Vasilis Karras (Greek: Βασίλης Καρράς; born Vasilis Kesoglidis, 12 November… Read Full Bio ↴Vasilis Karras (Greek: Βασίλης Καρράς; born Vasilis Kesoglidis, 12 November 1953 – 24 December 2023) was a Greek laiko singer.

Karras was born on 12 November 1953 in Kokkinohori, Kavala, Greece, to Pontian parents. At the age of 10, his family moved to Thessaloniki. Also around this time his brother Damian and his sister Anastasia were born. Growing up in Thessaloniki allowed Karras considerable independence and many of the friendships he created there have lasted well into his life.

Parakmi
Vasilis Karras Lyrics

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Σ' αυτό το μπαρ το σκοτεινό
Που 'ρθα να πιω ένα ποτό
Κανείς δεν με γνωρίζει
Κάτι μου λέει μια σκιά
Ίσως να είναι απ' τα παλιά
Κάτι μου ψιθυρίζει

Της παρακμής θέλω να νιώσω την οσμή

Κι ένα φιλί από μια πρόστυχη γυναίκα
Βαθμολογώ τον εαυτό μου με μηδέν
Και σ' όλους γύρω που κοιτούν τους βάζω δέκα
Της παρακμής θέλω να νιώσω την οσμή
Κι ένα φιλί από μια πρόστυχη γυναίκα

Κι απ' το μηδέν στο πουθενά
Δεν έχει δρόμο το μετά
Αν δεν σου κάνει η ζωή
Την ξεφτιλίζεις
Πάντα θα υπάρχει μια ρωγμή
Σ' αυτή την άσχημη οσμή
Και όλα τα γκρεμίζεις

Έχω το νου μου ενεργό
Δεν θέλω να παρεκτραπώ
Μη ζαλιστώ μ' ένα ποτό
Και μη ξεφύγω
Περνάει η ζωή μου απ' το μυαλό
Σαν να 'ναι κάτι φυσικό
Κι απόψε όρθιος για μένα θα σταθώ

Της παρακμής θέλω να νιώσω την οσμή
Κι ένα φιλί από μια πρόστυχη γυναίκα
Βαθμολογώ τον εαυτό μου με μηδέν
Και σ' όλους γύρω που κοιτούν τους βάζω δέκα

Της παρακμής θέλω να νιώσω την οσμή
Κι ένα φιλί από μια πρόστυχη γυναίκα

Overall Meaning

The song "Parakmi" by Vasilis Karras is about a man who has reached a point of desperation and is seeking a release from the pain he feels. He finds himself in a dark bar where no one knows him, and he has a feeling that something from his past is whispering to him. He wants to feel the scent of decay, and as he sees the people around him staring, he rates himself a zero but gives them all a ten. He believes that there is no escape from his failures, and he is tired of trying.

The singer acknowledges that there is no path from zero to nowhere, and if life does not suit you, you degrade it. Everything comes crashing down when one is in the worst of the stench. He knows that his mind must remain active, and he must maintain control. Tonight, he will stand tall, fending off the urge to consume alcohol.

The singer's voice invokes intense emotion and longing for something that the man cannot explain. He craves an experience he cannot put into words. The lyrics create a bleak picture of a man on the brink of oblivion, struggling to find a reason to live. The song's theme is about self-destruction and the need to feel the fullness of life, even if it means embracing decay.

Line by Line Meaning

Σ' αυτό το μπαρ το σκοτεινό
In this dark bar

Που 'ρθα να πιω ένα ποτό
Where I came to have a drink

Κανείς δεν με γνωρίζει
No one knows me

Κάτι μου λέει μια σκιά
A shadow tells me something

Ίσως να είναι απ' τα παλιά
Maybe it's from the past

Κάτι μου ψιθυρίζει
It whispers something to me

Της παρακμής θέλω να νιώσω την οσμή
I want to feel the smell of decline

Κι ένα φιλί από μια πρόστυχη γυναίκα
And a kiss from a vulgar woman

Βαθμολογώ τον εαυτό μου με μηδέν
I rate myself zero

Και σ' όλους γύρω που κοιτούν τους βάζω δέκα
And to everyone around me that looks, I give a ten

Κι απ' το μηδέν στο πουθενά
And from the zero to the nowhere