Wow. That was...intense.
The response to the first part of this entry was overwhelming, to say the least. More than ten people summoned the courage to talk to me and admitted that they did read my last blog entry and found it somewhat amusing. I hadn't been so close to tears since I saw Leonard Cohen in the flesh and, before that, since that one memorable time when the delivery guy mixed up my order and brought me chicken gyros instead.
Invigorated by your moving support and rejuvenated from a trip to Greece which included lots of sun, sea, great company, awesome food and even more lying around in various positions, I come back to you, as promised, with the conclusion to this guide to greek music.
Picking up where we left off brings us to...
#9
Lae mi sfiksis allo to zonari (People, don't tighten the belt anymore)
Music: Stavros Xarhakos
Lyrics: Iakovos Kampanellis
Performed by Nikos Xilouris and Tzeni Karezi
1974
The response to the first part of this entry was overwhelming, to say the least. More than ten people summoned the courage to talk to me and admitted that they did read my last blog entry and found it somewhat amusing. I hadn't been so close to tears since I saw Leonard Cohen in the flesh and, before that, since that one memorable time when the delivery guy mixed up my order and brought me chicken gyros instead.
Invigorated by your moving support and rejuvenated from a trip to Greece which included lots of sun, sea, great company, awesome food and even more lying around in various positions, I come back to you, as promised, with the conclusion to this guide to greek music.
Picking up where we left off brings us to...
#9
Lae mi sfiksis allo to zonari (People, don't tighten the belt anymore)
Music: Stavros Xarhakos
Lyrics: Iakovos Kampanellis
Performed by Nikos Xilouris and Tzeni Karezi
1974
Translated lyrics :
Great news I bring with me
just wait a minute until I catch my breath
while thinking if I should laugh,
cry, shout or be silent.
The kings are now gone
and right now, at the harbor by the sea
their allies are bidding them farewell
Since they planned everything
and from the beginning they dug their own graves
and always nearby our great protectors
they slowly became the gravediggers
And who's going to pay for the loss?
And how am I supposed to start all over?
If only I knew at least why!
What lies ahead in my destiny
is being studied by three schemers
[...]
The foreign bankers put their new clothes on
the greek realtors shaved
Seven with the interest, five with the make-over
forty with the oil and the vinegar
And the one who believed and anticipated
silent, let down, he stands and stares at the freedom that's up for sale.
People, don't tighten the belt any more
don't take pride in hunger
The fight you put up is worthless
if it doesn't redeem the blood that was spilt.
People, don't tighten the belt any more,
hunger is the pride of the coward,
of the slave that is going to be buried.
Background : the song appeared in a play called "To megalo mas tsirko" (Our Big Circus). It was performed in 1973, towards the end of the military Junta that was to govern Greece for almost another year, and presented an allegorical narration of the contemporary Greek history with obvious allusions to the present situation, especially Greece's dependance on foreign allies with their own agenda and the tendency to fight hard for freedom, education and human rights only to give them up shortly after and take pride in the suffering, while hoping for better days. The revolutionary play was deemed dangerous by the military government and the cast was arrested and shortly imprisoned during the performances. The songs in the play were sung live by Nikos Xilouris, legendary singer and composer from Creta. His unique voice and imposing figure made him a beloved artist and symbol of the resistance, especially after his involvement in this play. He died at the age of 43 due to brain cancer. After democracy was restored in Greece, the performances were resumed with great success. A revival of the play took place a couple of years ago (you can spot Xarhakos standing next to the piano), and I had the pleasure of being in an audience that watched with amazement and enthusiastic involvement a 40-year old play that looked as contemporary as if it was written weeks ago.
#8
Pes mou mia leksi (Just tell me one word)
Music: Manos Hadjidakis
Lyrics: Alekos Sakellarios
Performed by Dimitris Horn and Maro Kontou
1961
Translated lyrics :
Just tell me a word, this one word
in a while the sun will shine,
the pale dawn will come
It's almost six, let's say this word
that is tangled up in the lips and dare not come out
The sky, this big sky is still dark and the night keeps flowing
But up there, look, a star that shyly shines and smiles at us
The night is silver and all of my worries are in a silken net from golden hair
The sweet dawn is upon us, but you don't care
that my empty embrace is filled with sorrow
Background : First appearing in a film, this piece composed by Hadjidakis and sung by the actors Horn and Kontou still remains, in my opinion, the ultimate song with which to serenade the pretty girl whose heart you want to win before the night is over. Dimitris Horn, one of the most talented greek theatre and movie actors went on to star in many well-respected films and sing many wonderful songs that have stood the test of time.
