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POPULAR SONG

Urban Folk songs

Urban Folk song- the beginning

After World War II, in the late 1940s, the rebetiko had solidified and the bouzouki had been established in the conscience of the economically and socially lower urban classes. At the same time, European and American songs influenced “light” music (see relevant section) and entertained the bourgeois and upper classes in Athens and other major cities while the bouzouki was held in contempt. However, the after-sound of the bouzouki and the entertainment it could provide mobilized composers of mild music like Michalis Sougioul (Aydin 1901- Athens 1958)Ï Ìé÷Üëçò Óïõãéïýë Ç ðáñôéôïýñá ôïõ ôñáãïõäéïý «¶ëá» (åîþöõëëï êáé ðñþôç óåëßäá) Ìé÷Üëçò Óïõãéïýë - ÁëÝêïò ÓáêåëÜñéïò «Ôï ôñáì ôï ôåëåõôáßï». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï Ôüíçò Ìáñïýäáò êáé ï Íßêïò ÐáðáäÜêçò Ìé÷Üëçò Óïõãéïýë - ÁëÝêïò ÓáêåëÜñéïò «Ï ôñáìðáñßöáò» [1957]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ôï Ôñßï ÊéôÜñá Ìé÷Üëçò Óïõãéïýë- ÁëÝêïò ÓáêåëÜñéïò «¶ñ÷éóáí ôá üñãáíá» êáé «¶ëá!». Áðüóðáóìá áðü ôçí ôáéíßá ôïõ ÁëÝêïõ ÓáêåëÜñéïõ «ÓÜíôá Ôóéêßôá» [1953] and Nikos Gounaris (Zagora, Pelion 1915- Athens 1965) Íßêïò Ãïýíáñçò – ÁëÝêïò ÓáêåëÜñéïò êáé ×ñÞóôïò Ãéáííáêüðïõëïò «ÐÜìå óôá ìðïõæïýêéá». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçò to implement it in their songs by also importing elements of Greek music like the rhythms of zeibekiko and chasapiko, melodic motifs borrowed from eastern climaxes etc. The trick employed by Sougioul to soften the effect of the bouzouki, passing the taxim from the bouzouki to the accordion, is characteristic.  Ìé÷Üëçò Óïõãéïýë – ×ñÞóôïò Ãéáííáêüðïõëïò «ÓâÞóå ìå áð’ ôïí ÷Üñôç» [1952]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ôï Ôñßï ÊéôÜñá. At the same time, later rebetiko composers like Vasilis Tsitsanis (Trikala 1915- London 1984), Ï ÔóéôóÜíçò ìå ÃéÜííç Ìáñêüðïõëï, Óùôçñßá ÌðÝëëïõ êáé Üëëïõò óôï ×Üñáìá óôçí ÊáéóáñéáíÞ ôï 1973¸êäïóç ôñáãïõäéþí ôïõ Âáóßëç ÔóéôóÜíçÏ Âáóßëçò ÔóéôóÜíçò ìå ôïí ÌÜíï ×áôæéäÜêé ôï 1960 ðåñßðïõ Âáóßëç ÔóéôóÜíç «Ôá êáâïõñÜêéá» [1953]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ç Ìáñßêá Íßíïõ Âáóßëç ÔóéôóÜíç «Áðüøå óôéò áêñïãéáëéÝò» [1967]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçò Âáóßëç ÔóéôóÜíç «Ôï âáðüñé áð’ ôçí Ðåñóßá» [1977]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçò Áðüóðáóìá áðü ôçí ôáéíßá ôïõ ÃéÜííç Ôñéáíôáöýëëç «ÐéÜóáìå ôçí êáëÞ» [1955] ãõñéóìÝíï óôçí èñõëéêÞ ôáâÝñíá «Ôæßìçò ï ×ïíäñüò». Ðáßæåé ôï óõãêñüôçìá ôïõ Âáóßëç ÔóéôóÜíç. Ç Ìáñßêá Íßíïõ ôñáãïõäÜ ôá ôñáãïýäéá «Ãéá íá óå êÜíù Üíèñùðï», «ÆáÀñá» êáé «Ôá êáâïõñÜêéá». Âáóßëçò Ôóéôóáíçò «Ôï êáñÜâé» - Áðüóðáóìá áðü ôçí ôáéíßá ôïõ Ãéþñãïõ ÆåñâïõëÜêïõ «Ãéá ôï øùìß êáé ôïí Ýñùôá» (1959) Âáóßëçò ÔóéôóÜíçò «Ôçò ãåñáêßíáò ãéïò» [1975] - ÔñáãïõäÜ ï ÓôÝëéïò Êáæáíôæßäçò Giorgos Mitsakis (Constantinople 1919 or 1921- Athens 1993) Ï Ãéþñãïò ÌçôóÜêçò ôï 1954 «Ï Ãéþñãïò ÌçôóÜêçò ìå ôçí ¶ííá ×ñõóÜöç êáé ôïí ×ñçóôÜêç ôï 1955» «Ï Ãéþñãïò ÌçôóÜêçò ìå ôçí ¶ííá ×ñõóÜöç ôï 1960» Ãéþñãïò ÌçôóÜêçò «Óôïí ÐåéñáéÜ óõííÝöéáóå» [1960]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï Ãñçãüñçò Ìðéèéêþôóçò Ãéþñãïò ÌçôóÜêçò «ÓõííåöéÝò» [1965]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ç Ëßôóá ÄéáìÜíôç Ãéþñãïò ÌçôóÜêçò «ÐÜñå ôï äá÷ôõëßäé ìïõ». Ôñáãïõäïýí ïé ¶ííá ×ñõóÜöç êáé Óðýñïò ÆáãïñáßïòÃéþñãïò ÌçôóÜêçò «¼ôáí êáðíßæåé ï ëïõëÜò» - íåüôåñç åêôÝëåóç áðü ôïí ÓôÝëéï ÂáìâáêÜñç and others adopted a lighter and more entertainment-oriented way to write their songs.

