SINGERS from Cyprus

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Cypriot Singers of all time. This list of famous Cypriot Singers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Cypriot Singers.

1. Anna Vissi (b. 1957)

With an HPI of 54.31, Anna Vissi is the most famous Cypriot Singer.  Her biography has been translated into 39 different languages on wikipedia.

Anna Vissi (Greek: Άννα Βίσση, pronounced [ˈana ˈvisi], locally [ˈanːa ˈviʃːi]; born 20 December 1957) is a Greek Cypriot singer and songwriter. She studied music at conservatories and performed locally before moving to the professional scene in Athens, in 1973, where she signed with Minos and simultaneously collaborated with other musical artists and released promotional singles of her own while studying at the University of Athens. Vissi established herself in the recording industry by winning the Thessaloniki Song Festival in 1977 with the song "As Kanoume Apopse Mian Arhi" and releasing the eponymous debut album. Since the 1980s, Vissi began a nearly exclusive collaboration with songwriter Nikos Karvelas, to whom she was married from 1983 to 1992 and had one child with, resulting in one of the most successful music partnerships in the nation's history. Together they created the label CarVi, which resulted in legal issues with EMI Greece, and they then moved to CBS Records Greece, which later became Sony Music Greece. Over the course of her career she has released over two dozen albums, most of which have been certified at least gold in the two countries and has also starred in three theatrical productions and briefly ventured into television and radio. Vissi experimented with different styles of music; after becoming one of the first Greek artists to introduce Western pop and dance elements into Greek laïko and entehno, she became one of the most prominent portrayers of the laïko-pop hybrid genre and culture that was thriving from the mid-1990s into the mid-2000s. She landed her biggest commercial success with Fotia (1989), followed by the double Kravgi (2000), which became the eighth best-selling album of all time in terms of units, while five others – Kitrino Galazio (1979), I Epomeni Kinisi (1985), Klima Tropiko (1996), Travma (1997), and Antidoto (1998) – have also achieved six figure sales. She has a large number of successful singles most of which have become classics, including "Inai Kati Stigmes", "Tha Borousa", "Dodeka", "Methismeni Politia", "Oso Exo Foni", "Pragmata", "Agapi Ipervoliki", "Psihedelia", "Ta Mathitika Hronia", "Treno", "Stin Pira", "Atmosfaira Ilektrismeni" , "Gkazi" and many many more. Through the years she kept a strong fan base, sold-out tours and shows (as was her latest shows in Rex in winter 2011–12 and Hotel Ermou 2015–2016 which was the most successful of the year). Since the late 1990s, Vissi has also made attempts at establishing a career abroad, most of which fell through and have had some negative repercussions on her domestic career. However, she struck some success with her 2005 single "Call Me", which made her the first Greek or Cypriot artist to top the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart and has also represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 and 2006, and Cyprus in 1982. Vissi has won six Arion Music Awards, 15 Pop Corn Music Awards, and nine MAD Video Music Awards. Vissi has received 37 Platinum and 16 Gold certifications from IFPI Greece and has become one of the country's best-selling artists of all time, having sold over 9 million records worldwide and is one of the country's top earning artists. Alpha TV ranked Vissi as the second top-certified female artist in Greece in the phonographic era (since 1960), behind Haris Alexiou, while Forbes listed her as the 15th most powerful and influential celebrity in Greece and fourth highest ranked singer.

2. Ivi Adamou (b. 1993)

With an HPI of 41.34, Ivi Adamou is the 2nd most famous Cypriot Singer.  Her biography has been translated into 39 different languages.

