Haris Alexiou

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Category: Music

Published on Tuesday, 14 August 2018 08:15

Have you heard about Haris Alexiou, one of the most popular singers in Greece? She was born on the 27th of December in Thebes in Greece as Χαρίκλεια Ρουπάκα. Her music can be classified in the genres folk, rebetiko, laiko and etheno and I would like to tell you more about her.

Haris Alexiou has lived in Athens since 1958. Her family moved there from Thebes, but she has Turkish roots as her grandmother’s family migrated to Greece from Izmir in 1924. She started to appear in the Greek music scene in the 1970s, when she participated in the album ‘Mikra Asia’ from George Dalaras. In 1975, she then released her own album, named ‘12 ‘Laika’ Songs’. Since then, she recorded over 30 albums and participated in many albums of other artists.

Haris Alexiou is known as ‘Haroula of Greece’. Haroula derived from the word ‘hara’ and means joy or pleasure. Therefore, ‘Haroula of Greece’ can be translated as ‘little pleasure of Greece’ which shows her great popularity in Greece.The artist has worked with many important Greek composers and songwriters during her career, she preformed in many famous theatres all over the world and won various awards. Eight of her albums released between 1977 and 2003 were sold over 1.5 million times. Alexiou truly believes that the music made her love and better understand the Greek culture and history. But she is not only popular in Greece, but has also an audience in Turkey. Several songs were also translated in Turkish. She had many popular songs, some examples are ‘Το Τανγο της Νεφελης’, or ‘Απο’ψε θε’λω να πιω’.

The song I linked for you below, ‘Ola se thymizoun’ is considered as one of the most beautiful Greek ballads of all time and perfect for a romantic dinner. I hope you enjoy the music of Haris Alexiou.