Gia (song)

"Gia"
Single by Despina Vandi
from the album Gia
Released	December 19, 2001 (See release history)
Format	CD single Maxi CD 12 Vinyl Enhanced CD EP
Recorded	2003
Genre	Dance-pop, Eurodance, techno
Length	4:09
Label	Heaven Music Ultra
Writer(s)	Phoebus
Producer(s)	Phoebus (with co-production by Bass Bumpers)
Certification	Gold
Despina Vandi singles chronology
"Ande Gia" (2002) "Gia" (2003) "Come Along Now" (2004)
Alternative covers UK cover Australian two-track edition cover Audio sample file info · help

"Gia" is a song recorded by Greek singer Despina Vandi. It was originally released as the lead single off her 2001 multi-platinum Greek album also of the same name. Vandi signed with Ultra Records for the international release of the track, and in 2003 a CD single was made available in many markets, following by a 2004 US re-issued which included a new English-language version.^[1]

"Gia" (A Greek meaning for the word "Hi") is best known for its blending of Arabian drums, Modern Laika, Eurodance-influenced techno beats and bilingual lyrics. It is also the first foreign-language Dance recording to top the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart, where it peaked at number one in 2004.^[2][3]

"Gia" stayed on the charts of Billboard for 12 weeks and made Vandi one of the six artists that stayed so many weeks on the charts for 2004.^[4]

The track has also been mashed-up with another Vandi single, "Come Along Now", which was released in 2004 as "Come Along Now Vs. Gia". It is featured on the Ministry of Sound's "The Annual 2005".^[5]

According to the Greek "Chart Show" and IFPI, the song is in the third position in the Top 30 with the best songs of the most successful Greek artists during 2000-2009.^[6]

The song has also been used by Romanian gymnast Catalina Ponor in her floor routine at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where she won the gold medal.

Music video

The original music video of the song was directed by Kostas Kapetanidis and was set in a temple with Vandi and four male dancers and featured a young child. In 2003, a new video was made for the Greek-English release of the song, which was also directed by Kapetanidis and was shot in Morocco.

Track listing

• US vinyl (12)

1. Gia (DJ Gregory Remix)
2. Gia (Milk & Sugar Remix)
3. Gia (Bass Bumpers Extended Remix)
4. Gia (Level K Remix)

• Greece & US CD single

1. Gia (Bass Bumpers Radio Edit) - 3:00
2. Gia (Original) - 4:09
3. Gia (Milk & Sugar Radio Edit) - 3:19
4. Gia (DJ Gregory Remix) - 7:59
5. Everything I Dreamed - 3:18
6. Gia (Video)

• US EP

1. "Gia" (Radio Edit)
2. "Gia" (Milk & Sugar Radio Edit)
3. "Gia" (Original Mix)
4. "Gia" (Extended Mix)
5. "Gia" (Milk & Sugar Remix)
6. "Gia" (DJ Gregory Remix)
7. "Gia" (Level K Remix)

Release history

Country	Release date	Format
Greece	December 19, 2001
Worldwide	September 22, 2003
United States	August 27, 2004	EP
	November 21, 2004	CD single

Charts

Chart (2001-2004)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[7]	35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8]	42
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	56
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9]	20
Germany (Official German Charts)[10]	36
Greece (IFPI)	1
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[11]	22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12]	55
Romania (Romanian Top 100)	8
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[13]	19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14]	25
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15]	73
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)	63
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[16]	39

References

1. Despina Vandi - Gia
2. Δέσποινα Βανδή: "Μ' αρέσει να τραγουδάω τα πάντα" (in Greek). MAD TV, April 15, 2008. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
3. Hot Dance Airplay - Gia Billboard, March 20, 2004. Retrieved on December 21, 2007.
4. http://www.tralala.gr/monimes-stiles/arthrografia/item/11353-despina_vandi_gia
5. "(UK) : Various - Ministry Of Sound: The Annual 2005 : CD - Free Delivery". Play.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
6. "CHART SHOW: Το Γειά στα καλύτερα τραγούδια 2000-2009". YouTube. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
7. "Australian-charts.com – Antique – Gia". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
8. "Ultratop.be – Antique – Gia" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
9. "Antique: Gia" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
10. "Musicline.de – Antique Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
11. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Antique – Gia" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
13. "Spanishcharts.com – Antique – Gia" Canciones Top 50.
14. "Swedishcharts.com – Antique – Gia". Singles Top 100.
15. "Swisscharts.com – Antique – Gia". Swiss Singles Chart.
16. Allmusic peak