Thus, in the 1950s the bouzouki seized to be, especially for the middle class, condemned and became fashionable. A new kind of music began to emerge, the urban folk music.

After World War II, in the late 1940s, the rebetiko had solidified and the bouzouki had been established in the conscience of the economically and socially lower urban classes. At the same time, European and American songs influenced “light” music (see relevant section) and entertained the bourgeois and upper classes in Athens and other major cities while the bouzouki was held in contempt. However, the after-sound of the bouzouki and the entertainment it could provide mobilized composers of mild music like Michalis Sougioul (Aydin 1901- Athens 1958) and Nikos Gounaris (Zagora, Pelion 1915- Athens 1965) to implement it in their songs by also importing elements of Greek music like the rhythms of zeibekiko and chasapiko, melodic motifs borrowed from eastern climaxes etc. The trick employed by Sougioul to soften the effect of the bouzouki, passing the taxim from the bouzouki to the accordion, is characteristic. At the same time, later rebetiko composers like Vasilis Tsitsanis (Trikala 1915- London 1984), Giorgos Mitsakis (Constantinople 1919 or 1921- Athens 1993) and others adopted a lighter and more entertainment-oriented way to write their songs.

Thus, in the 1950s the bouzouki seized to be, especially for the middle class, condemned and became fashionable. A new kind of music began to emerge, the urban folk music.


The connection of urban folk songs to light songs

There are two distinguishable tendencies; one carried a strong influence from the light songs, implemented the bouzouki and addressed the middle class. It was housed in high-class taverns and similar entertainment places of the time. In late 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s and later on, however, the bouzouki and urban folk music were established in people’s conscience to the degree that the upper economical and social classes were drawn in as well. The expression “let’s go to the bouzoukia” became synonymous to “let’s go have fun”.

 

Important composers of urban folk music were:

