brett ashley

Thanks for the advice Geske. It's nice to read you again. I'll definitely try to buy To elliniko prosopo and Mikra Asia. Try to guess who Nighthawk is..."Site crasher"!

And as Ralph Ellison said in Invisible Man, "I am what I yam" As, for the gift of Dalaras's entire collection, I bet you see me with the face of Santa Claus...

No, you are not. Fado is the music/song of saudade.

As I bought Latin, this week's favourite song is La Magualeña.

That's interesting to know that there was a film related to this beautifully melancholic song. When you say that they rise reluctantly, that's amazing because I remember vaguely that the poem always describing this feeling of going but at the same time leaving with regret something behind. Now I remember the name of the poem by Chénier (XVIII cent. head chopped off during the French Revolution): Embarquement pour Cythère. Lovers who go on a trip to the island of lovers, Cythère/Kithira but whose happiness is somehow uncomplete because our human nature doesn't allow us to enjoy the moment fully. In Portugal we have a world for that: saudade.

Ok, I have the ç on my keyboard, but I see you found out by yourself. Let me try the accents too, as I wasn't able to write a portuguese world last time for NIKH (By the way, she disappeared!) è é ã

Taxidi sta kithira reminds me of a painting by Watteau: Voyage à Cythère and consequently a poem by a forgotten french poet, André Chénier, which I think had the same title and I studied it in College.

Thanks Michael, Olga, Niki, François and Diane for your advice about the albums. François, too late, I've already bought Latin and O Asphaltos pou Trexei! But in this last one, there are beautiful songs, though I agree with you that it is not his best at all. As for Latin, I absolutely agree with Olga that the best songs are El preso numero nueve, Coimbra and specially La Malagueña. Last but not least, Nighthawk, don't you think you fool me, I know who you are. Another portuguese knowing Dalaras? That's such a coincidence...

I've just received the album Latin from Amazon. Franz, I was so disappointed! I thought Amor, Amor that you like so much was a part of this album. Well, but Fado Corrido de Coimbra is in it. As for that, I am so ashamed...I wrote to Dalaras's official website, praising his singing and accent, but criticising-just a very little bit- the portuguese guitar part. Now, I see that he is the one playing it! I could dig a hole and bury myself in it! But at the same time, as the site is still advertising O Asfaltos pou Trexei (sorry, but writing greek with latin characters is weird), I don't worry much that he'll ever see it. as for the album Latin in itself, well, I need more time to appreciate it. BUT there's one thing I have to say. La Bamba, this song is Yuk! He could have chosen better. On the other side, I love La Malagueña, it's so beautiful. It reminds me of an evening in Sevilla, with Mariachis singers who gave an impaired performance-even by Dalaras himself. What is the next album you advise me to purchase, guys? I have already the two that are mentioned here, plus 50 years of rembetika, a Portrait and Live and Unplugged. I'm still a rookie compared to all of you so I'll appreciate if anyone is willing to give me an advice.

Efxaristo.

Gosh, my greek is so poor that I don't understand most of the article. Furthermore, my printer is out of order and I can't take a copy and look up the words I don't know. Would there be a kind soul who could synthetise the content for me? I'd appreciate very much.

"Fly me to the moon" and "why should I care" by Diana Krall

Then we're in absolute harmony Athina

Thanks Niki

Thanks so much for the answer, Niki. That's funny, whatever choices we make, even humanitarian issues we decide to fight for, there's always someone ready to criticize and usually, that someone is never able to do it himself/herself. I had a greek friend who paid me a visit in Portugal, and when I told him that I loved Dalaras's music, he replied in a way that I didn't appreciate, such as: We're fed up with Dalaras, he does this, he does that...and so on, meaning he wasn't sincere about the causes he fought for and meaning that he wanted too much the public attention. We have a saying for that in Portugal (and very appropriate I should say). One cannot please Greeks and Trojans at the same time. That's so true! Anyway, I didn't quite understand the Cyprus issue. Dalaras brought to the highlights the problem of the turkish occupation and the fight of the Cypriots for freedom, didn't he? If someone could give me some light on that, I'd be grateful.