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 "Deste Mou Ta Matia" (Δέστε Μου Τα Μάτια), which was sung by Despina Vandi. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

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 this Song

Mohammed Marwan Ba'aseery (Μοχαμεντ Μαρουαν Μπα'ασιρη), who goes by the stage name Iwan, wrote and sang the original Arabic version of this song under the title "Oul Inshallah" (Ουλ Ινσαιλα) in 2003. Iwan is of Syrian (mother) and Lebanese (father) heritage. Some sources also say he is Palestinian.

There is also a version with lyrics in Turkish under the song title "Aşkı Bana Sakla" by Asuman Krause, on the album Çok Yalnızım.

About Despina Vandi

Despina Vandi (birth name Δέσποινα Μαλέα) was born in Germany in 1969 to Pontian (Anatolian) Greek parents. (Pontus was a region of Turkey on the southern coast of the Black Sea populated by Greeks. Pontian people suffered from genocide policies of the Ataturk government after World War 1, and many fled Turkey as refugees.)

Vandi's family moved to Greece when she was a child. She launched her singing career in Athens in the mid-1990's. In 2000, she released the single "Ipofero", which became the best-selling single of all time in Greece. She has won numerous awards, and today is known as the "queen of Greek music".

About Fivos (Phivos, Phoebus)

Fivos is the stage name for Evangelos-Phoebus Tassopoulos (Ευάγγελος Τασσόπουλος), the prominent Greek songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for this song. His name is sometimes written as "Phivos" or "Phoebus". He is one of the most successful Greek songwriters of the 1990's and early 2000's.

Fivos was born in 1971. During his school years, he drummed in a band. He started writing songs while studying music at a conservatory, and signed his first contract with a record label at age 22. Over the next 10 years, his songs enjoyed spectacular success in Greece and Cyprus. He began to gain international recognition starting in 2001. In 2004, he signed a deal with Coca Cola to write the music that would be featured in Coca Cola's ads as part of their Olympics sponsorship, and in 2005 he created a new anthem for the Athens football team.

Song: Deste Mou Ta Matia (Blindfold My Eyes), 2001

Greek Version of the Lyrics: Fivos

Music for the Greek Version: Fivos

Original Artist for the Greek Version: Despina Vandi

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Iwan, 2003. ("Oul Inshallah"). In Arabic.
• Asuman Krause, 2006 ("Aşkı Bana Sakla"). In Turkish.

Dance Style: Belly Dance

Album: Ya (Can mean "Bye" or "Hi")

Τραγούδι: Δέστε Μου Τα Μάτια, 2001

Στίχοι: Φοίβος

Μουσική: Φοίβος

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Δέσποινα Βανδή

Άλμπουμ: Γειά

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Iwan, 2003. ("Ουλ Ινσαιλα"). Στα Αραβικά.
• Asuman Krause, 2006 (""Aşkı Bana Sakla"). Στα Τουρκικά.

Χορός: Τσιφτετέλι