EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). Over the past few years—on Valentine’s Day and beyond—Helleniscope has created a wonderful tradition: selecting exceptional songs with a distinctly international flair. (Yes, I know, Priscilla and Aquila Day – but somehow we have to communicate more broadly…)
Why international? Because we Greeks share a unique trait, especially Greek men: We are natural-born travelers, open to all cultures, eager to exchange ideas, music, and emotions, without ever abandoning our roots.
This year, we proudly continue that tradition with a collection of love songs. Each one is catchy and addictive in its own way—but the last selection below stands out above the rest: a fairly new Greek Rnb song, “My Little Dynamite.”
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Growing up in the Mediterranean in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, it was impossible not to enjoy Italian songs. “Sara perche ti amo” (1981) is one of the best ever… By Ricchi E Poveri…
One more Italian song – the unsurpassed “Ti Amo” by Umberto Tozzi (1977) – starring Monica Bellucci… A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!
I knew and liked the following Latin song since I was a teenager in Greece, but learned the Spanish lyrics of “La Historia de un Amor” in my first year in New York – and still have the pizzeria placemat where my Colombian classmates wrote it for me… What a wonderful memory! One of the best love songs of all time!!..
“Tous les garçons et les filles de mon âge” — what a unique poem and song! I took six years of French in High School and I have to admit I learned more French from songs like this than in any other way… The video has English subtitles.
This song is absolutely addictive!! By Leo Dan: “Cómo te extraño, mi amor”… “Amor divino”… Amazing (English subtitles).
The definition of Romanticism in America: “Only You” by the Platters!!
And finally, the Greek Rnb group “Stavento” with their explosive “My little dynamite!!” It came out about ten years ago… Mihalis Halkias is the leader…
Niko my daring and indomitable amigo— Your recent list of favorite love songs was a delight — truly a passport stamped in romance. From the longing of “Cómo te extraño, mi amor” to the wistfulfulness of “Tous les garçons et les filles,” from the drama of “La Historia de un Amor” to the irresistible Italian passion of “Ti Amo,” and of course the immortal “Only You.” And Stavento’s “My Little Dynamite”? Explosive indeed! But I do admit – I do not get middle age casanovas drooling over 20 somethings…LOL
really —Your playlist travels beautifully across languages and continents.
Which is precisely why I must ask — with mock indignation and a smile — how did Greece manage to miss the flight?
Are we to believe that Demis Roussos crooning “Forever and Ever” was somehow left waiting at the departure gate? That velvet voice has caused more sighing than a Santorini sunset.
Surely somewhere in your musical heart there hides a Greek melody — dramatic, yearning, just slightly over the top (as love songs should be). From the era of beautiful Greek music…
In any case, thank you for reminding us that romance has many accents — but perhaps next time we let Greece bring a little bouzouki to the party?
With my full admiration — and a raised eyebrow,
Eleni – I have posted Demi Roussos, as well as Zambetas’ famous love songs repeatedly in past posts… Zambetas’ home was only 2-3 miles from mine – and i was part of the culture of the s0-called “Western suburbs” of Athens… There is only so much space… We shall return… But growing up in the Mediterranean in the global musical explosion of the 1960s and 1970 I could not – and I never will escape – the romantic/Latin flare… I remember in the 1970s we all adored a record by Grogos Dalaras, “The Latin”. Before that the then “socialist” youth we used to love the Latin protest songs such as “Gracias a la vida” =- which I also learned to sing the lyrics by heart…
Nick. Thanks for the songs. I see you have a romantic heart. What does your wife think of your romanticism?
The Platters song of “Only you” is a study of society in the 50’s and 60’s. Black men were only singers or waiters. They weren’t even athletes. They had to be as light complexioned as possible. Hair on the men– and women of course– had to be straight. And did you notice how light skinned the woman is? They were using chemical agents to lighten their skin. You could not be a woman with a dark skin. If you were, you had to be a nanny or house cleaner.
Compare the “Only you” love song to today’s rap, where the woman is called a whor- and a bitc-. I hate to sound like an old man, but you can’t help it. Today’s music is certainly no progress.
As I said in a previous comment we were lucky to grow up during or right after the unique musical creativity of the 1960s and 1970s… it’s unfair to make comparisons with today’s commercialized music scene. Occasionally however you can tell that genuine romantic musical talent never ceases to surface..
As for me, I was born in Pireaus the same year “Never on Sunday” was filmed….less than 20 years later I remember Melina Mercuri – who was elected a parliament member in our district with the then young and hopeful PASOK, hug and kiss all of us young boys in the cafeterias of the famous “Pireaus Second District”, in very much the same way she did in the movie…
After such experiences there is no much else to say..
except that I cannot imagine anything more romantic than the full moon over the Pireaus coast of my youth and the surrounding cultural atmosphere… After all it is now clear that this is where modern Greek culture was born – including the bouzouki music and much of the poetry…
I met Madame Melina and her husband Jules Dassin in Athens around 1977? in an art gallery on Tritis Septemvriou Street that Katerina who is still my best friend, an art student then, took me to. As a naive Greek American girl I had no idea who Melina really was but after meeting her I certainly learned a lot. Since then I have seen her films and Dassin’s too…magical years those 1970s.
Her past during the German occupation of Greece was certainly questionable but so was Maria’s Callas during the same time. A larger than life personality – much as she featured in “Never on Sunday”. Her heart could fill the whole of Greece and her vision on so many issues – including the return of the Parthenon marbles – is still with us…