The Best of Greek Pop Music

Looking for the best of Greek pop music? Look no further! In this blog, we’ll be rounding up the top hits from Greece’s top artists. From new music to classic hits, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Introduction

Greece has a long tradition of great pop music, spanning back many decades. In recent years, the country has produced some incredible pop performers who have gone on to achieve international success.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best Greek pop artists of recent years, and explore some of their most popular hits. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best Greek pop music has to offer!

The Early Years of Greek Pop (1960s-1970s)

Greek pop music first rose to prominence in the 1960s with artists such as Theodoros Christoforidis, Stelios Kazantzidis, and Marinella. These performers blended traditional Greek music with popular western genres such as rock and roll, jazz, and soul. The result was a unique and exciting sound that quickly gained popularity among young Greeks. The early years of Greek pop are considered a golden age by many fans, and the music of this period continues to be popular today.

The First Wave of Greek Pop (1960s)

In the 1960s, Greece saw the rise of its first wave of pop music. This was a time when Western music and culture were greatly influence by the Beatles and other British Invasion bands. Many Greek artists began to incorporate Western elements into their music, resulting in a new sound that was a fusion of Eastern and Western styles. The first wave of Greek pop music was highly influential and laid the foundation for the future of the genre.

The Second Wave of Greek Pop (1970s)

The early 1970s saw the start of the Second Wave of Greek pop music, a period which lasted until 1977. This was a more commercialized form of music, with catchy melodies and simple lyrics, which became extremely popular with the Greek public. The most famous singers of this era include:

-Demis Roussos
-Mariza Koch
-Vicky Leandros
-Petebrandt family
– Marinella

The Golden Age of Greek Pop (1980s-1990s)

Greece has given the world some truly great pop music over the years. One of the most important and influential periods for Greek pop music was the 1980s and 1990s, when the country was going through a golden age. The music from this period is still loved and listened to by Greeks and non-Greeks all over the world. Let’s take a look at some of the best Greek pop songs from this era.

The Third Wave of Greek Pop (1980s)

The Third Wave of Greek pop started in the early 1980s, with the rise of acts such as Stefanos Korkolis, Dimitris Papadimitriou and Stamatis Kraounakis. Korkolis’ debut album “Orea Pouse” (“Golden Arms”) was released in 1983 and included the hit single “Ta Paidia tou Peiraia” (“The Children of Piraeus”). Other notable albums from this era include Kraounakis’ “Ena Monaxiko Horo” (“A One-Man Dance”) (1984) and Papadimitriou’s “To Palio Mou Ourano” (“My Old Sky”) (1985).

This wave of Greek pop continued into the 1990s with artists such as George Dalaras, Haris Alexiou and Dionysis Savvopoulos. Dalaras’ album “To Rembetiko Sou Tragoudi” (“Your Rembetiko Song”) (1991) was a particularly popular release, while Savvopoulos’ album “Stis Smyrnes Tou Mai” (“In Smyrna’s May”) (1992) was a critical success. The 1990s also saw the rise of female singers such as Eleni Peta and Sofia Arvaniti, who helped to diversify the sound of Greek pop music.

The Fourth Wave of Greek Pop (1990s)

The Fourth Wave of Greek pop started in the early 1990s and lasted until the end of the decade. Artists such as Antique, Peggy Zina, Giorgos Alkaios, Notis Sfakianakis, Haris Alexiou, and Dionysis Savvopoulos enjoyed great popularity during this time. The Fourth Wave is often considered to be the Golden Age of Greek pop music.

The New Millennium (2000s-present)

With the new millennium came a new wave of Greek pop music. A new generation of artists emerged, bringing with them their own unique sound and style. This decade saw the rise of some of Greece’s most popular pop stars, who are still popular today. Let’s take a look at some of the best Greek pop music of the new millennium.

The Fifth Wave of Greek Pop (2000s)

During the early 2000s, Greece saw the rise of the fifth wave of Greek pop music, often referred to simply as “laiki” (Greek: λαϊκή, romanized: laïkí, lit. ‘popular’). This form of music was a direct descendant of rebetiko and also derived from other music genres such as Rhythmos (Greek: Ρυθμος)[10] and Laika (Greek: Λαϊκά)[11][12] and was heavily influenced by modern pop music from abroad.

During this time, a number of laiki artists emerged who would go on to achieve significant commercial success, such as Glykeria, Antonis Remos, Marinella, Nikos Oikonomopoulos and Stamatis Gonidis. The first decade of the new millennium also saw a significant increase in the popularity of rembetika among young people in Greece,[13][14] with a new generation of artists such as Stelios Vavalas,[15] Kostas Roukounas[16] and Giorgos Sabanis[17] helping to keep the genre alive.

The Sixth Wave of Greek Pop (2010s)

By 2010, a new generation of Greek artists had begun to emerge, many of whom would come to be some of the most successful Greek pop acts of the 21st century. This “sixth wave” of Greek pop music is often characterized by its heavy use of auto-tune and other electronic production techniques, as well as a greater focus on foreign (especially English-language) influences. Among the most successful artists to emerge during this period were Elias Kazais, Giorgos Mazonakis, Kostas Martakis, Aspro / Tako, Despina Vandi, and Eleni Foureira.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best of Greek pop music. Whether you’re a fan of classic ballads or modern hits, there’s something here for everyone. So crank up the volume and enjoy the sounds of Greece!