The band's first two albums, End of the World and It's Five O'Clock, combined a very '60s sounding Euro-pop-rock with Greek folk music elements. The former album featured the song "Rain and Tears", a reworking of Pachelbel's Canon in D major. The song was a minor hit in the United Kingdom, but did far better in France, where the band was based, as well as the rest of Europe. Other European hits included "Marie Jolie", "I Want to Live", and "Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall" from 1969 and 1970 respectively.
The band began to record their crowning achievement in 1970: a musical adaptation of the biblical Book of Revelations, entitled 666 - The Apocalypse of St. John. Relations between Roussos, Vangelis and Sideras were not good at the time, and continued to worsen before the album's creation. However, the group was contractually obligated to release a third album, and went into the studio in 1970 to create 666.
Essentially, 666 was Vangelis' concept, created with an outside lyricist, Costas Ferris. The music that Vangelis was creating for 666 was much more psychedelic and progressive rock oriented than anything the band had done before. This did not sit well with the other band members, who wished to continue in the pop direction that had brought them success. Further, Roussos was being groomed for a solo career, and pressure from the record company for the band to produce another hit single did not help. In essence, the band broke up during the completion of 666. Vangelis finished the album primarily on his own with assistance from studio musicians.
Immediately afterwards, Vangelis engaged in a long fight with Mercury over the content of the album. The record company, in particular, objected to the song "∞" (infinity), which consisted of actress Irene Papas chanting the words "I was, I am, I am to come" in various stages of orgiastic ecstasy, while Vangelis accompanied her on percussion. However, the double-album length of 666 and the musical experimentation, as well as the subject matter, also exacerbated Mercury's ire. After Roussos and Sideras had already embarked on solo careers, Mercury finally agreed to release 666 two years after its completion, and it came out in 1972.
Strangely enough, 666 was the only Aphrodite's Child album to make any impact in America. The blood-red cover with the letters 666 prominently displayed in black and white was striking, and brought immediate accusations of occultism from various quarters. Any suspicions of occultism could be dispersed by simply reading the lyrics, which were fairly faithfully based around the Book of Revelations, but the accusations undoubtedly helped sell the album in the United States. The album met with less controversy overseas and sold reasonably well on its own merits.
The music itself was an impressive display of Vangelis' abilities, combining psychedelic and progressive rock with ethnic instruments, choral chanting, recitations, and very advanced use of synthesizers and keyboards for the time. In time the album became recognized as one of the most important early progressive rock works, and a defining example of the concept album. 666 also made Vangelis an underground name to watch, and earned him an offer from Jon Anderson to join Yes. Vangelis turned down the offer in order to concentrate on a solo career. However, he and Anderson later created several duet albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
After the band split, both Vangelis and Demis Roussos pursued successful solo careers, Roussos as a pop singer and Vangelis as one of the pioneers in progressive electronic music. Kolouris worked with both on occasion. Lucas Sideras pursued a less successful solo career, releasing the single "Rising Sun" after the break-up.
Discography
End of the World (1968)
It's Five O'Clock (1969)
666 (The Apocalypse Of John,13/18) (1971)
Best Of Aphrodite's Child (1980)
Aphrodite's Child's Greatest Hits (1995)
The Complete Collection (Aphrodite's Child) (1996)
Babylon the Great (2002)
Song Highlights:
"Four Horsemen", from the album 666, was a minor hit on FM radio in the United States, receiving AOR airplay to this day. "Babylon", from the same album, was released as a single, and found similar acceptance on AOR radio in the 1970's. "Hic and Nunc" and "Break", from the same album, were also tried out as singles but did not chart well at the time.
"Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall" - the final single before the release of 666 and the last of the band's singles to chart significantly in their European home base.
"Rain and Tears" - based on Pachelbel's Canon in D major, this song was probably their biggest hit as a single release.
"It's Five o Clock" and "Such a Funny Night" also charted in Europe. All of the above songs can be found on various compilation/greatest hits discs. The band's singles were aimed squarely at the pop market, and do not bear any significant resemblance to the music on 666.
