He blends a lot of musical traditions in his work, from popular to electronic. He has composed a lot of songs based on poems by Greek and foreign poets, such as Euripides, Aristophanes, Constantine P. Cavafy, Giorgos Seferis, Yannis Ritsos, Odysseas Elytis and Nikos Kavvadias as well as Bertolt Brecht, Nazim Hikmet, Wolf Biermann and Maurice Maeterlinck. He has also written operas, symphonic music, chamber music and music for the theatre and cinema.
One of his most popular works was the setting to music of poems by Nikos Kavvadias in his albums Grammes Orizonton (Horizons' Lines) and Stavros tou Notou (Southern Cross). Some of the music was originally written for a TV series, the theme of which was marine. The songs were liked and he went on to the studio to record some more many of which were included in the aforementioned albums.
Thanos Mikroutsikos has also been involved in Greece's political life since the 60's. During the turbulent years of the military junta (1967-1974), he was persecuted by the regime for his anti-dictatorial activities and ideas. When the junta collapsed he continued being actively involved in politics as a member of the maoist EKKE, especially in the first years after the restoration of democracy.
After the elections of October 1993 he was appointed by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) which formed the new government, as Alternate-Minister of Culture with late Melina Mercouri as minister. In 1994 after the death of the latter he was appointed minister of culture. He remained at this position until 1996. His brother is the popular TV host and musician Andreas Mikroutsikos.
Ena Maheri
Thanos Mikroutsikos Lyrics
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ένα παλιό αφρικάνικο ατσάλινο μαχαίρι
όπως αυτά που συνηθούν και παίζουν οι αραπάδες
που από έναν γέρο έμπορο αγόρασα στ' Αλγέρι.
Θυμάμαι, ως τώρα να 'τανε, το γέρο παλαιοπώλη,
όπου έμοιαζε με μια παλιά ελαιγραφία του Γκόγια,
ορθόν πλάι σε μακριά σπαθιά και σε στολές σχισμένες,
Ετούτο το μαχαίρι, εδώ, που θέλεις ν' αγοράσεις
με ιστορίες αλλόκοτες ο θρύλος το 'χει ζωσει,
κι όλοι το ξέρουν πως αυτοί που κάποια φορά το 'χαν,
καθένας κάποιον άνθρωπο δικό του έχει σκοτώσει.
Ο Δον Μπαζίλιο σκότωσε μ' αυτό τη Δόνα Τζούλια,
την όμορφη γυναίκα του γιατί τον απατούσε.
ο Κόντε Αντόνιο, μια βραδιά, τον δύστυχο αδελφό του
με το μαχαίρι τούτο εδώ κρυφά δολοφονούσε.
Ένας αράπης τη μικρή ερωμένη του από ζήλεια
και κάποιος ναύτης Ιταλός ένα Γραικό λοστρόμο.
Χέρι με χέρι ξέπεσε και στα δικά μου χέρια.
Πολλά έχουν δει τα μάτια μου, μα αυτό μου φέρνει τρόμο.
Σκύψε και δες το, μια άγκυρα κι ένα οικόσημο έχει,
είναι αλαφρύ για πιάσε το δεν πάει ούτε ένα κουάρτο,
μα εγώ θα σε συμβούλευα κάτι άλλο ν' αγοράσεις.
Πόσο έχει; Μόνο φράγκα εφτά. Αφού το θέλεις πάρ'το.
Ένα στιλέτο έχω μικρό στη ζωνη μου σφιγμένο,
που η ιδιοτροπία μ' έκαμε και το 'καμα δικό μου,
κι αφού κανένα δε μισώ στον κόσμο να σκοτώσω,
φοβάμαι μη καμιά φορά το στρέψω στον εαυτό μου...
The lyrics of Thanos Mikroutsikos's song "Ena Maheri" are centered around the theme of violence, represented by the singer's African steel knife, which he carries strapped to his waist at all times. The knife was purchased from an old merchant in Algiers and is reminiscent of those used by Arab gangs. The singer recalls the old merchant, who resembled an old painting of Van Gogh, who would speak in a croaky voice and tell him about the history of the knife, which had been used in many violent acts, including murders, by people who owned it in the past.
