Eftichia Papagianopoulos
Encyclopedia
Eftichia Papagianopoulos , also spelled as Eftihia Papagianopoulou, (b. 1893; d. 7 January 1972) was a Greek lyricist.
She was born in Aidini
near Smyrna
(now İzmir
) in Asia Minor
in 1893. She left Smyrna in 1919 prior to the Greco-Turkish War and just three years before the Great Fire of Smyrna
and Smyrna's 1922 conquest by the Turks
. She emigrated to Greece
and settled permanently in Athens
.
She wrote the lyrics to many popular Greek songs, co-operating with composers like Vassilis Tsitsanis
, Apostolos Kaldaras and Manos Hadjidakis
; however, she never became very famous among the public until her 1972 death. Her great contribution to Greek music through her exceptional ability in writing lyrics wasn't broadly known and recognized, although many of the successful songs of the 1950s and 1960s had been composed by her.
A recent (2002) book written by lyricist and journalist Lefteris Papadopoulos
, who was a friend of Eftichia during the last years of her life, helped a lot to increase recognition for her work.
She was born in Aidini
Aidini
Aidini is a white Greek wine grape variety that is grown primarily on the island of Santorini but it can also be found on other Greek isles in the Aegean Sea...
near Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
(now İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
) in Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
in 1893. She left Smyrna in 1919 prior to the Greco-Turkish War and just three years before the Great Fire of Smyrna
Great Fire of Smyrna
The Great Fire of Smyrna or the Catastrophe of Smyrna was a fire that destroyed much of the port city of Izmir in September 1922. Eye-witness reports state that the fire began on 13 September 1922 and lasted until it was largely extinguished on September 22...
and Smyrna's 1922 conquest by the Turks
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. She emigrated to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and settled permanently in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
She wrote the lyrics to many popular Greek songs, co-operating with composers like Vassilis Tsitsanis
Vassilis Tsitsanis
Vassilis Tsitsanis was a Greek songwriter and bouzouki player. He became one of the leading Greek composers of his time and is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern Rebetika. Tsitsanis wrote more than 500 songs and is still remembered as an extraordinary bouzouki...
, Apostolos Kaldaras and Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hatzidakis was a Greek composer and theorist of the Greek music. He was also one of the main prime movers of the "Éntekhno" song ....
; however, she never became very famous among the public until her 1972 death. Her great contribution to Greek music through her exceptional ability in writing lyrics wasn't broadly known and recognized, although many of the successful songs of the 1950s and 1960s had been composed by her.
A recent (2002) book written by lyricist and journalist Lefteris Papadopoulos
Lefteris Papadopoulos
Lefteris Papadopoulos is a Greek lyricist, writer and journalist.Lefteris Papadopoulos was born in Athens, Greece on 14 November 1935. He is the son of Greek refugees from the Asia Minor and Russia. He enrolled at the Law School of the University of Athens but he stopped during the third year in...
, who was a friend of Eftichia during the last years of her life, helped a lot to increase recognition for her work.
Compositions
Many well-known songs have lyrics by Eftichia Papagianopoulos, including:- Ta Kavourakia (The little crabs), music: Vassilis TsitsanisVassilis TsitsanisVassilis Tsitsanis was a Greek songwriter and bouzouki player. He became one of the leading Greek composers of his time and is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern Rebetika. Tsitsanis wrote more than 500 songs and is still remembered as an extraordinary bouzouki...
- Dio portes ehi i zoi (Life has two doors), music: Stelios KazantzidisStelios KazantzidisStylianos Kazantzidis was a prominent Greek singer. A leading singer of Greek popular music, or Laïkó, he collaborated with many of Greece's foremost composers.-Biography :...
- Ta alania (The gutter children), music: Vassilis Tsitsanis
- Ime aetos horis ftera (I am an eagle without wings), music: Manos HadjidakisManos HadjidakisManos Hatzidakis was a Greek composer and theorist of the Greek music. He was also one of the main prime movers of the "Éntekhno" song ....
- Pira ap ti nioti hromata (I took colours from youth), music: Apostolos Kaldaras
- Malamo, music: Stamatis KraounakisStamatis KraounakisStamatis Kraounakis is one of the most important contemporary Greek pop music composers. His works have characterised the decades of 1980s and 1990s in Greece. He is also a lyricist, singer, producer and writer. He was born and lives in Athens and has studied Political Science in Panteion University...
- Mi me paratas (Don't leave me), music: Apostolos Kaldaras
- An mou spasoun to bouzouki (If they will break my bouzouki), music: George Zambetas
External Links
- Song-writing synopsis (in Greek)
- list & lyrics (Greek & translations)