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.
Loin des yeux loin du coeur
Demis Roussos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tous ces longs courriers m' éloignent de toi
ta photographie est dans mon passeport
et j'ai dans le cœur un sourire de toi
Toutes ces lumières, tous ces paysages
je les donnerais pour être avec toi
je passe la frontière au long du voyage
Loin des yeux loin du cœur ça n'existe pas
loin des yeux loin du cœur moi je pense à toi
et chaque jour qui passe me rapproche de toi
au rendez-vous de ton amour je suis toujours là
Moi je me réveille un matin a Londres
et je me promène le soir dans Athènes
le jour tu es là un peu comme un ombre,
la nuit tu reviens comme un grand soleil
Loin des yeux loin du cœur ça n'existe pas
loin des yeux loin du cœur moi je pense à toi
et chaque jour qui passe me rapproche de toi
au rendez-vous de ton amour je suis toujours là
Loin des yeux loin du cœur pas pour toi et moi
Loin des yeux loin du cœur moi je n'oublie pas
et chaque jour qui passe me rapproche de toi
au rendez-vous de ton amour je suis toujours là
Loin des yeux loin du cœur ça n'existe pas
loin des yeux loin du cœur moi je pense à toi
et chaque jour qui passe me rapproche de toi
au rendez-vous de ton amour je suis toujours là
The lyrics to Demis Roussos's song "Loin des yeux loin du coeur" talk about the distance between two lovers as one travels and is separated from the other. The first verse talks about how all the night trains, airports, and long flights are taking the singer away from their loved one. However, they carry a photograph of their lover in their passport and hold a smile in their heart. The second verse explains how the singer would exchange all the lights and landscapes they see in their travels just to be with their loved one again. Even while crossing borders and traveling, they feel the presence of their loved one with them.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Loin des yeux loin du cœur ça n'existe pas" which translates to "Out of sight, out of mind doesn't exist." The singer continually thinks of their beloved even while being far away, and each day that passes brings them closer to each other. The last verse describes how the singer wakes up in London one morning, strolls through Athens in the evening, and feels their loved one's presence like a shadow during the day and a bright sun at night. The lyrics conclude that distance cannot erase love or make it fade away.
Overall, the song depicts the power of love and how geography and distance do not diminish its strength. The lyrics also showcase the longing and yearning for one's lover while they are apart, and the hope that their love can withstand any distance.
Line by Line Meaning
Tous ces trains de nuit, ces aéroports,
tous ces longs courriers m' éloignent de toi
All these night trains, airports, and long-haul flights take me away from you.
ta photographie est dans mon passeport
et j'ai dans le cœur un sourire de toi
Your photo is in my passport, and I carry a smile of you in my heart.
Toutes ces lumières, tous ces paysages
je les donnerais pour être avec toi
je passe la frontière au long du voyage
je sais que tu es á côté de moi
I would give up all these lights and landscapes just to be with you. As I cross the border during my travels, I know that you are beside me.
Loin des yeux loin du cœur ça n'existe pas
loin des yeux loin du cœur moi je pense à toi
et chaque jour qui passe me rapproche de toi
au rendez-vous de ton amour je suis toujours là
Out of sight, out of mind does not exist because even though we're apart, I constantly think of you, and each passing day brings me closer to you. I am always here waiting for your love.
Moi je me réveille un matin a Londres
et je me promène le soir dans Athènes
le jour tu es là un peu comme un ombre,
la nuit tu reviens comme un grand soleil
I wake up one morning in London and stroll around Athens in the evening. During the day, you are there like a shadow, but at night you return as a bright sun.
Loin des yeux loin du cœur pas pour toi et moi
Loin des yeux loin du cœur moi je n'oublie pas
et chaque jour qui passe me rapproche de toi
au rendez-vous de ton amour je suis toujours là
Out of sight, out of mind does not apply to us because even when we're apart, I never forget about you. And each passing day brings me closer to you. I am always here waiting for your love.
Loin des yeux loin du cœur ça n'existe pas
loin des yeux loin du cœur moi je pense à toi
et chaque jour qui passe me rapproche de toi
au rendez-vous de ton amour je suis toujours là
Out of sight, out of mind does not exist because even though we're apart, I constantly think of you, and each passing day brings me closer to you. I am always here waiting for your love.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, ALLO MUSIC EDITIONS
Written by: DIDIER BARBELIVIEN, ROBERT COSTANDINOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zakia Chelbab
Quel merveilleux interprete....quelles sublimes paroles chargees d emotions pures.......Mille merci ;cher Demis Roussos pour toutes ces belles chansons qui m.ont emues aux larmes.....Reposez en paix belle ame...🙏❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Isa Buenaventura
Demis Roussos, tu voz no podrá ser olvidada, no se apagará jamás, porque da luz a nuestros corazones y siempre brillará a través de nuestros recuerdos porque te llevamos muy dentro 😚❤🌷🌷🌻🌷👏👏👏
Nilda Barros
Gosto tanto voz linda maravilhosas músicas minhas preferidas todas
Ivanilda de Souza Roque
Muito belo Demis,sus voz ,sua
Música.Fantâstico!
Lavínia Antonietti
Muita luz Demis Roussos onde estiver. Eterno em nossos corações.
Peggy Azouz
J’ai toujours soif d’entendre ta voix comme le gazouillis d’oiseau que ton âme repose en paix ✌️ les paroles et la musique extra ordinaire je me sens dans un autre monde ❤️❤️
laetitia Allo
Demis roussos un grand homme de la chanson, sa voix inoubliable j'écoute souvent c'est chansons sa voix me donne toujours autant de frissons et l'impression qu'il es toujours la, mais l'ange de la chanson effectivement nous a quitté maintenant il chante pour les anges qui l'entoure. Mais pour moi il sera toujours là. Et jamais loin de mes yeux et de mon coeur 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
On écrit sur les murs le prénom de ceux qu'on aime et ons t'aime 💜 demis tu as laissé une trace dans nos vies.
REPOSE EN PAIX DEMIS ROUSSOS
Myriemah Bethy
Magnifique chanteur, voix sublime !
Claber Suarez
Que voz y sentimientos ... inolvidable ♥️😍
Marilene Gonçalves
Coisa mais linda!!! DEMIS 💛💛 e suas canções...... Brasil...