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Ble (band)

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Ble
OriginGreece
GenresPop, rock
Years active1996–present
LabelsMinos EMI
Websitehttp://www.ble.gr/

Ble is a pop-rock band from Greece that was formed in 1996, by George Papapostolou (guitar, sax, vocals, music) and George Parodis (lyrics). Theodosia Tsatsou (lead vocals) and Natasa Alexiou (backing vocals, violin) would complete the current line up of the band in 1996. The name Ble (Μπλε in Greek) means blue. Their music is characterised by their dark and introspective "Enohes".

In 1997, Theodosia Tsatsou left the band and, against all odds, Ble continued successfully with a new singer, Georgia Kefala, who remains the lead singer of the band till today.

The group has released six studio albums, "Enohes" (1996), "Ble" (1998), "Ela Na Deis" (2000), "Sta Mavra Eho Ntithei" (2002), "Etsi Thelo Ego Na Zo" (2004) and "Oneira Sou Tragoudao" (2006). In 2009 they released "Ble 1996–2009 compilation (Best Of)" . The band had success with "Niotho Enohes" from their first single and "Fovame" from the album "Enohes", which became a hit single. Ble's second album, "Ble" [1], featured a harder and heavier sound. Their third album, "Ela Na Deis"[2], was released in 2000. Since then, they released three more albums with remarkable success in the Greek charts.

History

1995–1997: Origins and formation

In December 1995, George Papapostolou proposed to his friend and old schoolmate George Parodis to share his dream, which he called for the first time "Ble". Parodis accepted and together they started looking for a singer. They came across Theodosia Tsatsou, who became the frontwoman of the band. Natasa Alexiou completed the band's line up soon after and Ble recorded their first demos. A few months later, Ble signed their first contract with Virgin Records.

In November 1996, Ble released their first album, "Enohes". The album became a huge commercial success and everybody was talking about the new phenomenon with the unprecedented sound in Greece. The band had success with "Enohes", "Fovame" and "Esi Den Zeis Pouthena" and the album classified platinum. The single "Kola Koka" was a collaboration with Antonis Kanakis and Sotiris Kalivatsis, two famous TV hosts and actors in Greece. As a result of the buzz generated in Greece, many bands started to follow Ble's example, which, apart from the huge success they had, was the first band ever in Greece with a female lead vocal singer till then. Record companies at the time were influenced by Ble's success, reconsidered their attitude towards new bands and became more responsive to innovative efforts assemblies. Ble played at numerous clubs and festivals which helped add to their growing fanbase at the time. The album "Enohes" classified gold with 18 months in the Top 50 of the official Greek IFPI charts.

In early 1997, Theodosia Tsatsou announced her decision to leave the band and follow a solo career. The news shocked the band's fans and everybody talked about the end.

1998–2000: Ble

Surprisingly, in November 1997 Ble returned with their second studio album "Ble", with George Papapostolou on the lead vocals along with a new singer Ms Melody-Joy Ewens who sang upon 5 songs on their album including the chart success Mia Fora which is played to this day.She was the 2nd singer of the band Mple and the lead singer of the band between 1998 and 2000,after which a most dynamic singer called Giorgia Kefala joined the team and stayed on to become the 3rd lead singer of the band. Melody-Joy Ewens left the band in early 2000.

Ms Melody-Joy Ewens was previously featured in a collaboration with Nute Sound Of Sound called Into Fantasy which was released with BMG Greece in 1993 and became an MTV hit.

2000–2002: Ela Na Deis

Ble's third album, "Ela Na Deis", was released in November 2000. The first single from the album was "Kokkino Fili" which was released early that summer and became the soundstrack of a well-known advertising campaign in Greece. Ble collaborated with Filippos Pliatsikas from the band Pyx Lax for the track "Pote Min Les Pote". The tracks "Mes Ston Ipno Sou Milas" and "Trelos" reached Number 1 and they are still part of Ble's set list on their live shows. At the time, the band won numerous awards (Best Greek Band – Arion, Best Greek Rock Band – Pankorfiaka, etc.) and toured extensively all over Greece.

2002–2004: Piano Fotia

In May 2002, Ble released their fourth studio album “Sta Mavra Eho Ntithei” which received an amazingly good response. The album produced two singles: “Piano Fotia” and “Den Thelo”. The track “Piano Fotia” reached No1 in the Greek charts for months and became probably the biggest hit of the band. In the album they worked with Giannis Savvidakis who performed the trank ‘Thimamai”. On October 20, 2002, Ble performed at Club 22, Athens while, later that month they appeared in Gialino Mousiko Theatre, Athens, with Nikos Ziogalas and Eleni Peta.

