One of the most popular singers in Greece, Haris Alexiou announced that she's retiring from singing, during an interview on Second Programme's 'Η κατάλληλη ώρα'.
The iconic singer appeared in the Greek musical scene in the early '70s. Her charismatic voice, combined with a unique way of performing and a strong scenic presence, led her to the top. Today she is still at the top, always working hard, always seeking new ways of expression and always giving prestige and value to the contemporary light and popular Greek music.
The singer of “Απόψε θέλω να πιω” said she was dealing with some voice problems that were persisting and she felt she could not do it well anymore. The decision was “difficult and a very serious one.”
“I have completely departed from singing. I can’t sing like I used to. And I will not continue doing it if I cannot do it well. You will soon hear me in a song with Jasmine, a duet we did together... I recorded it last summer. It’s a ballad that I could sing, but my voice no longer 'listens' to me and I said it’s better to stop. It is not right," she said.
Dubbed "Haroula" ("Little Grace") by her fans, Alexiou has emerged as one of the best examples of the deep, throaty style of Greek Byzantine singing.
She has worked with the most important Greek songwriters, has performed at the greatest musical theatres in all five continents and has received several important awards.
From Greece to Australia, from Russia to Africa, from America to Japan, Haris Alexiou travels around and shows the world the feeling of the Greek song.
In May 2010, one of the main streets of Gaziemir, a district of Izmir/Turkey, was named after Haris Alexiou, whose ancestors came from the city. The street naming ceremony, hosted by the mayor of Gaziemir himself, was a real honour for her.
Alexiou firmly believes that the Greek song, through its poets and composers, made her to love and better understand the history and the culture of her country.