Around Me and Inside

I have been head-over-heels in love with Greek music since I was a teen.  At first I was taken in by rembetika, underground "urban folk" music from the early 20th century, Greek traditional music transformed by the influences of millions of refugees coming from Asia Minor and settling in the slums of Athens and Peiraias. I met my husband through that music and am greatly indebted to it.  Listening to it triggers in me nostalgia and longing, as it did for the original musicians.

My husband Giannis introduced me to another style of modern Greek music called entexna, which means poetic, artistic, or a combination of the two.  These songs are based on modern Greek poetry set to music by some of the most gifted composers in the cosmos. This music swept me away totally, as did my (then future) husband, with every song he shared over the seven years that we were online friends.

Today I'm sharing a magical song from one of my favorite albums entitled Γύρω Μου Κ΄εντός (Gyro Mou K'endos) which means Around Me and Inside.  The title of the song is Ανταπόκριση (Antapokrisi) which means Response.  The music was composed by Mixalis Nikoloudis with lyrics by Giannis Kouyioulis.  The song is performed by Giannis Haroulis, a very gifted young musician from Crete, and Anastasia Moutsatsou who was born in Laconia in the southeastern part of the Peloponese peninsula. The word laconic is derived from the name of the region by analogy—to speak in a concise way, as the Spartans were reputed by the Athenians to do. (I got that last bit from Wikipedia). 

The song was translated by me with help from Giannis :)

Αntapokrisi  

Silent calming moonnight
beyond, the sea spread out, and the heart quiet

Some secret hovers upon the water
and the pale moon torments itself to learn it

Renowned seductress, sea lady
my soul's lullabyer and secret joy

Inside me, as in your waters, light trickled
and the longing, on your sands, the foam slowly erased

Some secret hovers upon the water
the moon torments itself to learn it

Renowned seductress, sea lady
my soul's lullabyer and secret joy

Σιωπηλή γαληνεμένη φεγγαροβραδιά
πέρα η θάλασσα απλωμένη κι ήσυχη καρδιά

Κάποιο μυστικό πλανιέται πάνω στο νερό
να το μάθει τυραννιέται το φεγγάρι ωχρό

Ξακουσμένη ξεμυαλίστρα θάλασσα κυρά
της ψυχής νανουρίστρα και κρυφή χαρά

Μέσα μου όπως στα νερά σου στάλαζε το φως
κι ο καημός στην αμμουδιά σου σιγοσβήνει αφρός

Κάποιο μυστικό πλανιέται πάνω στο νερό
να το μάθει τυραννιέται το φεγγάρι ωχρό

Ξακουσμένη ξεμυαλίστρα θάλασσα κυρά
της ψυχής νανουρίστρα και κρυφή χαρά