Antique

Antique is a Swedish-Greek pop music duo consisting of Helena Paparizou and Nikos Panagiotidis. They are known for blending traditional Greek laïko music with catchy Eurodance beats. The pair formed Antique in 1999 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and they quickly rose to fame with a string of hits that appealed to both the Greek diaspora and mainstream audiences. Their career spans from late 1990s chart success and a memorable Eurovision performance, to solo ventures and a joyful reunion decades later.

Formation and Early Success (1999–2000)

Helena Paparizou and Nikos Panagiotidis were both born and raised in Sweden by Greek parents. They combined their heritage and love of music when they formed Antique in 1999. The duo’s name was chosen to evoke something “classic” and “timeless,” reflecting their mix of modern pop with Greek musical roots. That year, they released their debut single “Opa Opa,” a cover of a Greek hit. The song became an instant success among Greek communities in Sweden. It soon climbed into the Swedish Top 10. Antique became the first act ever to reach Sweden’s Top 5 with a song sung in Greek. This breakthrough earned them a nomination for a Swedish Grammis award in the modern dance category. Following “Opa Opa,” the duo scored further hits with tracks like “Dinata Dinata,” “Follow Me,” and “Moro Mou,”. These early successes established Antique as a popular act in Sweden.

Eurovision (2001)

By 2001, Antique’s rising popularity led them to a bigger stage. Despite being relatively unknown in Greece at the time, the Swedish-Greek duo decided to enter Greece’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2001. They competed with the song “(I Would) Die for You,” a dynamic pop track with lyrics in both English and Greek. Antique won the national final. At the contest in Copenhagen, Helena’s powerful vocals and Nikos’s bouzouki-driven melodies made a strong impression. Antique achieved an impressive third-place finish at Eurovision 2001, scoring 147 points. This was Greece’s best Eurovision result up to that point.

The catchy “Die for You” went on to become a massive hit. It reached platinum status in Greece and became their biggest Greek single, while also charting in the Top 3 in both Greece and Sweden. The Eurovision exposure turned Antique into household names in Greece and boosted their fame across Europe. They suddenly found themselves performing for new audiences and enjoying international success in countries like Greece, Cyprus, Germany, and Italy.

Albums, Collaborations and Break-Up (2001–2003)

Following their Eurovision triumph, Antique solidified their career by releasing several albums and touring. Between 1999 and 2003, the duo recorded four studio albums, including Die for You (2001) and Blue Love (2003). Their music continued to blend cultures, and they even collaborated with other artists. For example, Antique worked with popular Greek singer Katy Garbi and Bulgarian artist Slavi Trifonov on various projects. They also performed a small European tour to connect with their growing fan base. In 2002, the pair recorded a bilingual song called “V-Power” (in Greek and English) for a Shell gasoline promotion. This unusual project showed their versatility and kept their music in the public ear.

By late 2003, however, Antique decided to disband on good terms. After several years of nonstop activity, both members felt it was time to explore individual paths. Helena Paparizou embarked on a solo career that soon eclipsed even the duo’s success. Just two years later, she represented Greece as a solo artist at Eurovision 2005 and won the contest with her song “My Number One,” bringing Greece its first ever Eurovision victory. This achievement launched Helena into superstardom as one of Greece’s most popular singers. Nikos Panagiotidis also remained involved in music, though largely out of the spotlight. He pursued his own projects in Sweden and kept the Antique spirit alive in smaller circles. Both artists stayed friendly over the years, often expressing interest in working together again when the time was right.

Reunion and Recent Activities (2019–Present)

After 16 years apart, Antique reunited for a special one-off show in the summer of 2019. The duo celebrated the 20th anniversary of their formation with an energetic concert in Gothenburg, Sweden. At the “Vi som älskar 90-talet” (“We Who Love the ’90s”) music festival, Helena and Nikos took the stage together like old times. They performed their classic hits such as “Opa Opa” and “Dinata Dinata,” delighting the crowd with nostalgia and danceable tunes. This reunion performance confirmed that their chemistry was still strong, and it introduced Antique’s music to a new generation of 90s pop fans. Around the same time, Nikos appeared with Helena at an award show in Cyprus, highlighting their enduring friendship (he presented her with a Best Female Artist award).

Encouraged by the warm response, Antique planned an official comeback. In March 2022, Helena Paparizou announced that she and Nikos were working together again on new music. The duo recorded a new duet, choosing to remake a beloved Greek hit from the 1990s. In April 2022 they released “Ti Ti,” a cover of a song by Giorgos Alkaios, marking Antique’s first new single in 19 years. That summer, the pair also embarked on a small reunion tour in Sweden, performing at the We Love the 90s festival series across multiple cities. The shows featured live renditions of their biggest hits, bringing back the upbeat spirit of their early 2000s peak.

Continued reunion activities

The reunion activities continued to remind Europe of Antique’s legacy. In November 2022, the duo appeared at Het Grote Songfestivalfeest (a special Eurovision concert in Amsterdam) and performed “Die for You” for a stadium full of Eurovision fans. By April 2025, to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the group’s debut, all of Antique’s albums and EPs were re-released on digital streaming platforms in high quality. This move introduced their full discography to a new audience and proved that their sound is truly timeless.