Audiovisual

Málamas - Princess (Σωκράτης Μάλαμας: ‘Πριγκηπέσα’)

Sokrátis Málamas/Σωκράτης Μάλαμας: Prigkipesa/Πριγκιπἐσα

(2006) [4:52] (2014-01-21)

Live performance (Likávittos, Athens, Sept. 2006) of this hugely popular Greek hit (Πριγκηπέσα/Prigkipessa =Princess, 1st issued on CD in 2000). This video shows the melody and all lute (λαουτο) fills in notation, basic chords symbols, and the Greek lyrics with a simple English translation. If you think slow tunes in minor modes (here the phrygian/δρομος Ουσακ) are intrinsically morose, watch/hear this and think again! If you want to know how to make a good droney-open-fifths sound, watch/hear this. If you think most really popular songs ‘these days’ are junk, watch/hear this. If you’re anglophone and don’t know much really popular stuff from any other musical culture, watch/hear this. And if you want to get a personal idea of the sort of thing young Greeks were feeling not long before their national economy collapsed, watch/hear this. This video exemplifies the sort of truly popular music that rarely gets attention in ‘popular music studies’: a short coda lists 40 artists who covered the song. That’s popular music!