Sakis Rouvas

1.1. Birth and Family

Anastasios Rouvas was born on 5 January 1972 in Mantouki, a suburb of Corfu City on the island of Corfu, Greece. He is the eldest of four sons born to Konstantinos "Kostas" Rouvas, an ambulance driver, and Anna-Maria Panaretou, a duty-free shop clerk at the local airport. His three younger brothers are Vasilis (born 1975), Apostolos (born 1977), and Nikos (born 1991). The family faced financial difficulties, and Rouvas began taking care of his younger brothers from the age of five. In 1984, his parents divorced, and Rouvas, along with his brother Apostolos, moved to their paternal grandparents' home in the village of Potamos when their father remarried.

1.2. Education and Early Interests

From an early age, Rouvas exhibited athletic ability and began taking ballet classes at four years old. Despite his physical talents, he struggled with academic subjects, particularly reading and writing, throughout his schooling. His parents had a background in theatre, and at the age of ten, Rouvas starred in his first theatrical production, An I Karharies Itan Anthropi (If Sharks Were People). Shortly thereafter, he discovered music, which he enjoyed almost as much as athletics. He taught himself to play the guitar, drawing inspiration from international artists such as Elvis Presley. Working during the day, Rouvas attended school at night alongside his mother, who had not completed secondary school.

1.3. Early Professional Beginnings

To support his family, the young Rouvas held a variety of jobs, including working in an automobile repair shop, as a construction worker, and as a bartender. At age 15, he joined the Greek national track and field team, admiring Ukrainian pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka. He continued in athletics until he was 18, but a growing belief in his musical future led him to join the Corfu Band. At his graduation, he performed hits by Elvis Presley and The Beatles. As a teenager, he formed a band with friends, and when one member fell ill during a hotel performance, Rouvas stepped in as a replacement. He began performing regularly at local clubs and hotels, where he was discovered by his future manager, Ilias Psinakis, at a venue called To Ekati. Following this discovery, he left Corfu to pursue greater opportunities.

3.1. Debut and Early Commercial Success (1991-1993)

Rouvas initially attempted auditions for a play written by Anna Vissi and Nikos Karvelas but did not secure a role. He also submitted demos that were reviewed by Giorgos Theofanous, though no collaboration resulted at that time. Disheartened, he moved to Patras, where he worked for a season until he was noticed by the popular Greek singer Dakis, who became his first professional mentor.

Rouvas then relocated to Athens and made his professional debut in 1990 at the Show Centre. His performance of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" caught the attention of PolyGram Records executives and songwriter Giorgos Pavrianos, leading to his first recording contract. Several months later, he participated in the Thessaloniki Song Festival, where he won Best Composition for "Par'ta" ("Take Them"), with music by Nikos Terzis and lyrics by Giorgos Pavrianos, though he lost Best Vocal Performance to Giorgos Alkaios. A brief earthquake occurred during the festival.

The day after the festival in 1991, Rouvas released his self-titled debut album, Sakis Rouvas, which quickly topped the Greek Albums Chart. "Par'ta" became a significant radio hit, and other songs from the album, such as "1992", "Ego S'agapo" ("I Love You"), and "Gia Fantasou" ("Imagine"), also gained popularity. Following the album's success, he began his collaboration with manager Ilias Psinakis.

In September 1992, Rouvas released his second album, Min Andistekese (Don't Resist), also composed by Nikos Terzis. This album spawned hit singles like "Gyrna" ("Return"), "Min Andistekese", "Na Ziseis Moro Mou" ("Live, My Baby"), and "Me Kommeni Tin Anasa" ("Breathless"), with a music video for the title track. The album's strong performance solidified Rouvas's position at the forefront of the Greek music scene.

His third album, Gia Sena (For You), was released in October 1993, featuring music by Alexis Papadimitriou and lyrics by Eleni Giannatsoulia and Evi Droutsa. The single "Kane Me" ("Make Me") became a radio hit, with "To Xero Eisai Moni" ("I Know You Are Alone") and "Xehase To" ("Forget It") also receiving substantial airplay.

3.2. Transition and Challenges (1994-1997)

In the winter of 1994, Rouvas collaborated with singer-songwriter and record producer Nikos Karvelas on his fourth album, Aima, Dakrya & Idrotas (Blood, Tears & Sweat). Its singles, "Ela Mou" ("Come To Me") and "Xana" ("Again"), became radio hits. The album's release coincided with Rouvas's military service, which became a source of significant controversy and public scrutiny, impacting his career.

In 1996, Rouvas released his fifth studio album, Tora Arhizoun Ta Dyskola (Now the Hard Times Start), once again collaborating with Nikos Karvelas and lyricist Natalia Germanou. During that winter, he performed with Anna Vissi at the Chaos Club in Athens and was featured in their duet "Se Thelo, Me Theleis" ("I Want You, You Want Me"), also written by Karvelas, on Vissi's 1997 album Travma (Trauma). The same year, Rouvas lent his voice to the role of Quasimodo in the Greek soundtrack of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (I Panagia Ton Parision). In 1997, Rouvas and Turkish singer Burak Kut recorded a Greek and Turkish duet titled "Birgün/Otan" ("When"), a cover of "Someday" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame soundtrack. They performed this song together at a bicommunal concert on the Green Line in Cyprus, an event organized by the United Nations with the Cypriot government's approval. This concert, however, sparked considerable public outrage and controversy, causing a significant blow to Rouvas's public image and forcing him to temporarily leave Greece.

