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 "Ti Zitas" (Τι Ζητάς), which was sung by Litsa Diamanti. 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

The song "Ti Zitas" was a hit for Litsa Diamante in 1998, but there have also been versions of it recorded in Arabic and Turkish.

The version in Arabic, "Nour el Chams" (نور الشمس), featured Arabic lyrics by Adel Raffoul and was recorded by the Lebanese artist Pascale Machaalani. It was featured in the 2001 motion picture Spy Games, which starred Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. Her name is sometimes spelled as Pascal Maashalani.

Mustafa Sandal, a Turkish artist, released both a solo version fully in Turkish and a duet version with Natalia Doussopoulou that's half Greek, half Turkish.

About Litsa Diamanti

Litsa Diamanti is the professional name for Evangelia Kosmidou (Ευαγγελία Κοσμίδου), a musical prodigy from Athens, Greece. She is a laiko singer who soared to popularity in the 1960's and 1970's. At age 8 she began to learn accordion, at age 12 she published her first record, and at age 13 she signed her first contract with a recording label to provide background vocals for other artists. Diamanti achieved her first hit at age 15, and went on to release many additional hits in the years that followed.

About Natalia Doussopoulou

Natalia Doussopoulou was the artist who sang the Turkish version of this song as a duet with Mustafa Sandal. She is known professionally as Natalia Dusso and also as just Natalia.

Although Doussopoulou was born in Greece, she spent her early childhood in the United Kingdom. Her talent for music was recognized when she was a teen-ager. When performing as part of a friend's summer show in 1999, she met Turkish pop singer Mustafa Sandal. He proposed that she collaborate with him on making a Greek-Turkish version of "Elleos", which had been released by Angela Dimitriou and Amr Diab. The successful project launched her professional career and made her a major star in Turkey. She later collaborated with him again on another Greek-Turkish duet, with this song.

Natalia has continued her successful career since then, expanding her popularity internationally via live shows, collaboration with international artists, and releasing additional recordings.

About Nikos Terzis

Nikos Terzis is the professional name for Nikolaos Terzis, a composer who works with many of Greece's popular artists. He is the one who discovered Elena Paparizou and brought her to Greece.

He started his work in music at an early age. At age 13, Terzis was working in professional music studios programming electronic music, such as the recording of the soundtrack for Oh Babylon. His major breakthrough came in 1992 when he was 19 years old. He was discovered by Sakis Rouvas, a major pop star of the time. Rouvas gave him the opportunity to compose, produce, and record his first single. This recording went on to win first place at Greece's music competition, Festival Thessaloniki. 

Terzis' compositions have resulted in successful hits for many Greek artists, including Sakis Rouvas, Anna Vissi, Elena Paparizou, Glykeria, and more.

Song: Ti Zitas (What Do You Want?), 1998

Lyrics: Tasos Vouyiadzis

Music: Nikos Terzis

Original Artist: Litsa Diamanti

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Pascale Machaalani, 2000, in Arabic ("Nour el Chams") on the album Nour el Chams (نور الشمس). Arabic lyrics by Adel Raffoul.
• Mustafa Sandal, 2002, in Turkish ("Yok Gerekçem") on the album Kop. Turkish lyrics by Erol Köse and Mustafa Sandal.
• Mustafa Sandal and Natalia Doussopoulos duet, part Greek and part Turkish, 2003, ("Yok Gerekçem") on the album Aşka Yürek Gerek. Turkish lyrics by Mustafa Sandal.

Τραγούδι: Τι Ζητάς, 1998

Στίχοι: Τάσος Βουγιατζής

Μουσική: Νίκος Τερζής

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Λίτσα Διαμάντη

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Pascale Machaalani, 2000, Στα Αραβικά ("Νουρ Ελ Τσαμς") on the album Νουρ Ελ Τσαμς (نور الشمس).
• Μουσταφα Σανταλ, 2002, Στα Τουρκικά ("Yok Gerekçem") on the album Kop. Turkish lyrics by Erol Köse and Mustafa Sandal.
• Μουσταφα Σανταλ and Ναταλία Δουσσοπούλου, part Greek and part Turkish, 2003, ("Υοκ Γερεκτσεμ"). Turkish lyrics by Erol Köse and Μουσταφα Σανταλ.

Χορός: Οριεντάλ, Χορό Της Κοιλιάς, Ανατολίτικο Χορό, Τσιφτετέλι, Χανούμικο, Κελικός Χορός

• Nour el Shams (Sunlight). Pascal Mashaalani's version of this song with Arabic lyrics.

• Yok Gerekçem (No Excuse). Mustafa Sandal's solo version of this song with Turkish lyrics.