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.

Prosopika
Eleni Dimou Lyrics

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Προσωπικά δεν έχω αισθήματα για σένα φιλικά
Μονάχα βήματα θιγμένα ερωτικά
Που μ' αναγκάζουνε να φεύγω βιαστικά

Προσωπικά δε θέλω τίποτα μαζί σου λογικά
Μου πάει ο ήχοσ τησ φωνήσ σου τραγικά
Και δεν αλλάζω το κορμί σου με την άψογη ζωή σου
Τελικά

Προσωπικά εγώ τρελαίνομαι
Το παραμύθι σου και να 'μαι και να φαίνομαι
Προσωπικά δεν έχω αίσθηση
Αυτό που ζούμε αν είναι αλήθεια ή παραίσθηση
Προσωπικά

Προσωπικά τυχαίνει βράδια με τραγούδια λαϊκά
Ντυμένη κι άδεια κι αφημένη γενικά
Να μεταφράζω τη σκηνή δραματικά

Προσωπικά εμένα ο χρόνοσ μου γυρίζει κυκλικά
Κι αλλάζει ο τόνοσ μου στο τέλοσ ειδικά
Γι' αυτό να ξέρεισ κι επιμένω κι ασ μου το 'χεισ ξεγραμμένο
Οριστικά

Προσωπικά εγώ τρελαίνομαι
Το παραμύθι σου και να 'μαι και να φαίνομαι
Προσωπικά δεν έχω αίσθηση

Αυτό που ζούμε αν είναι αλήθεια ή παραίσθηση
Προσωπικά

Overall Meaning

The song "Prosopika" by Eleni Dimou is a reflection on personal feelings and relationships. The singer states that she has no friendly feelings towards the person she's addressing, but only experiences romantic emotions, which force her to leave abruptly. She doesn't want anything logical with this person, but admits that she is fond of the sound of his voice. She then repeats that personally, she goes crazy about his fairytale, and even if she's just pretending, she doesn't know if what they are living is true or just an illusion, which she describes as a circular or repetitive movement of time. She finishes by reiterating that personally, she's passionate about his story, and whether it's a reality or a perception, she doesn't know.

The lyrics of "Prosopika" reveal the complexity of personal relationships and how they can be confusing and difficult to navigate. It also highlights how people can be drawn to things that aren't necessarily logical or healthy for them. The song is a reflection on the singer's personal experience and feelings towards another person, and how those emotions can be contradictory and challenging.

Line by Line Meaning

Προσωπικά δεν έχω αισθήματα για σένα φιλικά
Personally, I have no friendly feelings towards you

Μονάχα βήματα θιγμένα ερωτικά
Only erotically touched steps

Που μ' αναγκάζουνε να φεύγω βιαστικά
That force me to leave in a hurry

Προσωπικά δε θέλω τίποτα μαζί σου λογικά
Personally, I don't want anything with you logically

Μου πάει ο ήχοσ τησ φωνήσ σου τραγικά
Your voice tone suits me tragically

Και δεν αλλάζω το κορμί σου με την άψογη ζωή σου
And I won't exchange your body for your impeccable life

Τελικά
In the end

Προσωπικά εγώ τρελαίνομαι
Personally, I go crazy

Το παραμύθι σου και να 'μαι και να φαίνομαι
Your fairytale, even if it's just for show

Προσωπικά δεν έχω αίσθηση
Personally, I have no sense

Αυτό που ζούμε αν είναι αλήθεια ή παραίσθηση
Whether what we're living is true or an illusion