In March 2003, George Papapostolou and Giorgios Parodis work with Elena, a new singer, on her album, while Giorgia wrote the lyrics of three tracks.

In April 2003, Ble attended the Arion Music Awards, where they performed Piano Fotia and Den Thelo. The band won the award for Best Group 2002

In May 2003, Ble started their summer tour all over Greece with thousands of fans. Inn November they started a collaboration with Giannis Savvidakis and C:Real in Avaton Live while at the same period they released the CD-single “Den Xereis Poso” which reached No6 in the Greek charts.

2004–2006: Etsi Thelo Ego Na Zo

In September 2004, Giorgia sang for the Greek soundtrack of Walt Disney's film, “Home on the Range”.

Ble released their fifth album “Etsi Thelo Ego Na Zo" in December 2004 while some months earlier, in November, they released the promo single for this album “Koitaxe Me Duo Fores”.

In February 2005, the video clip for the track “Koitaxe Me Duo Fores” is broadcast on MAD TV and on March 15, 2004, Ble won two nominations for the Arion Music Awards: Best Greek Band and Best Alternative Band. That same period, they collaborated with Evridiki for her album "Sto Idio Vagoni", with Giorgia having a duet, named "Mono Esena" with Evridiki.

In April, Ble released their second video clip for the track "Mi Me Akous" from the alboum “Etsi Thelo Ego Na Zo". Their live appearances during the summer of 2005 were numerous with the one in Nestorio River Festival with Lakis Papadopoulos, on August 4, 2005 and the one in Coca-Cola Soundwave Festival in Mukonos, on August 9 and 10, 2005, standing out.

2006–2008: Oneira Sou Tragoudao

In March 2006, Ble's track “Pote” from “Sta Mavra Exo Ntithei” album was included in the Diesi 101.3 radio station compilation titled “Fevgo”.

On May 15, 2006, Ble released the single entitled “Ton Idio ton Theo” which reached No8 in the charts, while on July 16, they performed on Mount Lycabettus Theatre stage, Athens.

In June, Ble released their sixth album “Oneira Sou Tragoudao”, which includes eleven tracks, two “Ton Idio ton Theo” remixes and one “Thimose I Anoixi” remix.

Later that year, Ble included in their line up of their live appearances Stefan Schwerdtfeger, frontman of the German band, Big Sleep.

2008–2010: Mia Fora Ki Enan Kairo

In 2009, the band released the “Ble 1996–2009 compilation (Best Of)”. The first single from that album is called “Mia Fora ki ena Kairo” and it received excellent reviews for its sound but its artwork, as well.

In the same album, Ble included a cover they recorded of Yiannis Ritsos’ historical song “Tha Simanoun Oi Kampanes”. The cover was recorded under the license of Mikis Theodorakis for the 100 years from Yiannis Ritsos’ demise.

2010–2012: Mazi Sou Ego

In October 2011, Ble released the single "Eho Poli Thimo". The video clip of the track was remarkably innovative and received very good reviews in Greece.

In March 2012, the band released a new single, entitled "Mazi Sou Ego" in collaboration with Lakis Papadopoulos.

2013: Ego Mporo Kai Moni

In April 2013, Ble released their new digital single "Ego Mporo Kai Moni", which is available for download on their website www.ble.gr.

2015: .20

In December 2015, Ble released their seventh, 20th anniversary album, titled ".20" after almost 10 years of no LP release. The album features ten songs, three of which had already been released as singles (Eho Poli Thimo, Ego Mporo Kai Moni, Fila me sto stoma). The album was recorded and produced by the producer Apostolos Papapostolou, who was also featured as an arranger and instrumentalist on most tracks. This collaboration revitalized the band's sound and reestablished their presence in the Greek music scene.[1][2][3][4][5]

Band members

Former members

Discography

Contributions and solo work

References

  1. ^ http://www.music.net.cy/mple-20-kiklofori-to-neo-album/
  2. ^ http://mikrofwno.gr/2015/12/20-to-neo-almpoum-ton-mple-kiklofori/
  3. ^ https://www.discogs.com/Μπλε-20/release/8702633
  4. ^ http://popaganda.gr/o-apostolos-papapostolou-empneete-apo-tous-radiohead-tous-nine-inch-nails-ke-ti-bjork/
  5. ^ https://frapress.gr/2016/07/mple-istories-me-tin-tzortzia-kefala/
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