Biography
Vasiliki Papathanasiou (Greek: Βασιλική Παπαθανασίου; born 23 August 1949), widely known as Vicky Leandros (Greek: Βίκυ Λέανδρος), is a Greek singer residing in Germany. She is the daughter of singer, musician, and composer Leandros Papathanasiou, also known as Leo Leandros or Mario Panas. In 1967, she gained international recognition by securing fourth place for Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "L'amour est bleu," which became a global hit. She solidified her career by winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972 with the song "Après Toi," again representing Luxembourg.
On 15 October 2006, Vicky Leandros was elected as a town councillor in the Greek port city of Piraeus on the Pasok ticket. Her responsibilities included Cultural and International development of Piraeus. She also served as Deputy Mayor of Piraeus. In June 2008, Leandros announced her immediate resignation from Greek politics, citing an underestimation of the workload and time commitment, making it impossible to balance her political duties with her singing career.
Born Vasiliki Papathanasiou in Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, her father relocated to West Germany to advance his career, while she lived with her grandmother until age eight. In 1958, following her parents' divorce, she moved permanently to West Germany to live with her father. From a young age, she displayed her talent through lessons in guitar, music, dance, ballet, and voice.
In 1965, she released her debut single "Messer, Gabel, Schere, Licht," marking the start of a successful career managed and produced by her father. In 1967, she was invited to represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest with "L'amour est bleu," finishing fourth, though the song became one of the year's biggest hits and was covered by numerous artists. She soon performed in eight languages, with albums, singles, and EPs sold worldwide.
Her first TV show, Ich Bin, aired in 1970 across 13 European countries, earning awards for its originality and innovative graphics, including the prestigious Bronze Rose of Montreux in 1971. This marked the first use of the stage name Vicky Leandros, aligning with her father's real first name, evolving from simply Vicky in the 1960s. The show featured guests such as Julien Clerc and Deep Purple. Though initially met with mixed reactions due to its bold visuals during an era when songs rarely had accompanying imagery, it has since been regarded as a classic reflection of its time. Throughout the 1970s, other film portraits by notable filmmakers followed, gaining global attention. She later hosted a BBC television series in the UK titled Music My Way.
