Greek songs that became international hits are more than you might imagine. In fact, many world-famous melodies were originally written by Greek composers. This is something that few people realize today.
If you have visited Greece or followed our blog at Omilo, you already know that music plays a central role in Greek life. Greeks sing in moments of joy and celebration, but also in times of sorrow. Music is not just entertainment, it is a way to express emotions, tell stories, and connect with others.
Greek music offers an incredible variety of styles. There are traditional folk songs, the soulful sounds of rebetiko, popular laika songs, artistic entexna music, as well as modern rock and pop. This rich musical heritage has not only shaped Greek culture, but has also influenced audiences far beyond the Greek borders.
Let’s discover some Greek songs and composers whose music traveled around the world and became international successes.
The Golden Decades of Greek Songs
The 1950s and 1960s are often described as the golden decades of modern Greek music. During these years, Greece experienced an extraordinary artistic bloom. Distinguished composers created unforgettable melodies, and unique performers gave them life with powerful voices and strong stage presence.
What makes this period even more remarkable is that many of these songs traveled far beyond Greece. They were translated, re-recorded, and performed by famous international artists , sometimes even in the original Greek language.
The list of such songs is much longer than the examples below, but these classics give you a clear idea of how Greek music conquered the world.
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The song ‘Τα παιδιά του Πειραιά’ (The children of Piraeus)
Without a doubt, one of the most famous Greek melodies worldwide is “Τα παιδιά του Πειραιά”.
The song was composed by Manos Hadjidakis and performed in a unique and unforgettable way by Melina Mercouri in the film Never on Sunday,
directed by Jules Dassin.
In 1960, Hadjidakis won the Academy Award for Best Original Song , a historic moment for Greek music.
Decades later, in the late 1990s, the international band Pink Martini recorded their own version, in Greek, bringing the song back to global audiences once again.
And of course, who could forget the charming and humorous performance by Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show?
Click below to watch the video
Curious about the film?
In Never on Sunday, Mercouri plays Ilya, an independent and free-spirited woman in the port of Piraeus. Dassin himself plays Homer, an American intellectual fascinated by Greek culture, who tries (unsuccessfully) to “educate” her morally. The film’s atmosphere, humor, and music made it an international success.
Curious about the movie “Never on Sunday”?
Melina Merkouri is acting as Ilya, an independent prostitute who hand-picks her clientele, and Dassin plays Homer, an American intellectual enamored of all things Greek, and determined to steer Ilya onto the straight and moral path.
Click on the picture above, to see the video
2. The song ‘Μες σ’ αυτή τη βάρκα’ [On this (fishing) boat]
In 1960, Manos Hadjidakis composed the song ‘Μες σ’ αυτή τη βάρκα’ [On this (fishing) boat], for the film ‘Madalena’. The performer of the song was one of the most famous and beloved actresses in the history of Greek cinema, Aliki Vouyouklaki. But the very same song was also performed –in fact in Greek– by the well-known artist Harry Belafonte!
3. The song ‘Μην τον ρωτάς τον ουρανό’ (Don’t ask the sky)
In 1959, another great Greek actress, Tzeni Karezi, recorded for the soundtrack of the film ‘Το Νησί των Γενναίων’ (The Island of the Brave) a sweet melancholic song titled ‘Μην τον ρωτάς τον ουρανό’ (Don’t ask the sky), composed by Manos Hadjidakis. Three years later, in 1962, the popular American singer Brenda Lee performed the song in English, this time titled ‘All Alone Am I’; the song instantly became an international hit.
4. The song ‘Κάπου υπάρχει η αγάπη μου’ (My love must be somewhere out there)
In 1959, Nana Mouskouri participated in the first Greek Song Festival and won the first prize performing the song
‘Κάπου υπάρχει η αγάπη μου’ (My love must be somewhere out there), composed by Manos Hadjidakis.
The song was also performed by the well-known singer-songwriter Georges Moustaki, helping it reach audiences beyond Greece.
5. The song ‘Τι είν’ αυτό που το λένε αγάπη;’ (What is this they call love?)
In the 60’s the natural beauty of mainland Greece and Greek islands served as a backdrop to various films shot in the country; as a result Greece became internationally known.
A typical example of these films is the American production ‘Boy on a dolphin’, directed by Jean Negulesco (1957), most of which was shot on the picturesque island of Hydra. Sophia Loren and Tony Maroudas performed in Greek a sweet and very romantic song titled ‘Τι είν’ αυτό που το λένε αγάπη;’ (What is this they call love?) (music by Takis Morakis, lyrics by Giannis Fermanoglou).
6. The song ‘Misirlou’ (meaning ‘Egyptian woman’)
‘Misirlou’ (meaning ‘Egyptian woman’) is the title of an old rebetiko song. The number of artists who have performed it as well as its instrumental versions is impressively large.
Among these versions, instantly recognizable is that of guitarist Dick Dale in the 60’s, especially after it was used in the film Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino (1994).
In 2004, the song returned symbolically to
Greece when Anna Vissi performed it at the Closing Ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Omilo and Greek Songs
Greek music is naturally part of the Omilo experience.
In fact, many of our students began learning Greek because they fell in love with Greek songs and wanted to understand the lyrics of their favorite melodies. During our intensive courses, we always include a special presentation about Greek songs as an evening cultural activity.
At Omilo, learning and enjoyment always go together.
Through music, our students discover not only vocabulary and grammar , but also emotion, history, and the soul of Greece.
Because in Greece, music is not just something you listen to —> it is something you live.
Click on the links below to get a better idea
Students Singing together and learning Greek songs
Learning a Greek song by E. Arvanitaki
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In the songs above, you have read many times the name of composer Manos Hatzidakis. If you want to learn more about his music, and other composers writing “entechno Greek music”, then the following eBooks are a very good source of information
