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.
Lament
Aphrodite's Child Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the human race
Alas
For the kings
The kings of separation
Alas
Amane
The lyrics of Aphrodite's Child's song "Lament" reflect a deep sense of sorrow and despair for humanity. The word "alas" is repeated throughout the song to emphasize the tragedy of the human condition. The first line, "Alas alas for the human race," suggests that the entire human race is deserving of lamentation. This line may reflect a sense of helplessness and grief over the various tragedies and injustices that affect people around the world.
The second line, "Alas for the kings, the kings of separation," refers to those in positions of power who divide people and create conflicts. The use of the word "kings" suggests that this includes both political figures and other individuals or groups who exercise power and influence. These lines may reflect a broader critique of social hierarchies and the ways in which they can contribute to human suffering.
In the final line, "Amane," we are left with an ambiguous and unclear message. The word "amane" is often used in religious or spiritual contexts to express a desire for peace or mercy. It may be interpreted as a plea for a higher power to relieve suffering or as a call for individuals to be more compassionate and kind to one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Alas alas
Oh no oh no, expressing deep sorrow and regret
For the human race
For all of humanity, referring to the ways in which we suffer and struggle
Alas
Again, expressing sorrow and regret
For the kings
For the rulers and leaders of society, who have the power to shape our fate
The kings of separation
Specifically referring to those leaders who use their power to divide and separate people, leading to conflict and suffering
Alas
Once again, expressing sorrow and regret
Alas
And again, expressing deep sadness
Amane
Ending the song with the Latin phrase for 'rest in peace', suggesting a finality to the sorrow and a hope for peace
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COSTAS FERRIS, VANGELIS PAPATHANASSIOU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@turuntashtheboo7681
That fairytale of echoes that Vangelis added to those beautyful songs are his sign,only he had that kind of coloure! And that deep, wide sound and effects were so unique and original!!
@TrippyBawls
My favorite music to wander in the desert too.
@Goettel
RIP Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou.
@excrono
I’m starting to think the first half of this album is how the apocalypse is experienced in heaven and the second side by humans on earth.
Assuming that this is correct and this is the end of the first side, who is lamenting here? Will the angels and saints still feel sorrow for seeing this happen from above.
@edjours45
Interesting interpretation, which makes me think about this work and its philosophical significance. (thanks)
For my part, I would tend to see it more as a never-ending back-and-forth of human aspiration between his will to power (in the Nitzchean sense) and his admission of weakness dictated by his inescapable humility which constantly places him in the hands of God - of whom he would be the chosen one...
The angelic and human visions merge, in the end, between these 2 poles of the same conscience, torn and incapable of learning the lesson of its condition, ultimately doomed to extinction.
@gonailija
PLEASE RELEASE 50TH ANNIVERSARY REISSUE OF 666
@Clairvoyant_1980
💙🙏