Gia (song)

"Gia" is a song recorded by Greek singer Despina Vandi. It was originally released as the lead single off her 2001 multi-platinum Greek album also of the same name. Vandi signed with Ultra Records for the international release of the track, and in 2003 a CD single was made available in many markets, following by a 2004 US re-issued which included a new English-language version.[1]

"Gia"
Single by Despina Vandi
from the album Gia
Released	December 19, 2001
Length	4:09
Label	Heaven Music Ultra
Songwriter(s)	Phoebus
Producer(s)	Phoebus (with co-production by Bass Bumpers)
Despina Vandi singles chronology
"Ande Gia" (2002) "Gia" (2001) "Come Along Now" (2004)
Alternative cover
Australian two-track edition cover

"Gia" (the Greek word for "Hi") is best known for its blending of Arabic drums, modern laïka, Eurodance-influenced beats and bilingual lyrics. It is also the first foreign-language Dance recording to top the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart, where it peaked at number one in 2004.[2][3]

"Gia" stayed on the Billboard charts for 12 weeks and made Vandi one of six artists that stayed the most weeks on the charts in 2004.[4]

The track has also been mashed-up with another Vandi single, "Come Along Now", which was released in 2004 as "Come Along Now Vs. Gia". It is featured on the Ministry of Sound's The Annual 2005.[5]

According to the Greek "Chart Show" and IFPI, the song is in the third position in the Top 30 with the best songs of the most successful Greek artists during 2000–2009.[6]

The song was also used by Romanian gymnast Catalina Ponor in her floor routine at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where she won the gold medal.

Music video

The original music video of the song was directed by Kostas Kapetanidis and was set in a temple with Vandi and four male dancers and featured a young child. In 2003, a new video was made for the Greek-English release of the song, which was also directed by Kapetanidis and was shot in Morocco.

Track listing

• US 12" vinyl

1. "Gia" (DJ Gregory Remix)
2. "Gia" (Milk & Sugar Remix)
3. "Gia" (Bass Bumpers Extended Remix)
4. "Gia" (Level K Remix)

• Greece and US CD single

1. "Gia" (Bass Bumpers Radio Edit) – 3:00
2. "Gia" (Original) – 4:09
3. "Gia" (Milk & Sugar Radio Edit) – 3:19
4. "Gia" (DJ Gregory Remix) – 7:59
5. "Everything I Dreamed" – 3:18
6. "Gia" (Video)

• US EP

1. "Gia" (Radio Edit)
2. "Gia" (Milk & Sugar Radio Edit)
3. "Gia" (Original Mix)
4. "Gia" (Extended Mix)
5. "Gia" (Milk & Sugar Remix)
6. "Gia" (DJ Gregory Remix)
7. "Gia" (Level K Remix)

Charts

Chart (2001–2004)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[7]	35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8]	42
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	56
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9]	20
Germany (Official German Charts)[10]	36
Greece (IFPI)	1
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[11]	22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12]	55
Romania (Romanian Top 100)	8
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[13]	19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14]	25
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15]	73
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[16]	36

Release history

Country	Release date	Format
Greece	December 19, 2001
Various	September 22, 2003
United States	August 27, 2004	EP
	November 21, 2004	CD single

