A Rembetiko of 1952 (scene from "The Minor of Dawn")

k, it's late in the afternoon and the Athenean heat a world of pain for all, however the air breeze that climbs up to my 5th floor and the quite urban view of my window made me listen again to a song that was certainly written on a winter night.

You 'll never get to understand its song beuty unless you sing it. I know its hard but give it a try. Picture yourself on a Greek island, on some mountainous village (those with the white houses all over) having a drink sitting outside at a warm night and few tables far from you, a couple of guys with their instruments start playing.

Oh, man. I need holidays.

Your tired footsteps [Το κουρασμένο βήμα σου]

lyrics: Kostas Virvos

music: M. Bakalis (1952)

Here is a scene of an 80's TV series named "The minor of dawn" which was dedicated to rembetiko music. The lyrics in English are given as subtitiles. This specific song was written few years after rembetiko supposingly seased to be. Its form is such, however the presence of a 4-string bouzouki along with other characteristics of its structure places it a bit towards the form of music that followed rembetiko: Laiko (=people's music). We will have the chance to talk about that genre several times since it spreads in almost 4 decades (1950s-60s-70s-80s) and it can't be overlooked.

...What was I saying? Ah, yeap, that I need holidays. That has to wait a bit...

Greek Christmas Carols (& Their Crazy Parody)

hristmas Eve today and the tradition brings small groups of kids from door to door singing the Christmas Carols and expecting a small tip. So we certainly expect our door bell to ring many times today...(hope this won't be too early).

The Greek Christmas Carols are very old folk songs that originate from the Byzantine Calends. The kids are singing wishes for each family they visit also "announcing" that Jesus is born. That is the content of the song, no need to get into so much trouble to translate it (old folk songs are impossible to translate).

A late 90s TV broadcast made a parody sketch of these Carols, depending on the family's favorite music. Crazy guys... Enjoy!

Part 1: Pop Bouzouki Songs

Part 2: How Greeks imagine music in Hawaii

Part 3: Disco

Part 4: Rembetiko!

Part 5: Opera

Part 6: Metal

An Album Reflecting Three Decades (Dionysis Savvopoulos at "A Little Sea", 1975)

ionysis Savvopoulos (a song of whom has already been presented at the first post of this blog) right after the dictatorship fell in 1974, released an album with several recordings that took place between 1965 and 1975, named "10 Years' Songs". Censorship had officially stopped, so the album could be released. The live concerts that followed in club Kyttaro in Athens are still famous for their energy and influence. One of these songs, named "A Little Sea" is given below. This was not the first recording of the song that initially was played with a guitar, but the one of the 1975 album that piano is leading. A great and quite popular song of 70s. Below the home grown translation, I embed one more video dated a couple of years ago that Dionyssis himself in a TV show is performing this specific song. Enjoy.

A Little Sea

music, lyrics: Dionysis Savvopoulos

A little sea,

a little sea

is what my summer is,

what my love is and my pain.

A little sea

shines in your eyes

every morning

A little sea

it's in your tear, it's in the song,

in every kiss of yours

there is a little sea.

A little sea,

a little sea

and my cup in the corner

for one summer

it was you.

I was singing about you,

like the strings of wind do

on your black hair.

I was following you,

like the tall grass does

the wind.

I was singing you.

A little sea,

a little sea

that told you a bitter goodbye,

is waiting for you.

A little sea.

(Available also in Spanish and Russian)