Filler
Photo of Shira

 

 

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

Φήμες
(Fimes)

(Rumors)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Fimes" (Φήμες), which was sung by Keti Garbi. 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

Those of us from regions that speak Greek, Arabic, and Turkish have exchanged countless songs with each other through licensing the music and creating lyrics in our own languages. These include both current pop music and classics.

The song translated on this page is an example of one. It uses the same melody as a Turkish song named Sayma (Σαιμα), recorded by Zerrin Özer (Ζερριν Ιουζερ). Sources differ as to which came first, Keti Garbi's version or Zerrin Özer's, though the prevailing opinion seems to be that Zerrin Özer's was published in 1990.

Zerrin Özer's version appeared on the album İşte Ben (Ιστε Μπεν). It credits T. Eliot as the composer, with the album as a whole arranged by Armenian artist Garo Mafyan (Γκαρο Μαφγιαν). It identifies Fikret Şeneş (Φικρετ Σιενες) as the lyricist for the Turkish lyrics.

About Keti Garbi

Keti Garbi is the stage name for Ekaterini Garbi, the artist who recorded the version of this song with Greek lyrics. She has been considered a queen of Laiko & Greek pop styles of music. She robbed the cradle by marrying her younger colleague Dionisis Shinas (Διονύσης Σχοινάς).

Keti Garbi rose to fame in the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest, taking ninth place. She became one of the most successful Greek artists of the 1990's. She achieved great commercial success with the album To Kati, which was released in 2000. She has won 11 Pop Corn Music Awards (including 3 for Album of the Year) and one Arion Music Award.

To this day all her work is phenomenal.

Keti Garbi

About Hlias Filippou

Hlias Filippou, sometimes spelled Ilias Filippou, wrote the Greek lyrics for this song. He was born in 1959, and is credited with writing lyrics and composing music for nearly 200 songs throughout his career.

 Ilias Filippou

Song: Fimes (Rumors), 1991

Greek Lyrics: Hlias Filippou

Music: Antonis Gounaris

Original Artist: Keti Garbi

Dance Style: Belly Dance

Album: Edalma Silipseos

Τραγουδι: Φήμες, 1991

Στίχοι: Ηλίας Φιλίππου

Μουσική: Αντώνης Γούναρης

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Καίτη Γαρμπή

Χορός: Οριεντάλ, Χορό Της Κοιλιάς, Ανατολίτικος Χορός, Τσιφτετέλι, Χανούμικο, Κελικός Χορός

Άλμπουμ: Ένταλμα Συλλήψεως

 

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Lyrics

Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation
Φήμες, λες είναι φήμες fimes, les ine fimes Rumors, you say it's rumors.
όσα για 'σένα με ανησυχούν osa ya 'sena me anisihoun All that worries me about you
φήμες, μα έχεις ευθύνες fimes, ma ehis efthines rumors, but you are responsible
γι' αυτές τις φήμες που κυκλοφορούν yi' aftes tis fimes pou kikloforoun for those rumors that are out there.
     
Αν θα βγει αλήθεια an tha vgi alithia If [something] turns out [to be] true
κάτι δε' θα κρατηθώ kati de' tha kratitho I won't hold back.
τότε θα σου δείξω tote tha sou dixo Then I will show you
τον κακό μου εαυτό ton kako mou eafto my bad side.
θέλω να πιστεύω thelo na pistevo I want to believe
πως για τίποτα δε' φταις

pos ya tipota de' ftes

 you are not at fault for anything.
μα αλίμονο οι φήμες ma alimono ee fimes However, God forbid the rumors (1)
αν θα βγουν αληθινές an tha vgoun alithines if they turn out to be true.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus
Φήμες, όλα είναι φήμες fimes, ola ine fimes Rumors, it's all rumors.
λες να τ' ακούω les na t' akouo As if I can hear them
και ν' αδιαφορώ ke n' adiaforo and pay no attention.
φήμες που οργιάζουν fimes pou oryiazoun Rumors that make [me] very angry.
μου κάνουν άνω κάτω το μυαλό mou kanoun ano kato to mialo It's turning my head upside down.
     
