Do you also love Greek music? Then let us introduce you to one more Greek singer, Kostis Maraveyas.
Maraveyas – also known by his stage name Maraveyas illegal – is a Greek singer-songwriter, composer, performer, director and writer.
A true one-man band, he plays the accordion, piano and guitar. His songs are written mainly in Greek with the occasional lyric in English, Spanish or Italian thrown in (as we will see below). Despite the upbeat melodies, his songs often hide dark humour and social critique or tell the story of a troubled relationship.
How it all started?
Maraveyas began his musical career in Italy. He went to study at the University of Bari but quickly abandoned mathematics and statistics to immerse himself in the local underground alternative music scene. His steps eventually brought him back to Greece where his album “Welcome to Greece” introduced him into a wider audience and turned him into a favourite of the modern Greek music scene.
About his music:
His influences are plenty and varied: His music combines Mediterranean and Balkan elements, playful experimentations, jazz and bossa nova influences. East meets West. This blend of different sounds helped him stand apart and establish his signature sound, which is now common across all of his albums. Maraveyas often puts his own spin on beloved classic Greek songs such as “Πες μου μια λέξη” (“Tell me [only] one word”).
Kostis Maraveyas is an unstoppable force of nature when it comes to all thing’s music. He served as the host of the music documentary “Mesogeios” (“Mediterranean”), and the music documentary series “Mousiki Pantou” (“Music Everywhere”). What many people do not know is that he also composes music for theatre plays, some of which were performed by the National Theatre of Greece and the Athens & Epidaurus Festival.
He can do avant garde and sophisticated music, but he has earned “street credit” as well: Maraveyas was a nominee at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards for the Greek cover version of Lorenzo Jovanotti’s “Baciami Ancora, “Fila Me Akoma” featuring fellow singer-songwriter Panos Mouzourakis. Then we went on to write music for the soundtrack of popular Greek comedy films like “Η Κληρονόμος” (“The Heiress) and “Amore Mio.”
From 2017 to 2019 he has been one of the four judges of the Greek version of the tv show “The Voice”, winning all three seasons with his team.
Let’s listen to some Maraveyas’ songs:
Here we’re kicking off the journey in his music universe with the song “Welcome to Greece” (“Καλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα”).
This was one of his first songs to become a hit on the radio. It mirrors the image that many people have in their minds when it comes to the Greek lifestyle: relaxed, bohemian and sun-drenched. Enjoy!
Click here to see the video and listen to the song.
| Ξυπνάς κομμάτια πάς αργά και παραιτείσαι απ’ τη δουλεία στη Μιαούλη με ρακή κάθε μέρα είναι γιορτή Κι όλα ξανά, όπως παλιά ούτε καριέρα, ούτε λεφτά vien avec moi αυτη τη φορά Welcome to Greece and have a nice holiday ξάπλα στον ήλιο κι η άμμος να καίει Welcome to Greece and have a nice day Welcome to Greece and have a nice holiday κι άσε το αύριο μέσα στα χρέη Welcome to Greece and have a nice day Dino bersante piuA diamo vouqou e voi tu On the land of fairy Θα δείς τη θα μας φέρει Φιλί καυτό, τσουρουφλιστό Από το Μάη θα σ’ αγαπώ Μετά τον Αύγουστο θα δώ Welcome to Greece and have a nice holiday ξάπλα στον ήλιο κι η άμμος να καίει Welcome to Greece and have a nice day Welcome to Greece and have a nice holiday κι άσε το αύριο μέσα στα χρέη Welcome to Greece and have a nice day |
You wake up feeling tired, arrive at work late and quit your job when you’re having raki at Miaouli (street) every day feels like a party Everything feels like the old times no career, no money say it with me this time Welcome to Greece and have a nice holiday lie in the sun and feel the sand burn Welcome to Greece and have a nice day Welcome to Greece and have a nice holiday and you will deal with your debts tomorrow Welcome to Greece and have a nice day Dino bersante piuA diamo vouqou e voi tu On the land of fairy What will it [the fate] bring us? A hot, burning kiss From May onwards I’m going to love you After August, I’ll reconsider Welcome to Greece and have a nice holiday lie in the sun and feel the sand burn Welcome to Greece and have a nice day Welcome to Greece and have a nice holiday and you will deal with your debts tomorrow Welcome to Greece and have a nice day |
Another popular song by Kostis Maraveyas would be “Το καλοκαίρι έφυγε” (“Summer is gone”) – a sad but true reminder that we’re now stepping into the first weeks of autumn, carrying all the beautiful memories from the summer that just passed.
