An arranged marriage ended in disaster: for throwing acid in her abusive husband's face, Bellou was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, of which she served only four months. She was released, and moved to Athens at the outbreak of World War II.
In Athens she joined the Communist party, made a living as a street musician, and played an active role in the resistance. During the Greek Civil War, her political activities led to further periods of imprisonment. In 1945 she was discovered singing in tavernas by the great rembetis Vasilis Tsitsanis, and they began to perform together. Despite the difficulties of life under the Colonels, Bellou's performances and recordings gained her a following, especially among students.
In the 1960s she began to record a series of albums for the Lyra label, which shot her to national fame and popularity. As well as her collaborations with Tsitsanis, which continued until his death in 1984, Bellou worked with many of the great musicians and composers of rembetika and laika.
Her private life was never settled, however, and her gambling was a persistent problem; towards the end of her life, the Greek government had to provide money for her support, and especially for her medical bills. When she died of throat cancer two days short of her 76th birthday, she was given a State Funeral
Όταν συμβεί στα πέριξ
Σωτηρία Μπέλλου Lyrics
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Όταν συμβεί στα πέριξ φωτιές να καίνε πίνουν οι μάγκες αργιλέ.
Όταν συμβεί στα πέριξ φωτιές να καίνε πίνουν οι μάγκες αργιλέ.
Τριγύρω όλοι στις φωτιές (αϊντες) και βόλτα φέρνει ο αργιλές με'
να κελάηδισμα (τσίου, τσίου) το ίδιο πάντα στου φύσα ρουφά τον σκοπό.
Με' να κελάηδισμα το ίδιο πάντα στης μαστούρας τον σκοπό.
Με την σειρά μου θα τον πιώ (
Και εγώ) τώρα τις τσίλιες μου κρατώ Αυτή τον
Αυτή τον πίνουνε (αβέρτα) και εγώ σφυρίζω στου φύσα ρούφα το σκοπό.
The lyrics of Οταν συμβεί στα πέριξ describe the atmosphere and behavior of people in the midst of a fire in a neighborhood. The first line questions why the listener needs to know about something that is already well-known to them. The rest of the lyrics describe the behavior of the people during the fire. The mencion of the men smoking hookah suggests a social gathering despite the chaos of the fire. The line "Τριγύρω όλοι στις φωτιές" (everyone around the fires) suggests that people are coming together despite the circumstances. The repeated line of "με' να κελάηδισμα" means "with a twittering," which may refer to the sound of the fire or the sound of the hookah.
The language used in the song is descriptive and poetic, painting a vivid picture of the scene. The use of the word "μάγκες" to describe the men smoking hookah implies a sense of rebellion and toughness. The combination of chaos and unity also adds to the sense of community despite the circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Γιατί ρωτάτε να σας πω, αφού σας είναι ποιά γνωστό.
Why do you ask me to tell you, when it is already well known to you.
Όταν συμβεί στα πέριξ φωτιές να καίνε πίνουν οι μάγκες αργιλέ.
When fires break out nearby, the tough guys drink arak.
Όταν συμβεί στα πέριξ φωτιές να καίνε πίνουν οι μάγκες αργιλέ.
When fires break out nearby, the tough guys drink arak.
Τριγύρω όλοι στις φωτιές (αϊντες) και βόλτα φέρνει ο αργιλές με' να κελάηδισμα (τσίου, τσίου) το ίδιο πάντα στου φύσα ρουφά τον σκοπό.
Everyone gathers around the fires and the arak brings a lively mood with its chirping (chiu, chiu), always accompanying the music with its suction.
Με' να κελάηδισμα το ίδιο πάντα στης μαστούρας τον σκοπό.
With a chirping always the same, accompanying the drunkenness with its suction.
Με την σειρά μου θα τον πιώ (και εγώ) τώρα τις τσίλιες μου κρατώ Αυτή τον πίνουνε και εγώ σφυρίζω στις μαστουρας το σκοπό.
In turn, I will drink (and so will I), now holding my glasses. They drink it and I whistle along with the music while being drunk.
Αυτή τον πίνουνε (αβέρτα) και εγώ σφυρίζω στου φύσα ρούφα το σκοπό.
They drink it without restraint and I whistle to the sound of the arak's suction.
Writer(s): βασίλης τσιτσάνης
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.