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.
The Promise
Demis Roussos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet somehow I long for was my only possession
A shelter and changing through fire and rain
A reason to go on and live for
Never took the game for and afraid of the seasons
The lost dream that found me
An hour, do I go from here
I love you forever
You meant it when you said it
I love you, I still do
What will I do without you?
It can't be, just simply can't be
You and I can't take it we've been [through] of moments
Tomorrow will guide us
Tomorrow will show I love you forever
You meant it I know
An hour, do I go from here
[interlude]
I love you, I still do
What will I do without you?
It can't be, just simply can't be
You and I can't take it we've been [through] of moments
Tomorrow will guide us
Tomorrow will show
I love you forever
You meant it I know
The promise, the promise
The lyrics to Demis Roussos's song "The Promise" speak about a promise that was never asked for but is longed for nonetheless, the promise being the only possession the singer has. The promise is a shelter that has allowed the singer to weather any storm and keep going through both good and bad times. The promise is also the reason why the singer continues to live and fight through life, even when it's tough. The lost dreams that had haunted the singer had found him/her and allowed them to love again.
The singer admits to still loving and needing the person who made that promise, even though they are no longer with them, and wonders how they will ever be able to live without them. The singer cannot believe that they and the person they loved have been through so much together, and are now losing each other. However, tomorrow offers hope and guidance for the future. Despite the difficult circumstances, the singer still feels loved and reassured by the promise that was made to them, which they know meant something at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
The promise that I never asked for
I received a promise without asking for it
Yet somehow I long for was my only possession
Despite not seeking it, the promise became my only possession and I desire it greatly
A shelter and changing through fire and rain
The promise provided me with protection through difficulties
A reason to go on and live for
The promise gives me a purpose to keep living
Never took the game for and afraid of the seasons
I never expected to receive the promise and I am scared of the changes that may occur
The lost dream that found me
The promise helped me regain a dream I had lost
And I loved again
The promise allowed me to experience love once more
An hour, do I go from here
I am uncertain of my future
I love you forever
My love for you is eternal
You meant it when you said it
I believe your promise was sincere
I love you, I still do
My feelings for you remain strong
What will I do without you?
I am lost without you
It can't be, just simply can't be
I refuse to accept that the promise may be broken
You and I can't take it we've been [through] of moments
We have been through many challenges and the promise may not withstand them
Tomorrow will guide us
We must look to the future for guidance
Tomorrow will show I love you forever
My love for you will continue into the future
You meant it I know
I still believe your promise was genuine
The promise, the promise
The promise is the most important thing to me
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maria Lins
Doçura de voz...lindíssima...faz um efeito enorme na alma...para sempre Demis Roussos é atemporal ficou na história da música mundial
carol Wozniak
This is the first time I've heard this incredible song. I, too, look and listen to the videos and music of Demis, every single day. Demis, you are true professional and an absolute credit to the whole world. Peace, love and prayers go out to you.
Juana Vallejos
hermosa voz unica es la palabra incomparable
Fernanda Miranda Anjos Anjos
Adoro!
AISTYLES
Amazing song that sometimes brings me to tears..... Thank you Demis! Thank you very much! ............
NeroBurnR
I Love You forever Demis Roussos!
Ammar Alhajjaj
Yes forever
ғᴀʏᴍ☼︎☾︎
Do you still love him?
Khalid Osama
demiss roussos is the man of the worldhe takes me in my own paradice 30 years ago
Conchi Ventura Pesas
Que voz tan preciosa tenia este gran cantante griego Demis Roussos, fantástico.
Forever and Ever.
Nunca te olvidaré.
Siempre estarás en mi corazón.
Barçelona