What's this lovely Greek song?
July 5, 2013 12:15 PM Subscribe
Can anyone identify this song? I’ve been told it’s sung by Nana Mouskouri and written by Mikis Theodorakis, but I don’t know the name or source. (There is a few seconds of silence at the beginning)
My dad got the song from a record album of Greek folk dances but it's not identified beyond the type of dance (hasapikos). He thinks it's a Theodorakis song about liberty/freedom, but I'm not sure where he got this information.
I've listened to every Nana Mouskouri song in Greek on Spotify (which is a LOT) and it's not any of them. She even has a "Nana Mouskouri Sings Theodorakis" album, but it's not on there either!
I've also listened to a bunch of Theodorakis songs about freedom, but no luck.
On the other hand, I recently heard a band play it at a Greek festival, so it can't be that obscure! So maybe some of the info I have is incorrect.
My dad got the song from a record album of Greek folk dances but it's not identified beyond the type of dance (hasapikos). He thinks it's a Theodorakis song about liberty/freedom, but I'm not sure where he got this information.
I've listened to every Nana Mouskouri song in Greek on Spotify (which is a LOT) and it's not any of them. She even has a "Nana Mouskouri Sings Theodorakis" album, but it's not on there either!
I've also listened to a bunch of Theodorakis songs about freedom, but no luck.
On the other hand, I recently heard a band play it at a Greek festival, so it can't be that obscure! So maybe some of the info I have is incorrect.
Best answer: From my Greek friends:
It is Denial by George Seferis (one of greatest Gk poets ever to live) set indeed to music by Theodorakis. There are lots of stories about Theodorakis and setting poetry to music, also books. Many stories about rivalry between Theodorakis and Hadzidakis, the latter of whom gave his songs to Mouschouri more often than Theodorakis.
YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9IqV5SazpU
Translation:
Denial
On the secret seashore
white like a dove
we thirsted at noon
but the water was brackish.
On the blond sand
we wrote her name.
How grandly the sea breeze blew
and the writing erased.
With what spirit, what heart,
what desire and passion
we took our life; a mistake!
And we changed our life.
posted by mrfuga0 at 1:41 PM on July 5, 2013
It is Denial by George Seferis (one of greatest Gk poets ever to live) set indeed to music by Theodorakis. There are lots of stories about Theodorakis and setting poetry to music, also books. Many stories about rivalry between Theodorakis and Hadzidakis, the latter of whom gave his songs to Mouschouri more often than Theodorakis.
YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9IqV5SazpU
Translation:
Denial
On the secret seashore
white like a dove
we thirsted at noon
but the water was brackish.
On the blond sand
we wrote her name.
How grandly the sea breeze blew
and the writing erased.
With what spirit, what heart,
what desire and passion
we took our life; a mistake!
And we changed our life.
posted by mrfuga0 at 1:41 PM on July 5, 2013
Best answer: Also from my Greek friends: "My best guess at this midnight hour is that it's MARIA FARANTOURI."
posted by mrfuga0 at 1:42 PM on July 5, 2013
posted by mrfuga0 at 1:42 PM on July 5, 2013
Best answer: Here is a better recording found on Youtube. It is Farantouri. Couldn't be Mouskouri, who sings in a much higher register.
posted by bluefrog at 2:02 PM on July 5, 2013
posted by bluefrog at 2:02 PM on July 5, 2013
Response by poster: You are all geniuses! Thank you so much.
(and bluefrog, I kind of thought the same but Mouskouri sometimes does sing in a lower range, e.g. in the song "To Mikro To Magazi")
posted by exceptinsects at 10:36 PM on July 5, 2013
(and bluefrog, I kind of thought the same but Mouskouri sometimes does sing in a lower range, e.g. in the song "To Mikro To Magazi")
posted by exceptinsects at 10:36 PM on July 5, 2013
Response by poster: One other thing--does anyone have a transliteration of the Greek lyrics? I can find lots of translations, but not the Greek words printed in Roman letters, if you see what I mean.
posted by exceptinsects at 10:44 PM on July 5, 2013
posted by exceptinsects at 10:44 PM on July 5, 2013
Best answer: ARNISI
Sto periyali to krifo
ki' aspro san peristeri
dipsasame to mesimeri;
ma to nero glifo.
Pano stin ammo tin ksanthi
grapsame t'onoma tis;
orea pu fisiksen o batis
ke svistike i grafi.
Me ti kardia, me ti pnoi,
ti pothus ke ti pathos
pirame ti zoi mas; lathos!
ki' allaksome zoi.
posted by languagehat at 1:15 PM on July 6, 2013
Sto periyali to krifo
ki' aspro san peristeri
dipsasame to mesimeri;
ma to nero glifo.
Pano stin ammo tin ksanthi
grapsame t'onoma tis;
orea pu fisiksen o batis
ke svistike i grafi.
Me ti kardia, me ti pnoi,
ti pothus ke ti pathos
pirame ti zoi mas; lathos!
ki' allaksome zoi.
posted by languagehat at 1:15 PM on July 6, 2013
Here's the original Greek in case it's of use to anyone:
Άρνηση
Στο περιγιάλι το κρυφό
κι άσπρο σαν περιστέρι
διψάσαμε το μεσημέρι·
μα το νερό γλυφό.
Πάνω στην άμμο την ξανθή
γράψαμε τ' όνομά της·
ωραία που φύσηξεν ο μπάτης
και σβύστηκε η γραφή.
Mε τι καρδιά, με τι πνοή,
τι πόθους και τι πάθος,
πήραμε τη ζωή μας· λάθος!
κι αλλάξαμε ζωή.
And here's a nice performance by Yiorgos Moutsios.
posted by languagehat at 1:22 PM on July 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Άρνηση
Στο περιγιάλι το κρυφό
κι άσπρο σαν περιστέρι
διψάσαμε το μεσημέρι·
μα το νερό γλυφό.
Πάνω στην άμμο την ξανθή
γράψαμε τ' όνομά της·
ωραία που φύσηξεν ο μπάτης
και σβύστηκε η γραφή.
Mε τι καρδιά, με τι πνοή,
τι πόθους και τι πάθος,
πήραμε τη ζωή μας· λάθος!
κι αλλάξαμε ζωή.
And here's a nice performance by Yiorgos Moutsios.
posted by languagehat at 1:22 PM on July 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:22 PM on July 5, 2013