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.

Skoura Ta Pragmata
Eleni Dimou Lyrics

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Σκούρα τα πράματα
Κι αλίμονο σε μένα
Που είμαι φύση ερωτική
Τόσα πειράματα
Εγχώρια και ξένα
Κι ούτε μια σχέση εκρηκτική

Και τη νύχτα στο κρεβάτι

Δεν μπορώ να κλείσω μάτι
Κομμάτι δύσκολη η ζωή
Κι είμαι για κλάματα
Που βάζω την ενάτη
Να πάρω λίγη αναπνοή

Σκούρα τα πράματα
Βαριά συννεφιασμένα
Ο κόσμοσ σ' επιφυλακή
Μόνο κοιτάγματα
Και τα σκυλιά δεμένα
Κι απ' την αγάπη νηστικοί

Σκούρα τα πράματα
Μου το ‘λεγε κι η μαίρη
Που ξέρει κόλπα μαγικά
Θα ‘χουμε δράματα

Κι αυτό το καλοκαίρι
Με ράδια κι αντηλιακά

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Eleni Dimou's song "Skoura Ta Pragmata" convey a sense of darkness and heaviness in life, particularly in the realm of love and relationships. The phrase "skoura ta pragmata" can be translated as "things are dark" or "things are heavy," indicating a feeling of burden and gloom. The singer of the song laments being a nature of love, someone who is inclined to experience and experiment with different types of relationships but has yet to encounter an explosive or passionate connection.

The lyrics also touch on the difficulty of sleeping at night, suggesting that the struggles and complexities of life make it challenging to find peace and rest. The phrase "kommáti dýskoli i zoi" emphasizes that life is a difficult piece or puzzle to navigate, causing the singer to feel overwhelmed and on the verge of tears. It is mentioned that taking a breath appears like a luxury, indicating a sense of suffocation or being overwhelmed.

The song further alludes to the world being on high alert, with heavy clouds and a sense of tension in the air. The reference to "kai ta skylia demena" suggests that even the dogs are restrained or tied up, reflecting a lack of freedom or spontaneity. The lyrics imply that love is scarce, as the hungry dogs symbolize individuals longing for love and affection.

"Mou to 'lege ki i meri" refers to someone named Mary who has knowledge of magical tricks. This line implies that Mary warned the singer about the dark nature of things and predicted that there would be dramas during the summer. The mention of radios and sunscreen suggests that these items will be companions or tools during this challenging period.

Overall, the lyrics of "Skoura Ta Pragmata" depict a sense of heaviness, tension, and pessimism in various aspects of life, particularly in love and relationships. The singer struggles to find deep connections and is confronted with the difficulties and complexities of existence.

Line by Line Meaning

Σκούρα τα πράματα
Things are dark

Κι αλίμονο σε μένα
And woe is me

Που είμαι φύση ερωτική
Because I am a nature of love

Τόσα πειράματα
So many experiments

Εγχώρια και ξένα
Domestic and foreign

Κι ούτε μια σχέση εκρηκτική
And not even one explosive relationship

Και τη νύχτα στο κρεβάτι
And at night in bed

Δεν μπορώ να κλείσω μάτι
I can't close my eyes

Κομμάτι δύσκολη η ζωή
Life is a difficult piece

Κι είμαι για κλάματα
And I am for crying

Που βάζω την ενάτη
That I put the ninth