Throughout his childhood he was influenced by the musics that were coexisting in Egypt. The sound of Arabic music entered into his life at that time and has continued until today as one of his biggest influences. At the age of ten, he was intrigued by Jazz and learnt to play the trumpet. As a young boy he also attended the choir of the Greek Byzantine church of Alexandria and sang for five years as a soloist.
However, when Artemios reached the age of fifteen, his life changed. It was the time of the Suez Canal crisis. His family left Egypt and immigrated to their homeland Greece. Artemios then had to work to support his family. During the day he attended school and, at night, he played the trumpet in various clubs in Athens. Two years later, his first band, "The Idols" was formed. Artemios played the Bass Guitar and sang backing vocals as well. One day, as the lead singer needed to rest, he asked Artemios to replace him for a few songs. That night, when Artemios sang "The House Of The Rising Sun" and "When A Man Loves A Woman" the audience was amazed. From then on Artemios was asked to sing again and again.
Within a short period, Artemios was making a sound reputation. It was at this time that he met the man who would later become one of his most successful composer, Lakis Vlavianos. From that meeting a new band was born, the "We Five", with Artemios as the lead singer.
In 1968 Artemios’s journey crossed the road of two other top Greek musicians, Vangelis Papatanassiou and Loukas Sideras. Their associationbecame one of the biggest musical events of the seventies in the form of "Aphrodite’s Child". This ambitious band decided to travel to the United Kingdom for better commercial prospects. Artemios--who had now shortened his name to Demis--would be the singer and the bass player, Vangelis the main composer as well as the keyboard player, and Loukas would play the drums.
However, they were refused entry to the United Kingdom for lack of a work permit. Instead, Aphrodite's Child travelled to Paris, arriving just as the city was going through the May 68 revolution. After a few concerts in some trendy Parisian clubs, a major company offered to record a song of theirs, one that was inspired by Pachelbel‘s canon called "Rain And Tears". This first album of Aphrodite’s Child sold over a million copies in France alone.
Nine months later, as Demis first daughter, Emily, was born, "Rain And Tears" was the top single all over Europe and a top 20 single in the United Kingdom. The band experienced a huge success for three years.
They then released their legendary last album “666”, after which, for various reasons, Aphrodite's Child decided to split up.
Since Demis was one of the main elements of the band, the record company offered him a chance to recorded his first solo single, "We Shall Dance", which was released on the album "On the Greek Side of My Mind". This album and the single jumped into the top five of all the national hit parades of Italy, Spain, France, Holland, Germany and Scandinavia.
Some months later, Demis met with his old friend of the "We Five", Lakis Vlavianos. Lakis was then going through an inspired period and wrote many songs which Demis recorded; these turned into a string of number one hits all over the world, including: "Forever And Ever", "My Friend the Wind", and "Velvet Morning".
After his second child, Cyril, was born in 1975, Demis toured the globe for eight years with his second wife and child. In Brazil, he packed a stadium of 150 000 people--an event that was achieved in that particular stadium twice only. (The other previous artist was Frank Sinatra.) In fact, Demis sold enough records to gain a name in the Guinness Book of records among the personalities of show business in the 70’s and the eighties. He was awarded more than a hundred golden, platinum, and diamond albums and cassettes.
His unique dressing style was often considered eccentric but Demis was following his instinct which told him that the music he was performing should match with the combination of looks between the glorious Byzantine Empire and the Arabic Caftan.
In 1978 his instinct told him again that he should retire for a while, thinking of new things concerning his career and life. And so he took his family to an area of the world where he was unknown, Malibu Beach, California. There, Demis lost over 50 kilograms. He returned to Europe and lived a quieter life between England and Greece, alone with his son, Cyril.
On June 14 1985, wile he was travelling from Athens to Rome, a decisive event occurred. Demis’s TWA airplane was hijacked by terrorists. After two days in that plane praying, Demis was held three days in the prison of Beyrouth with his third wife. Like many other survivors, he went through the shock of a traumatic experience. After that, Demis said he had never understood so well the importance of the nations living in peace and how precious life is when you see death so close. He felt more than ever that his contribution for a better tomorrow could be via music and so decided to return to the recording and performance scene.
He recorded twenty songs and compiled an album called "The story of Demis Roussos". With this album, Demis started to world tour again and found a nostalgic audience who had missed his magic voice. In 1986 Demis toured the USSR for three weeks and was invited to join important scientists, writers and artists at the forum for peace and disarmament in Moscow, during February 1987.
