Patricia Volonakis Davis
More About Greece
The next few pages will contain websites about Greece, information on the history and culture of Greece, more books about Greece...
...even how to get a divorce in Greece, if you are a non-Greek!
The music of Hellas is one splendid example that to capture the spirit of any country, all we need do is listen to its popular songs performed by its beloved musicians. I know that the selections listed are available readily in The United States and The United Kingdom, either through retail music shops or online vendors.
1. H Zoh-ee Mou Kyklos Kanei” (“My Life Goes in Circles”)--Haris Alexiou
Haris sings her soul right out to her listeners. And her soul is beautiful. Her audiences nicknamed her “Haroulah,” which translates into something like, “Little Grace,” because “Haris” means, “charm, grace,” in Greek. Haroulah’s singing is world-encompassing. She sings different cultures, like Brel in French, Brecht in German, Wa Habibi in Arabic, all effortlessly. As a result, she is loved throughout the world. Her voice is deep and throaty, and over her 20-year singing career, she’s sung everything Greek from serious music, called endechna, to traditional, popular folk songs, called laiki and rembetika.
This recording is obtainable through retail record shops and Amazon.com
2. “Sergiani Ston Kosmo” (“A Stroll Through The World”) --George Dalaras
George (Yiorgos) Dalaras has put out more than 80 albums in 32 years, a superstar in his country, the best-selling artist ever known to Greece. In 1975, after the dictatorship that had ruled Greece fell, Yiorgo achieved his first artistic success with Ta Rembetika, which revived the working-class rembetiko form of music that had been forcibly silenced by the Greek junta. The album went platinum. He has remained politically active, highlighting problems between Greeks and Turks in Cyprus, and taking part in Amnesty International concerts. In 1994 he received the John F. Kennedy Prize for his humanitarian work.
"In Hellas we express ourselves by being politically oriented and socially aware in our art; it's our duty," he noted. Politis is our word for citizen. So if a citizen is political, imagine how much an artist must be."
His musical curiosity has led him to collaborate with a number of artists, including Latin fusion guitar wizard Al Di Meola, and flamenco guitarist, Paco De Lucia. Any number of his works can be found in retail shops worldwide and through internet shopping.
3. “Zesta Pota” (Hot Drinks) -- The Katzimihas Brothers
Haris and Panos Katzimihas are twin brothers who were born in Athens. They attended the University of Athens in 1974, but left Greece for West Berlin at the end of 1975, where they lived for approximately seven years, playing Greek music in various pubs and venues. Their style is to take the poems they’ve written regarding their life lessons, and put them to music. They capitalize on their twin status by singing in tandem or harmonizing their voices. Their sound is soothing, yet compelling. In 1982, they participated in a Greek song contest, which took place on the island of Corfu and was organized by the internationally-acclaimed Greek composer, Manos Hadjidakis. The song with which they entered, "Mia Vradia Sto Louki," (“One Night in Distress”) received an award. "Zesta Pota" (Hot Drinks) was released in 1985, and was received so favorably that Yiorgos Dalaras (see above) asked them to collaborate with him performing concerts all throughout Greece and abroad. Many of their works have achieved double platinum status.
4. “Rembetiko” -- Stavros Xaharkos
“Rembetiko” is known as “the music of the outcasts.” All the hardships of the under-classes are catalogued in song through this style, and through “Zembetiko,” another type of Rembetiko. It has been compared to American blues, or what that would sound like, if it were sung by a Greek, using musical instruments like clarinet and bouzouki, instead of steel guitar. Preferably one should be listening to rembetiko, whilst drinking ouzo and nibbling on Greek appetizers, as the music is performed live, in one of the delightful little fish taverns in Piraeus, the port of Athens. If this cannot be managed, a good recording to play at home will do. I choose Xaharkos to list here, because it is one of the best examples of the genre in my opinion, and because it is the soundtrack from the film, “Rembetiko,” which won international acclaim at various film festivals. You’ll definitely snap your fingers and dance to this one.
5. “Who Pays the Ferryman?” -- Yannis Markopoulos
Markopoulos combines traditional Greek music with Byzantium hymnography and modern-day Mediterranean sounds. He has written music for the theatre, collaborating with many of Greece’s directors, such as Karolos Koun, Alexis Solomos, and Minoas Volonakis. Much of his work is known worldwide, but “Who Pays the Ferryman?” (the title being a reference to the Greek myth of passage to the underworld of the dead,) is one of his most globally popular and a lovely work to begin with in listening to Markopoulos’ great body of divine compositions.