3.3. Return to Prominence and New Sound (1998-2000)

In December 1998, Rouvas released his sixth album, Kati Apo Mena (Something From Me), his first under his new label, Minos EMI. The album was written by Giorgos Theofanous. The song "Den Ehi Sidera I Kardia Sou" ("Your Heart Doesn't Have Steel Rails") became a major hit and remains one of his most popular songs. All the music videos for the album's singles, including "I Kardia Mou Xtypa", "Ipirxes Panta", "Theleis i Den Theleis", and "Den Ehi Sidera I Kardia Sou", were directed by the then-emerging director Yorgos Lanthimos. To promote the album, Rouvas performed at the Virgin Megastore in Athens, an event that attracted thousands of fans and caused significant traffic congestion. The following year, Rouvas recorded "Oso Exo Esena" ("As Long As I Have You"), a duet with singer Stelios Rokkos. The two artists also performed together at the Bio Bio venue in Athens during the summer.

In March 2000, Rouvas released his seventh album, 21os Akatallilos (21+ X-Rated or 21 Unworthy). For this album, he was credited as the sole composer of the title track. Both the album and its lead single, "Andexa" ("I Endured"), topped the Greek charts, with the music video for "Andexa" once again directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Concurrent with the album's release, Rouvas performed with singer Katy Garbi at the Pili Axiou venue in Thessaloniki. In May, during rehearsals for summer performances, Rouvas was hospitalized with abdominal pain, which was diagnosed as peritonitis and required an appendectomy. On 25 October 2000, he began a winter season residency at Apollonas, performing alongside Antonis Remos and Peggy Zina.

3.4. International Exposure and Eurovision Debut (2001-2004)

In 2001, Rouvas signed with Universal Licensing Music (ULM) of Universal Music France, a move recommended by singer Nana Mouskouri. He collaborated with American songwriter-producer Desmond Child and Phoebus on the song "Disco Girl". This track became a hit in Greece, achieving platinum certification and earning Rouvas the Pop Singer of the Year award at the inaugural Arion Music Awards. The single was subsequently released in France, with an English version penned by Andreas Carlsson. Rouvas performed 20 shows across France to support "Disco Girl," which received extensive airplay and led to comparisons with Latin pop star Ricky Martin.

Rouvas's eighth album, Ola Kala, a collaboration with Desmond Child, Phoebus, and Greek songwriters Natalia Germanou and Vangelis Konstantinidis, was released in June 2002. The album quickly achieved gold status in Greece within 11 days and went platinum within four months.

In April 2003, Rouvas performed alongside Antonis Remos and Nana Mouskouri at the Arion Awards. In December, he released his ninth album, To Hrono Stamatao (I Stop Time), which was certified gold shortly after its release. Songs from this album received significant radio airplay. That same month, Rouvas began a winter season residency at Fever, performing with Giorgos Tsalikis and ONE. A Greek version of "Feelings" from the album, titled Pes Tis ("Tell Her"), was released as a single, featuring the same music video as its French and English counterparts.

In March 2004, Hellenic Radio and Television (ERT) announced that Rouvas would represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. This decision came after the selection process on the reality show EuroStar proved unsatisfactory. Although the show's winner was initially expected to represent Greece with a song by Nikos Terzis, ERT changed its plans due to doubts about the winner's ability to perform under pressure and Rouvas's expressed interest. In mid-March, "Shake It", with music by Terzis and lyrics by Nektarios Tyrakis, premiered on Greek radio. Terzis modified the song from its original Latin spirit to incorporate traditional Greek bouzouki sounds, aiming for a distinct style. At the third Arion Music Awards, Rouvas won Best Pop Singer for To Hrono Stamatao. In mid-April, "Shake It" was released as a CD single, and Rouvas embarked on a promotional tour across Europe. To Hrono Stamatao was reissued with a bonus "Shake It" single. The song held the number one position on the Greek airplay charts for several weeks and topped the IFPI Greece Top 50 singles chart for nine consecutive weeks.

Rouvas was widely considered a favorite to win the Eurovision final. On 12 May 2004, he performed in the semi-final, appearing 10th out of 22, and then 16th out of 24 in the final on 15 May 2004. His stage show, choreographed by Fokas Evangelinos, featured two female dancers and three backing vocalists, including the EuroStar winner and runners-up. "Shake It" ultimately finished third in the final. Rouvas's appearance in Eurovision garnered immense interest from Greek viewers, achieving an 86.7 percent rating, which was the highest rating in Greek TV history at the time. His participation marked a turning point in his career, transforming his public perception from a media-produced celebrity to a respected pop artist, and making him more accessible to the media.

In June 2004, Rouvas performed "Shake It" at the inaugural MAD Video Music Awards, where he won Sexiest Appearance for the "Pes Tis" music video. On 7 July, he performed in Istanbul with Turkish artist and 2003 Eurovision Song Contest winner Sertab Erener, in a concert aimed at fostering peace between the two countries. In August, he carried the Olympic torch through Panathenaiko Stadium and performed at the closing ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he was lowered onto the stage from above to sing the traditional Greek song "Karapiperim".

In fall 2004, Rouvas recorded a duet version of "Se Thelo San Trelos" ("I Want You Like Crazy," from 21os Akatallilos) with Russian pop singer Philip Kirkorov. In December, he began performing with Giorgos Mazonakis at Fever for the winter season, with Elena Paparizou as their opening act. His show received high praise, with Georgia Laimou of E-go commending it as "a more neat, well-supported, professional, and generally flawless performance than Sakis' exists on the Athenian clubs."

