Opa Opa

"Opa Opa" is a song by Greek singer Notis Sfakianakis, released as a single from his second album Ise Ena Pistoli in 1992. Opa Opa is a laïko dance song and was written and produced by singer Giorgos Alkaios years earlier, and is one of Sfakianakis' most notable of his early works and the most notable version of the song domestically. The song has been covered by a number of artists, taking it to further success abroad. In 1999, Swedish-Greek duo Antique covered it as their debut single with Eurodance elements, reaching the top ten across Scandinavia. Despina Vandi's English-language cover, however, achieved the most success abroad, reaching the top 20 of several markets in Europe and North America.

Not to be confused with the Sega arcade game character Opa-Opa.
"Opa Opa"
Single by Notis Sfakianakis
from the album Ise Ena Pistoli
Released1992
Recorded1991
GenreLaïko
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Giorgos Alkaios
Producer(s)Giorgos Alkaios
Notis Sfakianakis singles chronology
"Ipopto"
(1991)		 "Opa Opa"
(1992)		 "Ise Ena Pistoli"
(1992)

Cover versions

Antique cover
"Opa Opa"
Single by Antique
from the album Mera Me Ti Mera
B-side"Rhythmos"
Released5 July 1999
Genre
Label
Songwriter(s)Giorgos Alkaios
Producer(s)
  • C&N Project
  • Per Adebratt
Antique singles chronology
"Opa Opa"
(1999)		 "Dinata Dinata"
(1999)

Swedish-Greek eurodance duo Antique covered the song and released it in July 1999 as the lead single from their debut album, Mera Me Ti Mera. Their version reached the top ten in Denmark, Norway, Romania, and Sweden.

Track listing
  1. "Opa Opa" (radio edit) - 3:36
  2. "Opa Opa" (extended mix) - 5:07
  3. "Rhythmos" - 5:03

Music video

The music video was directed by Fred Wood and takes place in Egypt. A second video was also released.

Release history
Country Date
Sweden 5 July 1999
Italy 4 August 1999
Greece 13 October 1999
Germany 3 January 2000

Charts and certifications

"Opa Opa" fared well in the charts and was Bonnier Amigo's first international hit release in 2000.[1] It entered the Swedish charts on July 15, 1999 and remained for 16 weeks, peaking at number 5. The song entered the Norwegian charts where it peaked at nine staying charting for eight weeks. "Opa Opa" also charted in Switzerland where it peaked at number 51, charting for five weeks.[2]

Despina Vandi cover
"Opa Opa"
Single by Despina Vandi
from the album Gia
ReleasedJuly 2004
Genre
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Phoebus
Despina Vandi singles chronology
"Come Along Now"
(2004)		 "Opa Opa"
(2004)		 "Jambi"
(2006)

With the success of her album Gia (2001) in Greece and neighbouring markets, Vandi embarked on a career abroad with remixes and English versions of her past songs, most notably "Gia", which entered the charts of several countries worldwide. She followed with "Come Along Now", from the album of the same name while "Opa Opa" was used as the second single from both aforementioned album and the international edition of Gia. For its release, the lyrics were rewritten in English and dance-pop elements were added into the Greek arrangement. Vandi's version has achieved the most success abroad, managing to reach the top ten and top twenty in several European markets.

Music video

The music video was directed by Kostas Kapetanidis. The video is shot over six scenes, with Vandi changing outfits a total of seven times. The video begins with a flash of Vandi's logo, while she can be faintly seen in a red bikini through translucent glass of a sauna; the same shot was used to create the cover of the single. The video returns to this scene numerous times throughout, sometimes with other females appearing in the shot and sometimes with Vandi and a male. It also features Vandi and friends sitting around and later dancing at a club, and on a boat, while there are a further two scenes of Vandi singing alone in front of a background, one of which she appears on top of a motorcycle. During the climax of the song, Vandi punches through glass with her bare fist.

Track listing
  1. "Opa Opa" (Bass Bumpers video edit)
  2. "Opa Opa" (Bigworld radio mix)
  3. "Opa Opa" (Chippe mix)
  4. "Opa Opa" (Milk & Sugar radio mix)
  5. "Opa Opa" (Milk & Sugar vocal club mix)
  6. "Opa Opa" (Bass Bumpers club mix)
  7. "Opa Opa" (Armand Van Helden dub)
  8. "Opa Opa" (Video)

Release history
Country Date Format
Greece September 2004[11] EP
Spain July 2004 Single
Germany 2 August 2004
Australia 10 August 2004

Charts
Chart (2004-2005) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 54
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[13] 5
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[14] 5
Denmark (Tracklisten)[15] 14
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 31
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 51
Greece (IFPI) 1
Italy (FIMI)[17] 33
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[18] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 81
United States (Billboard Hot Dance Radio Airplay)[20] 1
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References
  1. "About Bonnier Amigo Music Group". Bonnier Amigo Music Group. Archived from the original on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  2. "Opa Opa Charts". SwedishCharts. 2000-09-24. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  3. Danish peak
  4. "Offiziellecharts.de – Antique – Opa Opa". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  5. "Norwegiancharts.com – Antique – Opa Opa". VG-lista.
  6. "Swedishcharts.com – Antique – Opa Opa". Singles Top 100.
  7. "Swisscharts.com – Antique – Opa Opa". Swiss Singles Chart.
  8. "Italiancharts.com – Antique – Opa Opa". Top Digital Download.
  9. Antique Opa Opa (EU Edition) (1999) album liner notes. Bonnier Music
  10. "ÅR 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry of Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  11. www.heavenmusic.gr / καλλιτέχνες / δισκογραφία / Βανδή Δέσποινα
  12. "Austriancharts.at – Despina Vandi – Opa Opa" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  13. "Ultratop.be – Despina Vandi – Opa Opa" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  14. "Ultratop.be – Despina Vandi – Opa Opa" (in French). Ultratip.
  15. "Danishcharts.com – Despina Vandi – Opa Opa". Tracklisten.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Despina Vandi – Opa Opa". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  17. "Italiancharts.com – Despina Vandi – Opa Opa". Top Digital Download.
  18. "Spanishcharts.com – Despina Vandi – Opa Opa" Canciones Top 50.
  19. "Swisscharts.com – Despina Vandi – Opa Opa". Swiss Singles Chart.
  20. Paravantes, Maria (27 November 2004). Vandi in Heaven. Billboard/Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 47. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
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