Later that year, during a tight TV schedule in Chile, Demis insisted on fitting in a visit to the Earth summit in Rio to get a clearer picture of the environmental problems, which were a main concern for Demis.
Since then Demis had been a regular visitor of the charts with singles such as "Quand je t’aime" and "On écrit sur les murs", and albums such as "Voice and Vision" and "Immortel".
Since 2008, Demis had been living in Greece by the sea. After being one of the most talented singers of his century, Demis was still working on more magical offerings, with the blessing of music and God.
He died aged 68, on the Hygeia Hospital in Athens on January 25, 2015.
Let It Be
Demis Roussos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to stay around you
And so I beg you, let it be me
Don't take this heaven from one
If you must cling to someone
Now and forever, let it be me
I find complete love
Without your sweet love what would life be
So never leave me lonely
Tell me you love me only
And that you'll always let it be me
Each time we meet love
I find complete love
Without your sweet love what would life be
So never leave me lonely
Tell me you love me only
And that you'll always---let--it-be--me
The song "Let It Be Me" by Demis Roussos speaks of the depths of love and commitment that two individuals can reach in a relationship. The singer professes his undying love and devotion to his partner, indicating that he is blessed to have found them and wants to remain by their side always. He then goes on to plead with his partner to choose him as the one to share their love with, asking that they allow him to be the person they turn to and hold close to them in all situations.
The lyrics emphasize the unparalleled completeness that the singer experiences every time they meet with their partner and the desolation they would endure should they ever leave him lonely. The singer desires complete and absolute devotion from his partner, asking them never to leave him and always to tell him that they love and cherish him only. Overall, the song projects the depth and significance of love and the powerful desire to be loved and needed.
Line by Line Meaning
I bless the day I found you
I feel incredibly grateful that I met you, and you have added value to my life.
I want to stay around you
I have strong feelings for you and I want to continue spending time with you.
And so I beg you, let it be me
I am passionately requesting that you consider allowing me to be with you.
Don't take this heaven from one
The love and happiness we share is valuable and should not be taken away from me.
If you must cling to someone
If you feel the need to be close to someone, let it be me.
Now and forever, let it be me
I want to be with you both now and for the rest of our lives, if possible.
Each time we meet love
Whenever we spend time together and show affection.
I find complete love
The love we share is fulfilling and necessary for my happiness.
Without your sweet love what would life be
If I didn't have you and the love you provide, life would be incomplete and less enjoyable.
So never leave me lonely
I don't want to be without you, and I need your presence in my life.
Tell me you love me only
I want to make sure that you are committed to me and only me.
And that you'll always let it be me
I am asking you to promise that you will always choose me and let me be with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gilbert Becaud, Manny Kurtz, Pierre Delanoe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-zw1vm6zr6b
Благодарю ❤ завораживающий голос❤
@ireneschidorowitz362
Wie kan man jou uit vergeten je prachtige syem en jecwonderbare temperamentvolle karakter ook all zou je er niet mer zijn die wereld en jou werden je nooit vergeeten als ik je danzen zie komt er een stuekjen eigen temperament nar boven en swing ik mee❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@katiagusmao6207
Essa canção é muito linda, mas cantada na voz desse anjo, gênio da arte de cantar e encantar fica simplesmente espetacular, emocionante, genial, amoooooo👏👏👏💔💔💔🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
@feruzakarimova8661
По мне, это самая лучшая песня в его исполнении, и голос и музыка и слова бесценны
@mariliahorta7594
A voz de Demis Roussos transcende e chega a tocar a nossa alma...
Simplesmente apaixonante e encantador!
@eliassilabel2119
Jamais haverá voz igual a dele
@annickmariellevot5292
Magique ❣️
Dieu du ciel ❣️
Quelle voix magnifique ❣️
Elle vient certainement d'une âme si pure qui habite maintenant de l'autre côté du soleil ☀️
Un homme adorable ❣️
🙏 Merci Demis 🙏
@marialins298
Tudo que Demis Roussos cantava era lindissimo...oh meu Deus...essa voz pra sempre!!!
@deliachoch7776
Mi amado Demis que maravillosa voz y tan bella canción,serás eterno en mi corazón.💞🌹❤
@nilmadias4865
Demis Roussos eterno ídolo, cantando essa música me eleva aos ceús!!!!!