The Sunday song - July 29th, 2018
Dedicated to the memory of the 91 victims* of the destructive wildfires in Attica, Greece.
Όλα σε θυμίζουν - Everything reminds me of you
The song speaks of things and elements that remind us of people that we loved and lost, either by death or by other forms of separation.
Music: Manos Loizos
Lyrics: Manolis Rasoulis
Vocals: Haris (Haroula) Alexiou
The song belongs to the album “Τα τραγούδια της Χαρούλας/ Haroulas’ songs” that was released in 1979, following an earlier collaboration between the music and lyrics composers. Five years after the restoration of democracy in Greece, Manos Loizos wanted to derive from the political songwriting. Political songs were still popular, but the composer recognised the unspoken need for something lighter. Loizos studied folk/pop music rhythms and created melodies that balance between social issues and sensational themes.
The album contains 12 songs that are all very famous and well known. It established Haris Alexiou as one of the greatest female Greek voices of all time, who at that time was at her prime vocally.
Haris Alexiou has mentioned in an interview that the song has always a place in her concerts - it was released soon after her other’s death, it was a beloved song from her beloved composer, Manos Loizos (who passed away suddenly 3 years later) and her also beloved Manolis Rasoulis. She has also noted that people really love the song and want to listen to it. It is part of her interaction with the people.
Personal opinion: It is a simple, yet powerful song, with melodic and lyric elements that reach deep inside. It is one of the first songs that I learned to play in the guitar. I am of course biased, because Haris Alexiou is my favourite Greek female voice.
You can read a free translation of the lyrics here
Find the whole album in Discogs
Sources:
https://www.patrasevents.gr/article/73623-haris-alexiou
http://tragoudistan.blogspot.com/2009/03/2_15.html
*The number of the victims is expected to rise. There are officially 25 missing people.
@ssferret I believe your mother will know this
