Ηρακλής Οικονόμου

On this episode, we conclude our two-part tribute to the work of a superb folk lyricist who was born on March 29, 1926. Manos Eleftheriou believed that Kostas Virvos' passage through Greek song "was a blessing." Another of his colleagues, Lefteris Papadopoulos, emphasized that "Virvos took the folk...

Today and tomorrow, we will be shedding light on the work of Costas Virvos, an outstanding lyricist who was born on March 29, 1926, which means that this Saturday we will be commemorating the 99th anniversary of his birth. In today’s GME, we will be focusing on his friendship and artistic association w...

Today, here at GME, we revisit a genre of Greek song that flourished in the 1930s and influenced, with its sensitivity and melodic quality, a variety of other styles. Specifically, we will be celebrating the encounter of a contemporary singer-song-writer with a major light song creator. Our destination:...

On this episode of Greek Music Express we are celebrating March 25, the Greek Independence Day and the national liberation revolution of 1821. Our destination is the setting to music of the poetry of Dionysios Solomos, the country’s so-called “national poet”. Christos Leontis, Dimitris Lagios, Terps...

The concluding part of the show's tribute to cafes and coffee takes us to some of the greatest moments of Greek song. Arleta, with her encounter at her favourite Café; Themis Andreadis with a song about coffee shops; Winter Swimmers with their Café Aman; Margarita Zorbala with her Café Hope; Tania Ts...

Today is World Poetry Day and GME is hosting a panorama of poetry set to music. These are songs by leading Greek composers based on the poetic speech of Anagnostakis, Elytis, Karyotakis, Cavafy, Kavvadias and Ritsos, among others. In between the tracks, we will be sharing basic information about the...

The fourth part of our week-long tribute to cafes and coffee includes some of the brightest samples of Greek folk and light folk songs, replete with simple messages about the everyday life of the people, their hardships, their passions, their dreams. And of course, these songs include robust performances...

Today’s GME lies at the crossroads of coffee, cafes, and popular, laiko song. The folk muse utilises the cup of coffee as a motif of emotions, dead-ends and precious moments. And, similarly, the coffee shop, the café or kafeneio becomes a theme and a venue where the fates of the people meet. Brace yo...

Today’s GME hosts songs with references to coffee and coffee shops that originate from the huge legacy of rock, ballad and the electrified soundscapes of Greek music. Some of the greatest rock artists will be sharing with us their musical stories in connection with the motif of coffee. Lavrentis Mahairitsas a...

The week that starts today, here at GME, is dedicated to a landmark beverage that has an entire culture and philosophy behind it, as well as to the dedicated venues where one can taste and enjoy it. We are referring, of course, to coffee and to the café or coffee shops or the famous Greek “kafeneia”. Toda...

Today, here at GME, we are celebrating the birthday of a giant of Greek music who stands comfortably among the greatest composers of our country, next to Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis and Giannis Markopoulos. He was born on March 14, 1939 and today we will be enjoying solely his orchestral music....

Today, here at GME, we are focusing on March and all the images and senses that accompany this month and the arrival of Spring. March is one of the Greek song’s favourite months! From Miltos Pashalidis’ “The dreams of March” to Dionysis Tsaknis’ “Silence of March” and from Pyx Lax’s “The winters of...

Today, here at GME, we are honouring two colossal figures of Greek music who have been directly linked to March 12 - Mr. Manos was born on March 12, 1938, and Mr. Stavros passed away on March 12, 2005. The two were good friends and associates, and to them we owe some of the finest moments of Greek art...

Today, we are remembering the world’s greatest innovator of tango music, who was born on March 11, 1921, and we are exploring his presence in the Greek music scene. In other words, we will be celebrating the Greek connection of Astor Piazzolla, the artist who revolutionised traditional tango, blending i...

Today, here at GME, we are returning to two masters of Greek popular music who died on March 10, in 1967 and in 1992 respectively: rebetiko creator Giorgos Batis and urban folk composer and bouzouki soloist Giorgos Zampetas. Specifically, we will be listening to some of Batis’ best known songs and t...

Today, here at GME, we are celebrating March 8 - the International Women’s Day and the struggle for a world with more gender equality and justice. Out track list includes songs about women performed by exceptional vocalists such as Anastasia Moutsatsou, Eleni Dimou, Glykeria, Stratos Dionysiou, Lakis H...

Today, here at GME, we are continuing our mini-tribute to surrealism, an immensely significant art movement with a far-reaching impact and legacy. Specifically, we will be exploring how a French and a Greek poet were inserted into Greek music with the help of leading composers and songwriters. Our destination:...

Today, here at GME, we are continuing our mini-tribute to surrealism, an immensely significant art movement with a far-reaching impact and legacy. Specifically, we will be exploring how a French and a Greek poet were inserted into Greek music with the help of leading composers and songwriters. Our destination:...