PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Alkolikes I Nihtes" (Αλκοολικές Οι Νύχτες), which was sung by Pantelis Pantelidis (Παντελής Παντελίδης). Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

This song was Track 1 on Pantelis Pantelidis' first album, which was also titled Alkolikes I Nihtes. It is too melancholy to be suitable for a belly dance performance, but could be appropriate for a theatrical piece based on contemporary dance.

For more information about the laiko and rebetiko styles of music, see Introduction to Laiko / Rebetiko Music elsewhere on this web site.

Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source.

About Pantelis Pantelidis

Pantelis Pantelidis was born in Athens in November, 1983. He was known as a singer, composer, and lyricist. As a self-taught musician, he abandoned his career in the Greek navy to pursue a musical career. He introduced his music initially through online videos to build a following, then released four albums to commercial success.

Pantelis won several awards at the MAD Video Music Awards:

• In 2013 for Best New Artist
• In 2014 for Best Music Video
• In 2015 for Best Greek Male Vocalist
• In 2015 for Best Music Video
• In 2016, posthumously for Best Greek Male Vocalist , which was accepted by his family and his friends.

Two of his albums went platinum.

He died February 18, 2016 in a tragic car accident.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The photo shows Pantelis Pantelidis.

A personal note from the translator:

Dear fellow musician and dancer colleagues and students, we invite you to take a moment of silence to remember an amazing young talent who was taken from us at age 32. Pantelis Pantelidis, a modern Laiko singer, lost his life in February 2016, during a tragic car accident in Athens, Greece.

Pantelis was an exceptional artist and human being, a rising star, and was loved throughout all of Greece and the diaspora. His funeral gathered everyone. Businesses and night clubs shut down in mourning. His funeral was as big as that of Princess Diana. The Hellenic people love talent, but especially even more so when a talent comes from a simple family and is self made on his own. Much like the late Stelios Kazandzidis.

As the great female lyricist, Eftixia Papagianopoulou once said, "As long as there are Greeks and the young to sing and play the Rebetiko/Laiko music, then it will never die out."

I hope you will consider keeping Pantelis Pantelidis' memory alive by using his music.

Pantelis Pantelidis was one of the greatest artists of our time, whose life was tragically cut short. He was a fellow Anatolian Greek-Pontian.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The photo shows Pantelis Pantelidis.

Lyrics: Pantelis Pantelidis

Music: Pantelis Pantelidis

Original Artist: Pantelis Pantelidis

Μουσική: Παντελής Παντελίδης

Στίχοι: Παντελής Παντελίδης

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Παντελής Παντελίδης

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Artist: Pantelis Pantelidis
CD Title: Alkoolikes Oi Nychtes

• Alexisfero Yileko
• Alkolikes I Nihtes
• Den Teriazete
• Fige Apo To Mialo Mou
• Ikos Anohis
• Isos Isoun Kiria
• Klamata
• Lioma Se Gkremo
• Pame Stihima tha Xanarthis
• Paramithiazome

• Pios Einai Aftos
• Se Paradehome
• Sinodevome
• Tetia Agapi Den Axizo
• Theos Mou Eisai
• To Fidi

Album Title

Year

Cover Image

Track List

This page was contributed by Panayiota Bakis, who is happy to share her culture and music she grew up with! Here's how Panayiota describes her background:

I always love engaging with intelligent like-minded people, especially artists. I love sharing anything and everything about my Hellenic culture and upbringing, especially music and dance. A conversation with me will bring you back to America's favorite Greek-American movie by Nia Vardalos called My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I love investigating Greek culture, history, music, and dance. Speaking of investigating, I think I missed my calling, I probably should have been an investigator. Instead, I use those skills to dig and dig and dig tirelessly, often times falling asleep on my laptop... just to find the truth. But, most importantly, accurate truth. For me personally, and other respectable folklorists, my culture and accuracy are very important. Each generation of ethnic born artists has a duty to do the best it can to pass down our traditions as was taught to us. We have been given this artistic gift to be the gatekeepers of our heritage and culture.