Vasiliki Papathanasiou, professionally known as Vicky Leandros, achieved international prominence representing Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972, where she secured first prize with the song "Après toi." Born in 1949 in Palaiokastritsa, Greece, she developed a multifaceted career as a composer, politician, and multilingual singer, bridging various European markets throughout her decades-long musical trajectory.
Early Career and International Breakthrough
Moving to West Germany in 1958 following her parents' divorce, she remained with her father, the musician and composer Leandros Papathanasiou. By the 1960s, she established herself as a performer, eventually adopting her father's first name as her professional surname. In 1967, she gained initial global recognition by placing fourth in the Eurovision Song Contest with "L'amour est bleu."
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Television and Global Success
Her 1970 television special, Ich Bin, was broadcast across 13 European countries and earned the Bronze Rose of Montreux in 1971. The program featured collaborations with Julien Clerc and Deep Purple. She subsequently explored diverse musical genres, including a 1975 album recorded in Nashville and Miami that integrated country and rock influences.
Political Involvement and Later Recognition
In 2006, she was elected as a town councillor in Piraeus, Greece, on the PASOK list, focusing on the cultural and international development of the region. She resigned from this political post in 2008, citing the difficulty of reconciling her professional obligations with her singing career. Her contributions to public life and music have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Bavarian Order of Merit.
Fast facts
- Born: 1949, Palaiokastritsa, Greece
- Eurovision Song Contest winner: 1972
- Languages performed in: French, German, English, Modern Greek
- Political tenure: Piraeus town councillor (2006–2008)
- Bavarian Order of Merit: 2025
- Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany: 2015
Questions readers ask
Did Vicky Leandros record in languages other than Greek?
Yes, she recorded and sang in eight languages, including French, German, English, and Modern Greek.
Why did she leave her position as a town councillor in Piraeus?
She resigned in 2008 after finding it impossible to manage her political duties alongside her professional singing career.
Achievements
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 2015
- Commander of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg — 2011
- Bavarian Order of Merit — 2025
- Worked as singer, politician and composer
