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 rebetiko song "Pote Boudas Pote Koudas" (Πότε Βούδας πότε Κούδας), which was sung by Nikos Papazoglou. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

Translator's note:

In my opinion, this is one of the tsifteteli national songs of Greece. Extremely popular. This is really the song of the century. If you want to impress a Greek crowd, especially a younger one, this is the song. Although we have so many incredible songs, this one has to be on your playlist if you to show people that you know your stuff with respect to Greek music.

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 Nikos Papazoglou

Nikos Papazoglou was the original artist who recorded this song.

Born in Thessaloniki, Nikos Papazoglou was a popular singer, songwriter, and music producer. He began performing at the local level in the 1960's. In the mid-1970's, he met Manolis Rasoulis when they worked together on a project to create a musical based on a play by Aristophanes.

Following this, they teamed up in 1978 with Dionysis Savvopoulos and Nikos Xydakis to create a groundbreaking music album that achieved critical acclaim. Some credit this work with changing the course and perception of Greek popular music.

Building on this success, Papazoglou and Rasoulis collaborated again the following year to create another commercially successful work, Ta Dithen.

This revolutionary contemporary artist lost his battle with cancer in April 2011, just one month after his colleague and friend Manolis Rasoulis (the lyricist for this song) passed away from a heart attack.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The singer in the photo is Nikos Papazoglou.

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".

Lyrics: Manolis Rasoulis

Music: Petros Vagiopoulis

Original Artist: Nikos Papazoglou

Has Also Been Recorded By: Despina Vandi

Στίχοι: Μανώλης Ρασούλης

Μουσική: Πέτρος Βαγιόπουλος

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Νίκος Παπάζογλου

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

• Oi Manges Den Yparxoun Pia (Real Men Don't Exist Any More)
• Pote Voudas Pote Koudas (Sometimes Buddha, Sometimes Koudas)

• Ragizi Apopse Ee Kardia (Tonight the Heart is Breaking)

• Deste Mou Ta Matia (Blindfold My Eyes)
• Hristouyena (Christmas)
• Ipofero (I'm Suffering)
• O Peritos (Unnecessary)

• Pote Voudas Pote Koudas (Sometimes Buddha, Sometimes Koudas)
• Ti Kano Moni Mou (What I'm Doing Alone)
• Tis Kardias Mou Giatria (My Heart's Cure)

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.