Mando

Mando (Adamantia Stamatopoulou) is a Greek pop singer and songwriter. She was born on April 13, 1966, in Piraeus, Greece. Mando grew up in a musical family. Her father, Nikos Stamatopoulos, was a jazz pianist, and her mother, Mary Apergi, was a classical soprano. Surrounded by music, she showed exceptional talent from a young age and was often called a “born musician”. Over a career spanning four decades, Mando has become a celebrated figure in the Greek pop music scene, representing Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest and releasing numerous successful albums and singles. In 2010, Alpha TV ranked her among the top Greek female artists of all time, noting her many gold-selling records. 

Early Life and Education

Mando developed a passion for music as a little girl. By age four she could sing complex operatic and jazz pieces from memory. Impressed by her talent, her parents enrolled her in the National Conservatory to study piano and music theory.

Mando also took vocal training and dance lessons as a child, which helped build her strong foundation in performing. At the age of ten, Mando taught herself to play the guitar and even experimented with percussion instruments. Her dedication led her to compose her own melodies early on.

During her teen years, alongside regular schoolwork and language classes, she gained stage experience. Notably, at age 14 she performed in a local production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. 

Early Career and Debut Albums

After completing her musical studies, Mando began her professional career in the mid-1980s. At 18 years old, she signed her first recording contract with CBS Records, an opportunity that quickly put her on the map. Her debut single “Fill Me Up” became an international club hit.

To further develop her craft, Mando moved to the United States for about five years. There, she trained with renowned vocal coach Hal Sheaffer, famous for coaching stars like Barbra Streisand. She gained valuable experience by working with various musicians and producers. In 1989, Mando released her first full-length Greek studio album titled Dos Mou Ena Fili…Afto to Kalokairi (“Give Me a Kiss…This Summer”), marking the start of a prolific recording career. Through the early 1990s, she released a series of successful pop albums under the Minos-EMI label, including Ptisi Gia Dio (“Flight for Two”) and Esthisis (“Senses”), establishing herself in Greek pop music. Mando’s songs from this era became radio favorites; hits like “Daneika” (“Borrowed”) and “Faros” (“Lighthouse”) were especially popular. Her strong voice and heartfelt style resonated with the Greek audience, and she quickly became one of Greece’s top pop singers.

Eurovision and International Recognition

Mando’s career features notable international highlights. She first attempted to enter the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989, aiming to represent Greece on the famous pan-European stage.

In the Greek national selection that year, she finished in second place, missing the top spot by just one point. Mando challenged the result because a jury member failed to vote, and although a legal ruling sided with her, it was too late to change the outcome. Despite this early disappointment, she persevered in her musical ambitions. She also participated in the 1990 national selection, in duet with Nikos Ignatiddis.

In 2003, Mando finally got her Eurovision moment. She won the Greek national final and went on to represent Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song “Never Let You Go”. Ultimately, she finished 17th in the Eurovision final.

In addition to Eurovision, Mando achieved other international successes. She toured extensively outside Greece, performing in cities like Los Angeles, London, New York, and Chicago. These concerts introduced her music to the Greek diaspora and new fans abroad. Mando also collaborated with international artists: she recorded a duet called “Aşk/Fos” (“Love/Light”) with Turkish pop star (and fellow Eurovision singer) Sertab Erener, bridging Greek and Turkish pop music. 

Collaborations and Songwriting

Beyond singing, Mando is an accomplished songwriter and collaborator. She has worked with many of Greece’s top composers and artists in the pop and laïko genres. Over the years, she performed alongside legendary Greek singers such as Marinella and Dimitris Mitropanos, and she shared the stage with other popular artists like Paschalis Terzis and Dimitra Galani. Songwriters including Phoebus and Natalia Germanou have written songs for her, and she in turn has written songs recorded by others.

One of Mando’s most remarkable achievements as a songwriter is the track “Where You Are,” which she co-wrote for American pop artists Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. This ballad was chosen as the theme song for the Hollywood film Here on Earth, and it sold over one million copies worldwide. She also collaborated with famed French composer Jean Michel Jarre, recording a Greek-language version of his song “C’est La Vie” titled “Zoi” (“Life”). These projects – from writing a U.S. hit to working with an electronic music pioneer – showcase Mando’s broad musical range and international connections. 

Later Career and Recent Projects

Mando’s musical journey continued strong into the 2000s and 2010s. In late 2003, following her Eurovision appearance, she released a double album titled Oi Agapes Fevgoun, Ta Tragoudia Menoun (“Loves Go Away, Songs Remain”), which featured new songs and commemorated her career up to that point. After a brief hiatus, she planned a major comeback in 2008. That year Mando released a Greek-language rock album called Mando II, which marked her return to the recording scene.

She also began work on an English-language album titled Afraid of the Dark, hoping to expand her international footprint. Several songs from Afraid of the Dark were shared on her official pages, but ultimately the English album’s release was shelved, and it remained unreleased. Undeterred, Mando kept creating music. In 2011, she released an album named Perfection, which included notable songs like “Tha Se Perimenō” (“I’ll Be Waiting for You”). Around this time she also took part in high-profile concerts. For instance, in 2012 she performed at a grand concert celebrating Greek songwriter Phoebus’s 20-year career, singing some of her classic hits to a stadium audience. In 2013, Mando reached a new generation of fans through television. She competed on the popular TV show Your Face Sounds Familiar. She finished in fourth place overall in the first season of the show.

In 2017, Mando released Bare Bones, her first English-language studio album, which showcased a more acoustic and soulful style. More recently, she partnered with Panik Records and in December 2021 released a new Greek album titled Vradines Diadromes (“Night Routes”). This album was released in early 2022. She even joined another TV singing show, Just the 2 of Us, in 2021 as a professional singing partner. 

Personal Life

Outside of her music career, Mando has a family and other interests that round out her life. She is the mother of two children, one son and one daughter.  Mando also has a sister, Chryso Stamatopoulou, who is a professional singer as well. These personal facets show a down-to-earth side to the artist behind the spotlight. After many years in show business, Mando remains grounded and passionate about both her music and her loved ones.