MY FAVOURITE GREEK SONGS & SONGS OF MY COUNTRY

As from the moment when Nana moved to France to pursue her career, she re-recorded a part of her Greek repertoire with new orchestrations. It is mainly included in two albums: "My favourite Greek Songs" (1963) with the orchestra of Jacques Denjean and "Songs of my Country" (1966) with The Athenians. These are almost exclusively composed of Manos Hadjidakis and Mikis Theodorakis' songs, the two great Greek composers of that time. Among her hits, there is "Hartino to fengaraki", "Pame mia volta sto fengari", "Kapou iparhi i agapi mou", "Ta pedia tou Pirea" and "To kyparissaki".

XERO KAPIO ASTERI (I know a little star)

The Greek Song Festival of 1959 is the one that revealed Nana to her compatriots thanks to the song "Kapou iparhi i agapi mou" by Manos Hadjidakis. Note that the Trio Canzone, her first ensemble, also participated in the contest. For some titles, they played guitar and sang with her. With Nana, they shared the second prize with "Xero Kapio asteri", a composition by the pianist Mimis Plessas.

I TIMORIA (The procession)

In most of the concert programs "I timoria" is mentioned. With reason, since this song won the first prize ex aequo of the Greek Song Festival in 1960 with "To kyparissaki". These two winning titles are Hadjidakis' compositions. Nana will record a French version of the first one and the second one in five languages.

XYPNA AGAPI MOU (Wake up my Love)

For the first time in September 1960 Nana flew abroad. In Barcelona, was held the Mediterranean Song Festival. With her compatriot Alekos Pantas she competed with young Spanish, Italian and French performers who defended the music of their country. She sang "Xypna agapi mou", a Kostas Yannidis composition, and won the golden trophy of the Spanish tourism with 1,584 votes. This song, little known, was her first triumph outside her country. In the 2000s, she will include it in her Greek concerts and record a Spanish version.

SAN SFIRIXIS TRIS FORES (If you whistle three times)

"San sfirixis tris fores" comes from the documentary film "Greece, Dreamland of Desire" made by the film director Wolfgang Müller-Sehn. This title composed by Manos Hadjidakis on a text written by Nikos Gatsos is the least known of the five performed by Nana. However, it had a new destiny when the documentary won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1961. This refrain introduced by a chorus was transformed and became "Weiße Rosen aus Athen" (White roses of Athens). The German version sold over a million copies and has been translated into several languages. This song will be for her like a passport to establish her career throughout the world. Since her grand return in Greece in 1984, Nana sings an excerpt in the original language during her concerts.

KOURASMENO PALIKARI (Tired warrier)

When Nana participated for the third time at the Greek Song Festival in 1961, she sang two compositions of her favorite authors Hadjidakis-Gatsos. This time, Nana won the second prize with "Kourasmeno palikari" which earned her a certificate. The singer Mairi Linta won first prize. She was accompanied by Mikis Theodorakis.