Throughout the years, I am often asked by fellow colleagues, partners and other people I interact with to present typical examples of greek music.
(Meaning, two individuals in the past year have casually remarked that the greek music I forcefully play for them sounds cool, and politely commented that at some point, in the not foreseeable future, they would like to listen to some more. To which I reply, of course, the only sensible way one could : I give them a long history lesson, gently emphasizing the fact that Yann Tiersen rips off Manos Hadjidakis, that Misirlou from Pulp Fiction is a rendition of a really old traditional greek song and that, generally, one is absolutely clueless about music in general when one is absolutely clueless about greek music.)
So overwhelming has been the demand and positive feedback for my greek music presentation that I decided to document a run-down of twenty essential musical pieces originating from Greece. So that everyone not familiar with traditional (and a tiny bit contemporary) greek music can learn something, and those of you, my loyal readers, who do know more about it than me, can shake your heads in disbelief about how I managed to include some songs but failed to do so with other, classic lovely ones, which I'm sure will be the case.
In other words, this list does not represent the 20 best songs in greek history, but rather 20 songs that will give you a clue and a timeline about what greek music has been, and is, all about.
So, then. Make yourselves a new cup of coffee or refill your wineglasses and let's get on with it.
#20
San ton Karagiozi (Like Karagiozis)
Lyrics/Music/Performed by : Dionysis Savvopoylos
1974
1974
Translated key lyrics :
The thing that condemns me
the thing that saves me
is that I'm dreaming,
just like Karagiozis
friends and enemies
on my terrible back
nicely to carry
as if they were passengers
My white sheet, my crazy lamp
red eggs or carnivals
through the statistical ballot box
the grim reaper is watching us and salivating
Background : Dionysis Savvopoulos, a well known composer from Thessaloniki and political activist during the military dictatorship years (1967-1974), during which time he was twice imprisoned, sings about Karagiozis, a traditional theatrical character, well-known in Greece and Turkey. He is a character who always longs for wealth and fame, but whenever confronted with a chance to make a difference displays cowardice and sloth.
#19
Andromeda
Lyrics/music : Thanassis Papathanasiou
Performed by : Thanassis Papathanasiou / Sokratis Malamas
1995
Translated lyrics :
Over there, far away at Andromeda,
they're drinking tsipouro and eating lakerda
some nice and strange beings
they're alone, and looking for company
Background : not much sense to be made of the lyrics here, really. Just a rather contemporary song you will listen, and dance to, after you've drunk a respectable amount of tsipouro accompanied by the appropriate amount of lakerda, or any smoked fish that contains enough salt to give your blood pressure the extra push it needs to reach dangerously high levels.
#18
To dihti (the net)
Music : Stavros Xarhakos
Lyrics : Nikos Gatsos
Performed by Sotiria Leonardou
1983
Translated lyrics :
Every time you find a new way in life
do not wait until midnight finds you
keep your eyes open, day and night
because in front of you lies always a net
And if at some point you find yourself entangled in its web
no one will be able to help you out of it
alone you will have to find the end of the thread
and, if you're lucky, to begin all over again
Background : heavyweight composer Xarhakos and poet/songwriter Gatsos wrote this one for the movie "Rembetiko". With obvious political extensions, this song that warns us to be wary of friends and allies who will disappear when things get harder has never been outdated in Greece. Plus, as a friend once remarked, it's a great closing song for a night out, a tune that you can sing all the difficult, drunken way home.
#17
Auti i nihta menei (only this night is left)
Music/lyrics/performed by Stamatis Kraounakis
2000
Translated lyrics :
Every night, I go out to get drowned
sometimes the stars, sometimes the edge of the abyss
I'm looking for something, like the castaway
my years like my sheets
my cigarettes, to put them out
Only this night is left
for centuries frozen
when two souls found no shelter
and they came to this world, sad and doomed
to live a love on earth
Background : exuberant, outspoken songwriter Kraounakis is no stranger to haunting, bittersweet melodies. This one was written for a drama of the same name. If you are interested in checking out another example of Kraounakis beautifully orchestrating and performing one of his own songs you are welcome to click here .
And if you have any doubts as to what an impact his songs have on the people who know them and have fallen in and out of love with them, you can check the expressions of the semi-drunken celebrities in this video as they sing along the lyrics "only once did I cry bitterly for you, and then I made my arrangements and never called you again, not even once".
#16
Ti simera, ti aurio, ti tora (today, tomorrow or now, there's no difference)
Music Vassilis Tsitsanis
Lyrics Gerasimos Tsakalos
Performed by Marika Ninou
1953
Translated lyrics :
Today, tomorrow or now
there's no difference
let's clear things up an hour early
the time has come for your breakup
maybe it's for the two of us better
let's clear things up an hour early
Today, tomorrow or now
there's no difference
and if we wait, what is there to gain?
since our nagging broke out like a storm
on this road we will both be miserable
and if we wait, what is there to gain?
Today, tomorrow or now
there's no difference
Since we can't live together
and everything's already downhill now
it's better that we break up already
since we can't live together
Background : first entry for the rembetiko master Tsitsanis, here with a classic moving break-up song that, although recorded in the 1950's, still accompanies the blues of broken up and broken hearted people.
#15
Apopse klaiei o ouranos (The sky cries tonight)
Music : Mimis Plessas
Lyrics : Kostas Pretenteris
Performed by Giannis Poulopoulos
1979
Translated lyrics:
Tonight the sky cries for you and for me
our words are scattered and are now lost
and our lips stayed mute and frozen
And the sky is heavy, and cries in despair
What is there to tell you now?
