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 "Arapiko Louloudi" (Αράπικο λουλούδι), which was sung by Stella Haskil (Salonikia) and Vasilis Tsitsanis as a duet. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

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 Vasilis Tsitsanis

Vasilis Tsitsanis was the composer and lyricist for this song. He was also part of the original duet that introduced this song.

Tsitsanis was a versatile musician who learned to play violin, mandola, mandolin, and bouzouki. He collaborated with a number of singers to record the songs he had composed, with him accompanying them on bouzouki. His music helped launch several of his collaborators to fame and successful careers.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Vasilis Tsitsanis as a young man.

About Stella Haskil

Stella Haskil born in Thessaloniki in 1918 as Stella Gaegou, of Greek Jewish heritage. Her father came from a wealthy Thessaloniki family who lost all during the Nazi occupation of Greece. Her mother was born in Skopje, Macedonia, but moved to Greece with her family.

As a singer, Stella became renowned for having a smooth, velvety voice, recording 135 songs. She was also a songwriter, and is respected as one of the great Rebetises of Greek music.

Stella rose to fame in the 1940's and 1950's as a post-war artist. She died of cancer at age 36. Due to her death at a young age, not many Greeks from newer generations are familiar with her work.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Stella Haskil as a young woman.

About Eleftheria Arvanitaki

Eleftheria Arvanitaki, one of the artists to record this song, is a Greek folk singer known for singing rebetiko, laiko, and jazz musical styles. Born in 1957, she started her singing career as a member of the ensemble Opisthodromiki Kompania (Retrograde Company) that performed rebetiko music. She then spun off to launch a solo singing career in 1984 with an album that bore her name. She has toured extensively to perform at festivals and other live music events. Arvanitaki performed in the closing ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

Lyrics: Vasilis Tsitsanis (Vlahos)

Music: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Original Artists: Stella Haskil (Salonikia) and Vasilis Tsitsanis (duet)

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Eleftheria Arvanitaki
• Melina Kana
  

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Μουσική: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Στέλλα Χασκίλ (Σαλονικιά) & Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης (Ντουέτο)

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Ελευθερία Αρβανιτάκη
• Μελίνα Κανά

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

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.