Αν θα βγει αλήθεια an tha vgi alithia If [something] turns out [to be] true
κάτι δε' θα κρατηθώ kati de' tha kratitho I won't hold back.
τότε θα σου δείξω tote tha sou dixo Then I will show you
τον κακό μου εαυτό ton kako mou eafto my bad side.
θέλω να πιστεύω thelo na pistepso I want to believe
πως για τίποτα δε' φταις

pos ya tipota de' ftes

 you are not at fault for anything.
μα αλίμονο οι φήμες ma alimono ee fimes However, God forbid the rumors (1)
αν θα βγουν αληθινές an tha vgoun alithines if they turn out to be true.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus
Φήμες, φήμες που μοιάζουν fimes, fimes pou miazoun Rumors, rumors that seem,
μοιάζουν μ' αλήθεια miazoun m' alithia seem true.
όπως κι αν τις δω opos ke an tis do No matter how I look at it,
φήμες που οργιάζουν fimes pou oryiazoun rumors that make [me] very angry,
μου κάνουν άνω κάτω το μυαλό mou kanoun ano kato to mialo it's turning my head upside down.
     

Arabic Section?

Arabic Section?

Arabic Section?
     
Αν θα βγει αλήθεια an tha vgi alithia If [something] turns out [to be] true
κάτι δε' θα κρατηθώ kati de' tha kratitho I won't hold back.
τότε θα σου δείξω tote tha sou dixo Then I will show you
τον κακό μου εαυτό ton kako mou eafto my bad side.
θέλω να πιστεύω thelo na pistevo I want to believe
πως για τίποτα δε' φταις

pos ya tipota de' ftes

 you are not at fault for anything.
μα αλίμονο οι φήμες ma alimono ee fimes However, God forbid the rumors (1)
αν θα βγουν αληθινές an tha vgoun alithines if they turn out to be true.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus
Φήμες, φήμες που μοιάζουν fimes, fimes pou miazoun Rumors, rumors that seem,
μοιάζουν μ' αλήθεια miazoun m' alithia seem true.
όπως κι αν τις δω opos ke an tis do No matter how I look at it,
φήμες που οργιάζουν fimes pou oryiazoun rumors that make [me] very angry,
μου κάνουν άνω κάτω το μυαλό mou kanoun ano kato to mialo it's turning my head upside down.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus
Φήμες, φήμες που μοιάζουν fimes, fimes pou miazoun Rumors, rumors that seem,
μοιάζουν μ' αλήθεια miazoun m' alithia seem true.
όπως κι αν τις δω opos ke an tis do No matter how I look at it,
φήμες που οργιάζουν fimes pou oryiazoun rumors that make [me] very angry,
μου κάνουν άνω κάτω το μυαλό mou kanoun ano kato to mialo it's turning my head upside down.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus
Φήμες, φήμες που μοιάζουν fimes, fimes pou miazoun Rumors, rumors that seem,
μοιάζουν μ' αλήθεια miazoun m' alithia seem true.
όπως κι αν τις δω opos ke an tis do No matter how I look at it,
φήμες που οργιάζουν fimes pou oryiazoun rumors that make [me] very angry,
μου κάνουν άνω κάτω το μυαλό mou kanoun ano kato to mialo it's turning my head upside down.
     
Φήμες fimes Rumors.
  1. "Alimono" doesn't reference God, but the expression's meaning is similar to "God forbid."

 

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Translations of
Keti Garbi's Songs On This Site

Translations on this web site of lyrics for songs performed by Keti Garbi include:

  • Τin Kardia Sou Rota (Ask Your Heart). A duet with Burak Kut that is partly in Greek, partly in Turkish. The Turkish title is "Kalbine Sor".
  • To Narkotiko Mou (My Drug). The same melody was later used for the Turkish song "Zordur Oğlum".
  • Ton Hristouyenon Kabanes (The Christmas Bells). A version of the song "Silver Bells" with Greek lyrics
  • Touli Gia To Hristouli (Veil for the Christ Child). A version of the song "Adeste Fideles" with Greek lyrics
  • Zilia (Jealousy). A version of Amr Diab's "Kalast Feek Kol al Kalam" with Greek lyrics.

 

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About the Translator

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.

Panayiota

 

 

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