London Greek Radio

Cypriot Collection retains chart dominance

Tony Neophytou LGR - Monday 18th of February 2008

Kalomoira at No. 4 with Eurovision choice

The brilliant 'Cypriot Collection' has sustained good chart positions on the definitive Greek chart rundown in London.

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Chart topper 'Tilliria’ by Stevie Violaris and Manos Hadjimanolis, goes into a second week as the No. 1 favourite tune. Stevie has a sparkling super-cool interpretation, meanwhile, Manos’s rap sequence, reinforces the contemporariness.

'The Cypriot Collection' was the inspiration of the author Andreas Koumi 'The Cypriot' who forged his observations on the cultural, historical perpsective of Cyprus's 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, and re-kindle fond memories and the recognition factor. So, in a word, this great Cypriot collection is not lost in translation.

"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 beautiful ballad 'He Can Have It All' by Caroline Koutsoudes has moved four places down to 10. The singer had stressed the whole recording had lasted the 3 minutes it took to sing it! Quite a feat, not to mention the savings on studio hire.

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.

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 Chikira. 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.

The contenders to win Greece's Eurovision vote Kostas Martakis, Chrispa and Kalmoira are having really good air-play on LGR - challenging for the accolade to represent Greece in the Eurovision, which is planned in May in Serbia, Belgrade.

The listeners who have responded to the LGR on-line vote on 'Which TUNE do you love?' The standings would support Kalomoira's assertion, to a 'secret formulea' to Eurovision glory, the front-runner with 'Secret Combination' (54.61%), Kostas Martakis (35.48%) and Chrispa is in third on (9.91%).

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 choices, (iv) LGR on-line voting.

Cypriot pop sensation Michalis Hatzgiannis (No. 2) has maintained their chart position with the excellent pop song 'Pio Poly.' Michalis, has a re-entry, with the stomping anthem 'Heria Spila' which is featured on the triple platinum album 'Filoi Kai Exthroi'.

Elsewhere, iconic figure, Sakis Rouvas, has charted on London's big Greek hit-list, at number sixteen. 'Stous 31 Dromous' is composed by the hit-maker extraordinaire Dimitris Kontopoulos.

Former Number One Panos Psaltis 'Aggele Mou' has tugged at the heart-strings with the poignant ballad 'Aggele Mou' which sits on fifth. The debut single still retains the prestige as the most requested song on LGR, confirming the record-breaking, eighteen weeks uninterrupted course on the chart!

Nikos Kourkoulis 'Afieromeno' has a chart placing on eleventh, 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 'Anantikatastos' has made a re-entry at number seven, with the infectious bouzouki-driven song which is listed on the superb laiko album, 'I Diafora'.

Notis Sfakianakis 'Parta' (No. 13) is the big new hit from the platinum album, 'Mnhmes', compounding the funk laiko sound of the vastly popular artist, who has produced hit songs such as 'Soma Mou', 'Aeotos', 'Genthelia'.

Haris Varthakouris, the son of Giannis Parios, had made their debut chart placing with the pop rock song, 'Fonaxe Pio Dinata', which went to number nine.

Check out the definitive Greek chart rundown in London

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