Sarbel

Sarbel during his performance at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

Sarbel [ ʃɑɾ.ˈbɛl ] (born May 14, 1981 in London ; actually Sarbel Michael , Greek : Σαρμπέλ Μιχαήλ) is a Greek - Cypriot pop singer . In his home country he became known with his debut single Se Pira Sovara , a duet with Irini Merkouri .

In 2007 he took part in the Eurovision Song Contest with the title Yassou Maria for Greece. The victory went to the Serbian Marija Šerifović , Sarbel took seventh place.

In an interview in March 2007, Sarbel stated that he was not aiming for an international career: “I neither care about being famous abroad nor about starting an international career. I just care about Greece. I grew up abroad, but I chose to live in Greece. I can't say whether the Eurovision Song Contest will help my career or not because I don't know, it's very dangerous. However, this is an experience I want to have. I want to have fun at the contest and do my best. "

biography

Childhood and adolescence

Sarbel Michael was born in Southgate, London. His father, the Cypriot Elias, is a singer and bouzouki player, his mother a Lebanese lawyer.

Sarbel's family made frequent summer trips to Greece and Cyprus. He received a Jesuit education at St. Ignatius College in Enfield . Sarbel studied music (voice), drama and the performing arts.

Between the ages of five and 16, he worked successfully at the English National Opera and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and played Tosca in English for Chando's recordings as the Shepherd Boy. It was named after the Maronite Scharbel Machluf , and its name is properly pronounced “Sharbel”, but since the standard Greek lacks “sch” as a sound, it is pronounced “Sarbel” according to the Greek transcription.

Music career

At 18, looking for a change in his life, he went to Crete for a volunteer year of social work where he performed at the Heraklion Palladium . At 21 he was still living in Crete and signed a six-year contract with Sony BMG Greece. For his Greek-traditional-oriental music mixed with pop, he received several awards at various Greek events.

Discography

Albums

• 2004: Parakseno Sinesthima
• 2006: Sahara
• 2007: Sahara: Euro Edition (Greece # 11)
• 2008: Kati San Esena

Music videos

• 2004: "Se Pira Sovara"
• 2005: "Sokolata"
• 2005: "Thelo Na Petaxo"
• 2005: "Boro Boro / Chiculata" (Mad Music Awards) [Ft. Chrispa]
• 2006: "Thriller / Pano Stin Trella Mou" (Mad Music Awards) [Ft. Vanesa Adamopoulou]
• 2006: "Taxe Mou"
• 2006: "Enas Apo Mas"
• 2007: "Yassou Maria" (ERT Promo Video)
• 2007: "Yassou Maria" (Official Video Clip)
• 2008: " Echo Trelathei "

Individual evidence

1. ↑ http://www.oikotimes.com/site/index.php?id=8368  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ http://www.musiccorner.gr/extras/dream/05_sarbel.html

Web links

• official page
• Sarbel in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Sarbel at eurovision.de