One

One is a Greek-Cypriot pop boyband. It was formed in 1999 and widely recognized as the first boyband in both Cyprus and Greece. Created by Cypriot composer Giorgos Theofanous and record executive Vangelis Yannopoulos, the group originally consisted of Constantinos Christoforou, Philippos-Constantinos Philippou, Dimitris Koutsavlakis, Argyris Nastopoulos, and Panos Tserpes. One achieved rapid success, earning multiple platinum records in their six-year initial run. They are known for catchy pop hits and memorable performances, including representing Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. After disbanding in 2005, the members pursued solo careers, but One later reunited and returned to the music scene in 2019. 

Formation and Early Success (1999–2001)

One was formed in 1999 through a talent search organized by their founders. Christoforou and Philippou were the first to join, and a large audition in Athens chose Koutsavlakis, Nastopoulos, and Tserpes from 179 candidates to complete the lineup. In July 1999, One released their debut single, followed by their first studio album in October 1999. The debut album, titled One, was written entirely by Theofanous and produced by Yannopoulos. It became a major hit. The album went Platinum in Greece and Cyprus, fueled by popular songs like “Proti Mou Fora”. 

One continued their momentum with a second release, an EP titled 200ONE, around Christmas 2000. Like their debut, this EP was very successful, reaching Platinum status in Cyprus and Gold in Greece. By 2001, One had released their second full album, Moro Mou (My Baby), which also achieved Platinum sales in both countries. The group’s early success established One as pop superstars in the Greek and Cypriot music scenes. 

Eurovision (2002)

In late 2001, Cyprus’s national broadcaster CyBC invited One to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. The band agreed, and Theofanous penned a dance-pop track called “Gimme” specifically for the competition. One performed “Gimme” at Eurovision in Tallinn, Estonia, opening the show with an energetic routine. Their performance earned Cyprus a 6th place finish out of 24 entries. The exposure made One even more famous in both Cyprus and Greece, and “Gimme” became a smash hit, going Platinum in both markets.

The success of “Gimme” boosted One’s profile internationally. In summer 2002, they even released a Spanish-language version of the song, titled “Dame,” to reach new audiences in Spain. That year, One’s third album Eho Tosa Na Sou Po (I Have So Much To Tell You) came out, featuring “Gimme” as the lead single. The album topped charts and was certified Platinum in Greece and Cyprus. By the end of 2002, One had firmly solidified their status as pop icons, riding the wave of their Eurovision fame. Notably, lead singer Christoforou was already a Eurovision veteran; he had first represented Cyprus as a solo artist in 1996, and he would go on to do so again in 2005.

Line-Up Change and Final Albums (2003–2005)

In early 2003, at the height of One’s popularity, Constantinos Christoforou decided to leave the group to pursue a solo career. He had been the band’s frontman and a key vocalist. Christoforou’s departure led to the introduction of a new member, Cypriot singer Demos Beke, as his replacement. Despite this change, One continued to release music and remain popular. Their fourth studio album, ONEira (Dreams, 2003), was the first to feature the new lineup and included hits like “Kainouria Arhi” and “Krata Me.” The group maintained strong sales – their releases in this era still achieved gold and platinum status in the Greek and Cypriot markets.

In 2004, One released a fifth and final studio album of cover songs titled Meta Apo Chronia (After Some Years). This album paid tribute to classic Greek pop hits of the 1980s and 1990s. It produced radio favorites such as a Greek version of Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.” However, by this time the boyband wave was waning and the members were looking to new directions. In 2005, after roughly six years together, One officially disbanded. During their initial run from 1999 to 2005, One released five studio albums, a live album, and numerous singles, selling over 700,000 records in total. They had become one of the most successful pop acts in Greek-Cypriot music history.

Solo Ventures and Hiatus

After the breakup, each member went on to individual pursuits. Constantinos Christoforou, the former lead singer, launched a full-fledged solo career. He released several solo albums and continued to find success as a recording artist. Christoforou notably returned to Eurovision in 2005 as a solo act, performing “Ela Ela (Come Baby)” for Cyprus. Although that entry placed 18th, it cemented him as one of the few artists to have represented Cyprus three times (twice solo and once with One). In the years following One’s split, Christoforou remained a familiar name in pop, also writing songs for other artists and appearing on television.

Other band members stayed more low-key. Some, like Philippos-Constantinos Philippou and the rest of the group, continued working in music or entertainment behind the scenes, while others stepped away from the spotlight. Demos Beke, who had briefly joined One, also pursued his own projects. Although none of the other members achieved the high-profile success of Christoforou’s solo career, they remained active in various creative fields. For most of the late 2000s, One as a group was on hiatus, with no new releases or activities under the band’s name.

Reunion and Recent Activities (2015–Present)

Interest in One’s music never entirely faded, and the band eventually staged a comeback. In 2015, a decade after their split, One reunited for a special one-off performance. They appeared as guest stars in Greece’s national Eurovision selection show, performing “Gimme” live. This brief reunion hinted at the possibility of a full comeback. Four years later, in 2019, One officially reunited as a band. The original members, including Christoforou, rejoined forces and began working on new material. Their return was met with excitement, as One had been fondly remembered as pioneers of the Cypriot pop scene.

In February 2020, One released “Billy Bam Bam,” their first new single in 15 years. The upbeat track, featuring Christoforou on lead vocals, quickly found success. “Billy Bam Bam” shot to #1 on the Cyprus airplay chart and entered the Top 20 in Greece. It became one of the catchiest dance hits of the year, proving that One could still capture the public’s attention in the 2020s. Later in 2020, the group followed up with another single, “Diskola Ta Pramata” (“Things Are Difficult”), an adult-pop song whose music video nostalgically referenced the 1980s. By incorporating modern sounds with retro flair, One showed their ability to evolve while staying true to their pop roots.

Today, One remains active in the music scene. Their 2019 reunion has led to new performances and recordings, and the band continues to engage with fans both old and new. They often appear on Greek and Cypriot media, celebrating the legacy of their classic hits while promoting their recent work.