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

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the Greek song "Exafanisi" (Εξαφάνιση), which was sung by Giorgos Dalaras and Haig Yadjizian and served as a soundtrack to a Greek television series by the same name. 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 this Song

This gorgeous song was the soundtrack for a popular 2008 Greek dramatic television series called Ee Exafanisi that was based in Greece, Alexandria (Egypt), and Tunisia. Although the series was short-lived, the soundtrack has remained in the Greek conscious. The television series was produced by Stratos Makridis (Στράτος Μακρίδης) and directed by Spiros Rasidakis (Σπύρος Ρασιδάκης). It featured some of Greece's greatest actors, including Nikos Seryianopoulos (Νικος Σεργιανόπουλος), Stavros Zalmas (Σταύρος Ζαλμάς) and Natalia Dragoumi (Ναταλία Δραγούμη).

The story line revolved around an unfortunate love triangle between a Greek and a Greek-Italian. During a family trip to Tunisia, the wife suddenly disappears. It turns out that the Greek-Italian man kidnapped her because she reminded him of his wife. And this is how the love story and search for a wife who disappeared begins.

I definitely recommend this series to dancers, because it has a beautiful backdrop filmed in various countries, and includes the sounds of beautiful Greek Oriental music. You will be hooked. I'm not sure why critics deemed it unpopular. I loved this drama series. It's still being currently replayed on Greek-American satellite television!

According to an interview published on the Greek web site www.e-orfeas.gr, the composer Hristos Papadopoulos discovered young lyricist Eleni Pandazi and chose her to collaborate with him on this song. The singer, Giorgos Dalaras was extremely impressed with the expressive experience Pandazi shared through her lyrics, despite her young age.

Pandazi wrote the lyrics for this song specifically for the purpose of this television series. She had previously been accustomed to collaborations in which she would write the lyrics, then the composers would create music based on them. However, in this situation, it was the other way around. Pandazi created lyrics to fit the musical composition of Hristos Papadopoulos.

About Giorgos Dalaras

Giorgos Dalaras was one of the duet who were the original artists to record this song.

Giorgos Dalaras' first true big break in music arose when an album he recorded with Haris Alexiou went gold.

In 1975, he decided to release an album titled 50 Years of Rebetiko Songs. It proved to be an immediate success, and created a revival of interest in rebetiko music.

Dalaras is a versatile musician who not only sings, but also can play the the guitar, bouzouki, baglamas, tzouras and oud.

About Dimitris Mitropanos

Dimitris Mitropanos was one of the artists who recorded this song. He was known for specializing in the Greek musical style known as laiko. He began his musical career in the mid-1960's, with his first big hit in 1972 with "Agios Fevrouarios". After that, he enjoyed a long, successful career in the Greek music industry.

About Haig Yadjizian

Hiag Yadjizian is is a very popular Armenian oudist and singer who lives in Greece. Together with Giorgos Dalaras, he was one of the original artists for this song.

Song: Exafanisi (Disappearance), 2008

Lyrics: Eleni Pandazi

Music: Hristos Papadopoulos

Original Artists: Giorgos Dalaras and Haig Yadjizian

Has Also Been Performed by: Dimitris Mitropanos

Dance Style: Belly Dance

Τραγούδι: Εξαφάνιση, 2008

Στίχοι: Ελένη Πανταζή

Μουσική: Χρήστος Παπαδόπουλος

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Γιώργος Νταλάρας & Ηάιγκ Γαντζίζιαν