6. “Never on a Sunday,” -- Manos Hadjidakis
Once again, I select the most world-renowned work of this composer, because it is readily available outside of Greece. It is the soundtrack of the famous film, Never on a Sunday, starring Melina Mecouri. The film also won an Oscar for “Best Song” from the soundtrack. Because of this, Hadjidakis became an international celebrity. The film was later made into a Broadway musical and Melina nominated for a Tony Award. Though, “Never on A Sunday” might be the best known of Hadzidakis’ masterpieces, like the work I chose for Markopoulos, it is only one of a large quantity of magnificent works.
7. “Axion Esti,” ( “It is Worthy” ) -- Mikis Theodorakis
Any listing of “Greek Greats in Music,” however small, requires the name Mikis Theodorakis to be on it. Theodorakis not only puts his heart and soul into his compositions, but also into Greece, his country. He’s suffered personally for his determination, dedication and political activism. Whether that makes him an even better composer or not, is up for debate, but he stands a giant amongst his musical peers. His music, like Markopoulos and Hadjidakis, is world-renowned, his most recognized work is “Zorba the Greek,” from the film by the same name. Yet, he’s composed the music for many other celebrated films, including, Z and Serpico, which starred Al Pacino. He has also created music for the stage, operas, ballets, cantatas, oratorios and several luminous symphonies. If you’re already familiar with the films and music listed above, then I suggest “Axion Esti” as an first-rate deeper foray into Theodorakis’ works. To me, it is a magnum opus, not only for it’s creative composition and for the choice of extraordinary performers who are featured in the production, but because it is cleverly based on the poem of the Nobel-Prize-awarded Greek poet, Odyseas Elytis.
8. “ Anna Vissi”--- Anna Vissi
Those who know Greek music will wonder why I’ve included Anna on this particular list of very significant Greek musicians, particularly immediately after the heavyweights, Theodorakis, Hadjidakis, and Markopoulos. Anna’s music is much more light-hearted; Greek pop music, if you will. In fact, Anna is sometimes referred to as the Greek “Madonna.” And just like Madonna, she is as famous for her romances, her trend-setting fashions, and her looks, as for her singing. Yet, I’ve included her, for several reasons. First of all, there’s nothing wrong with having a bit of fun, and that’s what Anna’s music is. Her songs are very popular with people of all ages, having sold close to 1.5 million albums in Greece. In addition to these, she also can claim success in The United States, making the “Number One” position on the Billboard Dance Charts with her version of, “Call Me.” But there’s another reason I include Anna. It gives me the chance to relate a lovely story about her, which only a few people know. That she chose to keep it on the quiet, says more about her true self than her glitzy stage character. I know this incident actually took place, because it was told to me directly by one of the chief organizers of the Greece Affiliate of Make-A-Wish International, which is a organization that grants wishes to children who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. These wishes can be anything from a trip to a dreamed-of location, to a coveted item, such as a computer or bicycle, or to the meeting of a celebrity. Anna Vissi’s agent was contacted by Make-A-Wish Greece on behalf of a ten-year old girl who had leukaemia. The child’s wish was to meet her favorite singer, Anna, and attend one of her concerts. When Ms. Vissi was told about the request, she agreed readily, but also went beyond what the Make-A-Wish staff had requested of her. Not only did Anna meet with and arrange for the young lady to have front-row seats at her concert, she presented her with a brand new outfit to wear. The gesture thrilled the recipient. The outfit was deemed “gorgeous and cool,” just like Anna herself. Looking smart in her new attire, the young lady was then introduced to the entire audience by her idol, at the concert, as “a special friend.” Anna Vissi took the extra time to make a young girl who admired her, feel extraordinary, thus taking her mind off bad thoughts, even if only for a little while. This, of course, is just what the Make-A-Wish people had hoped for.
When Joan Maragoudakis and I opened Serafim Books in Greece, one of the things we tried to do was contribute, in various ways, to any groups we believed worthy of our donations. Make-A-Wish Greece topped that list. Joan continued that tradition, when I married my American husband---her wedding gift to us was a contribution in our names to the Greece affiliate.
Of the various celebrities and benefactors we heard about who facilitated in the children’s requests, the story of Anna Vissi and her thoughtfulness stayed with us. And so, I include her on this list of music luminaries, because she shines with a special light, not only as a delightful entertainer, but as a kind-hearted person.
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Well, this is, by far, not at all a complete list. Nonetheless, these make a splendid start to familiarizing oneself with Greece’s musical contributions to the world.
Rhodes, Greece
The Little Saint Nicholas Church in Glyfada, Greece
Santorini