Cover versions

• 2002: Anelia - Pogledni Me V Ochite (Όλα οδηγούν σε σένα; Погледни ме в очите) (Bulgaria)[17]
• 2002: Vesela - Lyuboven Pojar (Ανάβεις φωτιές; Весела - Любовен пожар) (Bulgaria)[18]
• 2002: Azis - Az Sam Zagadka (Ανάβεις φωτιές; Аз съм загадка) (Bulgaria)[19]
• 2002: Malina - Obicham Ludo (Γειά; Малина - Обичам лудо) (Bulgaria)[20]
• 2002: Veronika - Byala Sam (Θέλω να σε δω; Вероника - Бяла съм) (Bulgaria)[21]
• 2002: Anelia - Samo Tazi Nosht (Αχ καρδούλα μου; Анелия - Само тази нощ) (Bulgaria)[22]
• 2002: Ina - Pleneno Sarce (Αχ καρδούλα μου; Ина - Пленено сърце) (Bulgaria)[23]
• 2002: Boni - Bita Karta (Δέστε μου τα μάτια; Бони - Бита карта) (Bulgaria)[24]
• 2002: Valya - Stradam I Obicham (Δέστε μου τα μάτια; Валя - Страдам и обичам) (Bulgaria)[25]
• 2002: Kosta Markov - Nezhno Tyalo (Χρόνε; Коста Марков - Нежно тяло) (Bulgaria)[26]
• 2002: Toše Proeski - Studena (A girl like ice) (Χριστούγεννα; Ledena) (Republic of Macedonia)[27]
• 2003: Despina Vandi - Gia
• 2003: Malina - Tragvam Si Za Da Ostana (Είμαι Εγώ; Малина - Тръгвам си, за да остана) (Bulgaria)[28]
• 2003: Dilek Budak - Aşka Yürek Gerek (Ανάβεις φωτιές) (Turkey)[29]
• 2003: Jelena Karleuša - Samo Za Tvoje Oci (Γειά) (Serbia)[30]
• 2003: Mustafa Sandal feat. Natalia - Aşka Yürek Gerek (Ανάβεις φωτιές) (Turkey)[31]
• 2003: Shohreh Solati - Boro (Γειά) (Iran)[32]
• 2004: Despina Vandi - I Believe It (Olo Lipis)
• 2004: Dilek Pinar - Son Şansın (Ona Göre Aşkım) (Τι κάνω μόνη μου) (Turkey)[33]
• 2006: Asuman Krause - Aşkı Bana Sakla (Δέστε μου τα μάτια) (Turkey)[34]
• 2006: Asuman Krause - Aşkı Bana Sakla (Mix) (Δέστε μου τα μάτια) (Turkey)
• 2006: Azizcan - Peri Masalı (Θέλω να σε δω) (Turkey)[35]
• 2006: Liviu Guta - De Ce Ma Minti? (Αχ καρδούλα μου) [36]
• 2007: Arkın Çelik - Serden Geçtim (Αχ καρδούλα μου) (Turkey)[37]
• 2007: G-Flow - Beni Bana Sor (Θέλω να σε δω)
• 2008: Göknur Onur - Unuttun Mu (Θέλω να σε δω) (Turkey)[38]
• 2008: Göknur Onur - Thelo Na Se Do (Θέλω να σε δω) (Turkey)[39]
• 2009: Fulden Uras - Hadi Yüreğim (Θέλω να σε δω) (Turkey)[40]
• 2009: Yulduz Usmanova feat. Yaşar Günaçgün - Seni Severdim (Θέλω να σε δω) (Uzbekistan)
• 2010: Spicy Artists - Christougenna 2010 (Χριστούγεννα 2010) (Greece)[41] [Spicy Artists: Elli Kokkinou, Thanos Petrelis, Nino, Panos Kalidis Elisavet Spanou, Ioakim Fokas, Stella Kalli, Spiros Lamprou's Choir]
• 2014: MadHouse - The Christmas Star (Christougenna Official Re-Edit 2014) (Χριστούγεννα) (Greece)[42]

References

1. Despina Vandi - Gia
2. Δέσποινα Βανδή: "Μ' αρέσει να τραγουδάω τα πάντα" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. MAD TV, April 15, 2008. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
3. Hot Dance Airplay - Gia Billboard, March 20, 2004. Retrieved on June 24, 2020.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2011-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. "(UK) : Various - Ministry Of Sound: The Annual 2005 : CD - Free Delivery". Play.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
6. "CHART SHOW: Το Γειά στα καλύτερα τραγούδια 2000-2009". Retrieved 2010-06-02 – via YouTube.
7. "Australian-charts.com – Despina Vandi – Gia". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
8. "Ultratop.be – Despina Vandi – Gia" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
9. "Despina Vandi: Gia" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Despina Vandi – Gia". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
11. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Despina Vandi – Gia" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
13. "Spanishcharts.com – Despina Vandi – Gia" Canciones Top 50.
14. "Swedishcharts.com – Despina Vandi – Gia". Singles Top 100.
15. "Swisscharts.com – Despina Vandi – Gia". Swiss Singles Chart.
16. "Despina Vandi Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
17. https://web.archive.org/web/20110201030119/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUp3JTZHAB0. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foZDlTId17w. Missing or empty |title= (help)
19. "Azis - Az sam zagadka". Retrieved 2012-02-17 – via YouTube.
20. https://web.archive.org/web/20140619182442/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61yxLjWIdRg. Archived from the original on 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK5WO2MwSHk. Retrieved January 2, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_vWoPjluo8. Retrieved June 5, 2008. Missing or empty |title= (help)
23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_7w_kKXOL0. Missing or empty |title= (help)
24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlQCmGGcoaE. Missing or empty |title= (help)
25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDCGVlRAtO0. Missing or empty |title= (help)
26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4T_vMgIYnk. Missing or empty |title= (help)
27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B14Nrpx539g
28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX3utCd_ATY. Missing or empty |title= (help)
29. "Dilek Budak Aşka Yürek Gerek". YouTube. 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
30. "Jelena Karleusa - Samo Za Tvoje Oci (HD)". YouTube. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
31. snipertoledo (2008-01-17). "Mustafa Sandal Feat Natalia - Aska Yurek Gerek". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
32. apadanaee (2008-04-12). "Shohreh Solati". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
33. "Dilek Pinar". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
34. "Aşkı Bana Sakla". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
35. "azizcan peri masalı". YouTube. 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
36. "liviu guta de ce ma minti". YouTube. 2007-01-22. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
37. "Arkın Çelik - Serden Geçtim OriginalVideo". YouTube. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
38. "Göknur - Unuttun mu www.goknurfanclub.com". YouTube. 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV26eDDwIyI
40. https://web.archive.org/web/20140619181841/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utd_ggTV2nw. Archived from the original on June 19, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
41. • u=
    Archived January 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
42. *u=