  1. Chrysinis Stelios (Piraeus 1912- 1970)) Ï ÓôÝëéïò ×ñõóßíçò (óôï ìÝóïí ìå ôá óêïýñá ãõáëéÜ) áíÜìåóá óå Üëëïõò ìïõóéêïýò ÓôÝëéïò ×ñõóßíçò – ×ñÞóôïò Êïëïêïôñþíçò «Ôé üìïñöç ðïõ åßóáé üôáí êëáéò». Ôñáãïõäïýí ïé ÃéÜííçò ÊõñéáæÞò êáé ÄçìÞôñçò Ñïõìåëéþôçò ÓôÝëéïò ×ñõóßíçò êáé ×ñÞóôïò Êïëïêïôñþíçò – Óôáýñïò Ðáíôåëßäçò «Åßäá êé Ýðáèá êõñÜ ìïõ». Ôñáãïõäïýí ïé ÓôÝëéïò Êáæáíôæßäçò êáé Êáßôç ÃêñÝõ
  1. Kaplanis Kostas (Chios 1921- Athens 1997) Ï Êþóôáò ÊáðëÜíçò Êþóôáò ÊáðëÜíçò – Êþóôáò ÌÜíåóçò «¸íáò áëÞôçò ðÝèáíå». Ôñáãïõäïýí ïé ÔÜêçò Ìðßíçò êáé Ìáßñç Ëßíôá Êþóôáò ÊáðëÜíçò «ÐáñáóôñÜôçóá ãéá óÝíá» - Ôñáãïõäïýí ïé Ìáñßêá Íßíïõ êáé Óôáýñïò ÔæïõáíÜêïò
  1. Tzouanakos Stavros (Piraeus 1921- Florida, USA 1974) Ï Óôáýñïò ÔæïõáíÜêïò (äåîéÜ) ìáæß ìå Üëëïõò ìïõóéêïýò Óôáýñïò ÔæïõáíÜêïò – Íßêïò Ãêïýìáò «Ï ìá÷áñáãéÜò» [1951]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ç ÑÝíá ÓôÜìïõ Óôáýñïò ÔæïõáíÜêïò – Êþóôáò Âßñâïò «Ëßãá øß÷ïõëá áãÜðçò óïõ ãõñåýù». Ôñáãïõäïýí ç ¶ííá ×ñõóÜöç êáé ï ÐÜíïò ÃáâáëÜò
  1. Apostolos Kaldaras (Trikala 1922- Athens 1990) Ôï óõãêñüôçìá ÊáñäÜñá – ÔóáïõóÜêç. Åßíáé áñ÷Ýò äåêáåôßáò 1950, ðñéí áêüìá ï Áðüóôïëïò ÊáëäÜñáò ìåôáôñÝøåé ôï åðßèåôü ôïõ Ï Áðüóôïëïò ÊáëäÜñáò ôï 1960Áðüóôïëïò ÊáëäÜñáò – Áéìßëéïò Óáââßäçò «Åßðá íá óâÞóù ôá ðáëéÜ» [1964]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ç Âßêõ Ìïó÷ïëéïýÁðüóôïëïò ÊáëäÜñáò – Åõôõ÷ßá Ðáðáãéáííïðïýëïõ «Ìïõ óðÜóáíå ôïí ìðáãëáìÜ». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï Ãñçãüñçò ÌðéèéêþôóçòÁðüóôïëïò ÊáëäÜñáò – Åõôõ÷ßá Ðáðáãéáííïðïýëïõ «Áð´ ôá øçëÜ óôá ÷áìçëÜ». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï ÓôñÜôïò ÄéïíõóßïõÁðüóôïëïò ÊáëäÜñáò – Åõôõ÷ßá Ðáðáãéáííïðïýëïõ «ÃõÜëéíïò êüóìïò». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï ÓôÝëéïò Êáæáíôæßäçò
  1. Theodoros Derveniotis (Zagora, Pelion 1922) Ï Èåüäùñïò ÄåñâåíéþôçòÏ Èåüäùñïò Äåñâåíéþôçò óå ìåãÜëç çëéêßáÏ Èåüäùñïò Äåñâåíéþôçò ìå ôç ÌáñéíÝëëá ôï 1958 Music: 1. With Kostas Manesis “Alla mou len ta matia sou” (Your eyes tell me otherwise). Vocals by Poly Panou and Antonis Kleidoniaris. Èåüäùñïò Äåñâåíéþôçò - Íßêïò ÌïõñêÜêïò «¸íá óöÜëìá Ýêáíá» [1960]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ç Ðüëõ ÐÜíïõÈåüäùñïò Äåñâåíéþôçò - Êþóôáò Âßñâïò «Øýëëïé óô´ áõôéÜ ìïõ ìðÞêáíå» [1969]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï Ôüëçò ÂïóêüðïõëïòÈåüäùñïò Äåñâåíéþôçò - Êþóôáò Âßñâïò «Åìåßò ìáæß èá æÞóïõìå» [1964]. Ôñáãïõäïýí ÓôÝëéïò Êáæáíôæßäçò êáé ÌáñéíÝëëá
  1. Bithikotsis Grigoris (Athens 1922-2005) Ï Ãñçãüñçò Ìðéèéêþôóçò óå ç÷ïãñÜöçóç óôï óôïýíôéï ôçò ColumbiaÃñçãüñçò Ìðéèéêþôóçò - ËÜêçò Ôóþëçò «Ôïõ Âïôáíéêïý ï ìÜãêáò». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçòÃñçãüñçò Ìðéèéêþôóçò – ×áñÜëáìðïò ÂáóéëåéÜäçò «ÐÞñá ôçí óôñÜôá ôçí êáêéÜ». Ôñáãïõäïýí ïé Ðüëõ ÐÜíïõ êáé Óôáýñïò ÐëÝóóáòÃñçãüñçò Ìðéèéêþôóçò «Åóý åßóáé óôá øçëÜ êé åãþ óôá ÷áìçëÜ». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçò
  1. Zabetas Giorgos (Athens 1925-1992) Ï Ãéþñãïò ÆáìðÝôáò (ôñßôïò áðü äåîéÜ) ðÜíù óôï ðÜëêï êÜðïéåò áðüêñéåòÏ Ãéþñãïò ÆáìðÝôáòÏ Ãéþñãïò ÆáìðÝôáò, ç ¶ííá ×ñõóÜöç êáé ï Ãéþñãïò ÌçôóÜêçò ôï 1956Ãéþñãïò ÆáìðÝôáò – ×áñÜëáìðïò ÂáóéëåéÜäçò «Ï ìáèçôÞò» [1961]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçòÃéþñãïò ÆáìðÝôáò – ÓôÝëéïò ÃåñÜíçò «Ïé èáëáóóéíïß» [1972]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçòÃéþñãïò ÆáìðÝôáò «ÂïñéÜò åéí’ ç áãÜðç óïõ». Áðüóðáóìá áðü ôçí ôáéíßá ôïõ ÓùêñÜôç ÊáøÜóêç «ÐåñÜóôå ôçí ðñþôç ôïõ ìçíüò» [1965]. Ôñáãïõäïýí ï ÐÜíïò ÔæáíåôÞò êáé ç Âßêõ Ìïó÷ïëéïýÃéþñãïò ÆáìðÝôáò – ×áñÜëáìðïò ÂáóéëåéÜäçò «ÐáôÝñá êÜôóå öñüíéìá». Áðüóðáóìá áðü ôçí ôáéíßá ôïõ Êþóôá ÊáñáãéÜííç «ÐáôÝñá êÜôóå öñüíéìá» [1967]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçòÃéþñãïò ÆáìðÝôáò «Ï ÁãáèïêëÞò». Áðüóðáóìá áðü ôçí ôáéíßá ôïõ Åññßêïõ Èáëáóóéíïý «ÐÜñå êüóìå» [1967]. Ôñáãïõäïýí ç ÌáíôáëÝíá êáé ï óõíèÝôçò
  1. Akis Panou (Athens 1933- 2000) Ï ¶êçò ÐÜíïõ¶êçò ÐÜíïõ «Ç ðéï ìåãÜëç þñá» [1967]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ç Ãéþôá Ëýäéá¶êçò ÐÜíïõ «¼ôáí óçìÜíåé ç þñá» [1968]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï Ãñçãüñçò Ìðéèéêþôóçò¶êçò ÐÜíïõ «Ïé ìéóïß êáëïß» [1974]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï ÓôÝëéïò Êáæáíôæßäçò¶êçò ÐÜíïõ «Äåí õðÜñ÷åé êáíåßò». Áðüóðáóìá áðü ôçí ôáéíßá ôïõ Áðüóôïëïõ Ôåãüðïõëïõ «Ç êáñäéÜ åíüò áëÞôç» [1968]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï ÓôñÜôïò Äéïíõóßïõ ¶êçò ÐÜíïõ «Åãþ êáëÜ óïõ ôá ´ëåãá» [1971]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï ÁíäñÝáò Êáñáêüôáò¶êçò ÐÜíïõ «Ç æùÞ ìïõ üëç [1974]. ÔñáãïõäÜ ï ÓôÝëéïò Êáæáíôæßäçò
  1. Antonis Repanis (Athens 1933) Ï Áíôþíçò ÑåðÜíçò êáé ï ÓôñÜôïò Äéïíõóßïõ óôï åîþöõëëï ôïõ äßóêïõ Ô´ áãêÜèéá ôçò êáñäéÜò Music: With Dimitris Goutis "O Paliatzis" (The junkman) (1971). Vocals by Stratos Dionysiou.
  1. Tolis Voskopoulos (Athens 1940)  Ï Ôüëçò Âïóêüðïõëïò óôï åîþöõëëï ôïõ äßóêïõ Ïé áíáìíÞóåéò îáíáãõñßæïõíå Ôüëçò Âïóêüðïõëïò - Ìßìçò Èåéüðïõëïò «Ïé áíáìíÞóåéò». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçòÔüëçò Âïóêüðïõëïò - Çëßáò Ëõìðåñüðïõëïò «Óå éêåôåýù». ÔñáãïõäÜ ï óõíèÝôçò
  1. Giannis Karabesinis (Athens 194?) Ï ÃéÜííçò Êáñáìðåóßíçò (äåîéÜ) ðÜíù óôï ðÜëêï ìå Üëëïõò ìïõóéêïýò Music: 1. "Esena den sou aksize agapi" (You didn't deserve love) (1962). Vocals by Poly Panou. 2. "Emeis mazi den kanoume" (We can't be together) (1963). Vocals by Poly Panou.
  1. Evangelos Prekas Music: With Evangelos Dalaras "To vouno" (The mountain). Vocals by Kaiti Grey and Dimitris Roumeliotis.
  1. Nikos Meimaris Photo: "Vasilis Vasiliadis (on the right holding the accordion) on stage with other musicians" http://www.paradoxon.gr/paramithi/binis.html Music: With Pythagoras "Otan pinei mia gynaika" (When a woman drinks) (1975). Vocals by Charis Alexiou. Video 1: With Pythagoras "O rolos o defteros" (The second part). Vocals by Tolis Voskopoulos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsEe4mjbIJo Video 2: With Pythagoras"Me ekdikithike" (She avenged me) from the movie "Mia gynaika mia agapi mia zoi" (One woman, one love, one life). Vocals by Tolis Voskopoulos.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsEe4mjbIJo Video 3: With Pythgoras "Ena sidero anameno echo stin kardia" (I have a hot iron in my heart). Vocals by Stelios Kazantzidis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nywAi9F137Q
  1. Íßêïò ÌåúìÜñçò Photo: "Nikos Meimaris (on the right) on stage with other musicians" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1159 Music: With Charalabos Vasiliadis and Spyros Peristeris "Oi glaroi" (The seagulls) (1960). Vocals by Panos Gavalas and Voula Gika.

