History
Antique
Musical Duo
Antique was a Greek-Swedish musical duo composed of Έλενα Παπαρίζου (Helena Paparizou) and Νίκος Παναγιωτίδης (Nikos Panagiotidis). Though born in Gothenburg, Sweden, they embraced their Greek heritage in their music, which blended Europop, club, and Greek folk influences.
Early Success and European Tour
The duo's career began in 1999 with the release of their debut album, "Opa - Opa," in Sweden. The album quickly established Antique on the Swedish music scene, featuring hit singles such as the platinum-selling "Opa - Opa" and the gold-certified "Dinata - Dinata." In 2000, Antique embarked on a promotional tour across Europe to support their debut album. The same year saw "Opa - Opa" released in Greece under the title "Μέρα με τη μέρα" (Mera me ti mera), achieving moderate success.
Eurovision Triumph and Second Album
In 2001, Antique achieved a significant milestone by winning the Greek Eurovision song contest with the song "(I Would) Die For You." This victory propelled them to the final in Copenhagen, where they secured third place, marking Greece's best-ever performance in the competition's history. The single "(I Would) Die For You" achieved triple platinum status in Greece, a remarkable feat for a CD single. In recognition of their success, Antique was honored at a reception hosted by the Swedish ambassador in Greece on Sweden's national day. In Sweden, the single also became a top-3 hit and one of the most played songs on the radio in 2001. Their second album, "Die For You," was released in June 2001.
All-Greek Album and Club Appearances
December 2001 marked the release of Antique's first album entirely in Greek, titled "Με λόγια Ελληνικά." This album included the single "Follow Me (Ό,τι θέλεις)," which became a major radio hit. Throughout 2002, Antique focused primarily on their activities in Greece, performing at clubs in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Final Album and Dissolution
In 2003, the duo released their third and final studio album, "Άλλη μια φορά" (Alli mia fora). The lead single, "Μωρό μου" (Moro mou), was an immediate radio success, followed by the title track "Άλλη μια φορά" (Alli mia fora), which became a popular song on both radio and in clubs. The album was produced by C&N Project for C&N Productions and maintained the characteristic sound that defined Antique, a fusion of Greek folk music with a Nordic sensibility, a sound pioneered by C&N who first introduced Greek folk music to Sweden.
Also in April 2003, Antique released "Blue Love" in the Nordic countries, known in Greece as "the Swedish album." This compilation featured Antique's previous hits re-recorded in English. The album was later released in Greece, where it topped the album charts.
The duo decided to disband in 2003. Έλενα Παπαρίζου went on to pursue a highly successful solo career, while Νίκος Παναγιωτίδης achieved more limited commercial success.