#7
Esy eisai i aitia pou ipofero (You are the reason I suffer)
Music and lyrics : Manolis Hiotis
Performed by Manolis Hiotis and Andreas Spaggadoros
1949
Translated lyrics :
You are the reason I suffer
Why did you leave me here miserable?
Why do you make me suffer so much?
Be careful, I might just kill you
I can't stand watching you run around with others
Why do you make me suffer so much?
Be careful, I might just kill you
Just stop tormenting me
My only hope and happiness
and my dream, my light is you
I love, how can I tell you, my dear, come back
don't leave or I'll do something crazy
I've told you, I can't live without you
I love, how can I tell you, my dear, come back
don't leave or I'll do something crazy
come back, I forgive you
Background : the genius of Manolis Hiotis and his bouzouki maestry (he invented the four-string bouzouki and introduced latin overtones to the traditional rebetiko genre) made him famous beyond the greek borders (allegedly he was held in very high esteem by Jimi Hendrix, although allegedly :P). His parternship on stage with Mary Linda made for a very successful duet that was enjoyed even by the USA president Lyndon Johnson in the White House at his birthday. Hiotis managed to live to be 47, something of an accomplishment in comparison to other artists in this entry. His songs are being covered by young artists up to this very day.
#6
Aeriko
Music : Manos Hadjidakis
1966
Background : Manos Hadjidakis married greek folk and classical music. Not much to comment here, except to apologize for the poor audio quality.
#5
Mi mou ksanafigis pia (Don't go away from me anymore)
Music and lyrics by Vasilis Tsitsanis
Performed by Prodromos Tsaousakis and Rena Ntallia (here by Vasilis Tsitsanis and Sotiria Mpellou)
1951
Translated lyrics :
Ι knew that one day you'd come
and that you'd get bored of this madness
Don't go away from me anymore, my boy
stay in my arms
This break-up was unfair
and extremely hard
Don't go away from me anymore, my boy
stay in my arms
I found myself in life without a mother, without a family
Don't go away from me anymore, my boy
stay in my arms
Background : two rembetiko heavyweights team up for this zeimbekiko. Tsitsanis, one of the most well-known influential representatives was partially responsible for introducing the rembetiko music to the mainstream and enjoyed great fame and success with his many famous compositions. Mpellou, on the other hand, easily one of the most recognizable voices (and for that matter, figures) in greek folk music was arguably one the best greek female singers of all time. Whereas her appearance maybe left much to be desired (it's a matter of taste, after all), her booming voice still captivates listeners. Her cooperations with musicians from various music genres made her well-known and beloved by almost every Greek. After enduring much hardship (problems with alcoholism, depression, gambling, imprisonment for her involvement in the resistance during the nazi occupation of Greece and depression through failed romantic relationships) she was diagnosed with throat cancer and was practically mute when she died, poor, at the age of 75.
#4
Tis aminis ta paidia (The children of the defence)
Music and lyrics by unknown (Cover by Stauros Xarhakos)
Performed by Nikos Dimitratos
???
(Now with German subtitles!)
Translated lyrics :
One day, it's gonna go down in the history books
that the beasts were driven away from Athens
the liars and the charlatans
Everyone helping for the defence, all the officers
Venizelos is fighting too, he will bring an end to it all
And every patriot, they will bring us the equality
Mother Mary is standing by our side
is showing our new army the way
the hero of the national defence
who fights and drives the enemies away
The children of the defence drove the king away
and packed his underwear for him to be on his way
and keep on feasting with his foreign family
Come and watch the swords flaming, reaching the skies
up there, at our borders, where the blood of the enemy runs like a river
The children of the defence drove the king away
and they brought us Venizelos, they brought us Lefterakis!
Background : this traditional greek song is the oldest entry, seeing as it is referring to historical occurences that took place in the time period from 1914 to 1917. It refers to the internal conflict in Greece during that time, whether we as a nation would support the King Konstantinos the First, who supported the Germans and thought we should stay neutral as a nation (he himself had studied in Germany and was married to the Kaiser's sister), or Eleutherios Venizelos, the prime minister, who sided with Entente (England, France, Russia). After much political turmoil Venizelos resigned and formed his own (rather illegal) government (the National Defence Movement) in Thessaloniki with support from the Entente. After many war conflicts with the neighboring nations and meddling from foreign forces, the King was eventually forced to resign and flee to Switzerland. Τhis national division and the conclusion is what is celebrated in this song that is being covered by greek and foreign artists to this day.
