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 "Gülbahar" (Γκιούλμπαχάρ), which was sung by Rena Dallia. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

Gülbahar is a common Turkish women's name. It means "rose of the spring". It was the name of two different wives of two different 15th century Ottoman Sultans.

Gülbahar Hatun was the Empress consort of Sultan Mehmed II, married in 1446. She was also the mother of Sultan Bayezid II. Some scholars believe her father was a Greek from the Black Sea region who converted to Islam and joined the Turkish military.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: This photo shows the first Gülbahar Hatun, the one who was the Empress consort of Sultan Mehmed II.

The second Ottoman Empress to use the name was Gülbahar Hatun II, whose birth name was Ayşe. She was married to Sultan Bayezid II, the son of the elder Gülbahar.

In this song, the name Gülbahar does not appear to be referring to either Ottoman wife. It seems to apply to a fictitious woman named Gülbahar.

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 for this song. Some sources say he was also the lyricist, while others attribute the lyrics to Eftihia Papayiannopoulou.

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 Eftihia Papayiannopoulou, the Lyricist

This song was written by a very famous lyricist named Eftihia Papayiannopoulou, whose nickname was EE Gria (the old lady).

The legendary Eftihia Xatzigeorgiou (Papayiannopoulou) was born in 1893, in the city of Aydin, which is close to Smyrna (today known as Izmir in Turkey). As a Greek Anatolian refugee, she felt the life, pain and suffering. Her talents as a lyricist in the 1950s through 1960s drew the attention of some of the greatest Laiko – Rebetes of that time. Her collaborations Apostolos Kaldaras, Stelios Kazandzidis, Vasilis Tsitsanis and Manos Hadjidakis, Manolis Hiotis, Babis Bakalis, to name a few.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Eftihia Papayiannopoulou.

Eftihia had a falling out with Stelios Kazandzidis and Vasilis Tsitsanis regarding lyrics and intellectual property rights. In this era, women were not highly regarded and respected. The man always dominated and had the final word. Many of these men did not want others to know that there was a women behind their succuessful songs.

There is much judgment and criticism againt Eftihia Papayiannopoulou because she was an avid tzogadora (gambler). She lost her husband and daughter all within a close period, which led her to turn to it. Gambling is an addiction, and they should not be judged. In her desperation to have fast money she felt the need to sell the rights to her songs as opposed to retaining the rights to obtain a commission.

In December 2019, a new Greek movie was released about her life story. It sold large numbers of tickets, and was very popular.

About Rena Dalia

Rena Dalia was born as Eleftheria Papakosta in 1934 in Patra. She was one of 18 children with roots in Hpiros, Greece, and one of the greatest Laiko style singers. She initially showed her vocal talents in high school, singing in the choir. At age 18, she came to Athens with her mother to get a job as a typist, supporting them. Below the apartment where they lived was a taverna, where she met Kostas Zafiris, a radio producer. Zafiris encouraged her to enter a radio talent competition, and she came in first.

A job as a singer in a tavern quickly followed, which launched her singing career. There, she came to the attention of Yiannis Papaioannou, who was impressed by her voice and beauty. She soon came to know other great musicians in the Greek music profession. Her first great hit, Gülbahar, was composed for her by Vasilis Tsitsanis.

Dalia enjoyed a succesful singing career in Greece, as well as a touring career among the Greeks of the diaspora, and also in Arabia.

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: Eftihia Papayiannopoulou

Music: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Original Artist: Rena Dallia

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Maria Soultatou
• Eleftheria Arvanitaki

Στίχοι: Ευτυχία Παπαγιαννοπούλου

Μουσική: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Ρένα Ντάλλια

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Μαρία Σουλτάτου
• Ελευθερία Αρβανιτάκη

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

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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.