Yanni is a self-taught pianist who began his musical interest by giving recitals for family members, though he had no formal training and could not read a note. At the age of 18, he attended the University of Minnesota, having moved out of his native Greek to immerse himself into American culture. While a student there, Yanni joined an up-and-coming local group called Chameleon where he met drummer Charlie Adams. Chameleon earned some modest commercial success touring throughout the Midwest. After receiving a B.A. in psychology, Yanni determined that sought a life in music, making it his life's work.
He moved to California in pursuit of opportunities to work on movie soundtrack works. His first solo album, titled 'Optimystique', was recorded in 1980, and it showed his debt to instrumental electronic music of the past as well as other styles such as jazz, smooth pop, and the like. The album saw a general release in 1984. In 1987, he put together a small band which included John Tesh and Charlie Adams, and began touring to promote his earliest works. Other examples of his albums in his early days include 1986's 'Keys to Imagination' and 1987's 'Out of Silence', both of which have recieved retrospective critical acclaim.
The tail end of the 80s saw Yanni's career start to kick into high gear, a result of his determination in promoting his iconic sound. In 1992, Dare to Dream was released. It was Yanni’s first Grammy-nominated album and featured "Aria", a song based on The Flower Duet and popularized by an award-winning British Airways commercial. A second Grammy-nominated album, In My Time, was released in 1993. His music has been used extensively in television and televised sporting events, including the Super Bowl, Wide World of Sports, Tour de France, World Figure Skating Championships, The Olympics, and ABC News.
Yanni's breakthrough commercial success came with the release of his album and video, Yanni Live at the Acropolis, filmed on September 23, 1993 at the 2,000-year-old Herod Atticus Theater in Athens and released in 1994. This was Yanni’s first live album and utilized a full orchestra under the supervision of the Iranian conductor, Shahrdad Rohani, in addition to his core band. Subsequently, the concert was broadcast in 65 countries and seen by half a billion people. It has almost continuously remained on the charts since its release and is the second best-selling music video of all time, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide. A composition from this album, "Acroyali/Standing in Motion", was determined to have the "Mozart Effect," by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine because it is similar to Mozart's K 448 in tempo, structure, melodic and harmonic consonance and predictability.
In March 1997, Yanni became one of the few Western artists permitted to perform and record at the Taj Mahal in India. Later that year he performed at the Forbidden City in China. From these two events he created his next live album and video, Tribute, which was released in 1997. Armen Anassian, Conductor, concedes that he had some doubts about the artist's plans to perform at India's Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City for Tribute: "To be honest, a few years ago when he was talking about it, the idea was so amazing. I myself was very skeptical, understandably so. But the truth is, it happened. We did it." Anassian describes Yanni as "very optimistic" and has observed that "nothing really fazes him." That outlook carries over naturally to his music. "I don't think it's a goal, per se. He's very honest with his own feelings. His music really comes from the heart. He writes music with ease, the music comes out with relative ease. The feel-good portion of the music is a by-product. It coincides with what the people love to hear." Lighting Designers Lee Rose and David "Gurn" Kaniski received an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries or a Special" for both Live at the Acropolis and Tribute .
In 2000, after a two-year sabbatical, Yanni released his first studio album in seven years: If I Could Tell You.
Yanni also toured in 2003–2004 with the debut of the Ethnicity album extending his "One World, One People" philosophy. This album sparked what would become the 4th largest concert tour of the year ranked by Billboard Magazine.
He kicked off his 2004–2005 "Yanni Live!" tour at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his next live album and video, Yanni Live! The Concert Event was released in 2006.
In 2008, in collaboration with producer Ric Wake, Yanni showcased vocal artists singing his songs on Yanni Voices. On March 24, 2009, Disney Pearl Imprint released Yanni Voices, the artist's first studio album in six years, and its Buena Vista Concerts division produces the tour that began in April 2009.
Website: http://www.yanni.com/
Whispers In The Dark
Yanni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Llevandote la luz de mi existir
Solo me quedo de ti
La locura de sentirte junto a mi
A veces oigo tu voz
A lejos me llama
Te siento aqui
En silencio y en soledad
En las noches te acercas mas
Susurras en la oscuridad
Se que eres tu
Me habla tu corazon
Sera algo mas fuerte una obsesion
Un sueno te hare vivir
En momentos solo asi puedo seguir
A veces oigo tu voz
A lejos me llama
Te siento aqui
Amame...
Llevo las caricias en la piel
Solo tu amor me cura el alma
Se me a ido el paraiso
Sin tu cuerpo sobre el mio
En las noches te acercas mas
Se que eres tu
Siento en el silencio y en la soledad
En las noches te acercas mas
Susurras en la oscuridad
Se que en el silencio y en soledad
En las noches te acercas mas
Susurras en la oscuridad
Se que eres tu
Se que tu estas aqui
Amame...
The lyrics to Yanni's song "Whispers In The Dark" are about the singer's sense of loss and longing for someone who left without saying goodbye. They feel that this person was the light of their existence, and all that remains is the madness of wanting to feel them beside them once again. The singer hears the person's voice from afar, calling out to them, and feels their presence even when they're gone. They wonder if this is a strong obsession or if it's something more, and they find solace in the moments when they can dream of being with this person again. The singer carries the memories of their touch on their skin, and only their love can heal their soul. They feel as though paradise has been lost without this person, and in the loneliness of the night, they can hear them whispering in the darkness.
The theme of the song is about loss, longing, and the power of memory. It's a common sentiment to want to hear the voice of someone we love again, to feel their presence even when they're gone, and to carry the memories of their touch with us always. The song is emotional, with Spanish lyrics that add a layer of passion and intensity to the melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Te fuiste sin despedir
You left without saying goodbye
Llevandote la luz de mi existir
Taking the light of my existence with you
Solo me quedo de ti
Only the madness of feeling you next to me remains
La locura de sentirte junto a mi
The madness of feeling you next to me
A veces oigo tu voz
Sometimes I hear your voice
A lejos me llama
Calling me from afar
Te siento aqui
I feel you here
Amame...
Love me...
En silencio y en soledad
In silence and solitude
En las noches te acercas mas
You come closer at night
Susurras en la oscuridad
Whisper in the darkness
Se que eres tu
I know it's you
Me habla tu corazon
Your heart speaks to me
Sera algo mas fuerte una obsesion
Could it be a stronger obsession?
Un sueno te hare vivir
I will make you live a dream
En momentos solo asi puedo seguir
In moments like this, I can only go on
Llevo las caricias en la piel
I carry your caresses on my skin
Solo tu amor me cura el alma
Only your love can heal my soul
Se me a ido el paraiso
Paradise has gone away from me
Sin tu cuerpo sobre el mio
Without your body on mine
Se que tu estas aqui
I know you are here
Amame...
Love me...
Contributed by Sophie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.