3.5. Continued Success and Media Presence (2005-2008)

On 6 April 2005, Rouvas released his tenth album, S'eho Erotefthi (I'm in Love With You), which achieved platinum certification in five months and was eventually certified 3x platinum. Release parties for the CD were held simultaneously in Heraklion, Corfu, Thessaloniki, and Athens. "S'eho Erotefthi", "Hilia Milia" ("A Thousand Miles"), "Mila Tis" ("Talk to Her"), "Na M' Agapas" ("You Should Love Me"), and "Cairo" all became radio hits. That year, Rouvas received the World Music Award as the Best-Selling Greek Artist of 2004. In September, he gave a charity concert at the Olympic Indoor Hall to an audience of 20,000, setting a record for the largest production by any Greek entertainer at the time, a record he would later surpass in 2009. This was followed by another concert in Patras.

On 14 February 2006, Rouvas held a Valentine's Day concert where he performed his popular ballads and cover versions of ballads by other Greek and international artists. The concert was recorded and released in April as Live Ballads, his first live album and video, available as a CD and a CD/DVD package. The CD included three new studio tracks: "Horis Kardia" ("Without a Heart," a Greek version of Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter"), "Eisai Oli Mou H Zoi," and an English-language version of "S'eho Erotefthi" titled "I'm in Love With You." The album topped the Greek album chart. On 3 April, Rouvas performed "Horis Kardia" at the Arion Music Awards, where he won Best Pop Album and Best Pop Singer for S'eho Erotefthi.

In May, the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was held in Athens after Greece's victory the previous year. Rouvas was invited by ERT to co-host the semi-final and final with Maria Menounos. In the semi-finals, Rouvas opened the show by singing the Katrina and the Waves song "Love Shine a Light" with Menounos. During the voting intermission, he performed "I'm in Love With You."

On 14 June, Rouvas performed "Agapa Me" ("Love Me," a Greek version of Julio Iglesias's "Abrázame") and "Na M' Agapas" at the third MAD Video Music Awards. He won Best Video by a Male Artist for "Na M' Agapas" and Best-Dressed Artist in a Video for "Mila Tis."

On 13 November, he began filming his feature-film debut, Alter Ego. On 6 December 2006, Rouvas released his eleventh studio album, Iparhi Agapi Edo (There Is Love Here). "Ego Travo Zori" ("I'm Having a Hard Time") and "18 (Iparhi Agapi Edo)" received significant radio airplay. The lyrics for "Mikros Titanikos (Se Latrevo)" ("Little Titanic [I Adore You]") were penned by Yiannis Parios, with music composed by his son Harry Varthakouris. The album was certified platinum, selling over 40,000 copies by April 2007.

3.6. Film and Television Career, This Is My Live, Fatherhood, and Irthes (2007-08)

Rouvas's Academy Awards prime-time special, Sakis Oscar Songs, aired on 20 February 2007 on Nova. The special was filmed at a private concert at Athens Arena and featured Oscar-winning songs. In March, he began performing at Boom in Thessaloniki with Despina Vandi.

On 10 May 2007, Village Roadshow Productions' film Alter Ego premiered in theatres across Greece, with an avant-premiere on 7 May. With a budget of 2.00 M EUR, it was one of the most expensive productions in Greece at the time. The film received mixed reviews. Its sale of 200,000 tickets made Alter Ego an average success for Greek cinema, although Rouvas expressed disappointment with its media coverage. Its soundtrack was recorded by the movie's cast and Rouvas, and the theme song, "Zise Ti Zoi" ("Live Life"), reached the top 10. On 29 June 2008, Alter Ego was screened at a Los Angeles Greek festival.

On 20 July 2007, Rouvas performed in Ptolemaida, Kozani, as part of the Expedition for Environment Act Now! initiative. On 10 September 2007, his concert at the Lycabettus theater, part of an OPAP campaign promoting blood donation, was recorded and released as a CD/DVD on 12 December 2007, titled This Is My Live. The album also featured his latest single, "Stous 31 Dromous" ("On 31 Roads"). On 29 October, Rouvas received his sixth Arion Music Award for Best Pop Song for "Ola Gyro Sou Gyrizoun," despite being absent from the ceremony.


In spring 2008, Rouvas and Antonis Remos embarked on a tour across North America, Australia, and South Africa. Rouvas's song "+ Se Thelo" ("And I Want You"), composed by Dimitris Kontopoulos, became a major radio hit. A music video featuring footage from the July 2008 MAD Video Music Awards was released at the end of the year. "+ Se Thelo" became a defining song in Rouvas's career, marking a rare instance of a Greek artist breaking generational barriers to produce such a significant hit nearly two decades into their career.

In July 2008, Rouvas was announced as the host for the first season of the Greek version of The X Factor, which premiered on 24 October. Rouvas also represented Greece, singing "Stous 31 Dromous," in the OGAE Song Contest, where he placed third behind Croatia and the United Kingdom.

On 3 December, Rouvas released his 12th studio album, Irthes (You Arrived), produced by Dimitris Kontopoulos. The title track, "Irthes," released a few days earlier on 20 November, was dedicated to his newborn daughter. The following day, 4 December, he premiered his winter concert series at STARZ with the Maggira Sisters.

