London Greek Radio

Cypriot Collection tops the LGR Hits

Tony Neophytou LGR - Wednesday 13th of February 2008

Panos Psaltis - Aggele Mou

Brilliant tunes from the innovative UK produced 'Cypriot Collection' have secured good positions in the definitive Greek chart rundown in London.

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The chart topper is 'Tilliria’ by Stevie Violaris and Manos Hadjimanolis, which is taken from the brilliant innovative album 'The Cypriot Collection'. Stevie does a top notch job, with a sparkling super-cool interpretation, meanwhile, Manos’s sweeping rap sequence, reinforces the contemporariness.

Last week’s chart topper Caroline Koutsoudes ‘He Can Have It All’ has moved five places down to six. It's a very good ballad, eloquently sung by Caroline. The singer who was interviewed on LGR had emphasised the recording had lasted the 3 minutes it took to sing it!

Her spin on this tune is all the more refreshingly distinctive and unique, because it avoids the trap of a straight-forward, literal translation of the classic version which was done by Mihalis Violaris ‘Halalin Tou’.

Katerina Neocleous 'Chakara Makara' has remained at number three. Katerina’s feisty attitude, is quite pronounced in this good pop rock song. What does 'Chakara Makara' actually mean? Well, a kind Cypriot gentle-man had told me it formulates the art of telling a story, the equivalence of 'Once Upon a Time'.

The album had started the circulation on the air-waves in December of last year, Britain's finest Cypriot talent. Credit should also be paid to the composer Harry K for an excellent job well done on the superb production.

"The response to the CD has exceeded all expectations. I'm not sure even the Beatles had three songs in the top 10! - Spokesperson for the Cypriot Academy, the cultural organisation that produced the CD with funding from the UK National Lottery. "It's wonderful to see Cypriots taking such pride in their distinct and shared cultural heritage."

The album is a credit to the singers who took part in the innovative CD, underlying a strong UK based Cypriot identity, which is chiefly articulated in the arts and entertainment. Although the songs are in English, without the persuasive Cypriot dialect, still retain the authentic melodic sound, re-kindle fond memories and the obvious recognition factor. So, in a word, this great Cypriot collection is not lost in translation.

If any criticism could be levelled at the collection – it lacks the fusion of Cypriot musical traditions, instruments and local sounds. Perhaps this omission is a bit of a surprise when given the ethnic vibe is a pronounced characteristic - in contemporary pop music – with examples in Timbaland, Beyonce and Chikara not without their fair slice of Eastern promise. So, that raises a further point, of how a non-Cypriot could tell that these magnificent songs are based on the Cyprus musical traditions?

Having said that, the authentic credence of a Cypriot music consciousness is still prevalent.

Greek Eurovision 2008
Kostas Martakis, Chrispa and Kalmoira are the three contenders who are vying to represent Greece in the Eurovision, which is planned in May in Serbia, Belgrade.

LGR listeners who have responded to the 'Which TUNE do you love?' on-line vote, are strongly favouring Kalomoira has found that illusive 'secret formulea' to Eurovision glory, 'Secret Combination' (53.62%), Kostas Martakis (37%, Chrispa is trailing in on third position (9.38%).

How the chart is determined?
The determinant factors to this chart are (i) listener song requests, (ii) big new hits which emanate in Greece and Cyprus (iii) DJ/producer preferences, (iv) LGR on-line voting.

Cypriot singer - song-writer Michalis Hatzgiannis (No. 2) was the highest re-entry with the excellent pop song 'Pio Poly.'

Peggy Zina 'Trekse' has a good run on the chart with her big new tune, which saw collaboration with ace musician Christos Dantis.

The former Number One Panos Psaltis 'Aggele Mou' has tugged at the heart-strings with the poignant ballad 'Aggele Mou' which sits on seventh. The debut single is one of the most requested songs on LGR, confirming the singer's record-breaking seventeen weeks run on the chart!

Nikos Kourkoulis 'Afieromeno' has a chart placing on ninth, with this beautiful ballad, which has a salient reference to the Angels!

Elli Kokkinou 'Kapou Kapou' (No. 6) is the feel-good ethnic tune which causes a bit of a stir in the studio... contagious toe-tapping Elli Kokkinou! But that's enough about this commentator's behaviour, the passionate vocalist, has a stranglehold on the chart for the long-term - Seventeen weeks!

Paschalis Terzis 'Tis Kardias Ta Monopatia' and 'Pente Vimata - two songs from the superb laiko album, 'I Diafora'.

Notis Sfakianakis 'Parta' (No. 12) is the big new hit, compounding the funk laiko sound of the artist, who has produced hit songs such as 'Soma Mou', 'Aeotos', 'Genthelia' has bagged a platinum for his brand new album, 'Mnhmes'.

New entries in the LGR chart include Konstantinos Galanos ‘An M’ Agapas (No. 14’, Natasa Theodoridou ‘Na M’ Agapas’ (No. 18), Giorgos Mazonakis ‘San Dio Stahones Vrohis’ (No. 19) and Alkistis Protopsalti ‘Pame Havai’ (No. 20).

Check out the definitove Greek chart rundown in London:

http://www.lgr.co.uk/music/top_20