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 "Ipofero" (Υποφέρω), which was sung by Despina Vandi. 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

In 2005, the British electronica band Faithless released a remix of the song "Ipofero" as a B side on their album The Remixes Vol. 1. The remix was entitled "Μawahh", and a typing error credited the artist as "Faithless vs Despina Jandi", misspelling her surname.

There are some similarities in the chord progressions used in a German DJ mix called "Encore Une Fois" by Sash! and in "Ipofero". Some people speculate that perhaps "Encore Une Fois", which was released in 1997, may have provided inspiration to the Greek composer Fivos when he created "Ipofero".

ok sash i believe is 1997 - Ralf Kappmeier, Sascha Lappessen, Thomas Alisson ------ ipofero 2000 ---- and faithless brit group 2005? i cant make out who original composer is. The adapted Greek version was created by Fivos.

About Despina Vandi

Despina Vandi (birth name Δέσποινα Μαλέα) was born in Germany in 1969 to Pontian (Anatolian) Greek parents. (Pontus was a region of Turkey on the southern coast of the Black Sea populated by Greeks. Pontian people suffered from genocide policies of the Ataturk government after World War 1, and many fled Turkey as refugees.)

Vandi's family moved back to Greece when she was a child. She launched her singing career in Athens in the mid-1990's. In 2000, she released the single "Ipofero", which became the best-selling single of all time in Greece. She has won numerous awards, and today is known as the "queen of Greek music".

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: Ipofero (I'm Suffering), 2000

Lyrics: Fivos

Music: Fivos

Original Artist: Despina Vandi

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Sash!, 1997 ("Encore Une Fois") - possibly
• Panterite, 2001 ("Tancyvasht") in Bulgarian
• Kosta Markov, 2002 ("Izgaryam") in Bulgarian
• Jelena Karleuša, 2003 ("Jos Te Volim") in Serbian
• Faithless vs Despina Jandi, 2005 ("Mawahh")
• Magic De Spell, 2005
• The String Theory Ensemble, 2015

Dance Style: Belly Dance with Club Beats

Album: Ipofero (Single)

Τραγούδι: Υποφέρω, 2000

Στίχοι: Φοίβος

Μουσική: Φοίβος

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Δέσποινα Βανδή

Άλμπουμ: Υποφέρω