Σωτηρία Μπέλλου {Sotiria Bellou} (29th August 1921-27th August 1997) was bo… Read Full Bio ↴Σωτηρία Μπέλλου {Sotiria Bellou} (29th August 1921-27th August 1997) was born in the village of Chalia, near Chalkida, and named after her maternal grandfather, a priest. She sang in her grandfather's church choir, and developed a determination to become a singer. Her father bought her a guitar, and paid for her to have lessons.

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

Συννεφιασμένη Κυριακή
Σωτηρία Μπέλλου Lyrics

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Συννεφιασμένη Κυριακή,
μοιάζεις με την καρδιά μου
που έχει πάντα συννεφιά,
Χριστέ και Παναγιά μου.

Όταν σε βλέπω βροχερή,
στιγμή δεν ησυχάζω.
μαύρη μου κάνεις τη ζωή,

και βαριαναστενάζω.

Είσαι μια μέρα σαν κι αυτή,
που 'χασα την χαρά μου.

συννεφιασμένη Κυριακή,
ματώνεις την καρδιά μου

Overall Meaning

The song "Συννεφιασμένη Κυριακή" by Σωτηρία Μπέλλου is a poignant expression of the singer's sadness and despair. The opening lines "Cloudy Sunday, you resemble my heart that is always overcast, my Christ and Holy Mother" creates a sense of hopelessness and the image of the rainy day seems to reflect the singer's mood. The chorus then repeats the phrase "Cloudy Sunday" and emphasizes the despair and sadness that the day brings.

The following verses add depth to the singer's emotions. She confesses that she cannot find peace even when she sees the rainy day, and that her life becomes dark and heavy when the Sunday is cloudy. The last verse creates an image of the day as a reminder of her lost or stolen happiness, and the chorus reinforces her pain.

Overall, the song conveys a powerful message of pain, loss, and hopelessness, that is beautifully conveyed through the imagery and the simple yet powerful lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Συννεφιασμένη Κυριακή,
This cloudy Sunday

μοιάζεις με την καρδιά μου
resembles my heart

που έχει πάντα συννεφιά,
that is always cloudy,

Χριστέ και Παναγιά μου.
Oh my Christ and Holy Mother.

Όταν σε βλέπω βροχερή,
When I see you rainy,

στιγμή δεν ησυχάζω.
I cannot remain calm.

μαύρη μου κάνεις τη ζωή,
You make my life darker,

και βαριαναστενάζω.
and I heavily moan.

Είσαι μια μέρα σαν κι αυτή,
You are like this day,

που 'χασα την χαρά μου.
when I lost my joy.

συννεφιασμένη Κυριακή,
Cloudy Sunday,