3.7. Second Eurovision Attempt and Record-Breaking Concerts (2009-2010)

ERT made an early announcement confirming that Rouvas would once again represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. He performed three songs-"Out of Control," "Right on Time," and "This Is Our Night"-all composed by Dimitris Kontopoulos, at the Greek national finals in February. "This Is Our Night" was the overwhelming winner, securing 61 percent of the vote from both the jury and viewers, marking the largest margin and the most votes received by ERT in a national final. The song debuted at number one on the Greek Digital Singles chart, and Rouvas embarked on a promotional tour across Europe. He publicly expressed his hope to bring the contest back to Greece the following year, and a win was widely anticipated by the Greek public, with the country being one of the top three favorites among Eurovision fans. However, Rouvas ultimately finished seventh in the final. Both the singer and the Greek public were disappointed with the result, and he issued a public apology for his loss. Despite the outcome, Rouvas received universal support from the public and media, a unique occurrence for a Greek Eurovision entrant regardless of their final position.

On 1 July 2009, Rouvas performed a sold-out concert at Panathenaic Stadium in support of environmental issues, attracting an audience of 40,000. He was one of the few musicians granted permission to perform at the venue. This event marked the largest attendance ever at the stadium for a non-sporting event and the largest attendance for a single musical artist in Greek history. The concert, organized by the National Youth Council, coincided with the start of the national public smoking ban. The sold-out Sakis Live Tour visited an additional 10 cities from July to September, and he performed a sold-out concert series at Politia Live Clubbing in Thessaloniki.

In October, Rouvas returned to host the second season of the Greek version of The X Factor and provided the voice for Captain Charles T. Baker in the Greek version of Planet 51. He also made his American film debut in the psychological thriller Duress, starring alongside Martin Donovan. The film was screened at festivals in Poland and Russia and received a wide theatrical release in December by Greek distributor Hollywood Entertainment.

Rouvas performed at his new S Club for the winter 2009-10 season, with Tamta, Eleftheria Eleftheriou, and American rapper Gifted as supporting acts. On 2 March 2010, the successful S Club venue caught fire, sustaining up to 4.00 M EUR in damages. The cause of the fire was unknown, but Athens police suspected arson by rival club owners, as witnesses reported seeing containers of gasoline. After repairs, Rouvas's show resumed from 19 March to 9 April and then moved to Thessaloniki on 7 May for a six-week engagement at Politia Live Clubbing. He was featured on Tamta's single "Tharros I Alitheia" for her album of the same name. The song became a major club hit and won a MAD Video Music Award for Best Duet-Collaboration Video.

Rouvas's 13th studio album, Parafora, was released on 14 December 2010 and topped the IFPI Top 75 Albums chart. It shipped 24,000 copies in its first week, earning a double-platinum certification. The album's first single, "Spase Ton Hrono", was Rouvas's fourth consecutive single to reach number one on all Greek charts. It won Best Balkan Song from Greece at the first Balkan Music Awards. Its music video earned Rouvas five MAD Video Music Awards nominations, winning Best Pop Video, Artist of the Year, and Fashion Icon of the Year. The song also contributed to Rouvas receiving the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Greek Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2010, and he was shortlisted for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best European Act. "Emena Thes", the second single, was released in May and peaked at number five on the mixed-airplay and digital sales charts. The title track was released in October; it was number one on the domestic-airplay chart for three weeks and peaked at number two on the mixed-airplay chart. The album's fourth single, "Oi dyo mas," was released in late February 2011. Its video clip was released at the end of March, when the song topped the national-airplay chart. For the second consecutive year, Rouvas was named Singer of the Year at the Status Men of the Year Awards.

On 14 July, Rouvas concluded the Greek French Embassy's Bastille Day celebration with renditions of the French and Greek national anthems. His eight-city summer tour lasted from 24 July to 19 September. Rouvas performed at the Mykonos Xlsior Festival in support of the LGBT movement on 27 August. Although he was scheduled to perform at the first Eurovoice on 23 September with Enrique Iglesias, Anastacia, and host Pamela Anderson, his appearance was canceled a day before the event for undisclosed reasons. For the winter season of 2010-11, Rouvas joined Anna Vissi for Face2Face, a concert series at Athens Arena beginning on 15 October. ANT1 was in negotiations with Rouvas to star in a TV series after The X Factor, and he hosted the third season of the talent show from 29 October to 11 February. For his performance, Rouvas was awarded Presenter of the Year at the 2011 Cypriot Men of the Year Awards. In the spring, he made ten appearances at Thalassa. After a short break, Rouvas continued his live appearances at Pyli Axiou in Thessaloniki, announcing his upcoming winter performances at Athens Arena with Onirama and Eleni Foureira as his opening act, and releasing his new single, "Kane na mi s' agapiso." At the 2012 Johnnie Walker Men of the Year Awards in Cyprus, Rouvas was presented with the Greek of the Year award for his philanthropic contributions, particularly to the Elpida Foundation. In February 2012, he performed his new single ("Bad Thing") with American singer Nomi Ruiz of Jessica 6 at the second MADWalk, where he represented designer Apostolos Mitropoulos. In the same month, Rouvas presented the new jersey that the Greek national football team would wear at Euro 2012.

In May 2012, Rouvas released the single "Tora" ("Now"), which he performed at the 2012 MAD Video Music Awards. In November, he released a rock-Zeibekiko mash-up ballad titled "Niose Ti Thelo" ("Feel What I Want"). Rouvas was nominated for four Mad Video Music Awards, including Best Pop Video and Video of the Year, winning Male Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year for "I Dyo Mas."