Latin music

The mixture of light songs and bouzouki, considering the jazz and Latin influences of the former, created some unexpected results as well. Manolis Chiotis (Thessaloniki 1920- Athens 1970), a composer of rebetiko and also an expert player of bouzouki, Photo: “O Manolis Chiotis” http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=640 created an “islet” in urban folk music where jazz and Latin music were amalgamated by the breathtaking expertise of a purely Greek musical organ. Photos: 1. “Manolis Chiotis and Mary Linda” http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1021 2. “Manolis Chiotis and his bouzouki” http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1030  Music: 1. Manolis Chiotis- Eutychia Papagiannopoulou “Perasmenes mou agapes” (Past loves) (1960) Vocals by Mary Linda and the composer. 2. Manolis Chiotis “Apotoma” (Abruptly). Vocals by Mary Linda and the composer. Video: 1. Manolis Chiotis “H agapi mou den svinei” (My love doesn't fade away) and “Me kinigoun t’ aderfia sou” (Your brothers are after me) from Giannis Dalianidis’ film “O atsidas” (Nifty) (1962). Vocals by Mary Linda and the composer  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaF_WCvznqQ 2. Manolis Chiotis “O mpekris” (The drunk) from Orestis Liaskos’ movie “Min eidate ton Panay? Kataziteitai o Veggos” (Have you seen Panays? Veggos is wanted) (1962). Vocals by Mary Linda and the composer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbMXm1BE63Q The additional fourth double string on the bouzouki is distinctive and was added by Chiotis to serve his expert needs.

However, other composers served this mixture of Latin and urban folk music elements as well, like Apostolos Kaldaras. Photo: 1. “O Apostolos kaldaras" http://www.mic.gr/%5CdbImages%5C26187_2.jpg 2. “Apostolos Kaldaras with his guitar” http://www.rempetika.com/fotos/personal/kaldaras.jpg, who with his great sense of humor wrote the urban folk version of Cha cha cha (1963) Music: 1. Apostolos kaldaras "Urban folk Cha cha" (1963). Vocals by Panos Gavalas and Theodoros Derveniotis who wrote the "Mambo Zebeikano" 2. Theodoros Derveniotis and Christos kolokotronis "Mambo zeibekano". Vocals by Zozo Sapountzaki.

