Writer(s): Nektarios Tyrakis Composer(s): Nikos Terzis Anastasios "Sakis" Rouvas II (Greek: Αναστάσιος "Σάκης" Ρουβάς, pronounced [ˈsakis ruˈvas]; 5 January 1972), often referred to mononymously as Sakis, is a Greek singer, model recording, film and television artist, actor, entertainer, businessman, and former pole vaulter who is the most commercially successful entertainer of all time in Greece and Cyprus and also one of the most influential. Born in Corfu, he began his career as a member of the national athletics team in the 1980s, where he won national medals, and then commenced a musical career in 1991, becoming one of Greece's first pop performers and popularizing several western music genres and trends. Rooted in pop and rock music among a wide array of styles adorned with powerful tenor vocals, he incorporated complex choreography, costumes, and technological advancements and has been credited for transforming music videos and live performance into an art form. Widely recognized as the genres' primary representative to this day, Rouvas is renowned for retaining a standard of autonomy from domestic styles and conventions and gaining unprecedented success for a non-laïko or éntekhno artist and for breaking cultural, social, artistic, and generational barriers in Greece and Cyprus. In the early 1990s, after signing with PolyGram Records and winning the Thessaloniki Song Festival, Rouvas became a dominant figure in Greek entertainment; initially emerging as a teen idol, he gained a mass fanbase and circa 1994 his appearances provoked mass hysteria often dubbed Rouvomania, leading to him being cited as a unique phenomenon in the Hellenic industry. He quickly gained a reputation as a live performer and broke several attendance records. Regarded as a sex symbol, Rouvas' uninhibited performance style, coupled with continuously pushing the boundaries of socially acceptable content with his image and art led to him becoming a lightning rod for sociopolitical and religious controversy. Despite releasing five commercially successful albums, this was furthered by his highly-publicized personal struggles, including his time in his military service and 1997 Greek-Turkish peace concert, which damaged his public image and led to a relatively unsuccessful period and hiatus. Rouvas signed with Minos EMI in 1997 and returned to the top of music with albums like Kati Apo Mena (1998) and 21os Akatallilos (2000) which further broadened his artistic horizons and paved the way for critical acclaim into the 21st century after having long-struggled with his image overshadowing his artistry. He continually gained tighter control over his music and image, eventually leading to the end of his famed 14-year collaboration with manager Ilias Psinakis. Rouvas became one of the few Greek entertainers to gain a degree of recognition abroad; having attained notability within the Balkans since the 1990s, Rouvas embarked on multiple projects abroad, charting in a few territories, and being involved in the Eurovision Song Contest on three occasions. By the 2010s, Rouvas had reached the height of his career and gained entrepreneurial control while he expanded his empire to film, television, theatre, and fashion, having achieved critical and commercial success in most. His single "Shake It" remains the best-selling standard single of all time in Greece, while songs and videos such as "1992", "Aima, Dakrya & Idrotas", "Ela Mou", "Xana", "Tora Arhizoun Ta Dyskola", "Den Ehei Sidera I Kardia Sou", "Ypirhes Panta", "Antexa", "Se Thelo San Trelos", and "+ Se Thelo have topped the charts and have become among the most iconic songs in popular Greek music. The song is an up-tempo number, with Rouvas telling his lover that "I would trade my life for a night with you" and asking the lover to "shake it" for him. The music - by Nikos Terzis - also features some traditional Greek instrumentation as well as the heavy dance beats increasingly prominent at the Contest. The performance was similarly sexualised, with Rouvas beginning by dancing with two girls wearing suits. As he sang the line "my world's on fire", he pulled red scarves from the trousers of his backing dancers. Later, he removed the suits from his dancers, revealing skimpy gold costumes. They later returned the favour by tearing his white jacket from him at the start of the final chorus, leaving him wearing a singlet and jeans. Live recordings of the performance feature loud cheers from the crowd as well as audible panting from Rouvas at the end of his athletic dance routine. Official Web Site: www.eurovision.tv © European Broadcasting Union 2004. All rights reserved.

• published: 21 Oct 2013
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