A Greek summer song, of all times!

It is summer, and a perfect time to sing songs, in Greek of course 🙂

It became a tradition for some years at Omilo; singing Greek songs together with teacher Eva.
This summer one of the selected songs is

• Τόσα Καλοκαίρια (“So Many Summers”)

• Performer: Δάκης 

• Composer: Μίμης Πλέσσας

• Lyricist: Λευτέρης Παπαδόπουλος

  The song was created around 1967 and featured in the Greek musical‑film «Γοργόνες και Μάγκες» (Mermaids and Lads), directed by Γιάννης Δαλιανίδης.
  Though Δάκης’s voice is heard, he did not appear onscreen. A dancer and actress duo portrayed the scene, making it Greece’s first unofficial music video clip!

  A video clip created without all the technology existing now 🙂

  The song speaks from the perspective of someone who has finally found love, after many years of waiting, loneliness, and missed chances.
  The narrator remembers all the summers spent without love, waiting for someone special.
  Now that the beloved has arrived, everything changes; the heart is open again, and happiness returns.

  Scroll down to read the Greek lyrics as well as English translation

  Here is the link for the videoclip on YouTube
  https://youtu.be/HRsflfZLdYI?si=LScuTKasJL4GHl-Y

   

   

 

Singing together, while learning Greek vocab

One of the cultural activities during the summer courses on the island of Syros, is “listening to, or singing along…” with teacher Eva.

Every summer she selects  various songs, teaches the lyrics, and then motivates students to sing along.

This year (2025), also teacher Ruben joined with his sax, and the Omilo-team was happy to do the first rehearsal the evening before!

Here a video of how it sounded and looked.
If you want to know which other songs were on the programme, then book your course and join us in Greece!

Few words about singer Δάκης

Δάκης, born in 1943 in Alexandria, Egypt, was a celebrated Greek pop and light‑song performer  for nearly six decades.
He was raised in a multilingual, cosmopolitan environment, and spoke six languages (Greek, French, English, Italian, Spanish and Arabic), which enabled him to perform a broad international repertoire.
He moved to Greece in 1963 and made his first recordings in English in 1964, soon followed with French and Italian hits.

In 1968, he released his first Greek-language album with the song Γεια σου μ’, ευχαριστώ.
Afterwards he started working with known composer Mimis Plessas , resulting in many hits,
including «Τόσα Καλοκαίρια» and «Εκείνο το πρωί στην Κηφισιά», elevating him to the top tier of Greek singers.

Beloved for his velvety voice, cosmopolitan charm, and warm stage presence, Dakis was considered the “prince of light song” in Greece.
His music soundtracked the youth and summers of generations, and his voice became synonymous with a golden era of Greek pop music .
He passed away on 29 May 2022 in Athens after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a rich discography of 39 albums.

Let’s listen to the song, while reading the lyrics

 So let’s take a look at the lyrics of the song ( translation in English below)

 

Τόσα καλοκαίρια

Πέρασες τόσες βροχές για να ‘ρθεις σε ‘μενα
φέρνοντας χούφτες με φως να νιφτώ
Πέρασα τόσες ζωές για να βρω εσένα
μεσ’ τη ζεστή σου αγκαλιά να κρυφτώ.

Τόσα καλοκαίρια
μου `χαν φύγει από τα χέρια
τόσα καλοκαίρια που δε σ’αγαπούσα
ρώταγα τι φταίει
για το στόμα μου που καίει
τώρα ξέρω πως τα χείλια σου ζητούσα.

Άπλωσες τα χέρια
και γυρνούν τα καλοκαίρια
και με φέρνουν να βρεθώ κοντά σου
σε θέλω, σε θέλω, σ’αγαπώ

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

English translation

So many summers

You went through so many storms to come to me,
bringing handfuls of light for me to bathe in.
I lived through so many lives just to find you,
to hide within the warmth of your embrace.

So many summer times
have slipped through my hands
so many summer times when I
have not been loving you
I would ask myself what is wrong
and my mouth is burning
now I know,
it’s your lips I’ve been longing for.

You opened your arms
and summers come return
and they bring me to your side
I want you, I want you, I love you

+++++++++++++++++++++

Did you like the song?

Interested in learning more Greek songs, of different genres?
Then take a look at our special eBooks, which you can find at the masaresi.com eShop