Look up scooter in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Scooter may refer to:

Vehicles[link]

Land[link]

• Kick scooter, a wheeled vehicle propelled by a rider pushing off the ground
• Motor scooter, a motorcycle with a step-through frame
  • Maxi-scooter, a large motor scooter, generally 250cc or larger
• Knee scooter, a mobility device for patients with leg injuries
• Mobility scooter, a motorized chair with three or four wheels that is designed for people with limited mobility
• Motorized scooter, a kick scooter with a motor
• "Scooter", a colloquial term for a Harley Davidson motorcycle
• Eccentric-hub scooter, a vehicle related to the Kick scooter and bicycle, propelled by bouncing on the rider platform
• Square scooter, a square plank attached to four swivel casters at the corners

Air[link]

• The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, nicknamed the "Scooter" by the pilot community
• Air scooter, an ultralight helicopter of co-axial rotor configuration produced by the AirScooter Corporation

Water[link]

• Diving scooter (also known as Diver Propulsion Vehicle), an item of diving equipment used by scuba divers to increase their range while underwater
• Water scooter (also known as a personal water craft), a type of recreational watercraft

Ice[link]

• Ice scooter (also known as an Ice boat), a small, light vehicle able to travel quickly across water, ice, or snow

People[link]

• Scooter Libby (born 1950), American political figure
• "The Scooter", nickname of American baseball player Phil Rizzuto (1917–2007)
• Scooter Braun (born 1981), American talent manager
• Lloyd L. Burke (1924–1999), U.S. Army soldier, nicknamed "Scooter"

Fictional characters[link]

• Scooter (comics), star of DC Comics' Swing with Scooter comic book
• Scooter (Coronation Street character)
• Scooter (Gobots), fictional character in the Gobots toyline, and the subsequent Challenge of the GoBots cartoon
• Scooter (Muppet)
• Scooter: Secret Agent, a series produced by Network Ten
• Scooter (SpongeBob SquarePants character)
• Scooter (talking baseball), an animated baseball appearing during Fox Sports coverage of Major League Baseball
• Scooter, a nickname created for John Dorian on the television show Scrubs

Other[link]

• Scooter, a corruption of the word Scoter; a large black diving duck
• Scooter (skirt), a short skirt with shorts underneath, also known as a "skort"
• Scooterboy, a subculture known for riding vintage Italian scooters
• The Scooter, a giant, fast-moving storm on the planet Neptune
• Scooter (novel), a novel by Mick Foley
• Scooter (band), a German hard dance/eurodance band with over 80 gold and platinum awards.
• Scooter (Belgian band), a Belgian pop band

See also[link]

• Scootering (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2009)

Vicky Leandros
Vicky Leandros in Berlin, 2010
Background information
Birth name	Vassiliki Papathanasiou
Also known as	Vicky Leandros
Born	(1949-08-23) 23 August 1949 (age 62)
Origin	Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, Greece
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer, politician
Years active	1965–present
Website	Hey! Vicky Leandros Vicky Leandros' Greek website

Vicky Leandros (born Vassiliki Papathanasiou, Greek: Βασιλική Παπαθανασίου, 23 August 1949,^[1] now legally Vassiliki, Baroness von Ruffin) is a Greek singer with a long international career. She is the daughter of singer, musician and composer Leandros Papathanasiou (known as Leo Leandros – composer pseudonym Mario Panas). She achieved worldwide fame after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972 with the song "Après Toi" (representing Luxembourg).

Early career[link]

Leandros was born in Palaiokastritsa, a resort on the island of Corfu in the Ionian Sea. Her father wanted to expand his career and went to Germany while she grew up at her grandmother's house until the age of eight. In 1958 her parents took her to Germany where she stayed with her father permanently after her parents' divorce. She revealed her talent at a young age while taking guitar, music, dance, ballet and voice lessons.

In 1965 Leandros released her first single "Messer, Gabel, Schere, Licht". This was the beginning of a successful career for her with her father as composer, manager and producer. In 1967 she received an offer to sing for Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "L'amour est bleu". She finished in fourth place but the song became one of the biggest worldwide hits of the year and was covered by many artists. She was shortly singing in eight languages with her albums, singles and EPs being sold all over the world. She became particularly successful in Japan and Canada.

The 1970s[link]

In 1970 her first TV show, Ich Bin was broadcast in 13 European countries. It received many awards for its originality and thought-provoking contemporary graphics including in 1971 the world famous Bronze Rose of Montreux. It was also the first time that Vicky used the same stage surname as her father (actually his real Christian name) and became known from then onwards as Vicky Leandros having been known simply as Vicky during the 1960s. Guests appearing were Julien Clerc and Deep Purple. The show has been repeated over the years and is seen as a classic piece very evocative of the era, though at first it was not well received in all quarters owing to its surprising, even shocking, imagery, in an age when songs were not generally accompanied by visuals for marketing purposes. Throughout the 1970s other film portraits by prominent film makers were to follow which attracted interest around the world. She later went on to host a television series in the UK for the BBC, entitled Music My Way.