I'm losing the light, and you
Everything is black and blurry, everything cloudy
My heart is a wound, my eyes full with tears
And the sky is heavy, and cries in despair
Background : a typical example of the drama inherent in greek musicals of the 1960's and 70's, the lead character in this movie drinks trying to forget how he screwed up his relationship and lost the girl. There to accompany him is his best friend and the local singer with a "hasapiko" (name of the dance).
#14
Kane ligaki ypomoni (Be a little patient)
Music/lyrics : Vassilis Tsitsanis
Performed by Sotiria Mpellou & Vassilis Tsitsanis
1948
Translated lyrics :
Don't get desperate, it won't take long
a dawn will come to you
and ask you for a new love
be a little patient
Drive away the clouds from your heart
and don't stay up the whole night crying
What if she's not in your arms?
One day it will come, do not forget
When the sweet dawn comes, you'll be awake
and your love will be resurrected
A new love will begin again
be a little patient
Background : this entry could contain just songs from this amazing collaboration between Tsitsanis and Mpellou, the lady with the most powerful and distinctive voice in the history of greek female singers. Together they produced a number of usually sad songs, telling sentimental tales of past or one-sided romances, always performed with all of their heart and soul.
#13
Pou na vro ginaika na sou moiazei (where would i find another woman like you)
Lyrics Kostas Kofiniotis
Music/Performed by Antonis Diamantidis/Dalgkas
Sometime in the 1930s
Translated lyrics:
Where would i find another woman like you
one with eyes that slaughter the heart
so proud and graceful
one with your velvet olive (note : olive = greek slang for a distinctive dark skin spot)
where would i find another woman like you?
Background : the oldest song in this list, performed by the mysteriously double named Antonis Diamantidis or Dalgkas, gave me a lot of trouble while trying to trace the exact year it came out. I finally gave up. Recorded sometime during the 1930s, it inspired a fiercely popular modern song by Kostis Maraveyas. A mash-up of the two songs can be seen here.
#12
Exo enan kafene (I own a coffee tavern)
Music : Manos Loizos
Lyrics : Leuteris Papadopoulos
Performed by Giorgos Ntalaras
1970
Translated lyrics:
I own a coffee tavern at the end of the harbor
it was built from the tears of those who stay and wait
I own a coffee tavern which always hears the same things
About embarkments and journeys of those who stay and wait
I own a coffee tavern, an old wreck
Oh, if it could only be a ship
for those who stay and wait
Background : iconic composer Manos Loizos wrote the beautiful music for this tribute to the greek immigrants before he died at the age of 44. This song, a personal favorite, is not really typical of his work, which includes a lot of politically charged ballads against totalitarian regimes that cause the anguish of nations.
#11
Kapote tha'rthoun (One day they'll come)
Music : Mikis Theodorakis
Lyrics : Leuteris Papadopoulos
Performed by Pavlos Sidiropoulos
1979
Translated lyrics:
One day they'll come to tell you
that they believe in you and that they love you
and that they want you
Take care of the child
close the door with the key
They're lying
One day, the educated, well-read and sensible will come to convince you
Take care of the child
close the door with the key
they will sell you out
And when the times come
when the candlelight goes out amidst the storm
Defend the child
because, if the child makes it through safe
There is hope
Background : Pavlos Sidiropoulos was arguably the most important representative of greek rock music. In 1979 he starred in the movie "O Asymvivastos" (the one that won't conform), in which he performed the soundtrack songs, including this one, composed by the famous Mikis Theodorakis, with obvious allusions to, but not limited to, the years of military dictatorship. Sidiropoulos died in 1990, at the age of 42, due to complications related to a drug overdose.
#10
Kyr-Antonis
Music/Lyrics Manos Hadjidakis
Here performed by Melina Merkouri & Manos Hadjidakis
1971
Translated lyrics:
Kir-Antonis is in a hurry to go to sleep
because at night, in his dreams, he wants to remember
that he never lived in the dream he's living
but the night is over, and the dawn finds him a sad man
Kir-Antonis, oh, how we love you
and with you we count the stars
for you, we jump over the fire
until the dawn comes
Αnd we always forget your longing
like birds, together we wander
like kids, we laugh with you as you pray
But one night, Kir-Antonis makes his bed ready
and we wake up, we wait for him to appear at his door
But Kir-Antonis will never go out in his yard
Because he wanted to live in his dream forever
Background : I'll start by admitting that Manos Hadjidakis is my favorite greek composer, if not altogether favorite composer, of all time. For this he teams up with Melina Merkouri, a vivacious actor/singer later turned politician, to produce a moving video of the two of them singing this bittersweet song next to a fireplace. Hadjidakis always loved to compose (but was in no way limited to) this type of song that told the tale of alienated, sad people living among us. In my opinion, it does not get any better than this. But it does get more iconic as you, my loyal reader, will soon find out.
Enjoying yourself so far, my beloved reader? Having fun? Are you humming along? Are you excited for the second part?
No?
Well, that's too bad. Because it's coming soon. And when it does, it is going to kick your ass.
So, do yourself a favor and join me as I continue the countdown with songs #9-#1 in the second part, sometime later this week.
Until then, take care and please, for the love of God, try to drive safe and fall in love.
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