Eleni Dimou (real name Eleni Gkikodimou / Ελένη Γκικοδήμου) was born in Ath… Read Full Bio ↴Eleni Dimou (real name Eleni Gkikodimou / Ελένη Γκικοδήμου) was born in Athens. She graduated from the National Conservatory and started her singing career at the age of 16. In 1980 she performed during a radio session to promote the work of new composers, where she sang songs from Dimitris Lekkas. That same year, she participated in the Thessaloniki Music Festival, ending third. The following year she returned with the song ’Mia Agapi stan ki anti’ (‘A love like this’), written by Sasha Manetas and won the first price. In 1981 she also appeared participated in Manos Loizou’s international concert tour.

Her first album ‘Mila mou apla’ (‘ Just speak to me’) was a collaboration with new singers Manolis Lidakis and Melina Tanagri, based on songs composed by Taki Bougas with lyrics from Antonis Andrikaki. With every following album, Dimou’s popularity increased, thanks to her modern, natural and flexible interpretations, combining the more traditional Greek roots with western pop style.

In 1986 she collaborated with Lakis Papadopoulos on her album ‘Kata bathos alepou’ (‘Basically fox’). With her by that time already highly acclaimed husky, sultry voice she sang both ballads and pop-rock songs. In this periode of time, she collaborated with famous artists like Georgios Dalaras and Mikis Theodorakis.

Her 1988 album ‘Prosopika’ (‘Personal’), recorded with G. Spanos, was both artistically as commercially a great success. In the next decade Dimou keeps releasing new albums regularly, always combining Greek folk music with western arrangements and world music influences. In 1990 she released the album ‘Pathis’ (‘Passions’), on which she chanted byzantine hymns on a requiem by D. Papostolou.

In the second half of the nineties, popularity and album sales decreased. A new generation of Greek pop singers seemed to have taken her place. Dimou seemed to be stuck between Greek folk and modern pop, unable to rejuvenate herself. Around the start of the new millennium, inspiration and creativity seemed to have returned, resulting in more frequent album releases and collaborations with international artists like Alpha Blondy, Salif Keita, The Christians, Gipsy Kings and Linton Kwesi Johnson.

In her almost thirty year spanning career, Eleni Dimou recorded more than 20 albums, nine went gold and three platinum in Greece. She is married to producer and engineer Akis Golfidis and the couple have a son named Anthony.

Argotera
Eleni Dimou Lyrics

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Τι κι αν είδα το σταθμάρχη να σηκώνει τη σφυρίχτρα
Ήταν το αίμα στα μηνίγγια μου που σφύριζε
Ήταν που χτύπαγα με λύσσα τησ καρδούλασ μου τα πλήκτρα
Όμωσ εκείνη η μουσική δεν ξαναγύριζε

Αργότερα θα 'ναι χειρότερα
Κάτι μου λέει πωσ θα χαθούμε
Ίσωσ να μου λείψεισ γενικότερα

Αργότερα θα δούμε

Τι κι αν είχα το κορμί σου να γεμίζω αυτούσ τουσ χώρουσ
Τώρα που πήγα σε ένα έδαφοσ παράλληλο
Τώρα που βρήκεσ μονοπάτι κι επιστρέφεισ δίχωσ όρουσ
Σε έναν πλανήτη θλιβερό και ακατάλληλο

Αργότερα θα 'ναι χειρότερα
Κάτι μου λέει πωσ θα χαθούμε

Ίσωσ να μου λείψεισ γενικότερα
Αργότερα θα δούμε

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from the song "Argotera" by Eleni Dimou. The song talks about a past relationship and the emotions that come with it. The singer describes seeing the traffic officer raising their whistle, which symbolizes the end of something. However, it was the blood in their veins that was whistling, representing their inner turmoil and pain. They mention how they passionately played the keys of their heart, but that particular music would never return. It seems that the relationship has ended and they cannot go back to the way things were.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Argotera tha 'ne chierotera" which translates to "Later it will be worse." This suggests that whatever pain is being felt in the present, it will intensify in the future. The singer also mentions that something tells them that they will lose each other, and perhaps in general, they will miss each other. The uncertainty and sadness of the future are acknowledged, but it is also acknowledged that things will become clearer, or perhaps more painful, later on.

Overall, the lyrics of "Argotera" express the pain, longing, and uncertainty of a past romantic relationship. It portrays the conflicting emotions and the fear of what the future holds.

Line by Line Meaning

Τι κι αν είδα το σταθμάρχη να σηκώνει τη σφυρίχτρα
Even though I saw the stationmaster raise his whistle

Ήταν το αίμα στα μηνίγγια μου που σφύριζε
It was the blood in my veins that was whistling

Ήταν που χτύπαγα με λύσσα της καρδούλας μου τα πλήκτρα
It was when I was hitting the keys of my heart with madness

Όμως εκείνη η μουσική δεν ξαναγύριζε
However, that music never returned

Αργότερα θα 'ναι χειρότερα
Later it will be worse

Κάτι μου λέει πως θα χαθούμε
Something tells me that we will get lost

Ίσως να μου λείψεις γενικότερα
Maybe I will miss you in general

Αργότερα θα δούμε
Later we will see

Τι κι αν είχα το κορμί σου να γεμίζω αυτούς τους χώρους
Even though I had your body to fill these places

Τώρα που πήγα σε ένα έδαφος παράλληλο
Now that I went to a parallel ground

Τώρα που βρήκες μονοπάτι κι επιστρέφεις δίχως όρους
Now that you found a path and you're returning unconditionally