#3
As kratisoun oi horoi (Let the dances go on)
Music and lyrics by Dionisis Savvopoulos
Performed by Dionisis Savvopoulos
1983
Translated lyrics :
Let the dances go on, and we'll find new places to hang out in the countryside
Until this gathering unfold like an autonomous village
Up to the planets, with transmitters and antennae
the Greeks construct circuits and the companies make history
Giorgos beginns, "we are, or ar we not, we are nothing!"
and Giannakis sings "if nothing is meant to be, something is meant to happen"
And in the night that is lighting up comes Alkis, our little one
bringing together old and ablaze trajectories with our future rock
The sky is fire, dust in the wind, sparks and circuits
and shining companies, their mirroring by the seaside
And either with antiquities, or with Orthodoxy
the greek communities construct a new galaxy
And Mpampis, who is already drunk
and Lidia, who is shy because you all keep looking at her
and Achilles with Zoi stand in front of the polaroid smiling
And then, Elena the dancer leans over to Tasos
and with eyes closed, the sing together "Hail the greek national team!"
It's no fault of the parliament
It's no fault of the representatives, alone and headless
If the head hurts, it's due to the headless love it enjoys
But our love has a name, a body and a religion
and a grandfather in autonomous greek regions during the turkish occupancy
May God keep us healthy to always meet up and have a good time
dancing around in circles, free like rivers
And into the night that is lighting up may our bonds strenghten
bringing together old and ablaze trajections with our future rock
Background : if you value my opinion, the true national anthem of Greece. From the pride in our history, the power of religion, down to our coming together to celebrate the greek national team's accomplishments. I just wish this song would break out during every major international sporting event. Just listen to this song one more time and imagine it coming after "and now, the national anthem of Greece", along with the jubilant scenes in the stands.
#2
Agapi pou 'gines dikopo mahairi (Love, you became a double-edged knive)
Music : Manos Hadjidakis
Lyrics : Michalis Kakoyiannis
Performed by Melina Merkouri
1955
Translated lyrics :
Love, you became a double-edged knife
you used to bring me only joy
but now, you drown my joy in tears
i can't figure it out, can't find no cure
Fires light up in his eyes
the stars fall from the sky when he looks at me
Turn out the lights, turn out the moon
so that he doesn't see my pain when he takes me
Background : the second collaboration of Hadjidakis and Merkouri. Not that it gets any better than this : Hadjidakis composes a wonderful melody, cypriot director Kakoyiannis provides the lyrics and Merkouri, this outspoken, influential figure in greek cinema, music and later on politics comes up with this haunting interpretation for the movie "Stella". When great greeks work together at the big stage, the results can be quite astonishing with a marvellous songs lamenting the demoralising impact of love in our lives.
#1
Mana mou Ellas (Greece, my mother)
Music : Stauros Xarhakos
Lyrics : Nikos Gatsos
Performed by Nikos Dimitratos (here by Haris Alexiou and Giorgos Ntalaras)
1983
Translated lyrics:
I don't have a home to come back to
nor a bett to sleep in
I don't have a road or a neighborhood
to walk on a first of May
Those big words, those lies
You told me from the beginning together with your first milk
But now the snakes are awake
and you put on your ancient ornaments
and you never even shed a tear Greece, my mother
while you sell out your children as slaves
Those big words, those lies
You told me from the beginning together with your first milk
But as I was talking to your destiny
you already had your ancient valuables on
and you took me to the marketplace, like a gypsy with a monkey
Greece, mother of pain
Those big words, those lies
You told me from the beginning together with your first milk
But now, that the fire is flaring up again
your only care is your ancient beauty
And in the arenas of the whole world, Greece, my mother
you carry on with the same old lie
Background : unfortunately I can't find the original rendition of 1983. But I'm thinking... the closing ceremony of the olympic games in Athens, pictures of Greeks rejoicing that they've found each other once again, celebrating, partying, while the song goes on about the lies of Greece in arenas all over the world... Yeah, it will do.
Did anybody even realize that while we and the whole world was having fun (possibly) with our closing party, we sang the lyric "you never even shed a tear Greece, my mother, while you sell out your children as slaves"?
Well, my loyal compadres! That was it. Do you agree? What did I forget? Where did I go wrong? If you have an opinion on any of the above, just keep it to yourselves. Don't you dare comment.
Hope you had as much fun as I did.
Oh, shit! I almost forgot!
#Bonus video
Zorbas
Music : Mikis Theodorakis (based on music by Giorgis Koutsourelis)
1964
For the music. For the sun and the beach. For Anthony Quinn. And for "Hey boss, did you ever see a more splendiferous crash?"
