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.
My Blue Ship's A Sailing
Demis Roussos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My blue ship’s a sailing
Through the mist
While the wind’s a giving a cold kiss
On my sails which grope for a shore
On my sails which grope for a shore
I wrote down those words
I love you
I wrote down these words
My love
La la la la la la la
Ou ou ou ou ou ou
There is not a sound and no lighthouse
To light me the way in your arms
Shall I see your eyes
Shall I be back…
I sailed many miles to your heart
I’ll sail off the rocks
Which are trying
To whisk us on locks of the dyin’
If I sail on rocks, my beloved
I’ll carve down the words
Of our love
The song "My Blue Ship's A Sailing" by Demis Roussos is a love song about a sailor who is on his way to his beloved. He is on his blue ship, sailing through the mist while the wind is blowing coldly and the storm is now raging at his door. He has written down the words "I love you" and "My love" on his sails, which grope for a shore. The sailor is in search of a lighthouse to guide him to his destination, which is the warm embrace of his beloved. He wonders if he will see her eyes again and if he will return to her arms.
The lyrics of the song are metaphorical, describing his journey as if he is sailing through a storm, with his ship being tossed and turned by the waves. The storm symbolizes the difficulties and obstacles he must overcome in order to reach his destination. The sailor expresses his determination to sail off the rocks that are trying to whisk them on locks of the dying. He promises to carve down the words of their love if he sails on the rocks.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of a sailor's journey to reach his true love despite the rough seas ahead. It shows the power of love and the determination to overcome all obstacles to reach someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
My blue ship’s a sailing
I am embarking on a journey.
Through the mist
The destination is unclear and unknown.
While the wind’s a giving a cold kiss
The atmosphere is cold and unwelcoming.
On my sails which grope for a shore
I am searching for a place to land.
Storm is now ragin’ at my door
Obstacles and challenges are present along the way.
I wrote down those words
I express my feelings through writing.
I love you
My feelings for you are strong.
I wrote down these words
I want to communicate with you through writing.
My love
My affection towards you.
La la la la la la la
Sounds of uncertainty and hesitation.
Ou ou ou ou ou ou
Expressing a sense of longing and desire.
There is not a sound and no lighthouse
There is a feeling of being lost and isolated.
To light me the way in your arms
The desire for comfort and guidance.
Shall I see your eyes
Wondering if the love and connection is reciprocated.
Shall I be back…
Uncertainty about the outcome of the journey.
I sailed many miles to your heart
The journey to find love has been long and challenging.
I’ll sail off the rocks
I'm determined to overcome obstacles for love.
Which are trying
The challenges and obstacles are persistent and difficult.
To whisk us on locks of the dyin’
Challenges threaten to overcome and destroy our love.
If I sail on rocks, my beloved
Even in the face of obstacles, I won't give up.
I’ll carve down the words
I will write down our love as a reminder of our journey.
Of our love
The love I have for you is strong and unwavering.
Lyrics © ALLO MUSIC EDITIONS
Written by: Argyris KOULOURIS, Boris BERGMAN, DEMIS ROUSSOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cynthia Santos
Amo essa música. Uma das mais belas de Demis Roussos . Sua voz perfeita, no auge. Inigualável, único. Amo todas suas músicas, principalmente as do álbum fire and ice. Obrigado por disponibilizar essa preciosidade pra nossa alegria.
Isa Buenaventura
Poder escuchar esta preciosa voz y ver los vídeos donde poder ver a Demis Roussos...es un privilegio ... Siempre será el más grade aunque haya Partido al lugar del Poderoso!! ETERNO❤😚🌷👏
Maria Georgina Silva
Ele é um show em todos os momentos de sua vida .A voz é sua marca registrada. Eterno Demis. Amooooo .Sempre em meu coração.
Maria Aparecida
A voz mais doce do mundo ♥️
joscott10
This is a great song,but I have so many favourites, his voice is amazing.
Isa Buenaventura
Demis Roussos, guapo y Maravilloso...ETERNO e INMORTAL ❤😚
douglas fernandes
the guy was unmistakable in his voice a big star.
Isa Buenaventura
Que guapo estaba siempre...él cambiaba mucho de look pero todo le quedaba GENIAL ❤🌷😚👏
Eli Carrera Soberano
Pido al tiempo que vuelva, inolvidable, inigualable, por siempre y para siempre con amor
lazar dumitru
Minunata melodie,ascultand aceasta piesa retraiesc tineretea!