In 1972 she represented Luxembourg at Eurovision for the second time and won the contest with the song "Après Toi". Translated into English as "Come What May" it was also a hit in the UK reaching #2 on the UK Singles Chart.^[2] Globally it sold over six million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.^[3] Leandros recorded the song in seven languages. Later in the year she released her version of the Theodorakis composition "O Kaymos (Sorrow) (The Love in Your Eyes)" which became a hit all over the world in various language versions. It peaked at #40 in the UK Singles Chart.^[2] In 1973, "When Bouzoukis Played" became another massive selling world hit in several languages, reaching #44 in the UK chart.^[2] In 1974 she recorded "Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz" a song that was a #1 hit in Germany. She also found much success in South Africa during the 1970s.

In Japan she reached her peak during late 1960s and early 1970s and recorded many times in Japanese. Her second Japanese single "Watashi no Sukina Chocolate" (The Chocolate That I Like) became a notable hit. She also recorded many cover versions of songs, "Mamy Blue", "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" and "My Sweet Lord" among others.

In 1975 she recorded an album, Across the Water in Tennessee and Miami. The album was a departure for her, combining country, rock and soul, gaining her good reviews on release in the US. In 1976 she signed a multi-million contract with CBS Records for albums in the US and started working in Hollywood with Kim Fowley. This did not last long however as Leandros felt a lack of support from her record company and returned to Europe.

After her American adventure Leandros released albums of German folk songs, Christmas songs and a Spanish album which became a success in Spain and all over Latin America. The first single "Oh Mi Mama" was a minor hit, but the second single "Tu Me Has Hecho Sentir", although not promoted by Leandros or CBS due to differences between the two and a reported health scare, was a big hit in Spanish-speaking countries in 1979. It regularly appears on compilation albums and is easily the most famous and remembered song by Vicky Leandros in Spanish . A new album, Wie am Allerersten Tag went unreleased and Leandros became pregnant and took time off over the next 18 months.

The 1980s[link]

In 1981 she recorded the album Love is Alive including duets with Demis Roussos, Johnny Hallyday and US star David Soul for a United Nations Benefit. Also in 1981, she released the album, Ich Gehe Neue Wege and its Greek version, Irtha Yia Sena. This comeback was consolidated in 1982 by the success of the song "Verlorenes Paradies" from the same titled next album which saw Leandros back in the upper reaches of the singles charts in many territories after a few years absence. It was also recorded in Dutch . In 1983 came the album Vicky containing the popular song and single "Gruesse an Sarah" which is regularly still sung in concerts often a cappella with the other musicians and vocalists making the sounds of the beats and instruments vocally to combine with Leandros' main vocal. Also later in 1983 she recorded again in Dutch a song specially for the Dutch-speaking market; "Ver Van Het Leven". In 1984, the French version - "A l'Est d'Eden" - was a big success in France, reaching #2 on the singles chart. This single and corresponding album (Vicky) gave Leandros a notable comeback in Canada and she toured there after a gap of many years in 1985. Two more single releases from the album also became Canadian hits - "Tu as sept Ponts a traverser" and "Salut bien Sarah" the French version of "Gruesse an Sarah".

In 1986 following the success of her 1985 album Eine Nacht in Griechenland Leandros again took time off to concentrate on her private life. The album achieved Gold status in the Benelux and German speaking countries. It was early 1988 before the next album release "Ich Bin Ich" on which she worked with Klaus (Nick) Munro. This album contained many new rhythms and was more rock orientated . Leandros did not tour though and made very limited appearances during this period concentrating mainly on her family life and her ( by now three ) young children . Nevertheless two singles were released from the album "Du hast schon laengst Goodbye gesagt" and "Oh Oh Oh" in a remixed version .

In 1989 she returned to her music career and charted highly in Greece with her comeback album, Piretos tou Erota.

The 1990s[link]

In 1990 Leandros released the album "Starkes Gefuehl" (Strong Feeling) which notably contained a new version of "Apres Toi" her Eurovision song contest winner of 1972 . The album also contained the German version of Piretos tou erota now "Suchtig nach Geborgenheit" which was the first single cut . The early 1990s saw her scoring successful albums in Greece with "Prosexe" in 1991 ( Nur Einen Augenblick in Germany ) and "Andres" ( unique album for Greece ) in 1993 and in Europe in 1994/5 with singles "Du Bist Mein Schoenster Gedanke" and a duet with Tony Christie, "We're Gonna Stay Together".

The resurgence of popularity in Greece saw first the re-release on vinyl of Leandros' early albums (with different sleeves) and later a CD release of them all with bonus tracks.

From 1995 to 1998 she collaborated with German hit-maker Jack White and released three Top-10 albums, as well as the German version of the Titanic song "My Heart Will Go On". This song "Weil mein Herz dich nie mehr vergisst" gave Leandros her highest charting record since Verlorenes Paradies in 1982.

