A real celebration of Greek musical tradition, is tonight’s (9:00 p.m.) anniversary live performance of the distinguished music composer Christos Nikolopoulos, who, finishing 60 years of energetic motion and contribution, will play his timeless and traditional songs on the Pampeloponnisian Stadium.
He’s flanked by main performers, akin to: Sweet, Stelios Dionysiou, Peggy Zina, Costas Makedonas, Pizza Papadopoulou and Melina Aslanidou, accompanied by a 10-member orchestra of virtuoso musicians. (Tickets on sale: extra.com. Tickets from 15 euros).
The good artist, talking to “P”, assessed his life and profession:
“FEELING BLESSED”
Once I began from a village in Imathia, I mightn’t dream of all these great issues that occurred on my approach. I began as a baby, in search of a dream, like fairy tales.
I went all the way down to Athens all on my own. And I by no means imagined that in the future I’d get to do an anniversary live performance, through which so many completed singers would take part and I’d be surrounded by a 10-piece orchestra of nice musicians.
My desires following I began out have been to realize a greater life. Like all folks. I didn’t think regarding all these nice issues that I’ve skilled and which I recognize past creativeness.
I really feel very blessed! Alas! If I had any complaints, fireplace must fall and burn me.
I had many optimistic coincidences on my approach. I went to work, at a time when there have been nonetheless rebetes. I performed with Vamvakaris, Papaioanou, Payoumtzis, I performed with Manolis Chiotis, an entire interval. I used to be taught songs, as a result of within the countryside the repertoire I performed was totally different. I additionally imitated Manolis Angelopoulos, it was crucial that I performed subsequent to him. As properly, with Kazantzidis, with Dallara, who enlightened me loads.
“I LOST MY FAMILY”
Nothing is given away! One doesn’t obtain something except one has this enlightenment of expertise and if one doesn’t work arduous. Actually following I was beginning on the market have been wider paths for a brand new musician, but when one did not work, one might not conquer one’s dream.
I used to be so drained and sore! For 20 years, I performed day by day besides Sunday, in a studio! Songs by all the nice composers. Of Zambeta, who was my inseparable good friend, of Loizou, Kouyumtzis, Kaldara, Spanos and virtually all of the composers of that point. We’re a bunch of expert musicians, we have been referred to as “tape recorders” as a result of we realized the songs rapidly within the recording rooms and the manufacturing of the information flowed easily and rapidly. However this was an awesome pressure for me. I used to be disadvantaged of many issues, so as to earn my dwelling. I raised an excellent household, which I mightn’t take pleasure in following I ought to have. To lift my kids and revel in them as a lot as I needed.
These are deprivations, past the fatigue of labor. And, on the identical time, on Sundays following I did not have recordings, I additionally wrote my very own songs. And naturally, there was additionally the night job on the facilities the place I performed. My life was a continuing wrestle! I am not saying this out of ego, however I actually wasn’t given something! What I earned, I earned via my arduous work!
“THE CHANGE OF COURSE”
In some unspecified time in the future, in 1985, following I felt that I used to be prepared, I made a decision to cease accompanying singers as a easy musician and do what the older ones did: Zambetas, Tsitsanis, Chiotis, Mitsakis et al. That’s, to be the pinnacle of this system and to do concert events with my very own songs. However I had my “weapons”: I had my songs, my hits. From then on, I began to manage my life, in a different way.
“I THINK IT WAS MY FAULT”
This relationship between composers and singers is a bit unfair. I sang from a really younger age. I did not domesticate it, nor did I really feel that I must be a singer. I feel it was my fault! The reality is that if the singers did not current the songs their strategy to the world, the songs may not have achieved the success they ultimately did.
Singers have the privilege of getting a success music for his or her total profession. For instance, Leonidas Vellis, with two of my songs that he sang in 1985 (“And within the night, within the night” and “Agapi ol želia”) nonetheless excels in the present day with these songs! Whereas this isn’t the case for the composer.
“I DID NOT GIVE INTO TEMPTATION”
I used to see nice singers and I might sense that they weren’t doing their half. They thought that the “golden” years would observe them eternally. Nevertheless it wasn’t like that. Many fell by the wayside. And when a singer finds himself on the sidelines, it is extremely troublesome to get well and make hits once more! And I, being a “sure” individual, tried to assist lots of them. Even in the present day I are available contact with a few of them. I additionally assist these I can. It is usually a matter of every individual’s character. To maintain what he has acquired, to not be wasteful, to not succumb to temptations.
Our work has many temptations. I by no means succumbed to temptation. I’ve by no means smoked, I don’t drink in any respect, I’ve no reference to playing. However others succumbed and paid dearly for it. I used to be by no means in peril, as a result of I used to be very mature, from a really younger age. The maturity I had was a present. I used to be by no means tempted by anybody! Bombs have been falling subsequent to me and I might not contact something! Some folks used to say to me “however you, how do you write songs for those who do not smoke any cigarettes?” And I answered them: “I even have the identical query for you. How are you going to play “made up”?
“I’M NOT ASKED FOR SONGS ANYMORE”
I do not miss something! I do not really feel like I did not do one thing and I’ve to! I am so full, I am lacking nothing! Right now I’ve been rejected as a composer! They take into account me…previous! However I really feel very honored with this designation! Youthful performers do not ask me for songs! However I additionally don’t search to offer away my songs.
There isn’t a standard music in the present day that strikes me! Sure songs rise from the pile. As a result of in the present day we now have the phenomenon that there are not any male people voices, heavy interpretations that characterize people songs. Right now we now have Remo, however we even have many… Remakia! Many imitations! One imitates the opposite. Sadly! And there are additionally the artists, who write crucial songs, akin to Paschalidis, Malamas and a few others. However there are additionally critical composers in standard music, akin to the nice Vangelis Korakakis, whose information aren’t heard wherever, as a result of they don’t seem to be performed on the radios…
#Christos #Nikolopoulos #drained #lot #ache
