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.
O Amlet Tis Vrohis
Thanos Mikroutsikos Lyrics
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Τι παριστάνει ένα παιδί σ' αυτή την εποχή
Τα είδωλα του σινεμά δεν είναι στην αθήνα
Παρά μονάχα μεσ στη γη και πέρα απ' τη βροχή
Ντυμένοσ άμλετ στη βροχή κοιτάζω μιαν αφίσα
Κι ένα χρυσό περίστροφο μια γάμπα που τρυπά
Και λέω πωσ οι άνθρωποι που όλα τα κερδίσαν
Κρυστάλλινα τα πόδια σου και κρύσταλλα καπνίζεισ
Με χιόνι τα παπούτσια σου και χιόνι το παλτό
Τη στάχτη του τσιγάρου σου στα χέρια μου αγγίζεισ
Μα εγώ μετρώ τι μου ζητάσ και πόσα σου χρωστώ
Ντυμένοσ άμλετ στη βροχή γυρνώ στην επαρχία
Ζητώ να βρω ποιοσ μου 'δωσε τσιγάρο μια στιγμή
Ποιοσ άγνωστοσ με πίστεψε πωσ θα 'ναι επιτυχία
Χωρίσ εμένα αν παιχτεί το έργο στη σκηνή
These lyrics are from the song "O Amlet Tis Vrohis" by Thanos Mikroutsikos. The song is about a person who feels like they are playing a character, specifically Hamlet, in the rain. The lyrics depict a sense of detachment from reality and cynicism towards society.
The first verse describes the singer's appearance, dressed in a worn-out raincoat and a black trench coat, questioning the role they are playing in this era. They mention that the idols of cinema are not present in Athens, only existing on the earth and beyond the rain. This can be interpreted as a commentary on the lack of true heroes or role models in society.
In the second verse, the singer, dressed as Hamlet in the rain, stares at a poster, a golden revolver, and a pierced leg. They reflect on how the people who achieved everything are like dolls laughing in the storefront displays. This suggests a disillusionment with success and the notion that those who have material wealth or power may not necessarily be happy or fulfilled.
The third verse describes the crystal-clear feet and crystalline smoking of the singer, juxtaposed with the snowy shoes and coat. The ashes of the singer's cigarette touch the hands of the person they are addressing, symbolizing a shared experience. However, despite feeling connected to this person, the singer is focused on what they are demanding and how much they owe.
The final verse sees the singer, dressed as Hamlet in the rain, returning to the countryside, seeking to find who gave them a cigarette for a moment. They express surprise that someone unknown believed that this would lead to success, emphasizing their own cynicism towards the idea of success or fame. They assert that the play will go on without them.
Overall, "O Amlet Tis Vrohis" captures feelings of disillusionment, detachment, and cynicism towards society and the pursuit of success.
Line by Line Meaning
Με πέτσινη ρεπούμπλικα και μαύρη καπαρντίνα
Dressed in a worn-out coat and a black overcoat
Τι παριστάνει ένα παιδί σ' αυτή την εποχή
What does a child pretend in this era?
Τα είδωλα του σινεμά δεν είναι στην αθήνα
The idols of cinema are not in Athens
Παρά μονάχα μεσ στη γη και πέρα απ' τη βροχή
Only in the midst of the earth and beyond the rain
Ντυμένοσ άμλετ στη βροχή κοιτάζω μιαν αφίσα
Dressed as Hamlet in the rain, I look at a poster
Κι ένα χρυσό περίστροφο μια γάμπα που τρυπά
And a golden revolver, a leg that's pierced
Και λέω πωσ οι άνθρωποι που όλα τα κερδίσαν
And I say that the people who won everything
Σαν κούκλεσ είναι που γελούν μεσ στισ βιτρίνεσ πια
Are like dolls laughing behind the shop windows
Κρυστάλλινα τα πόδια σου και κρύσταλλα καπνίζεισ
Your feet are crystal and you smoke crystals
Με χιόνι τα παπούτσια σου και χιόνι το παλτό
Your shoes and coat are covered in snow
Τη στάχτη του τσιγάρου σου στα χέρια μου αγγίζεισ
You touch the cigarette ash on my hands
Μα εγώ μετρώ τι μου ζητάσ και πόσα σου χρωστώ
But I measure what you ask of me and how much I owe you
Ντυμένοσ άμλετ στη βροχή γυρνώ στην επαρχία
Dressed as Hamlet in the rain, I return to the countryside
Ζητώ να βρω ποιοσ μου 'δωσε τσιγάρο μια στιγμή
I ask to find out who gave me a cigarette for a moment
Ποιοσ άγνωστοσ με πίστεψε πωσ θα 'ναι επιτυχία
Who unknown believed that success would be
Χωρίσ εμένα αν παιχτεί το έργο στη σκηνή
Without me, if the play is performed on stage
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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