3.8. Diversification and Recent Projects (2011-Present)

Rouvas returned to television as a presenter for ANT1's Iroes Anamesa Mas (Heroes Among Us), a ten-part documentary series focusing on stories of people commended for heroic deeds, which premiered on 24 May 2013. For the series, Rouvas traveled throughout Greece, interviewing the featured nominees. During the summer, he made his theatrical debut in Euripides' tragedy The Bacchae in the lead role of Dionysus, for which he received the best performance award from the 2014 Greek Theatre Critics Awards in the category of ancient drama.

Working again with songwriter Theofanous, in May 2013 Rouvas released a ballad single ("Mia Hara Na Pernas"; "Have A Good Time"). At the 2013 MAD Video Music Awards, he was nominated for four awards: Best Pop Video, Video of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Artist of the Year. "Tora" was nominated for most-played radio song of the year, and as part of the awards' tenth anniversary, Rouvas's 2008 live performance of "+ Se Thelo" was nominated for best live performance in the show's history.

His "Ace of Hearts Tour," which began on 26 April 2014, was dedicated to the Elpida Foundation and the Orama Elpidas marrow bank. The final concert of the tour took place in Athens on 11 October 2014. In the same year, he received the honorary Greek Legend award from the World Music Awards and was also nominated for the World's Best Live Act award.

On 13 January 2014, it was announced that Rouvas would be part of Athina Rachel Tsaggari's new feature film, Chevalier. On 12 March 2014, he released the single "Se Pethimisa" ("I Missed You"), collaborating with songwriter Theofanous, while the lyrics were penned by Thanos Papanikolaou.

Following his acclaimed performance as Dionysus in The Bacchae, Rouvas transitioned to a new theatrical role in the musical Hraklis; Oi dodeka athloi ("Hercules; The Twelve Labours"), where he portrayed the character of Hercules. The musical premiered on 12 December 2014. In 2015, Rouvas performed Mikis Theodorakis's "Axion Esti" at a concert organized by the municipality of Nea Smyrni to celebrate "90 Years of Mikis Theodorakis." The announcement of his performance initially met with criticism, but Theodorakis himself responded by giving permission to Rouvas, supporting his rendition, and later meeting with him.

The following year, in 2016, the film Chevalier, featuring Rouvas, was selected as the Greek entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards. He received the Best Actor prize as part of the all-male ensemble cast at the Sarajevo International Film Festival. Around the same time, Rouvas began his role as a coach on "The Voice Greece." In 2017, he collaborated with Laiko singer Paola at Kentro Athinon. That same year, he performed at the 82nd TIF, where over 50,000 spectators set a record for attendance. Following this, Rouvas performed with Babis Stokas, a member of the Entekhno/Rock band Pyx Lax, at Estate Athens.

During the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 winter seasons, Rouvas performed at the Estate Club, collaborating with Stelios Rokkos and Helena Paparizou in the latter season. He collaborated with Rokkos on the single "Ta Zorikia Vradia" ("Tough nights") in 2018 and released his single "Ela Sto Horo" ("Come Dance") in 2019. That same year, he held a concert with Helena Paparizou and Eleni Foureira. In 2020, Rouvas and Paparizou released the single "Etsi einai i Fasi" ("So that's how it is"). Additionally, in August 2020, Rouvas performed classic songs by composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, Lucio Dalla, and Ennio Morricone at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, alongside soprano Sonia Theodoridou.

3.9. Sta Kalitera Mou and Current Projects (2021-Present)

In spring 2021, Rouvas released his fourteenth studio album, Sta Kalitera Mou, produced by Phoebus. The album reached number one on the IFPI Greece top 75 albums sales chart for several consecutive weeks and became the best-selling Greek album of 2021 in Greece. The lead single was titled "Yperanthropos" (Superhuman). Another single from the album, "Pare Me Agkalia" ("Take Me in Your Arms"), reached number one on the Greek Airplay Chart, while the title track also gained prominence. Additionally, Rouvas participated in the collaborative album O Prigkipas tis Dytikis Ochthis, released in memory of singer-songwriter Manos Xydous of Pyx Lax.

In late 2021, Rouvas hosted the television documentary series Idols, which highlighted the lives and careers of influential figures in Greece's popular culture. On 31 December 2021, he performed in a televised New Year's Eve event organized by the Municipality of Athens and broadcast by ERT. The event drew criticism from the municipal administration's opposition, who questioned its cost and brief duration. However, statements from the organizing entity, Technopolis, and a later opposition mayor confirmed that the expenses were consistent with those of previous and subsequent years' events. Additional criticism arose from the decision to hold the event without an audience due to COVID-19 restrictions, with much of the backlash directed personally at Rouvas. Despite the controversy, the broadcast achieved the highest viewership ratings of the day, making ERT the most-watched network and tripling its viewership compared to the previous year's event.

In 2022, he hosted the Greek version of The Masked Singer and performed alongside Elli Kokkinou at Pyli Axiou in Thessaloniki. During the summer of 2022, Rouvas participated in the event Desmond Child Rocks the Parthenon at the Herod Atticus Odeon in Athens, sharing the stage with artists such as Alice Cooper, Bonnie Tyler, Rita Wilson, and The Rasmus. He also joined the Eleftheros Tour with fellow singer Konstantinos Argyros and continued their collaboration during winter at Teatro Athens, releasing a duet titled "Sok" in 2023.

In 2023, Rouvas released two singles, "Ela kai tha deis" ("Come and you'll see") and "Ta kaka paidia" ("The Bad Guys"). He was honored with an award at the 2023 Mad Video Music Awards for his contributions to the Greek music industry. During the 2023-2024 season, Rouvas collaborated with the band Melisses at the Enastron venue. His early hit "Ego S'agapo" ("I Love You") was rearranged for the Greek drama series "To Navagio" ("The Shipwreck"), and he participated in the song "Thema" ("Issue") with the female pop group 3SUM.

