The Life and the Work of Apostolos Kaldaras (B)

Apostolos Kaldaras (1922-1990) is one of the most important composers and songwriters of the popular music. The first part of the post was dedicated to his early life which was very influential on his music, his first song in the mid 1940s, the story of “Night has fallen without moon” and his cooperation with Stelios Kazantzidis and Efitichia Papagiannopoulou.

The 1960s

In the first half of the 1960s Kaldaras recorded a series of songs that are based on music of the Indian Cinema, which were popular in those days.For some people it looks strange that Kaldaras had been adopting what was completely strange to his mentality and education. But Kaldaras never hided that he had also commercial incentives in his work. He didn’t want to be lagged behind his colleagues, who by following this practice were recording one success after another. The fact is that a lot of people loved these adaptations which were performed with bouzouki. In the same time he continued creating popular-laika songs among them the immortal “Whoever you are (Όποια και να `σαι-1962)”*

Of all the Indian adaption songs I like most “As much as you are worth”(Όσο αξίζεις εσύ). The original appears in an Indian movie of 1959 and Kaldaras had made a Greek adaption that, as can be seen in the video, has resided well in the Greek spirit! The singer is Gerasimos Andreatos (no translation)

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The mid 1960s were years of major changes in Kaladaras’ life and work. From about 1963 Kaldaras presence in the cinema became more and more prominent as he was setting music and songs to many of “Klak” company productions. In every movie there were many songs and Kaldaras usually appeared with his bouzouki** It was a a very good platform for him and his songs to be widely known, much more than the clubs.

In 1965 he loses his 11 years old daughter Maria. Eftichia Papagiannopoulou, who had lost her own daughter five years before, stands by his side. Because of his sadness he tends to be at home, quitting the stage for good. His song’s style is changing. He abandons gradually the taverns’ songs, the popular style that came from his experience as young man and that were aiming directly to the people.Kaldaras becomes “very lyrical, eloquent, elegant and romantic” (Kostas Kaldaras, his son).

These routs of Kaldaras met a young singer whose career was getting high momentum those years. Viky Moscholiou (Βίκυ Μοσχολιού).

We have here two of their most famous songs.

Don’t kiss my eyes (Μην τα φιλάς τα μάτια μου, lyrics also by Kaldaras,1966)***

The translated version is by Lizetta Kalimeri:(cc on YouTube)

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I don’t know how much  I love you (Δεν ξέρω πόσο σ’ αγαπώ, lyrics by Hristos Argiropoulos, 1967)

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The translated performance is from a remarkable and moving event in Greek Music History.  In July 7^th, 2005 gathered all important female singers for a concert dedicated to Viky Moscholiou. She was sitting in the audience, very ill, hearing all her best songs and of course ” I don’t know how much  I love you”, sung emotionally by the Divas. She died few weeks after the concert at 62 years of age.The power of this video is  in the excitement and spontaneity of the singers. This caused that in two lines didn’t succeed to follow the pronunciation so we put the translation of the original lyrics.

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Also belong to Kaldaras’ home period is “The imagination” of 1969 (Η φαντασία, lyrics by Eftihia Papagiannopoulou). The young Giorgos Dalaras, the first performer of the song, is singing here in live concert the first verse and the chorus. Are dreams about fulfilled love that doesn’t hurt, really come true? Says the chorus; as in other Kaldaras’ songs, this chorus’ so basic human truth which streams wonderfully in the music, brings the audience to a devoted singing…

(The song begins at 0:47)

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Part A:  https://greeksongstories.wordpress.com/2015/07/17/the-life-and-the-music-of-apostolos-kaldaras-a/

Part C:  https://greeksongstories.wordpress.com/2015/08/02/the-life-and-the-work-of-apostolos-kaldaras-c/

*https://greeksongstories.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/it-is-the-same-thing-singing-and-praying/

** Few songs from movies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQjYLKdJpxQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1yPIJ9G5IM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo6ePDqU_Zc

*** A performance from a movie by Viky Moscholiou and Kaldaras:

https://youtu.be/kDc8OO6tGH8

See other links in part A

Tags: Apostolos Kaldaras, Giorgos Dalaras, Viky Mosholiou