Hi, cine and music lovers!
Here comes another tribute to Greek music, and this time Greek composing for international films
"Z" by Costa Gavras.
In the openning titles, a continuous repetitive pattern that increases in intensity introduces us to the melody. This is the composition "For Antonis" by Mikis Theodorakis, whose music is heard through the famous "Z" film by Costas Gavras.
"Chariots of fire" by Hugh Hudson
Even though this instrumental theme was called "Title" in the original soundtrack as it was in the opening titles of the film, most of us remember it as "Chariots of Fire". Because of the success of the theme, it was renamed and released as a single. Vangelis Papathanasiou, or -as the world knows him- Vangelis, the composer of the music that won an Academy Award for Original Soundtrack in 1982 is one of the most famous Greek composers.
(Quiz: Do you know the band that Vangelis played before he started composing music for movies? And with whom, a well-known artist, was he together in the band?)
"America, America" by Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan was an American director of Greek descedant. He had a vision to make a film about his homeland and couldn't find any better match for the music than Manos Hadjidakis. "The star of the North", the main song, speaks about the land that the immigrants left far, far away to find a chance in America.
"Serpico" by Sydney Lumet
Al Pacino plays Frank Serpico, an incorruptible cop that stands for his moral values and beliefs. Sidney Lumet directs and Mikis Theodorakis composes the music and with his melodies accompanies the loneliness of Serpico. The title theme of the film has been released in the Greek market with the lyrics of a well-known Greek poet, Manolis Anagnostakis that suits the most the atmosphere of the film.
And I was walking in the night
Without knowing anyone
And no one, no one
He knew me, he knew me
"Never on Sunday" by Jules Dassin
Ilya, a Greek prostitute (Melina Mercouri) meets Homer (Dassin), an American who loves everything Greek. Ilya is a a cheerful woman who is not ashamed of her work, but Homer will try to bring her to the straight path of virtue, like a "Pygmalion". But who is the real "Pygmalion"? Manos Hadjidakis composes the song "Ta pedia tou Pirea" and wins an Oscar for Best Original Song. Melina Merkouri dances her way through the film and we all want to go to the seashore...
Thanks for reading!
Part two of Opa!: Greek music in film and series is coming soon
