Not to be missed she is AMAZING live,as this recording shows
Sakis | San Diego, originally Greece | 05/14/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Before i left Greece last Summer i HAD to go to a concert by Eleftheria Arvanitaki. She is one of my favorite greek singers and a person i admire and respect tremendously. Last time i had seen her was in Boston in 1999 after she was invited by World Music Institude there and it was one of the best Live concerts i've had attended. I was lucky enough to attend her Open air Lykavitos Theater concert on September 6th, in Athens Greece this time and it was an amazing experience. Lykavitos is a very high hill with fantastic views of the sprawling city of Athens. One couldn't have asked for a better setting to enjoy an artist that i think is truly Greece's best.
The concert was magical, magical because Eleftheria brings this amazing strong voice of hers and her emotional delivery of songs in her own repertoire as well as many beloved traditional greek songs with a flawless delivery. Her repertoire is very varied, but also VERY greek.
This CD contains some of songs found in several Live albums she's released in Greece and capture the essence of some of the best produced and performed Greek music out there. The musicians she collaborates in her live shows are considered top notch in Greece and accompany her in her tours (bouzouki,oud,top notch clarinet are prominent,etc).
Some of her songs have also moved me to tears.
Impressive is also how she moves her audiences to participate and dance sing along loudly and clap throughout her sets.
It is also a great CD to showcase her craft to many audiences who like or appreciate greek music, or who are cutious to experience the rich variety and soul of greek music.
This collection is not to be missed by any respecting fan of Greek music or for that matter any self respecting fan of excellent world music (you might not understand the words or the Greek language, but i am sure you will feel the passion and emotions that the songs conveyed by Eleftheria Arvanitaki).
The track listing for this CD is as follows:
1. My beautiful love (Omorfi mou Agapi by Zoran Simganovic)
2. Sodade (duet with Cesaria Evora)
3. Strong possibility (Dinata Dinata- which she performed at the closing ceremony for the Olympics in Athens 2004, a very high energy song that the crowds always love)
4. The bodies and the knives (Ta kormia & Ta Maheria with Armenian composer Ara Dinkjian)
5. Instrumental: a) Oud Improvisation b) Tamzara c) Traditional Thracian Dance -Thraki is the region where i come from in Greece so that performance is quite special to me, again a very high energy traditional dance.
6. I'll break glasses (Tha Spaso koupes a more eastern/Asia Mnor sounding almost sensual bellydance song)
7. Complaint - Foreign Land (To Parapono/Xenitia which are armenian song covers sung in greek idiom)
8. I still remain an outcast (Meno Ektos -a sensual/sad ballad)
9. The complaint (To Parapono by poet Odyseas Elytis)
the translation to this poem reads:
"Here halfway along the road
the time arrived for me to say
the things I love are otherwise
I set out for someplace else
Meaning it and not meaning it
I say it and I admit it
As though it were not I but someone else
I went way through life
No matter how careful one is
No matter if one Chases after things
Always, it will always be too late
There is no second life"
10. I'll close my eyes (Tha kliso ta matia)
another song that i just have to put the translation here :
"my sweetest tear to drink
You gave me the sweetest sorrow to drink
I touched you at the edge of my dream
And I strained the first sigh
I'll close my eyes
You'll spread your arms
So that white doves
Find a place to rest
My first love
My great love
I'll close my eyes
Wherever it leads me
I longer for life from your life
You longed for the dawn star's light
I walked with you in the clouds
And heaven's gates opened"
11. Drop by Drop (Stalia Stalia another energetic and very greek song)
12. I want to stay by you (Thelo konta sou na mino)
13. Remember me (Na me thimase which is a wonderful Sirtaki song)
14. You left early (Efiges Noris)
15. Tell me one word (Pes mou mia lexi a lovely latin sounding song by Manos Hadjidakis)
16. End (Everything begins here) (Telos Ola arhizoun edo - a collaboration with Nikos Portokaloglou from his "Brazilero" CD soundtrack that was a big hit modern ballad as well)
17. The Zero (To miden which is a salsa/latin jazz piece)
Buy it, you won't be dissapointed, if anything, you'll be moved...
You can also hear samples of Eleftheria's music on her official web site at http://www.arvanitaki.gr"
Great Greek CD
W. Mays | Corpus Christi, TX United States | 08/31/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love the lyrics and passion in the songs. Dinata is great and having the lyrics to read I am impressed by the poetry of the song. The Bodies and the Knives seems to be mistranslated. I think it's a political song. The line "I patrida tha yini xenitia" I think means "My country will be like a foreign land." I assume they were trying to soften the political criticism."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1