Greek Music Express

This week, we have been celebrating five important poets and lyricists who have left a notable mark on Greek song and today we turn to my number one, the poet whom I consider the greatest not only in Greece but globally, a true master situated at the crossroads of political vision and existential despair....

This week, we have been celebrating five important poets and lyricists who have left a notable mark on Greek song and today we turn to my number one, the poet whom I consider the greatest not only in Greece but globally, a true master situated at the crossroads of political vision and existential despair....

French poet Arthur Rimbaud, who passed away on this day, November 10, 1891, is considered a leading figure of world poetry. Literary critics have pointed to his pioneering role in promoting a variety of aesthetic currents, including symbolism and surrealism. Naturally, Rimbaud has been present in this...

Our week-long journey across the fields of “entechno” (art) song ends today with yet another overdose of emotion, lyricism and sensitivity – this time from albums recorded in 1994. Indicatively, Anastasia Moutsatsou sings the words of Giorgos Andreou: “If love is a light in the darkness / you are my ...

Musically, the early 1990s are a period replete with surprises and originality; in 1993, indicatively, we come across the deeply emotional ballads of Alexandros Dimas, the lyrical songs of Notis Mavroudis, the playful masterpieces of Nena Venetsanou and the folk robustness of Vangelis Korakakis. These...

Rhythms drawn from Greek tradition, sophisticated melodies, modern musical instruments, lyrics of a highly poetic quality. Art song creatively assimilated the folk and rebetiko tradition, while remaining open to a selective incorporation of contemporary elements and currents. The 1990s form the spring...

Does it exist or not? Is it alive or dead? A vibrant artistic movement or a construction of record labels? This is the famous debate over the art song and its existence. The questions are not only of philological but also of practical importance, as they concern a large volume of current musical production....

Throughout the week that starts today, we shall be exploring the first half of the 1990s and how the discography of these years shaped Greek song with the advent of “entechno”, art song. Today’s destination? My favourite songs from year 1990. Expect masterpieces performed by the “usual suspects” of art so...

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...