In early 2024, Sakis Rouvas released a single titled "Ti Matia" ("What Eyes") and performed at Pyli Axiou in Thessaloniki alongside Nikos Makropoulos during the spring of the same year. In September 2024, he embarked on a tour under the title "Moments," with selected performances in specific regions across Greece. That same year, Rouvas completed filming a short movie directed by Christos Kardana, which was shot in Cargèse, Corsica. The film is a co-production between Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. After seven years as a coach, Rouvas did not return for the tenth season of The Voice of Greece, and in November, he began his performances at Cabaret Athens. A review in Madame Figaro Greece praised Sakis Rouvas's performances at Cabaret Athens, describing him as "transforming Athenian nightlife into his own playground," highlighting his dynamic stage presence, energy, and steady voice, and commending him for delivering one of the finest pop performances of his career. In January 2025, he released a new single titled "Kontra Pao" ("I Go Against") under Panik Records, marking the end of his 27-year collaboration with Minos EMI. On Thursday, 30 January 2025, he co-hosted the Ethnikós Telikós 2025 alongside Helena Paparizou at the Christmas Theater, where the song and artist representing Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 were selected.

4.1. Musical Influences and Style

Elvis Presley was a significant musical idol for Rouvas, and similarities between them have often been noted, particularly in Rouvas's performance style. He covered Presley's "Suspicious Minds" for the Alter Ego soundtrack and has stated that what impressed him most about Presley as a child was "the way that he sang, that he danced, that he felt what he interpreted and what I believed that his audience felt when they heard him." Beyond Presley, Rouvas also enjoyed The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Kiss, and Queen, considering Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" "one of the ten best songs that have ever been written." Although primarily influenced by 1960s music, he also appreciated artists like George Michael and Michael Bolton. Among Greek artists, he has been influenced by Giannis Parios, Marinella, and Nana Mouskouri, whom he considers his mentor. He regards Haris Alexiou and Anna Vissi as the two greatest Greek female artists.

Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" is a favorite of Rouvas's due to its environmental message. Following Jackson's death, Rouvas dedicated a song to him at his Concert for the Environment, speaking about Jackson's legacy as "one of the most significant singers ever on this planet and the biggest showman that has ever passed by on this planet... a person whose life was a 'thriller', but however complicated his life was, he dedicated it for the good of the children and of the planet. Many people want to remember him for the complex persona that he had, I want to remember him for everything that he gave to us all of these years, and for all the reasons that he inspired us."

Rouvas considers himself a pop-rock artist, though he has described his musical style as "always more rock" than he has been credited. He has been praised for not relying on traditional Greek music for commercial success, especially given that pop music is a niche genre in Greece. He believes in the necessity of a variety of genres and, while he has experimented with traditional Greek music, he feels it is not where he performs best. Rouvas is fluent in Greek, English, and French, and has recorded songs in all three languages. He has also sung phonetically in Turkish and Russian for collaborations, such as with Burak Kut in Cyprus and the Russian duet version of "Se Thelo San Trelos" ("Kak Sumashedshij Ya") with Philipp Kirkorov, which became a hit in Russia. Rouvas plays guitar, bass, piano, cello, and some percussion. He often uses his black Gibson Les Paul electric guitar for tours and switches to acoustic guitar for unplugged performances like Live Ballads. He has expressed disappointment that younger audiences are often unfamiliar with older music.

4.2. Vocal Style and Development

Rouvas did not have formal vocal lessons as a boy, learning primarily by ear. During the recording of his first album, he had to quickly learn music theory. His voice has developed significantly since his early teenage performances. While early critics sometimes described his voice as average or limited, arguing that his appeal was based more on image and showmanship, these criticisms diminished in the second decade of his career. His technical skills, including range, power, and versatility, along with his emotional expression, became more appreciated.

Rouvas possesses a tenor vocal range. Although he can sing low notes, he prefers to sing higher and can reach notes beyond the typical tenor high without resorting to falsetto. He effectively varies his dynamics from whispers to powerful belts. His vocal power was evident in early recordings, particularly on "Mia Fora" from Aima, Dakrya & Idrotas, which was considered the first album to truly showcase his vocal ability. During his 1997-98 hiatus, Rouvas received voice lessons from American coach Raz Kennedy, focusing on rock and blues techniques. His subsequent sixth album, Kati Apo Mena, marked a milestone in his vocal development, as he demonstrated a consistent depth and dimension previously seen only sporadically. He won the Pop Corn Music Award for Best Male Vocal Performance twice in a row, for "Den Ehei Sidera I Kardia Sou" (1999) and "Se Thelo San Trelos" (2000). By the release of Live Ballads in 2006, Pavlos Zervas of Music Corner considered Rouvas's voice to have reached its most mature form.