Ivi Adamou (Greek: Ήβη Αδάμου, pronounced [ˈivi aˈðamu]; born 24 November 1993) is a Greek Cypriot singer. She was born and raised in Agia Napa, Cyprus and currently resides in Alexandroupoli, Greece. Adamou rose to recognition in Greece and Cyprus following her participation in the second season of the Greek version of The X Factor, where she was under the mentorship of Giorgos Theofanous. Right after her elimination from the X Factor, Adamou secured a recording contract with Sony Music Greece. She gained further recognition from her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, where she represented Cyprus with the song "La La Love". Her debut extended play Kalokairi Stin Kardia (2010) was released shortly after her contract with Sony. The same year, she collaborated with the Spiros Lambrou Choir and released the holiday extended play Christougenna Me Tin Ivi Adamou (2010) and was released as Christmas with Ivi Adamou abroad. Her debut studio album San Ena Oniro (2011) was released in July 2011 and included the hit singles "Krata Ta Matia Sou Klista", "Kano Mia Efhi" and "Voltes St Asteria". A new album, Eho Ourano, was scheduled to be released in summer of 2013 but was never released. Her second studio album Diko Mou will be released on 28 November 2022. Adamou has also released songs for movies such as Barbie in A Mermaid Tale and Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale. In 2015, she made her theatrical debut when she starred in the original musical Barbarella: the 80's Musical. Influenced by Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Elena Paparizou, Adamou was often described as the "Pop Queen" or the "Teen Idol" in Greece and was since her participation in The X Factor called as the "Next Big Thing". Her first extended play was certified gold for selling over 60,000 copies in Greece while the second holiday extended play was certified platinum for selling over 15,000 copies in Portugal. Since 2010, Adamou had several nominations in both the MAD Video Music Awards and the Madame Figaro Awards. She was named the best Cypriot female performer in 2010 and 2012. She was also awarded as the best singer in Cyprus in 2012 which was the first time that the award was given. Adamou has also participated in several charities such as "Everything I Can", the campaign for the prevention of cervical cancer, and she was also appointed as the Young Ambassador for the rights of the children by the HFC-UNCRC Policy Center.

3. Evridiki (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 39.47, Evridiki is the 3rd most famous Cypriot Singer.  Her biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Evridiki Theokleous (Greek: Ευρυδίκη Θεοκλέους, Greek pronunciation: [evriˌðici θe.oˈkle.us]; born 25 February 1968), known mononymously as Evridiki, is a Greek Cypriot singer. She is best known in Europe for representing her home country, Cyprus, in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, 1994 and 2007 with the songs Teriazoume, Eimai Anthropos Ki Ego and Comme Ci, Comme Ça, respectively.

4. Loukas Giorkas (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 39.40, Loukas Giorkas is the 4th most famous Cypriot Singer.  His biography has been translated into 27 different languages.

Loukas Yorkas (Greek: Λούκας Γιώρκας) born in Aradippou, Cyprus, on 18 October 1986, is a Cypriot singer and the winner of the first season of the Greek version of the television talent series The X Factor. In September 2009 he released his first EP album, Mazi, which attained gold certification. He studies Biology at the University of Patras. Loukas Yorkas represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Germany along with Stereo Mike, with the song "Watch My Dance", placing seventh with 120 points.

5. Despina Olympiou (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 37.49, Despina Olympiou is the 5th most famous Cypriot Singer.  Her biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Despina Olympiou (Greek: Δέσποινα Ολυμπίου, pronounced [ˈðespina oliˈmbi.u]; born 17 October 1975), also known as Dena Olympiou, is a Greek-Cypriot singer, famous in her homeland as well as in Greece. She represented Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden.