Influences from India

In the 1950s, the cinema was already a very popular way of entertainment. The production of Greek movies became more and more intensive, but movies of eastern origin and especially from India were becoming extremely popular. These movies were full of songs and that led to the acceptance of this kind of music by the Greek people. (Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Si4e8YJ-Y&mode=related&search From an Indian movie of the 1950s with the famous actor Raj Kapoor)
The popularity of those movies resulted in the creation of a secondary tendency in urban folk music with evident eastern and primarily Indian influences. The songs mainly addressed the lower social classes and were played at the taverns, always accompanied by bouzouki. Significant composers representing that tendency were:

  1. Gerasimos Klouvatos (Athens 1914 - 1979) Photo: "Gerasimos Klouvatos (on the left) with Roza Eskenazy and other musicians on stage in 1955" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=477 Music: 1. With Charalabos Vasiliadis "Anapse to tsigaro" (Light the cigarette) (1960). Vocals by Spyros Zagoraios and gioula Andreadou. 2. With Charalabos Vasiliadis "Sanidi sapio patisa" (I stepped on a rotten board). Vocals by Poly Panou.
  1. Babis Bakalis (Karditsa 1920 - 2007) Photo: 1. "Babis Bakalis in 1964" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=849 2. "Babis Bakalis (third from the left) with friends in 1950" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=711 Music: 1. With Kostas Virvos, "To kourasmeno vima sou" (Your tired walk). Vocals by Takis Binis and Stella Haskil. 2. With Stelios Kaberis, "Plirofories kakies" (Bad information) (1962). Vocals by Petros Anagnostakis and Roula Kalaki. 3. With Sotiris Tsenes, "Kai pali mangas tha 'sai" (You'll still be hep) (1980). Vocals by Stratos Dionysiou. Video: "Me ksypnas charamata" (you wake me up at daybreak). Vocals by Stelios Kazantzidis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX7gSaoouzU
  1. Christos Kolokotronis (Athens 1922 - 1999) Music: "Tetoia koukla kai tsachpina" (Such a doll and coquette). Vocals by Stelios Kazantzidis.
  1. Panos Gavalas (Athens 1926 - 1988) Photo: 1. "Panos Gavalas with his co-singer Ria Kourti http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1081 2. "Panos Gavalas" http://www.rempetika.com/fotos/personal/gabalas.jpg Music 1. With Charalabos Vasiliadis, "Siganopsichalisma" (Slow rainfall). Vocals by the composer. 2. With Tasos Koulouris, "Fyge ki ase me" (Go away and leave me) (1961). Vocals by the composer.
  1. Vangelis Perpiniadis (Nikaia, Piraeus 1927 – Athens 2003) Photo: 1. "Nana and Vangelis Perpiniadis in Aspropyrgos (1953)" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1091 2. "Vangelis Perpiniadis (second from the right) with Michalis Genitsaris, Stratos Tebelis, Vangelitsa Zabeta, Vlachos (standing with a bouzouki), Lakis (piano), and Christos (accordion) in 1950" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1165 3. "Vangelis Perpiniadis (in the middle) with Christos Dimopoulos, Mary Konstantinidou, Fofo Stratou and her father Stratos Pagioumtzis (1964)" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1341 Music: 1. "As ta nazia vre Maritsa" (Don't be coy). The composer sings. 2. With Spyros Peristeris, "Na mou ziseis Katinaki" (Have a good life Katinaki). Vocals by the composer.
  1. Attalidis Stavros (Athens 1928 - 1998) Music: 1. "Mangala" (The brazier). Vocals by Manolis Angelopoulos and Giota Lydia. 2. With Kostas Virvos, "Gyrna pali gyrna"(come back again, come back). Vocals by Giota Lydia.
  1. Stelios Kazantzidis (Athens 1931 - 2001) Photo: 1. "Stelios Kazantzidis with Kaiti Grey in approximately 1955" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1203 2. "Stelios Kazantzidis with Marinella on his right, in 1964" http://www.rebetiko.gr/showphoto.php?id=1225 Music: 1. "Afti i nychta menei" (This night remains) (1960). Vocals by the composer. 2. "Ekso dertia kai kaymoi" (Leave sorrow and sadness). Vocals by the composer. 3. "Echeis kormi arapiko" (You have an African body). Vocals by the composer. Video: 1. "Zigouala" from Roviros Manthoulis' movie "I kyria Dimarchos" (Mrs. Mayor) (1960). Vocals by Marinella and the composer.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzygxPfwj9I&mode=related&search Video 2: "Gia mas pote min ksimerosi" (Let dawn never come for us) from Roviros Manthoulis' movie "I kyria Dimarchos" (Mrs. Mayor) (1960). Vocals by Marinella and the composer.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUg_g7Cw_S8
  1. Manolis Angelopoulos (ÊáâÜëá 1939 – Ëïíäßíï 1989) Photo: "Manolis Angelopoulos" http://www.musiccorner.gr/images/mbi/aggelopoulos_01.jpg Music: 1. With Giannis Pavlis, "Dynamiti me fitili" (Dynamite with fuse). Vocals by the composer. 2. With Maro Bizani, "Ta mavra matia sou" (Your black eyes). Vocals by the composer.
  1. Leonardos Bournelis Photo: "Leonardos Bournelis on stage" http://www.iera.gr/efimerida/48/5/M6.jpg Music: With Panagiotis Michalopoulos, "Mes stis polis to hamam" (In the city's hamam). Vocals by Spyros Zagoraios.

