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.
Perdona Me
Demis Roussos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I don´t want to see you start to cry
Now at last comes the end of the game
Close yours eyes and let me go away
And believe me, I really tried to stay
There´s no reason and no one´s to blame
Perdóname
If I hurt you I am sorry
I´m just a stranger who came from nowhere
One rainy day
Perdóname
If I hurt you I am sorry
You´ll find a new love
And you´ll descover a bright new day
Now the time has come to say goobye
But I don´t want to see you start to cry
Now at last comes the end of the game
We knew we have to face it
Perdóname
If I hurt you I am sorry
I´m just a stranger who came from nowhere
One rainy day
Perdóname
If I hurt you I am sorry
You´ll find a new love
And you´ll descover a bright new day.
The lyrics of Demis Roussos's "Perdona Me" talk about one of the most difficult situations in a relationship, the time when it comes to say goodbye. The song details the emotions that go into such a moment, where one party is leaving and doesn't want to be the cause of the other's pain. The singer tries to console the person who is being left behind, telling them that they will find someone new who will bring them happiness and that they hope they have a better future ahead. The singer also acknowledges that they did hurt the other person in some way, apologizing for the pain caused. The chorus is repeated twice, as if to emphasize the message that it is time to move on and find a brighter tomorrow.
The lyrics of "Perdona Me" are meaningful on many different levels. The song embodies the feelings of love and loss that are universal in nature. It is a song of forgiveness and compassion that reflects the honesty and simplicity of Demis Roussos. The song was written by Robert Costandinos and Vangelis Papathanassiou in 1976, and became one of the most popular songs of Demis Roussos. It was released in several languages and at the time, it became the most-sold single record in France.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the time has come to say goodbye
The singer acknowledges that the moment has arrived for them to part ways with the person they are singing to.
But I don´t want to see you start to cry
Despite the need to leave, the singer expresses a desire that the other person will not become too upset or emotional when they go their separate ways.
Now at last comes the end of the game
The singer uses the metaphorical phrase 'end of the game' to describe the end of their relationship or time spent together.
we knew we have to face it
The artist implies that they and the other person knew that the end of their relationship was coming, and that they have to accept it.
Close yours eyes and let me go away
The artist asks the other person to close their eyes, perhaps as a way of avoiding any possible dramatic or lingering goodbyes, and simply let the artist leave.
And believe me, I really tried to stay
The singer reassures the other person that they did not want to leave, and that they made an effort to stay in their relationship, but it was not possible.
There´s no reason and no one´s to blame
The singer implies that there is no specific reason or person to blame for the end of their relationship.
Somehow we´ll have to take it
Despite the challenge of saying goodbye, the artist suggests that the two people will need to come to terms with the end of their relationship and move forward.
Perdóname
The artist uses the Spanish word for 'forgive me' to apologize for any pain or hurt they may have caused the other person.
If I hurt you I am sorry
The artist apologizes again for any hurt they may have caused the other person and acknowledges the impact their actions may have had.
I´m just a stranger who came from nowhere
The singer suggests that they are a stranger to the other person, as they met unexpectedly or inexplicably, and that the circumstances of their meeting may have contributed to the end of their relationship.
One rainy day
The artist uses the image of a rainy day to suggest that their meeting may have been chance or unpredictable, and that it was perhaps fitting that they part ways in similar circumstances.
You´ll find a new love
The singer offers encouragement to the other person, suggesting that they will find someone new to love and care for.
And you´ll descover a bright new day
The singer suggests that the other person will find happiness and joy in the future, and that their new love will lead them to a brighter day.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hquadros100
I was born in the 60's in the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal. I grew up listening to Demis Roussos songs on the radio. Perdoname and My Friend the Wind are in my opinion immortal. There was something about his voice that touched me inside and brought out all these feelings that I never had but wanted to have after listening to Demis Roussos songs. Thank you to whoever posted this music. We love it. Central California USA
@peristerataip6085
ΕΝΑΣ τέτοιος μεγάλος ΤεΡΑΣΤΙΟΣ τραγουδιστής!!!!!! Ντρέπομαι!!! Που δεν τον έχουνε κάνει κάθε χρόνο αφιέρωμα
@gisellabolandrini2573
Piu ti ascolto piu ti ascolterei... tutte belle le tue canzoni...un abbraccio fin lassu...
@gulayguldberg6143
1975 and a difficult country but life had a meaning through your timeless music.
Thank you my friend for the happiness you have given me.
@valhanton7590
What a lovely thing to say. He makes me so Very happy when I am in need of comfort too.🎶🙏🇬🇧
@leonajanssens462
Dank u Demis, voor uw wonderbare songs, het doet mij opleven. Rust in vrede
@user-iy6pj2jf9k
Какие же у него добрые, чистые, светлие глаза? Он него исходить Божественный свет, свет мудрости, чистоты и доброты. Всевышний ему даровал не только Божественный голос, талант но Ангелской душой. ЦАРСТВО НЕБЕСНОЕ СВЕТЛЫЙ РОДНОЙ ДЕМИС РУССОС, вечно живой и родной. Благослови всю землю с неба и чтобы не было воин, чтобы наступил мир по всей земле и чтобы рождались такие Ангельские души как твой и чтобы добро побеждало, зло. Светлая память много увожаемый, родной души ДЕМИС РУССОС!
@tildakovach
BRILLIANT SONG AND PIX!!!!!!!!! many thanks,
@marcellefontaine7485
Heureuse de voir toutes ses photos de vous démis Roussos,et de votre famille quand vous chantez vos chansons, reposé en paix ☮️
@Lennyjana
I am going to cry now , I still cant forget you , you were someone special