Surrealism in Athens and the Salvation of Soul (1985, Stamatis Kraounakis & Lina)

Lina Nikolakopoulou

urrealism is an element of everyday life in Athens. Let me explain: You wake up when the TV timer switches on, and the sounds of a fight between a truck driver that is on strike and the minister of transport is on its best. Although it's too early for such stuff, you decide to switch off the TV when the crowd of truck drivers behind their representative is rhythmically singing the name of the beautiful young journalist lady that presents the news.

Little before you enter your car you realize that there is a penalty on it because you are supposed to have parked illegally although you have been parking there the last 4 months without a problem and there is absolutely no sign that proves it illegal!

You wait at the traffic lights even when they are green (especially then) simply because of the traffic jam caused by a 2km waiting line of cars for a fuel station. The truck drivers strike left the fuel stations without fuel and only a 10% of fuel stations operate in Athens these days. This, of course, is a great reason for Athenians to wait 2hours in a car line with 35C temperature, to full their cars and buy fuel in bottles as if there is a war coming and there will be no fuel for the next 3 years.

Waiting there, watching two guys fighting because the one tried to cheat the line in front of the other, breathing deep to stay calm you switch on the radio.

And there it comes:

Lina Nikolakopoulou & Stamatis Kraounakis

The salvation of soul [H σωτηρία της ψυχής]

music: Stamatis Kraounakis

lyrics: Lina Nokilakopoulou

vocals: Alktistis Protopsalti

album: Κυκλοφορώ κι Οπλοφορώ (= I'm out & armed).

Countryside’s mornings shall find us again within folded arms in bed,
And it won’t matter that we’re up so early, looking around, but seeking nothing.

All certainty materials are sweet words recorded in tapes,
for all those which passed so swiftly, yet was fully embraced by our heart.

The salvation of soul is a very big thing,
Like a journey of relaxation with a hidden wound

If only we extended the steps of our lives on a deserted beach,
It wouldn’t matter that, all our kisses, before they age, will be washed by the waves

And right by the edge of the seashore we would generously give old pieces of our being,
Those which were so small, but casting a shadow big enough to resemble our palace.

The salvation of soul is a very big thing...

Tribute to the Times of the Lovers (Stamatis Kraounakis, "Dying in Athens", 2006)

ow can a very bad movie be accompanied by an astonishing soundtrack? Honestly, I do not know. Still, these guys made it.

It was one of these unexpectedly rainy evenings that there is nothing better than jumping in a cinema that was on the way. Things like that happen in Athens. I remember coming out angry about the pictures I suffered for 103 minutes. However, I was singing all the way back home the song you 'll listen if you scroll down to this post.

Nikos Panayotopoulos - the director of the movie- did only one thing right. He asked Stamatis Kraounakis to make the soudtrack. Also, the theme of the movie was quite good. Although it was approached with a shockingly amateur way, so badly that you want to spit on the computer screen. It is supposed to deal with the last generation of "Lovers" (=Εραστές). People that met unexpectedly and fell in love - illegally.

Links:

1) Movie review

2) Watch the movie - no subtitles.

The artist

Stamatis Kraounakis. Born in Athens - check the brief wiki article.

The album

The song this post is about, is the first of the Soundtrack album. The movie failed so badly, that this soundtrack is one of the less known woks of St.Kraounakis. I may be proven wrong but in 10-20 years from now, I bet that this will be mentioned as one of his greatest achievements.

The song

The Lovers

Lyrics by Giorgos Makris

Vocals: Erofili, Rita Antonopoulou & Natassa Bofiliou

Music: Stamatis Kraounakis

Their time was soon up
and sadly they walked away
making steps formal and slow
having their gabardines all buttoned.

And we felt sorry about these lovers
and their small spinning around
their little world;
Dreaming to fold in warmer arms,
scratching the ground
with the peak of their umbrella.