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 "O Peritos" (Ο Περιτός), which was sung by Despina Vandi. 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

"O Peritos" is in the Top 30 most successful Greek pop songs of the 1990s, in position 18.

In 2005, several years after Despina Vandi released her version in Greek, the Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe (Χάιφα Ουέμπη) released a version in Arabic, titled "Ya Hayat Albi". It appeared on her 2005 album, Baddi Eesh.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The photo to the right shows the Lebanese artist Haifa Wehbe who released the Arabic version of this song in 2005.

Lebanese composer and record producer Jean-Marie Riachi (Τζιν – Μαρί Ριατση), who is from Ras Baalbek, arranged Fivos' original composition for the Arabic version. The Arabic lyrics were created by an Egyptian lyricist and composer named Mohamed El Rifa'i (Μοχάμεντ Ελ Ριφα'ι).

Israeli artist Rinat Bar (רינת בר) also recorded this song in Hebrew, under the title "Shelcha Beseara" (שלך בסערה) which means "You're in the Storm". It was released in 2004.

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: O Peritos (Unnecessary), 1997

Lyrics: Fivos

Music: Fivos

Original Artist: Despina Vandi

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Rinat Bar, 2004 (in Hebrew, as "Shelcha Beseara")
• Haifa Wehbe, 2005 (in Arabic, as "Ya Hayat Albi")

Dance Style: Belly Dancing

Album: Deka Entoles (Ten Commandments)

Τραγούδι: Ο Περιτός, 1997

Στίχοι: Φοίβος

Μουσική: Φοίβος

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Δέσποινα Βανδή

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Χάιφα Ουέμπη, 2005

Άλμπουμ: Δέκα Εντολές