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 "S' Anazito Sti Saloniki" (Σ' Αναζητώ Στη Σαλονίκη), which was sung by Dimitris Mitropanos. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

Dimitris Mitropanos was a very popular artist of the laiko musical style. 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 the Song

Filippos Grapsas, wrote the lyrics for this song in about half an hour, for a friend who needed material for participating in a song contest. However, it remained in a drawer for 10 years until it finally came to the attention of Marios Tokas, who composed the music for it. It was originally rejected by Haris Alexious and George Dalaras, before eventually Dimitris Mitropanos agreed to record it. See this link for more detail on the history of the song and the people involved with it.

About Dimitris Mitropanos

Dimitris Mitropanos was the original artist for this song. He was known for specializing in the Greek musical style known as laiko. He began his musical career in the mid-1960's, with his first big hit in 1972 with "Agios Fevrouarios". After that, he enjoyed a long, successful career in the Greek music industry.

About Marios Tokas

Marios Tokas was the composer for the music of this song. He was born in Cyprus in the 1950's, and showed promise as a budding musician at a young age. When Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, he found himself on the front lines with his fellow soldiers, surrounded by the enemy, and basically unarmed. This experience had a profound effect on him for the rest of his life.

Later, he graduated from the music conservatory with honors, and throughout his career worked with many great artists. The President of Cyprus awarded him the Medal of Excellence in Homeland, which is the highest honor of the Cypriot state.

About Filippos Grapsas

Filippos Grapsas was born in Thessaloniki, Greece. He made his debut as a lyricist in 1984 when he entered one of his songs at the 10th KNE Artistic Folk Song Festival, which was a competition. It was included on an album produced after the festival. After that, he participated in several additional festivals.

The most important chapter of Grapsas' career began in 1992 when he met composer Marios Tokas and they began a collaboration that endured for many years.

Lyrics: Filippos Grapsas

Music: Marios Tokas

Original Artist: Dimitris Mitropanos

Dance: Zeibekikos

Album: Ee Ethniki Mas Monaxia (Our Ethnic Loneliness)

Στίχοι: Φίλιππος Γράψας

Μουσική: Μάριος Τόκας

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Δημήτρης Μητροπάνος

Χορός: Ζειμπέκικος

Άλμπουμ: Η Εθνική Μας Μοναξιά

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.