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 "Fotia Ke Asimi" (Φωτιά Και Ασήμι), which was sung by Natali Triantafillidou. 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 The Song

This song originally appeared in 2002 in Arabic as "Mashkalni (Houbbak)", sung by Khaliji (Arabian Gulf) singer Rashid al-Majed (Ρασίντ Αλ-Ματζέντ). Rashed al-Majed was born in Manamah, Bahrain and began his music career in 1984. He is a producer, singer and musician who has successfully recorded 40 albums!

The rhythm for this song (and many other Khaliji songs) is almost identical to the Greek syrtos rhythm.

I believe this may be the first and only Khaliji song played with a Pontian kemence flair! The kemence is a musical instrument from Pontus, the region of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) along the Black Sea where Greeks once lived in large numbers. This song features several instrumental solos played on the kemence.

About Natali Triantafillidou

Natali Triantafillidou, the original artist for the Greek version of this song, is a Greek Romany singer. She had a successful career in the Greek bouzoukia industry singing alongside such prominent Greek musicians as Antonis Remos, Giorgos Dalaras, and Eleni Vidali among others. In 2010, she auditioned for The X-Factor in Greece.

Song: Fotia Ke Asimi (Fire And Silver), 2003

Music: Hussein Al Jasmi

Original Artist for Greek Version: Natali Triantafillidou

Dance Style: Belly dancing

Album: Floga (Fire)

Τραγούδι: Φωτιά Και Ασήμι, 2003

Μουσική: Χουσείν Αλ Τσαμι

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Νάταλι Τριανταφύλλου

Άλμπουμ: Φλόγα

• Musical Traditions of Pontus, the Black Sea Region of Present-Day Turkey. Contains additional information about the kemence and its place in traditional Greek music.

• The Secret of Zaghareet. Cultural background about the zaghrouta, from an Egyptian perspective.

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.