The singer reflects on the different stories attached to the knife, such as Don Basilio using it to kill his unfaithful wife, and Count Antonio murdering his own brother. The knife has also been involved in other crimes, such as an Arab using it to kill his mistress due to jealousy, and an Italian sailor using it to kill a Greek stowaway. Despite the singer owning the knife himself, he speaks with dread of the possibility of turning it against himself.
Overall, the imagery evoked in the lyrics of "Ena Maheri" serves to convey the sense of darkness and violence associated with carrying a weapon, as well as the idea that such violence has a cyclical and inevitable quality to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Απάνω μου έχω πάντοτε στη ζωνη μου σφιγμένο
I always have a tightly wrapped old African steel knife on my belt, like the ones Arab soldiers play with, which I bought from an old merchant in Algiers.
ένα παλιό αφρικάνικο ατσάλινο μαχαίρι
an old African steel knife
όπως αυτά που συνηθούν και παίζουν οι αραπάδες
like the ones Arab soldiers play with
που από έναν γέρο έμπορο αγόρασα στ' Αλγέρι.
which I bought from an old merchant in Algiers.
Θυμάμαι, ως τώρα να 'τανε, το γέρο παλαιοπώλη,
I remember the old junk dealer until now,
όπου έμοιαζε με μια παλιά ελαιγραφία του Γκόγια,
who resembled an old painting by Goya,
ορθόν πλάι σε μακριά σπαθιά και σε στολές σχισμένες,
standing upright next to long swords and torn uniforms,
να λέει με μια βραχνή φωνή τα παρακάτου λόγια:
saying the following words in a hoarse voice:
Ετούτο το μαχαίρι, εδώ, που θέλεις ν' αγοράσεις
This knife here, which you want to buy
με ιστορίες αλλόκοτες ο θρύλος το 'χει ζωσει,
legend has it that strange stories are associated with it
κι όλοι το ξέρουν πως αυτοί που κάποια φορά το 'χαν,
and everyone knows that those who had it before
καθένας κάποιον άνθρωπο δικό του έχει σκοτώσει.
have each killed someone with it of their own.
Ο Δον Μπαζίλιο σκότωσε μ' αυτό τη Δόνα Τζούλια,
Don Bazilio killed Donna Julia with it
την όμορφη γυναίκα του γιατί τον απατούσε.
his beautiful wife who was deceiving him.
ο Κόντε Αντόνιο, μια βραδιά, τον δύστυχο αδελφό του
Count Antonio, one night, murdered his unfortunate brother with it
με το μαχαίρι τούτο εδώ κρυφά δολοφονούσε.
killing him secretly with this knife here.
Ένας αράπης τη μικρή ερωμένη του από ζήλεια
An Arab killed his young lover out of jealousy
και κάποιος ναύτης Ιταλός ένα Γραικό λοστρόμο.
and an Italian sailor killed a Greek smuggler.
Χέρι με χέρι ξέπεσε και στα δικά μου χέρια.
Hand in hand, it fell into my hands.
Πολλά έχουν δει τα μάτια μου, μα αυτό μου φέρνει τρόμο.
My eyes have seen many things, but this brings me fear.
Σκύψε και δες το, μια άγκυρα κι ένα οικόσημο έχει,
Look down and see, it has an anchor and a crest
είναι αλαφρύ για πιάσε το δεν πάει ούτε ένα κουάρτο,
It is light and doesn't weigh even a quart,
μα εγώ θα σε συμβούλευα κάτι άλλο ν' αγοράσεις.
But I would advise you to buy something else.
Πόσο έχει; Μόνο φράγκα εφτά. Αφού το θέλεις πάρ'το.
How much is it? Only seven francs. If you want it, take it.
Ένα στιλέτο έχω μικρό στη ζωνη μου σφιγμένο,
I have a small stiletto tightly wrapped on my belt,
που η ιδιοτροπία μ' έκαμε και το 'καμα δικό μου,
which my eccentricity made me make it my own,
κι αφού κανένα δε μισώ στον κόσμο να σκοτώσω,
and since I don't hate anyone in the world enough to kill them,
φοβάμαι μη καμιά φορά το στρέψω στον εαυτό μου...
I'm afraid that one day I might turn it on myself...
Contributed by Landon I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.