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 "I Oraia" (Η Ωραία), which was sung by Thanos Petrelis. This translation was based on the version appearing on his album Θυμίζεις Κάτι Από Ελλάδα (Thimizeis Kati Apo Ellada).

Also included is a 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.

In 2006, the Lebanese singer Carole Samaha released a version of this song with Arabic lyrics on her album Adwaa Al Shohra under the song title "Esma'ny". It credits Fivos as the composer, and credits Salim Assaf for writing the Arabic lyrics.

About Thanos Petrelis

Thanos Petrelis is a Greek vocalist who appeared on the pop music scene in 2003 as a result of his performances on the television reality show Fame Story. He went on to release his first album in 2004, which went gold. That year, Petrelis won the "Best New Artist" category in Arion Awards. When he released "Eftihos" in 2006, it went platinum. Since then, he has released additional recordings, and toured extensively. The album "I Oraia" comes from was his second, which was released in 2005.

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: I Oraia (The Pretty), 2005

Lyrics: Fivos

Music: Fivos

Original Artist: Thanos Petrelis

Album: Thimizeis Kati Apo Ellada

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Carole Samaha, 2006, in Arabic ("Esma'ny")

Sung by Thanos Petrelis

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Listen to Clip

Artist: Thanos Petrelis
CD Title: Thimizeis Kati Apo Ellada

Amartia is a Baltimore native of Greek descent. She was involved in Greek Folk dancing from childhood to adulthood. She stumbled upon bellydancing class at a local gym and has never looked back! Bellydance appealed to her not only as an art form but a way to stay in shape. Hence one spectator commenting, “…massive melodic muscles of the Mediterranean aka killer abs...”

Amartia is an award-winning bellydancer. She has traveled to compete all over the United States. She is the 2008 Jewel of the Nile and the first place winner for veil dance from Arabian Nights. More recently she was one of the 23 bellydancers chosen to compete in the first season of a reality web-show- Project bellydance! Amartia, Extravagent Entertainment in Maryland has also been featured in Fuse Magazine, written an article on Greek bellydance for Zaghareet, and was the July 2012 Bellydancer of the Month for Brandon’s Oasis.

Amartia also offers Greek translation services for dancers so if you’d like another Greek song translated, feel free to contact her! See amartiabellydance.com/lets-go-greek/greek-song-translation/

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Anton Marx.