Ηρακλής Οικονόμου

Today, we are remembering a deeply sentimental poet who was born on this day, October 31, 1888. Napoleon Lapathiotis is a recurrent “passenger” aboard GME, but today we focus on how he has been approached by contemporary composers. Stella Gadedi, Giannis Kontaratos, Dimitris Maramis, Martha Menahem and...

This week, here at GME, we have been pinpointing the position of poetry in modern Greek song through the work of contemporary composers and today we are remembering an existentialist poet who was born on this day, October 30, 1896. Kostas Karyotakis is a key figure not only in Greek poetry, but also...

Today, we turn to a set of relatively recent releases that stand at the crossroads of two worlds, poetry and music. Composers such as George Kagialikos, Alexandros Gourgoulios and Giorgos Komboyannis demonstrate that Greek art song has not only a glorious past but also a fascinating present, with explorations...

Today, October 28, we celebrate the “No” or “Ohi” Day, i.e. the rejection of Mussolini’s ultimatum and the entry of Greece to World War II. And our track list shall reflect this idea of saying “no”, because resistance is not a historical artefact, but an everyday practice that begins from our daily lif...

Throughout the week that starts today, we shall be celebrating the position of poetry in modern Greek song through the work of contemporary composers and songwriters. Domenica rock band sets to music Miltos Sahtouris and modern poets, songwriter Haris Katsimihas sheds light on the significance of the...

Today, you will allow me to wear my political scientist's hat on top of my radio producer's hat! And you will also allow me to honour the most prominent Greek political scientist, Nikos Poulantzas, who died exactly 46 years ago, on October 3, 1979. His contribution to the theory of the state remains...

Today, we are celebrating the numerous folk songs performed and recorded by an exceptional vocalist born exactly 63 years ago, on October 2, 1962. He stands out thanks to not only his special timbre but also his ethos and modesty. And it is no coincidence that great maestros such as Dimitris Papadimitriou,...

Today, October 1st, is the International Day of Older Persons, i.e. the perfect occasion to remind ourselves of how important older people are and how much they deserve our attention and respect. Our destination? Songs about “yiayia” and “pappou”, about grandmothers, grandfathers and their fairytales, about t...

Today, we will be remembering a popular vocalist that passed away exactly 15 years ago, on September 30, 2010 and that helped elevate many beautiful “laiko” songs with her deep expressive voice. Doukissa (The Duchess) marked not only the popular song discography but also the music entertainment of ...

Filippos Nikolaou gives a heart to his beloved one, Arleta asks her heart to be courageous, Manolis Hatzimanolis cannot live without his little heart, Themis Adamantidis points straight to the heart and Dionysis Tsaknis asks his heart to write its own fairytale. The common thread of today’s track l...

Ending today, this mini tribute of GME to Greek songs and music for theatre highlighted two interlinked facts: One, that theatre constitutes a constant source of inspiration for the country’s leading composers. And two, that these composers have a truly multi-faceted repertoire, consisting not only o...

Today comes the second part of our tribute to music for theatre, here at GME. Eleni Karaindrou and Nikos Xydakis, Nikos Xydakis and Eleni Karaindrou, two prominent figures of Greek music who have stood out for their melodiousness and sophistication. Yes, it is true that theatre has not been at the center...

Today, tomorrow and on Friday, we shall be enjoying some of the most beautiful pieces of music for theatre, composed by leading Greek composers. Today’s track list, here at GME, includes a collection of songs that were originally conceived to accompany plays on stage. These songs belong primarily t...

Today, here at GME, we continue our tribute to the “Greek” Pablo Neruda by listening to poems of his set to music by composers Vassilis Dimitriou, Christos Gartzos and Giannis Glezos. Neruda, who died exactly 52 years ago, on September 23, 1973, was awarded the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. In his...

Today and tomorrow, we will be honouring the memory of a colossal poet from Chile who died on September 23, 1973. Pablo Neruda marked not only world poetry but also the Greek song, as his verse was set to music by leading composers. So, today’s destination? Canto General, by Neruda and Mikis Theodorakis, w...

Today, we will be celebrating Invisible Cities, the masterpiece written by my favourite author, Italo Calvino, who died exactly 40 years ago, on September 19, 1985. And we will be also listening to instrumentals by three exceptional composers, Elias Mastoris, Giorgos Stavrianos, Marios Strofalis, inspired...

Today’s GME is dedicated to Pavlos Fyssas, the musician who was killed by members of a neo-Nazi criminal gang exactly 12 years ago, on September 18, 2013. Dimitris Mystakidis, Active Member, Giorgos Tsigos, Koinoi Thnitoi, Giannis Koutras and Yperastikoi are some of the artists who, today, will be r...

This week, we have been honouring five distinct individuals who, for different reasons, have left a profound mark on my personal mythology and who were born or passed away on one of this week’s days. Today, we will be remembering a superbly sensitive and expressive composer who passed away exactly 4...