Dimitra Galani (Δήμητρα Γαλάνη)

So far this week, we have examined the careers of ladies who thrived in different genres of music. This trend continues today, sort of. Actually, Dimitra Galani (Δήμητρα Γαλάνη) has made good, tasteful music in many different genres. If I was pressed to categorize her, I would call her a singer/songwriter in a broad sense.

Dimitra Galani was born in Athens, in 1952, to a father who was a public servant but dreamt of being a singer and to a mother who was a beautician, forever playfully exasperated by her daughter's lack of concern about her appearance.

In 1968, at the age of 16, she sang two songs on an album by composer Dimos Moutsis (Δήμος Μούτσης) and lyricist Nikos Gatsos (Νίκος Γκάτσος). One of these was A Certain Train (Κάποιο Τρένο):

The following year, she collaborated with Yiannis Spanos (Γιάννης Σπανός). One of the songs that came out of this was This Silence Is Choking Me (Με Πνίγει Τούτη Η Σιωπή):

Also in 1969, she recorded two songs with lyrics by Nikos Gatsos (Νίκος Γκάτσος). The composer was Eleni Karaindrou (Ελένη Καραϊνδρου), working under the alias of Eleni Kara (Ελένη Καρα), who would later become world-famous for her film soundtracks. These were her first recorded songs. Here's One Night I Lost You (Μια Νύχτα Σ’ Έχασα):

In 1970, Galani worked with Spanos again, on a movie soundtrack. Don't Speak Of Love (Μη Μου Μιλάς Γι' Αγάπη) was the song that stood out:

3 years later she recorded the same melody, with a different title, Today It's Raining (Βροχή Και Σήμερα) and new lyrics by Lefteris Papadopoulos (Λευτέρης Παπαδόπουλος). It was an even bigger hit:

Also in 1970, she worked with Manos Hadjidakis (Μάνος Χατζιδάκις) for the first time. The lyricist was once again Nikos Gatsos (Νίκος Γκάτσος) and the album was called Επιστροφή. The opening song is Bitterness, Today (Η Πίκρα Σήμερα):

There was also a single that was released in 1971, by the same composer and lyricist, called The Myth (Ο Μύθος). This was taken from a celebrated perfomance of Lysistrata by Aristophanes, starring Greece's leading comedienne Mary Aroni (Μαίρη Αρώνη). The song is a duet with Manolis Mitsias (Μανώλης Μητσιάς):

The team of Hadjidakis - Gatsos - Galani - Mitsias also made an album in 1971 called The Gold Of The Land (Της Γης Το Χρυσάφι). From this album, here's Chasapiko 40 (Χασάπικο 40). You may recognize the melody. It's by Mozart.

In 1974, Gatsos wrote the lyrics to a melody by Lοukianos Kylaidonis (Λουκιανός Κηλαϊδόνης), sung by Galani. It was called The Crucifixion (Η Σταύρωση ή Κάποιον Σταυρώνουν Σήμερα). It was written to celebrate the uprising against the dictators by the Athens' Polytechnic students, which occurred a year earlier. the single was released in 1975:

Her collaboration with composer Vassilis Dimitriou (Βασίλης Δημητρίου) brought about this big hit in 1971, called Maria In A Yellow Dress (Μαρία Με Τα Κίτρινα):

In 1973, Galani started a long professional relationship with composer Giorgos Chadjinassios (Γιώργος Χατζηνάσιος). From their second album called The Route (Πορεία/1973) here's Forgive Me That I Have Loved You So Much (Συγνώμη Που Σ΄Αγάπησα Πολύ):

Her collaboration with another esteemed Greek composer, Mimis Plessas (Μίμης Πλέσσας) produced Drop Me A Line (Γράψε Μου Δυο Λόγια):

Galani was restless and didn't want to be restrained to one genre. So, in 1975, when she had the opportunity to work with the top composer of Laiko, Vassilis Tsitsanis (Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης), she didn't hesitate at all. One of the songs in that album was My Shadow And I (Η Σκιά Μου Κι' Εγώ):

The team of Hadjidakis - Gatsos - Galani - Mitsias creatively struck gold once again with the album Immortality (Αθανασία), in 1976. This is the title track:

Galani was a top name now, so working with the top composers in Greece was easy for her. In 1976 she worked with Stavros Xarchakos (Σταύρος Ξαρχάκος). From their album, here's Red Roses (Κόκκινα Τριαντάφυλλα):

1976 was also the year that one of her biggest hits ever appeared. It was composed by Giorgos Chadjinassios and called Your Blue Letters (Τα Γαλάζια Σου Γράμματα):

The same composer gave her another great hit in 1979. It was called I Live (Ζω):

In 1981 she teamed with another great Greek singer, Charis Alexiou (Χάρις Αλεξίου) and together made an album covering old favorites. It was a smash hit. Here's The Road (Ο Δρόμος):

Mikis Theodorakis (Μίκης Θεοδωράκης) was practically the only great Greek composer she hadn't worked with yet. In 1982, this was remedied with the album Salutations (Χαιρετισμοί). The opening track was Magic Night (Νύχτα Μαγικιά):

In 1983 she covered an older hit (circa 1920) by the famous Greek composer of that era called Attic (Αττικ). The song is Fishing Boat (Τρεχαντήρι):

A hot composing duo of the 80s were Stamatis Kraounakis (Σταμάτης Κραουνάκης/music) and Lina Nikolakopoulou (Λίνα Νικολακοπούλου/lyrics). In 1984 they made an album with Galani. Ordinarily (Κανονικά) was a hit:

In 1985, she even recorded Church Music. Here's In You I See The Bridal-Chamber (Τον Νυμφώνα Σου Βλέπω):

Also in 1985, composer Christos Nikolopoulos (Χρήστος Νικολόπουλος) gave her the hit You Have Promised To Take Me On A Journey (Μου 'ταξες Ταξίδι Να Με Πας):

In 1986, she worked with two people that she knew well: composer Giorgos Chadjinassios and lyricist Lina Nikolakopoulou. The result was yet another smash hit called To Those Who Like Us (Σ' Όποιον Αρέσουμε):

In 1988 she gave a song that she composed to her friend, lyricist Lina Nikolakopoulou, who wrote the lyrics. The result was The Applause (Το Χειροκρότημα). Instead of releasing it herself, she gave the song to the singer who will be presented tomorrow, Alkistis Protopsalti (Άλκηστις Πρωτοψάλτη). It became a huge hit. Here's a live version by the composer herself (tomorrow we'll listen to the hit version).

All this time, Galani was busy touring Greece, the rest of Europe, the US and Canada, Australia and almost everywhere else. Here she is with another big composer, Thanos Mikroutsikos (Θάνος Μικρούτσικος) on a live show in Brussels, Belgium (1990). The song is Don't Cry Anna (Άννα Μην Κλαίς):

In 1991 she made an album called Europe's Myths (Μύθοι Της Ευρώπης). As the title suggests, she sings songs from all over Europe. Here she is, in an inspired cover of The Beatles' classic Because, orchestrated by Lena Platonos (Λένα Πλάτωνος):

In 1995 she teamed up with Lina Nikolakopoulou once more. One of the songs to come from this union was My Atomic Energy (Ατομική Μου Ενέργεια):

We're running out of time and space, so we take a flying jump to 2011 to present one final song. In this live collaboration with young musician Vassilikos, here's a mash-up of the Windmills Of Your Mind with My Lucky Star (Το Τυχερό Μου Αστέρι):

Dimitra Galani is still a star. She's also a thinking person and has great conversational skills, as well as a superior sense of humor. The whole package, so to speak.