Critic Tasos P. Karantis of Orfeas acknowledged that Rouvas sings with competence and technical precision, and his voice is easily recognizable. Ilias Malasidis of Athens 24 noted that Rouvas's voice was initially more intriguing than his musical material. His voice is particularly well-suited to power ballads, which have become his signature style, largely due to his sensual tone. Reviewers have consistently praised Rouvas's live performances, highlighting his ability to execute "especially difficult and demanding songs," sustain long, high notes, and dance while singing. Down Town magazine commended him for never using a playback track, a common practice among Greek artists. However, Billboard noted that his ability to sing well in English would enhance his international appeal. Throughout his career, Rouvas has performed in various genres, both contemporary and traditional. In some songs, such as "O Iroas" from Iparhi Agapi Edo, he delivers spoken verses that have been described as a "light rap." He has also performed in crooner styles and as a classical tenor. Rouvas's defining characteristic as a vocalist remains his emotional expression. He maintains his voice through a strict organic food diet, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and even prohibits smoking in his dressing room. Singer-songwriter Stelios Rokkos, who collaborated with him for three seasons, described Rouvas as "probably the most disciplined singer I have ever met-in fact, to the point of insanity."

6.1. Entrepreneurial Endeavors and Collaborations

In April 2009, Rouvas and Katia Zygouli became co-owners of Mariella Nails Body and Mind Care, a beauty company, holding a 25 percent stake. They also opened EDO, a sushi restaurant. In July 2010, Rouvas introduced the Sakis Rouvas Collection, a clothing line for which he had creative input, to Greek retailer Sprider Stores. He was the first Greek artist to create a clothing line. In June 2011, Rouvas and his brother, Vasilis, launched Sakis Rouvas Kinematografos EPE, a TV and film production company.

Since 2015, Rouvas has founded and managed Gaioanaptixi S.A., a company specializing in the management, inactivation, and recycling of organic waste and animal by-products, with biogas units located in Sofades, Thessaly, and Amfilochia, West Greece. Since 2019, he has served as an Independent Advisor and Entrepreneur in Residence at Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP, a platform supporting CEOs, high-net-worth families, and international advisors in scaling their businesses. Additionally, since 2019, he has been a partner at Amfilochias Gi, a state-of-the-art processing unit for milk and dairy products. He is also the founder and exclusive manager of Helios Power P.C., a company dedicated to generating electrical energy from photovoltaic systems.

6.2. Endorsements

Rouvas is frequently referred to as the "biggest brand name" or the "best seller" in Greece. In 2001, he became the Pepsi spokesperson for the company's Greek summer campaign, marking the first time a Greek entertainer appeared in a television advertisement for the brand. This collaboration was followed by the Pepsi Tour 2001, which covered seven Greek cities. In 2003, Vodafone Greece signed a collaboration contract with Rouvas, which was renewed in 2006. From 2004 to 2005, he was the face of B.U. perfume in Greece. He collaborated on the Kré Kré ice cream campaign in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, he was featured in campaigns for FAGE yogurt. In 2012, Rouvas collaborated with Trident Senses, releasing limited edition packaging that bore his signature. In addition to his partnership with Trident, he was featured in the campaign for the new jersey of the Greek National Football Team for UEFA Euro 2012, in collaboration with Adidas. In 2013, he starred in campaigns for Lay's, which launched in six countries. In 2015, he was chosen as the central figure for Coca Cola's "Kiss Happiness" campaign, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the iconic glass bottle.

In 2019, he became the face of McDonald's Greece and Cyprus, a role he held until 2023. In 2021, he was named a friend of Breitling, inaugurating their Athens store alongside Breitling CEO Georges Kern. Since 2022, Rouvas has served as the brand ambassador for the natural mineral water brand Theoni. In late 2023, he began appearing in campaigns for Gillette, a P&G brand. In 2024, Rouvas collaborated with Volkswagen to promote their new models in Greece.

8.1. Relationships and Marriage

Rouvas has publicly acknowledged being severely dyslexic. In the early years of his career, he lived with a woman named Sally, with whom he had started a relationship in Corfu. After their breakup, the media engaged in speculation about Rouvas's personal life and potential relationships with model Zeta Logotheti, Corfu bar manager Sofi Kantarou, and singer Elli Kokkinou, as Rouvas himself remained guarded and reclusive about his personal affairs. In 2003, Rouvas entered a public relationship with London-based Taiwanese producer Rebecca Wang, though their relationship lasted only a few months.

Since 2003, Rouvas has been in a relationship with model Katia Zygouli, whom he first met during a commercial shoot. They have four children together. They married on 3 July 2017 in a Greek Orthodox ceremony, with Vardis and Marianna Vardinogiannis serving as their religious sponsors (koumbaroi).

8.2. Children

Sakis Rouvas and Katia Zygouli have four children:

• Anastasia (born in 2008)
• Alexandros (born in 2011)
• Ariadni (born in 2013)
• Apollonas (born in 2016)

9.1. Military Service Controversy

At the age of 22 in 1994, Rouvas received a call for military service and submitted a request for deferment. This request was motivated by the fact that his military duty coincided with the release of his albums Aima, Dakrya, and Idrotas. However, his plea for postponement was denied, despite other artists having been granted deferments for career-related reasons. Initially, it was speculated that Rouvas wished to remain in the limelight as his career was flourishing. Nevertheless, he asserted that his reluctance to serve was attributed to agoraphobia. His claims regarding agoraphobia were met with surprise and skepticism, with media outlets commenting on the peculiarity of an entertainer having such a condition. Critics accused him of evading military conscription.

As a result, Rouvas was taken to the Penteli psychiatric hospital for evaluation, amidst widespread reports suggesting that he had attempted suicide, though this was never confirmed. After being administered a sedative injection, he was transferred to the 9th Infantry Regiment in Kalamata, where he remained in isolation for 10 days without any contact, as part of an adjustment process. He completed his military service at the 501st Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Giannitsa. During this time, Rouvas faced constant harassment from paparazzi.

