Putumayo Presents Greece: A Musical Odyssey

Putumayo Presents (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Putumayo World Music
• ASIN: B00022LS8O
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #63,079 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

  #28 in

  Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Greece

Track Listings

1. To Parelthon Thimithika (I Remembered the Past) - Chrisafi, Anna

2. Eleni (Helen) - Starvianos, Yorgos

3. Pino Pino (I Drink, I Drink) - Koumbios, Mihalis

4. Sou Axize Mia Kaliteri Agalia (You Deserved a Better Love) - Bregovic, Goran

5. An Iparhis Kapou Esi (If You Are Somewhere) - Davarakis, Aris

6. Ragizi Apopse (Broken Pieces) - Papazoglou, Nikos

7. Arnisi (Denial) - Papadopoulos, S.

8. An M' Agapas, Tha S' Agapo (If You Love Me, I Will Love You) - Thalassinos, Pantel

9. Ela Mia Nichta (Come by One Night) - Andreou, Yorgos

10. Ah, Feggaraki Mou (Oh, My Little Moon) - Zikas, Giorgos

11. Ta Ziliarika Sou Matia (Your Jealous Eyes) - Vambakaris, Markos

12. Exinta Dis Solaria (Sixty Billion Dollars) - Razoulis, Manoulis

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Because it focuses on some of the country's most commercially successful artists of the last two decades, this smoother-than-usual Putumayo sampler of contemporary Greek music will disappoint listeners in search of the kind of joyous party ambiance you may find in a touristy Athens taverna. The mellifluous strains of the traditional bouzouki are a constant presence, but the twelve songs here boast the sophisticated arrangements and lilting melodies of European pop at its cosmopolitan best. A somber ballad with touches of accordion, veteran singer/songwriter George Dalaras' "Sou Axize Mia Kaliteri Agalia" dazzles you with an opening line of exquisite irony ("I don't care/Who you're listening to this song with tonight") while the raspy vocals of Glykeria turn "Ta Ziliarika Sou Matia" into a visceral anthem of romantic obsession. Songs by lesser known artists such as Kostas Makedonas and Theodosia Stiga are equally compelling. A few serious omissions: the endearingly anarchic Dionisis Savopoulos, the Middle-East-meets-techno shenanigans of Ana Vissi and the delicate ballads of Arleta--the Greek equivalent of Joni Mitchell. --Ernesto Lechner

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be scared off by the word "Bouzouki", October 20, 2004

By	J. W. Caulfield (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Putumayo Presents Greece: A Musical Odyssey (Audio CD)

The reviewer from Amazon seemed to complain that this CD isn't a great "party mix." Depends on what kind of party you're throwing, I guess. I think this would be a great CD for an evening get-together with friends who are "ethnically" inclined. It's not dance music, but it provides some great ambience. It's also great music to sit down and actually pay a lot of attention to. Shocking, I know! Some of the lyrics and melodies are incredibly beautiful, and instantly bring to mind both the spectacular Grecian landscape and the passion and hardships rooted in a people who struggled for so long under oppresive regimes.

Sure, there are some bouzoukis... but trust me, they're not as dorky as they usually are. This is a cool CD. Don't pass it up.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, yes, yes!, November 23, 2004

By	Anton Smit (Italy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Putumayo Presents Greece: A Musical Odyssey (Audio CD)

Now and then a compilation of different artists hits the jackpot- this one is a winner. Many CDs with Greek music are disappointing because they have one sing-along bouzouki cut after another. This CD has wonderfully soulful, melodic Greek music, featuring a wide range of excellent artists with different instruments and rhythms. Buy it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Buy!, February 5, 2005

By	Isabelle Mader (North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Putumayo Presents Greece: A Musical Odyssey (Audio CD)

i bought this CD after listening to the clips on Amazon and the Putomayo Website. The tunes are well thought out and catchy. You'll be singing along to Pino Pino (and you probably won't even know the words). I listen to this CD when I drive my car during traffic, or have dinner guests. It really feels like I'm in Greece when I listen to it. To boot, the cover is made of a durable cardboard painting which opens up and voila! Inside it is a mini booklet of beautiful Greek photographs.
Also makes a lovely gift for your Greek and non-Greek friends.