Day of the Fool
Aphrodite's Child Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something like a child
But today is my birthday
And they will be nice
I'm but your fool they say
True that's what I think
My mind is drifting away
I feel that I sink...
See Benjy is a fool
A child who's 30 years old
Who would go dressed in the pool
They are telling him there is gold
See Benjy...
Caddy is a friend of mine
She sees what I see
She knows what's up in my mind
She won't laugh at me
Caddy is a friend of mine
She sees what I see
Sometimes we play seek and hide
She makes me happy
Caddy, Caddy
Caddy is a friend of mine
I like the touch of her voice
Caddy
But today is my birthday
And they might be nice
She knows what's up in my mind
She smells like a tree
See old Benjy is a fool
A child who's 30 years old
Who would go dressed in the pool
They are telling him there is gold
See Benjy
Just look at him
Caddy, Caddy
I'm but a fool they say
Something like a child
But today is my birthday
And they will be nice
I'm but your fool they say
True that's when I think
My mind is drifting away
I feel that I, I'll sink ...
The song "Day of the Fool" by Aphrodite's Child seems to be exploring the idea of feeling like an outsider or a fool, but finding comfort in the company of like-minded individuals. The lyrics suggest a sense of isolation, as the singer is repeatedly referred to as a fool or child, but the mention of birthdays and friends like Caddy offer moments of joy and connection. The character of Benjy also appears, described as a 30-year-old child who is dressed in a pool and being told that there is gold, possibly highlighting the pressures and expectations of society to conform and succeed.
Overall, the song conveys a mix of melancholy and optimism, acknowledging the challenges of feeling like an outsider while finding solace in friendship and personal identity. The repeating chorus of "Caddy is a friend of mine" emphasizes the importance of connection and support, even when it may seem like the world is against you. The poetic language and dreamy melody of the song give it a surreal quality, imbuing even the darker moments with a sense of magic and wonder.
Line by Line Meaning
I am but a fool they say
Others see me as foolish and naive
Something like a child
I am perceived as innocent and inexperienced
But today is my birthday
Today is a special day for me
And they will be nice
I hope people will be kind to me on my birthday
I'm but your fool they say
People see me as foolish and easily manipulated
True that's what I think
I acknowledge that I may be seen as a fool
My mind is drifting away
I am becoming less focused and coherent
See Benjy is a fool
Referring to someone else who is seen as foolish
A child who's 30 years old
Despite being older than a child, they are still perceived as immature
Who would go dressed in the pool
They behave in a strange or inappropriate manner
They are telling him there is gold
Others are taking advantage of his naivety and exploiting him
Caddy is a friend of mine
Referring to a friend who understands and supports me
She sees what I see
We share a similar perspective
She knows what's up in my mind
She understands my thoughts and feelings
She won't laugh at me
She accepts me for who I am and does not judge me
Sometimes we play seek and hide
We enjoy spending time together and having fun
She makes me happy
Being around her brings me joy and contentment
I like the touch of her voice
I appreciate the sound of her voice
But today is my birthday
Today is a special day for me
And they might be nice
I hope people will be kind to me on my birthday
She smells like a tree
Referring to a sensory experience or association
I feel that I, I'll sink
I am overwhelmed and may be on the verge of collapse
Contributed by Jack L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Omar Luna
Great psychedelic tune!
Maria Georgina Silva
Relíquias de Demis Roussos. Ótimo recordar estas belas canções. Gratidão.
Margo Margo
harstikke mooi !!! Lang lang geleden !!! Groeten voor alle fans!!
Carlos Rocha
Vangelis sensacional nos teclados, a bela voz do Demis Roussos, a bateria bem tocada de Loukas Sideras. Música sideral.
Giulio Grifi
It needs to be listened to from a stereo system !!!
Jane Pang
Aphrodite's Child💖🕺👬🌟🤩
Great!🎼🎵🎹🎸🥁🎤📀👍👏
From Hong Kong🙋♀️🌏💝🌺🥰
moshin glenter
best song on earth
Bones in Space
Creepy and beautiful :3
Dave George
If you never listened to AC 666 album all I can say is "All the Seats are Occupied"
chevalier michel
note on lyrics, not "Caddy" but "Candy"
cheers