Contemporary urban folk songs

From the early 1980s, urban folk music began to acquire a more modernized character. The lyrics and music composition change in order to meet the new demands of Greek society. Significant composers of that time are:

  1. Soukas Takis (Koboti, Arta 1940) Photo: "Takis Soukas with singer Maria Lagiou" http://www.volumedisc.gr/images/mary-001.jpg Music: 1. With Makis Alatzas, "Ipokrinese" (You pretend) (1980). Vocals by Stratos Dionysiou. 2. With Vasilis Papadopoulos, "Mia zoi mesa stous dromous" (All my life in the streets) (1985). Vocals by Charoula Alexiou.
  1. Crysovergis Alekos (Athens 1944) Music: 1. With Spyros Giatras, "Kalitera mazi soy kai trelos" (Better with you and crazy). Vocals by Litsa Papadopoulou. 2. With Spyros Giatras, "Mas ipochreoses" (Thanks for nothing) (1989). Vocals by Stratos Dionysiou.
  1. Nikolopoulos Christos (Kapsochori, Veria 1947) Photo: "Christos Nikolopoulos" http://www.cricos.gr/pictures/nikolopoulos1.jpg Music: 1. With Pythagoras, "Iparcho" (I exist) (1975). Vocals by Stelios Kazantzidis. 2. With Manolis Rasoulis, "Paikse Christo epigontos" (Play Christos urgently) (1982). Vocals by Eleni Vitali. Video: 1. Stelios Kazantzidis and Giorgos Dalaras singing his songs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0liy4rfG8M&mode=related&search 2. With Pythagoras, "Gyrizo ap'ti nychta" (I return from the night). Vocals by Stelios Kazantzidis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgAbop9C5po
  1. Polykandriotis Thanasis (Athens 1947) Photo: "Thanasis Polykandriotis" http://www.musiccorner.gr/images/alpha/polikandriwtis_01.jpg Music: 1. With Giannis Parios, "Ta mazepsa ta pragmata" (I gathered the things) (1980). Vocals by Stratos Dionysiou. 2. With Giannis Parios, "Ta pires ola ki efyges" (You took everything and left) (1981). Vocals by Stratos Dionysiou.
  1. Mousafiris Takis Music: 1. "Ti to thes to koutalaki" (What do you want with a fork). Vocals by Dimitris Mitropanos. 2. "Pes mou pou poulan kardies" (Tell me where they sell hearts). Vocals by Dimitris Mitropanos Video: 1. "Mia zoi plirono" (I pay all my life). Vocals by Dimitris Mitropanos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM5mjvZcOYs 2. With Vasilis Papadopoulos, "O taksitzis" (The taxi driver). Vocals by Stratos Dionysiou http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-u8-fouOus 3. "Ego o ksenos" (Me, the stranger) (1988). Vocals by Stratos Dionysiou http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2zjMIgXeRQ