & Sugar radio mix)
- "Opa Opa" (Milk & Sugar vocal club mix)
- "Opa Opa" (Bass Bumpers club mix)
- "Opa Opa" (Armand Van Helden dub)
- "Opa Opa" (Video)
Release history
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
September 2004 | EP |
| Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... |
July 2004 | Single |
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
2 August 2004 | |
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
10 August 2004 |
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Greece IFPI Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Radio Airplay | 3 |
| Canadian National Club chart | 4 |
| Russian Top 20 Singles | 15 |
| Spain Top 20 Singles | 15 |
| Ukraine Top 40 Singles | 2 |
| Denmark Top 20 Singles | 15 |
| Europe Top 100 Singles | 31 |
| Sweden Top 40 Singles | 5 |
| Switzerland Top 100 Singles | 51 |
| Norway Top 40 Singles | 9 |