Do you also like Greek music? Who is your favorite singer?
We here present you… Eleftheria Arvanitaki! A renowned Greek singer with a career that spans four decades and is a strong favorite among Omilo students. Let’s learn more about her life and work!
Who is Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Eleftheria Arvanitaki is a Greek singer, born in 1957, and raised in Piraeus. Her music combines elements from folk, entechno and rebetiko Greek music. It also draws influence from both the Orient, the Balkans and the West. The songs will remind you of the rhythms from the dances of the traditional Greek glentia (feasts).
Arvanitaki’s career path
Arvanitaki started singing professionally in 1980 as the lead singer of the group Οπισθοδρομική Κομπανία (Opisthodromiki Compania, en. Backwards Company). Her voice immediately stood out in the Geek music scene, and she left the band in 1984-5 to pursue a solo career. Ever since she has collaborated with important Greek composers and songwriters as well as artists from all over the world, including the Greek actor and composer Vagelis Germanos, Dionysis Savvopoulos, Manos Hatzidakis, Lina Nikolakopoulou, Stamatis Spanoudakis, the Portuguese Dulce Pontes, the Spanish Amaral and Carlos Nunez, the Armenians Ara Dinkjian and Arto Tuncboyacian, and the academy award-winning composer Philip Glass.
Besides Greece, she has toured around the world to participate in festivals and events as well as solo performances. In 2004, she sang at the Closing Ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games.
Some of her most well-known songs include Den Xero Poso S’Agapo, Dinata, To Kokkino Foustani, Ta Kormia kai ta Machairia, Thelo Konta Sou Na Meino, Tis Kalinichtas ta Filia, Mes Tou Aigaiou Ta Nera,…
Fun fact
For the song « Makria Apo Tin Trikymia », its video clip was filmed on Syros island, in an area of Hermoupolis, called Vaporia. This is a location we often visit, during the guided walk with Omilo students on Syros island.
Click here to watch her video clip,
and take a look at the Vaporia area ;-): https://youtu.be/kKUgWxA0BFQ
Sing along
Ready to sing a song with us?
During previous courses, students enjoyed learning one of Arvanitaki’s big hits ;
Το Μηδέν (Zero), which has a slightly south American vibe.
Click on the YouTube link to listen to Arvanitaki singing the song:
https://youtu.be/FZ1PdZ8Ibww
and read the lyrics both in Greek and English below
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Ready for summer?
Click here or on the photo below to watch the video, and get into the summer mood at Omilo!
Below are the lyrics, both in Greek and English
| Το μηδέν θα κάνω κύκλο Κι εκεί μέσα θα χορεύω Κι ας μην ξέρω που πηγαίνω Κι ας μην ξέρω τι γυρεύω.Τη ζωή μου μηδενίζω, Πάει να πει πως ξαναρχίζω, Τη ζωή μου μηδενίζω, Πίσω δεν ξαναγυρίζω…Βάλαμε φωτιά στα φρένα Και μας έμεινε το γκάζι Με ταχύτητες μεγάλες Μοναχά η γη αλλάζει. Έτσι μόνο η γη αλλάζει Με ταχύτητες μεγάλες Βάλαμε φωτιά στα φρένα Και μας έμεινε το γκάζι.
Στάχτη γίνανε τα πάντα
Τη ζωή μου μηδενίζω,
Βάλαμε φωτιά στα φρένα |
I will turn the zero into a circle
And I’ll dance inside it Even though I may not know where I’m going Even though I may not know what I’m looking for
I’m zeroing my life [going back to zero] That means that I’m starting anew I’m zeroing my life And I’m not going back again
We set the brakes on fire And that left us with the gas With high speeds [it’s] The only way that the world changes That’s the only way the world changes With high speeds We set the brakes on fire And that left us with the gas
Everything was burnt to the ground My past was burnt All my fortune, [is] my heart and my mind
I’m zeroing my life [going back to zero] That means that I’m starting anew I’m zeroing my life And I’m not going back again
We set the brakes on fire And that left us with the gas With high speeds [it’s] The only way that the world changes That’s the only way the world changes With high speeds We set the brakes on fire And that left us with the gas |
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Interested to learn more about different genres in Greek music?
such as
Rembetika, Laika, Entechno
Greek songs, English translations,
and info about Composers, singers..
plus extra Greek exercises to improve your Greek?
Then take a look at the following eBooks
OR
Click here for the special offer, and receive your 4 eBOOKS (printable versions)
