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.

To Kanarini
Eleni Dimou Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Και με τα χιόνια
Γυρνώντασ απ' τα ψώνια
Σε βρήκα στου μπαμπά την αγκαλιά
Να κλαισ ειρήνη
Για το καναρίνι
Που δε θα ξανακελαηδήσει πια

Ένα άλλο καναρίνι θα σου φέρω

Όταν περάσει κάμποσοσ καιρόσ
Είναι νωρίσ ακόμα και το ξέρω
Πόσο πονάει ο πρώτοσ χωρισμόσ

Θα ‘ρθουνε κι άλλοι
Κοπέλα πια μεγάλη
Καμιά φορά σε μια κρυφή γωνιά
Θα κλαισ ειρήνη
Για το καναρίνι
Που δε θα ξανακελαηδήσει πια

Όταν θα χάνεισ κάποιον έρωτα σου
Και θα πικραίνει η γλύκα του φιλιού
Θα νιώθεισ πάντα μέσα στην καρδιά σου
Το θάνατο ενόσ μικρού πουλιού

Και θα 'ναι όλα πιο δύσκολα από τώρα
Που έχεισ του μπαμπά την αγκαλιά

Να κλαισ ειρήνη για το καναρίνι
Που δε θα ξανακελαηδήσει πια

Overall Meaning

The song "To Kanarini" by Eleni Dimou is a poignant and heartfelt ballad that explores themes of loss, grief, and the pain of separation. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer encountering a person in their father's embrace while returning from shopping, visibly distressed and mourning the loss of a canary that will never sing again. The sorrow is palpable as they promise to bring another canary in time, acknowledging the lingering pain of the first separation.

The second verse speaks of the inevitability of experiencing more losses in life, as the singer consoles themselves by recognizing that other people will come and go, just like the canary. The lyrics convey a bittersweet understanding of the transience of relationships and the inherent pain of parting ways. The final verse draws a parallel between the pain of losing a loved one and the bitterness that accompanies the end of a romantic love. The metaphor of a small bird's death is used to symbolize the emotional toll and lasting impact that such losses have on a person's heart.

Overall, "To Kanarini" is a heartfelt and emotive song that delves into the universal human experiences of grief, loss, and the struggle to find solace amidst the pain of separation.

Line by Line Meaning

Και με τα χιόνια
And with the snow

Γυρνώντασ απ' τα ψώνια
Returning from shopping

Σε βρήκα στου μπαμπά την αγκαλιά
I found you in daddy's arms

Να κλαισ ειρήνη
To cry for peace

Για το καναρίνι
For the canary

Που δε θα ξανακελαηδήσει πια
That will not sing anymore

Ένα άλλο καναρίνι θα σου φέρω
I will bring you another canary

Όταν περάσει κάμποσοσ καιρόσ
When some time passes

Είναι νωρίσ ακόμα και το ξέρω
It is still early and I know it

Πόσο πονάει ο πρώτοσ χωρισμόσ
How much the first separation hurts

Θα ‘ρθουνε κι άλλοι
There will be others