Thread for questions about particular composers, lyricists, singers, musicians

This thread is for questions about particular composers, lyricists, singers, and musicians.

First question:

It seems like the singer Αντύπας never worked with the composers on Duffy's "best" list?

If this is true, why?

Did he not want to work with them? Or did they not want to work with him?

Or was it because of some kind of record company contract issues?

Second question:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natassa_Theodoridou

I have heard a lot of her songs on Glenti and Dalkas - in particular - many of her zeibekika.

To me, it sounds like she is honestly trying to "keep the faith" - in other words, she seems to be trying to write and/or sing songs that carry on the tradition of good rebetika/laika.

Is my opinion wrong here?

Do native Greeks see her more like a "fake" rebetika/laika singer?

Here's an example of one of her zeibekika (written by someone else):

(Glenti 4AM January 4)
Αχάριστη καρδιά - 1998
Στίχοι: Ελένη Γιαννατσούλια
Μουσική: Τριαντάφυλλος
http://www.stixoi.info/stixoi.php?in...s&song_id=4915
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsAkYiDAWAQ

Note!!!!! I'm NOT saying this is an "excellent" zeibekiko - I'm saying it seems to try to stay within the "real" tradition ...

Another example of one of her zeibekika:

Φεγγάρι - 2002
Στίχοι: Γιώργος Θεοφάνους
Μουσική: Γιώργος Θεοφάνους
http://www.stixoi.info/stixoi.php?in...s&song_id=1263
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aktSbGz8tAg

Can you imagine what kind of songs are you referring to?
These are precisely for those who hear them ...

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Duffy - you wrote -

"Can you imagine what kind of songs are you referring to?
These are precisely for those who hear them ..."

But I think perhaps there is a point you are missing.

If she is trying for that kind of audience, she doesn't have to give them something even a little bit "OK". She could give them trash, and they would still like it. So I think it counts in her favor that she even bothers to do something even a little bit "OK".

Permit me to tell you a famous "Hollywood" story - perhaps you've heard it.

At the height of the power of the "studios" in Hollywood (MGM, etc), a reporter asked a big Hollywood producer why Hollywood didn't make more really "good" movies.

And the producer just said to him - "Remember, we don't HAVE to make ANY "good" movies!"

Samething here - she doesn't HAVE to sing anything even a little bit like tradition.

Also, what about the first question (about Αντύπας)? Do you not have an opinion on this?

You squeeze me in the corner. I don't want to tell anything about, sorry but i'm out of this situation.

My apologies, Duffy. I didn't mean to put you in a difficult situation.

Maybe Amethystos will be willing to speak of Αντύπας ... if not, then I have to believe the "back-story" is really really really "juicy" ...

Originally Posted by David Halitsky

Originally Posted by David Halitsky

First question:

It seems like the singer Αντύπας never worked with the composers on Duffy's "best" list?

If this is true, why?

Did he not want to work with them? Or did they not want to work with him?

Or was it because of some kind of record company contract issues?

Maybe Amethystos will be willing to speak of Αντύπας ... if not, then I have to believe the "back-story" is really really really "juicy" ...

Sorry my friend I don't know a single answer to your questions.

And of course my opinion is not the same with Duffy's one.

But I'm willing to be informed about any hypothetical "back-story"

Hi Amethystos - thanks for taking the time to respond!

You wrote:

"And of course my opinion is not the same with Duffy's one."

Did you mean your opinion specifically about the singer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natassa_Theodoridou

Or did you mean that IN GENERAL, you rarely have the same opinion as Duffy about ANYTHING!

Originally Posted by David Halitsky

Hi Amethystos - thanks for taking the time to respond!

You wrote:

"And of course my opinion is not the same with Duffy's one."

Did you mean your opinion specifically about the singer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natassa_Theodoridou

Or did you mean that IN GENERAL,

In general of course.