9.2. Cyprus Peace Concert Controversy

On 19 May 1997, Rouvas performed with Turkish singer Burak Kut at a bicommunal reconciliation concert on the Green Line in Cyprus, before an audience of over 4,000. The concert received international coverage and support, earning Rouvas an International Abdi Ipekçi Prize for global understanding and co-operation. However, the concert was highly controversial among Greek and Turkish protesters. Following the event, stones, eggs, and tomatoes were thrown at the singer in all his subsequent concerts. Opposition to the concert turned the Greek and Greek-Cypriot media against Rouvas and became fodder for tabloid talk shows in Greece. Demonstrators protested in Cyprus and outside his home, leading to clashes involving tear gas and stone-throwing, which resulted in arrests and injuries. Due to the intense backlash, Rouvas left Greece and moved to the United States for six months to allow the incident to subside from public memory.

9.3. Other Notable Controversies

In summer 2000, Rouvas, his manager, and several other celebrities were in Mykonos on a yacht borrowed from a local physician. Rouvas needed to be on the island for a photoshoot, and the physician offered to take him there to avoid the press. Rouvas initially declined the offer. Police raided the yacht and found narcotics. However, Rouvas had already disembarked before the raid took place. Although the doctor admitted that the narcotics were his, his guests were questioned. The incident drew significant media attention, and thousands of T-shirts were printed with the phrase: "Imoun ki ego sto kotero!" ("I was on the yacht, too!").

In 2001, Rouvas's advertisement for Pepsi, featuring a semi-nude Rouvas holding a Pepsi bottle in front of his genitals, was controversial among women's rights and parental associations.

In 2012, Rouvas publicly spoke out against LGBTQ discrimination, expressing his support for the LGBTQ community and emphasizing the importance of social acceptance and equal rights. In July 2015, Rouvas uploaded a video message titled "Yes we are Europe" on his personal YouTube channel, in which he supported the pro-Europe vote for the 2015 Greek bailout referendum.

In 2020, a Syriza MP, Pavlos Polakis, implied in a speech in the Greek Parliament that Rouvas had previously supported the former far-right political party Golden Dawn. Rouvas sent a Cease and desist letter to Polakis, demanding a retraction of his statement or threatening legal action.

In late 2021, Rouvas's televised New Year's Eve event, organized by the Municipality of Athens and broadcast by ERT, drew criticism from the municipal administration's opposition. They questioned both its cost and its brief duration, especially as the event was held without an audience due to COVID-19 restrictions, leading to personal backlash against Rouvas. However, statements from the organizing entity, Technopolis, and a later opposition mayor confirmed that the expenses were consistent with those of previous and subsequent years' events. Despite the controversy, the broadcast achieved the highest viewership ratings of the day, making ERT the most-watched network and tripling its viewership compared to the previous year's event.

12.1. Concert tours

• Tora Arhizoun Ta Dyskola Summer Tour (1997)
• Pepsi Tour (2001)
• Ola Kala World Tour (2002)
• Sakis Live in Town Tour (2003)
• Sakis on Stage Tour (2005)
• Fire Victims Tour (2007)
• Antonis Remos - Sakis Rouvas World Tour (2008)
• Kalokairino Randevou me ton Saki Tour (2008)
• Sakis Live Tour (2009)
• Sakis Summer Tour (2010)
• Ace of Hearts Tour (2014)
• Eleftheros Tour (Guest act) (2022)
• Moments (2024)

12.2. Concert residencies

• To Ekati (1990)
• Athens Show Center (1991)
• Posidonio (1992)
• Posidonio (with Kaiti Garbi) (1994)
• Chaos (with Anna Vissi) (1996)
• Pyli Axiou (1997)
• Chaos (1998)
• Vio Vio (with Stelios Rokkos and Peggy Zina) (1999)
• Vio Vio (with Kaiti Garbi) (2000)
• Pyli Axiou (2000)
• Apollonas (2000-01)
• Rex (with Despina Vandi and Kostas Doxas) (2001-2002)
• Fever (2003-04)
• Fever (with Giorgos Mazonakis and Helena Paparizou) (2004-05)
• Boom (with Despina Vandi) (2007)
• Politia (2008)
• STARZ (2008-09)
• Politia Live Clubbing (2009)
• The S Club (with Tamta) (2009-2010)
• Politia Live Clubbing (with Tamta) (2010)
• Face2Face (with Anna Vissi) (2010-11)
• The S Club at Thalassa: People's Stage (with Tamta) (2011)
• Pyli Axiou (with Tamta and Eleni Foureira) (2011)
• Diogenis S Club (with Angeliki Iliadi and Melisses) (2011)
• Underworld S Club (with Onirama and Eleni Foureira) (2011-2012)
• Underworld S Club at Politia Live Clubbing (with Onirama) (2012)
• The S Club at Thalassa: People's Stage (with Penelope Anastasopoulou) (2012-2013)
• Estate Athens Club (with Onirama) (2015-2016)
• Kentro Athinon (with Paola and Tamta) (2016-2017)
• Estate Club (with Eirini Papadopoulou and Babis Stokas) (2017-2018)
• Estate Club (with Stelios Rokkos) (2018-2019)
• Estate Club (with Stelios Rokkos and Helena Paparizou) (2019-2020)
• Pyli Axiou (with Elli Kokinou) (2022)
• Teatro Athens (with Konstantinos Argyros) (2022-2023)
• Enastron (with Melisses and Anastasia) (2023-2024)
• Pyli Axiou (with Nikos Makropoulos) (2024)
• Cabaret Athens (2024-2025)