Click here to see the video and listen to the song
| Το καλοκαίρι έφυγε και δεν το πήρε η βροχή ο πρώτος ήλιος έσβησε, τον έκλεψες εσύ Το καλοκαίρι μου ‘λεγες πως θα ναι μόνο η αρχή αιώνια αγάπη μου ‘ταξες στο πρώτο μας φιλίΤο καλοκαίρι έφυγε και δεν το πήρε η βροχή ο πρώτος ήλιος έσβησε, τον έκλεψες εσύΟκτωβριανό ξημέρωμα, στο πλάι μου γυμνή Ψεύτικο δάκρυ μόστραρες και χάθηκες με τη βροχή Εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ ζωή μου πια μισή Αδέσποτη και αλήτικη από το βράδυ ως το πρωί Εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ ζωή μου πια μισή Το καλοκαίρι το ‘χασα, μου το ‘κλεψες εσύ Μια μάγισσα μου έταξε, καντάδα ερωτική πως αν τραγούδι σε έκαναθα ήταν εκδίκηση καλή Όλα τα όχι και τα μη, θα σε έβρισκαν κάθε πρωί εξόριστη από έρωτα, πικρό στεγνό φιλί Εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ ζωή μου πια μισή Αδέσποτη και αλήτικη από το βράδυ ως το πρωί Εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ ζωή μου πια μισή Το καλοκαίρι το ‘χασα μου το ‘κλεψες εσύ Όπου και να ‘σαι τώρα Jane,θέλω να μην είσαι καλά και ότι από σένα τράβηξανα το βρεις και εσύ μπροστάΤα βράδια να ‘σαι μόνη σου, να ψάχνεις άυπνη αγκαλιά και όταν γυρίσεις να σου πω τώρα γλυκιά μου είναι αργάΗ αλήθεια είναι Jane, πως ούτε εγώ είμαι καλά με κυνηγάνε οι τύψεις μου που σε σιχτίρισα βαριά! Και ευκαιρία θα ‘χουμε στην κόλαση μαζί Εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ, εσύ ζωή μου πια μισή
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Summer is gone it wasn’t rain that took it away the first sun has set it was you who stole it You promised me that summer would only be the beginning you promised me eternal love when we kissed for the first time Summer is gone it wasn’t rain that took it away the first sun has set it was you who stole it It’s October, at the break of day you’re lying next to me naked, you flaunted a fake tear and disappeared with the rain You, you, you, you, half my life is you [Just like it you are] stray and rogue; all night and all day You, you, you, you, half my life is you I lost summer; you were the one to steal it from me A witch promised me that if I turned you into a serenade, a love song,it would be good revenge All the no’s and don’ts would find you every morning in a love exile; [where you’d only find a] bitter dry kiss You, you, you, you, half my life is you [Just like it you are] stray and rogue; all night and all day You, you, you, you, half my life is you I lost summer; you were the one to steal it from me No matter where you are now Jane,I hope that you’re not doing well and that you’ll find everything [i.e. every hardship]that I’ve been though in your path[I hope] that you’ll spend every night alone sleepless, searching for an embrace and when you’ll come back to me, I’ll tell you now, honey, it’s too lateTruth be told Jane I’m not that well either I’m haunted by my regrets that I put such a curse on youBut we’ll get the chance to meet again as in the future we’ll be together in hell You, you, you, you, half my life is you
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We hope you like the songs and sing along.
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