6. Ziynet Sali (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 36.81, Ziynet Sali is the 6th most famous Cypriot Singer.  Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Ziynet Sali Safter (born 29 April 1975) is a Turkish-Cypriot singer who also holds British citizenship. Her later works contain pop elements while her earlier works also had rebetiko and classical Turkish music themes. Sali was born in Nicosia and then moved to England with her family. She returned to Cyprus in 1981 and completed her education until high school degree in there. In 1994, she moved to Istanbul to study and in 1999, she graduated from the ITU Turkish Music State Conservatory. She started to perform as a professional vocalist while studying. Sali made her debut in 2000 with her first studio album released by Dost Music, Ba-Ba, that contains only Turkish songs. Amman Kuzum, her second studio album which was released by Zorba Müzik in 2004 contained Greek songs too. Chiculata+1 (Amman Kuzum), a new edition of Amman Kuzum that also includes "Chiculata" was released by the same record label in 2005, and the next year, her third studio album Mor Yıllar was released by Ozan Video. After release of her third studio album Herkes Evine by DMC in 2008, Bizde Böyle + Herkes Evine, a new version of the same album that also included "Bizde Böyle" was released by DMC. In 2010, her first non-album single "Rüya" was her first song that reached to the first place in Turkish music charts. She continued to work with DMC, and released "Bize Yeter" (2010) and Collection, her first compilation album. In 2012, GNL Entertainment released respectively her fifth studio album Sonsuz Ol and Sonsuz Ol + Remixes, an album that contains Sonsuz Ol and remix versions of some of her former songs. The next year, GNL Entertainment released Sali's first live album Bir Akdeniz Rüyası. Non-album single "Gelemiyorum Yanına" (2013) was her last work with GNL Entertainment before working with DMC again. In 2014, "Bugün Adım Leyla" and her second live album Bugün Adım Leyla were released respectively. After releasing of her sixth and the latest studio album No 6 in 2015, Sali continued her works by releasing four non-album singles, "Ağlar mıyım? Ağlamam" (2017), "Magic" (2017), "Deli Divanenim" (2018), and "Hadi Hoppalara" (2018). "Magic" was her first English song. Sali has received numerous awards and nominations during her career, including two Turkey Music Awards.

7. Diam's (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 36.39, Diam's is the 7th most famous Cypriot Singer.  Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Mélanie Georgiades (French pronunciation: [melani ʒɔʁʒjadɛs]; born 25 July 1980, in Nicosia), better known by her stage name Diam's (pronounced [djams]), is a retired French rapper of Greek-speaking Cypriot origin.

8. Michalis Hatzigiannis (b. 1978)

With an HPI of 36.28, Michalis Hatzigiannis is the 8th most famous Cypriot Singer.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Michalis Hatzigiannis (Greek: Μιχάλης Χατζηγιάννης; born 5 November 1978) is a Cypriot singer, musician, and record producer. He served as the Deputy Minister of Culture for Cyprus under President Christodoulides, from March 1, 2023 until July 11, 2023 From 2000 to 2010 he received over 30 sales certifications in Greece, making him one of the most successful artists of the decade. He is also known for representing Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998. In 2010, he released his first English-language album. In 2010, Forbes listed him as the most popular Cypriot male singer in Cyprus and 22nd most powerful and influential celebrity in Greece and the fifth highest-ranked singer.

9. Maria Elena Kyriakou (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 35.32, Maria Elena Kyriakou is the 9th most famous Cypriot Singer.  Her biography has been translated into 27 different languages.

Maria Elena Kyriakou (Greek: Μαρία Έλενα Κυριάκου, pronounced [marˈia ˈelena cirˈʝaku]; born 11 January 1984) is a Greek-Cypriot singer best known for winning the first season of The Voice of Greece under the mentorship of Despina Vandi. She represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with her song "One Last Breath".

10. Eleftheria Eleftheriou (b. 1989)

With an HPI of 34.80, Eleftheria Eleftheriou is the 10th most famous Cypriot Singer.  Her biography has been translated into 34 different languages.

Eleftheria Eleftheriou (Greek: Ελευθερία Ελευθερίου, IPA: [elefθeˈri.a elefθeˈri.u]; born 12 May 1989) is a Greek Cypriot singer. She came to prominence through her participation in the second season of the Greek version of The X Factor. Shortly after her elimination, Sony Music Greece signed her and submitted her as a candidate to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. She was later disqualified from the national final, following the leak of her song onto the internet by an unknown party. Eleftheriou had previously participated in the Cypriot national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Play That Melody To Me" featuring Maria Zorli, finishing seventh in the final. Eleftheriou represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, with the song "Aphrodisiac", where she placed 17th (9th on the televoting).