Originally Posted by David Halitsky

you rarely have the same opinion as Duffy about ANYTHING!

Individuality my friend.

But I have to insist; it would be kind of you to inform the public about the "back-story" you know about.

Amethystos -

You wrote:

"But I have to insist; it would be kind of you to inform the public about the "back-story" you know about."

And of course, in response I must insist that if I knew anything, I would "spill the beans".

But it's not ME who is suggesting that there is something to tell.

It's Duffy!

So, as long as Duffy won't talk, we will all know nothing.

Perhaps he needs a visit from the former US Vice-President, **** Cheney ... (heh heh heh)

Ξαναπές μας - 2012
Στίχοι: Κώστας Μαρδάς
Μουσική: Χρήστος Νικολόπουλος
http://www.stixoi.info/stixoi.php?in...&song_id=56457
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2b-2lfu9VQ

If you asked Μαρδάς and Νικολόπουλος, would they say this song was written from a "left" or "right" wing perspective? Or neither?

Left ofcourse

Thanks, Duffy.

Next question.

If a lyricist with right-wing views asked Νικολόπουλος to write some music for one of his songs, would Νικολόπουλος be willing to do it?

(I'm asking this question under the assumption that at least some Greek lyricists have right-wing views ... maybe that's not true? )

You must know that Stavros Xarhakos, Hadjidakis and others are "right-wing" composers but fortunatelly our artists have open minds.

Regarding "artists with open minds", it's good that Greek artists are willing to work with one another even if they have different political opinions.

It's very different in the US sometimes ... if you Google "Dixie Chicks Bush", you'll see what I mean. Everyone loved the Dixie Chicks until they made their comments about Bush. Very few C&W artists came to their defense ...

Also, next question for you (and Amethystos also, of course).

What is the feeling in Greece about the group "τα παιδια απ την πατρα"?

Are they considered a good "oldies" group" which performs the old songs well and with respect?

Or do people think they are fakes?

Here's an example of one of their covers of a 1967 song by Άκης Πάνου:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab3FUGelX6E

And here's their cover of a song by Hiotis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAjM...4C74E23B80FB54

Personally, I think it's a great cover.

Originally Posted by David Halitsky

It's very different in the US sometimes ... if you Google "Dixie Chicks Bush", you'll see what I mean. Everyone loved the Dixie Chicks until they made their comments about Bush. Very few C&W artists came to their defense ...

Can't blame them for expressing their view.
Can't blame other C&W artists for not defending them if they would lose a great portion of their fans by doing such a thing....

Or maybe there were too few C&W artists who hated Bush .....

Amethystos - it's difficult not to notice that you didn't give your opinion of the group "τα παιδια απ την πατρα".

Is this because you have no opinion, or because you prefer not to give evaluations of specific artists or groups here at the forum?

Originally Posted by David Halitsky

Amethystos - it's difficult not to notice that you didn't give your opinion of the group "τα παιδια απ την πατρα".

Is this because you have no opinion, or because you prefer not to give evaluations of specific artists or groups here at the forum?

They're ok in what they're doing.

Originally Posted by Amethystos

They're ok in what they're doing.

My opinion too.

What is the general opinion of Γιώργος Σαρρής?

Judging from this cut, he seems pretty good to me:

Με τα φώτα νυσταγμένα ( Οι νταλίκες ) - 1982
Στίχοι: Μανώλης Ρασούλης
Μουσική: Χρήστος Νικολόπουλος
http://www.stixoi.info/stixoi.php?in...s&song_id=1828
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx8D6ihIjk4

Or is just Νικολόπουλος's music that is making him sound good ????

Also, what about Αδερφοί Σινογιάννη ? What is the general opinion of him?

Αλάνης πια δεν είμαι `γω - 1940
Στίχοι: Πάνος Τούντας
Μουσική: Πάνος Τούντας
http://www.stixoi.info/stixoi.php?in...&song_id=36346
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpvyur3ugM0