Recent career[link]

In 2000 she started producing her own records. The album Jetzt / Now was a success and her own compositions received critical praise. Her duet with Chris De Burgh was one of the highlights of the album. Following this she featured again on the charts of several countries such as Canada, China, Japan, Belgium and South Africa due to the many greatest hits collections that several companies released.

In 2003 she recorded a new album, Tragoudi Alliotiko with songs by Mikis Theodorakis accompanied by the Kamerata Orchestra under Theodorakis's supervision. The album became a success in Germany, central Europe and in Greece. TV stations and tabloid newspaper reviewers celebrated her comeback while other publications and reviewers questioned the rationale behind Leandros' performance of songs from a political composer like Theodorakis. Around this time Leandros appeared in many TV shows on German and Greek television including galas with José Carreras. The album made it to the 100 best selling records of 2003 and Theodorakis wrote that he considered "her among the two or three most important interpreters of [his] work". In 2003 Leandros received two prestigious awards from the Greek government for her promotion of Greek culture and music abroad and the other from the Greek Orthodox Church in recognition of her work for poor children in Africa. The latter award was presented to her at a classical concert held at the Herod Atticus amphitheatre in October 2003 and is the highest honour that the Greek Church can bestow. Leandros is one of only a few to receive it and the only female.

2005 saw the release of a double album, Ich Bin Wie Ich Bin containing new recordings of Leandros's songs. The album charted in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Leandros' Jubilee Tour of Europe started in February 2006.

In March 2006, Leandros took part in the German pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest - 34 years since "Après Toi". Her song, "Don't Break My Heart" which had already entered the charts, failed to win the most votes from the televoting public.

Leandros released a CD in March 2009 titled Möge der Himmel. This album contained soul elements combined with some R&B flavour, hip hop and rap. The change in direction was headline news and the album received mixed reviews. The next album Zeitlos in 2010 returned to the idea born in 2008 of recording a collection of French songs and World hits in the German language.

In 2011, Leandros re-recorded her hit "L'amour est bleu" as "C'est Bleu" for the Scooter album The Big Mash Up. The unusual collaboration was named a highlight of the record and was released as a single on December 2, 2011.

Personal life[link]

From 1982 until 1986 Leandros was married to Greek entrepreneur Ivan Zissiadis. He is the father of her son Leandros Zissiadis (Leo) (born 6 June 1980). In 2005 Leandros and her second husband Enno von Ruffin separated after 19 years of marriage. The couple has two daughters: Maximiliane von Ruffin (Milana) (born 31 January 1985) and Alessandra von Ruffin (Sandra) (born 6 December 1986). On 15 October 2006, Leandros (as Vassiliki von Ruffin) was elected town councillor of the Greek harbour town of Piraeus on the Pasok list. Her task concerned the Cultural and International development of Piraeus. She was also Deputy Mayor of Piraeus.

It was announced in June 2008 that Leandros decided to leave her position in Greek politics with immediate effect stating that she had under estimated the work load and time needed to fulfill her political obligations and that it had become impossible to combine those duties with her singing career .^{[citation needed]}

Awards and collaborations[link]

Leandros has received innumerable awards including gold and platinum records from all around the world for discs that have sold in excess of 150 million copies.^{[citation needed]}

She has worked with many composers and producers such as Kim Fowley, Leo Leandros, Brad Shapiro and Michel Legrand and also with conductors such as Herbert von Karajan and Claude Denjean. She has been awarded with the "Bronze Rose of Montreux", "Goldene Europa", "Record Award of USA", and "Song Statue of Japan".

• 1967: Fourth place at the Eurovision with the song „L´amour est bleu“
• 1968: Goldene Europa
• 1971: Bronze Rose von Montreux for the TV-Show "Ich bin"
• 1971: Bronze Lion of the Radio Luxembourg
• 1972: First Place at theEurovision with the song "Aprés toi“
• 1972: Best Selling Artist Internationally
• 1974: Goldene Europa
• 2001: Goldene Stimmgabel German pop
• 2001: Internationaler Schlagerpreis in the category of „Beste Künstlerin International“
• 2003: Hospitality Zeus
• 2005: Woman of the year in Greece

Selected discography[link]

Albums[link]

Many variations of Leandros's albums were released around the world and a huge amount of compilations which still continue to be released on a regular basis . The following list is of original albums she recorded. In Japan a few albums also contain some songs mainly in Japanese or English which were not released elsewhere though the majority of tracks were recorded in Europe and featured also in various languages on albums already listed here.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Homepage of Vicky Leandros
• Greek Official Political Homepage of Vicky Leandros
• German Homepage and Fanclub of Vicky Leandros
• Official Homepage of Vicky Leandros′ daughter Sandra Ruffin

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Séverine with "Un banc, un arbre, une rue"	Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1972	Succeeded by Anne-Marie David with "Tu te reconnaîtras"
Preceded by Monique Melsen	Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972	Succeeded by Anne-Marie David
Preceded by Michèle Torr	Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1967	Succeeded by Chris Baldo & Sophie Garel