London Greek Radio

Sakis Rouvas dominates hit-list

Tony Neophytou LGR - Monday 25th of February 2008

Sakis Rouvas tops the LGR hits

Kalomoira is Eurovision hopeful

Greek pop star has clinched the Number One on the definitive Greek chart rundown - LGR TOP 20!

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The very good contemporary tune from the super star, which has conquered the air-waves, on Greek London's hit music station.

'Stous 31 Dromous' is from the album 'This is My Live' and has the inspired craftsmanship of the hit-maker Dimitris Kontopoulous, who write Sakis's hit of last year, 'Ola Gyro Sou Gyrizoun'.

Nikos Kourkoulis 'Afieromeno' has shot upwards to number two with this thoughtful, which has a salient word to the Angels!

Nikos... to and you, has opted for a completely contrasting genre to his typified tsiftetelia, for instance 'Mia Nixta Sto Paradiso', reinforcing his great musical flexibility when it comes to belting out the odd dramatic ballad, now and again.

Panos Psaltis 'Aggele Mou' has broken all records with the poignant ballad, which has dominated the Chart for nineteen weeks! The former number one has fallen to twelve - but it remains a hotly requested song.

'Tilliria’ by Stevie Violaris and Manos Hadjimanolis, has dropped two places to number three. The big hit tune which emanates from 'The Cypriot Collection' has led to a renaissance of the traditional Cypriot folk song albeit with English words - but still retains a faithful allegiance to the original done in the local dialect.

The authentic credence of a Cypriot music consciousness is bold as brass, the fresh perspective is provided by Stevie Violaris and a cool rap sequence by Manos Hadjimanolis.

"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."

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 formulated the telling of a story, the equivalence of 'Once Upon a Time'.

Fifth placed is Eleftheria Arvanitaki 'Min Orkiseze' moving up three on last week.

Kalomoira (No.4) whose Eurovision contender 'Secret Combination' is the strongly mooted favourite to win the national heat stages - with the infectiously catchy pop R&B ethnic number.

LGR listeners who have responded to the vote on 'What TUNE do you love? have strongly backed Kalomoira who leads on 52.53%, Kostas Martakis 36.65% and Chrispa in third on 10.82%. Kalomoira has appeared to have found the 'secret' formulae to winning the confidence of the voter if these figures are replicated by the wider public - who will decide.

Whoever wins the local heat on February 27 shall go on to represent Greece in the Semi-Final on May 20, with the Final on May 24, in Belgrade, Serbia.

Alkistis Protopsalti 'Pame Havai' has rocketed into the top half of the table at No.6 - moving a whole 12 places, the strong raggae under-tones and the really good summer vibes, has ensured this receives good air-play, 'all aboard the London Greek Radio air-lines... destination... Pame Havai!'

The debut artist Konstantinos Galanos has climbed into the top ten with the impressively sweet flavoured song 'An M' Agapas' which lies on tenth.

Cypriot pop sensation Michalis Hatzgiannis (Pio Poly, No. 11) has dropped to eleven - with the excellent song, which has circulated the chart for quite a considerable length - over the past few months.

The fiesty diva Natasa Theodoridou has a re-entry with 'Pali' who is at number thirteen with this impassioned number, which is taken from the self-titled album.

Greek diva Elli Kokkinou has good reason to be jubilant, 'Kapou Kapou' (No. 15) has retained a brilliant run on the chart, which has gone eighteen weeks! The feel-good tune which causes a bit of a stir in the studio... But that's enough about this commentator's behaviour.

New entries - Tamta 'Mia Stigmi Esi Ki Ego' at No. 7 and Despina Vandi 'Agapi' at No. 9.

Paschalis Terzis 'Anantikatastos' fallen ten places to No. 17 - the infectious bouzouki-inspired song is listed on the superb laiko album, 'I Diafora'.

Haris Varthakouris, the son of Giannis Parios, has a good placing at the lower end of the scale, the funky song 'Fonaxe Pio Dinata' is at eighteen.

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.

Check out the definitive Greek chart rundown in London

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