Nikos Economopoulos Talks “As Never Before” .

Nikos Economopoulos Talks “As Never Before” .
Interview by Giannis Galanopoulos

Popular journalist and a broadcaster of the radio show “Pote Opos Prin” (As Never Before) Giannis Galanopoulos had a coversation with the most promising and talanted Greek singer of “laika” style Nikos Economopoulos (Nikos Oikonomopoulos). Interview was on air straight after the Greek Independence Day (on the 26th of March, 2010)
G: On Thursday we celebrated the anniversary of the March 25, 1821 (Hellenic Independence Day). When you were a child, did you go to the parade?

N: Of course I did. And I can tell about it. Whenever I went to the parade, the night before I was trying to prepare everything, the clothes were of a big importance for me, I was finding my good white shirt, my good shorts, cleaning my shoes, did washing, because I wanted the girls to see me and say: "How handsome Nikos is!” (laughs).

G: Do you believe that not only the voice, but the stage presence of a singer plays a big role?

N: Everything plays a role. There should be a combination of things there when you are exposed to the world. It is not enough to have a good voice. There are other things, like the ability to connect with people, an ability to feel these people around you and to feel yourself close to them.

G: What you can say regarding this year's experience of your collaboration with Giannis Parios?

: It was the greatest experience in my life. It was a big honour for me. I will never forget
it. Once I told him: "If you will not do that again I will not talk to you anymore!" (Laughs). We had a lot of fun with Giannis. He is a good man. I appreciate what he did for me and the fact that we were singing together in front of people makes a big difference for me.

G: Did this cooperation come earlier than planned, not as you had in your mind?

N: There is no plan in my mind for when to work with someone. If you want to work with someone you just wish and hope. With me it happened. I had thought about it from when I was a child, then it happened and still it seems like it is unreal! Thank God! I think I'm a very lucky man.

G: When you were a young boy, you were a good footballer. Have you regretted than you did not enter professional football?

N: Pity that I never played football on the overcrowded stadium. It did not happen to me. I hope that in the next life I will be a football player.

G: What would you prefer: to sing at Eurovision or to play Football for a EURO CUP?
N: A thousand times to play football for a EURO, because the Eurovision, from what I've seen in recent years, I think is ... how to say? I just can not find the right word to say. You know what I do not like at all? It is that we try to imitate foreign songs. Neighbouring countries have sung in their own languages and have got some very good positions. The song "Lane moje" of Zeljko Joksimovic in 2004 I think was the best number from previous years. Even though he did not win the 1st place, but came 2nd, still it was in their language. Maybe we Greeks should do the same. Why renounce our nationality? We are Greeks and we should sing in Greek!

G: So, you are agree with Giorgos Alcaeus, who has chosen Greek lyrics.

N: Yes, indeed I agree with Alcaeus. I like him very much and I have listened to him from a very young age, because Giorgos has been singing for many years.

G: Do you like “Opa”? (music: Giorgos Alcaeus , words: Giannis Antoniou – L.V.)

N: I would not say that I madly like it, but it is a Greek song. For this reason alone I like it. Whether it will get first place or last, I am happy, as long as a Greek song is entered. Of course, there are some negative people, who would go on television again and start saying “we think that it is not a good choice of the song”. I would say "Fine, go and sing in English because you do not want the man who goes there with a Greek song! "

G: At least you know how things work on Greek television. That’s why you recently made some impressive statements about the level of television.

N: Was that not truth? Firstly, I do not like always to avoid the topic. What I said is my opinion and everyone is entitled to his opinion. I don’t like at all the current TV. It does not offer me anything other than 2-3 persons “performing” each day and ... what to say now? ... Shame. I am ashamed. Really. Old broadcasts by Roula Koromilas, by Kirios Chardavellas had good singers, actors, people with values and ideals. These people were expressing serious points of view. Now television is just set a of antics. It shows people who have nothing to say. Absolutely nothing. And it is dealing with their personal lives. Is it possible to deal with them while some other people have nothing to eat or are unpaid for months? Why should I not say that? After all, that is the reality. Do I lie? Is it nice to see what I see? No, it is not nice ...

G: Some blame you for judging TV, meaning that once you appeared on TV you then started to teach the world! There are many internet reviews that are negative for this your position.

N: Well, then I will answer by coming out of your question. Yes, I appeared on TV. So what? Did I do something wrong? I came to television, sang and then came out and recorded my CDs. And that was my purpose. What else did I do? Is it bad to express my point of view on something that concerns me and everyone around me?
G: You sang at Dream Show and then started to teach the world. Do you have regrets about things you were saying spontaneously?

N. Maybe I should not do some things ... and to tell you the truth I blame myself a little bit, because I could not contain myself at one point and then did not stop, it was about my family life. I admit it. But that does not mean I did something on purpose. It happened because I'm spontaneous. I was not looking at the cameras, not thinking what to say. I never talked with strategy. Just was saying what I feel.

G: Do you think that if not the “Dream Show” you would never have made a career?

N: I'll tell you what I firmly believe. When I was in the provinces and sang, I did not want to send a demo to any record label. I was saying: "There will be a moment when someone discovers me." I thought everything would be done gradually. For now it is like that. I have achieved success. Tomorrow maybe I will not have it. How do I feel about the fact that I've done so many hits? I feel, I can swear for it, just nothing.

G: It is easy to believe in that. While we talk you don’t stare at me, but look down. It seems that you don’t ride on a high horse.

G: How do you choose your partners for the gigs you are doing?
N: The talent is above all and the character is the next important quality. I feel these things instinctively.

G: Does the thought about who will come to your venue worry you? I mean at the time of economic crisis?

N: This worried me before the crisis too. But now, when people are going through the difficulties, it especially concerns me. I see it everyday and I feel sorry over that. It is upsetting that some people can’t have fun. It is the worst thing when life is just work, when you can’t do something for fun. I usually do not go out much, but instead I like to be with people in the venue: we are a group and we sing, it's fun for me. That is true. I made my job out of my hobby .

G: You said " It is the worst thing when life is just work. Did you say it because of your personal experience? N: Yes, of course. Was I rich? No, and nor am I rich now either. I am from a poor family of fishermen, who taught me to be the right man above all. I don’t love money at all. And now here, in Athens, while working with the director, we never discuss money. Never!

G: You must be of exceptional kind!

N: Yes. That’s what I do. I do not discuss money.

G: Are you satisfied with the records you’ve done?

N: Not always. Most of the time when I listen to them I realise that something could have been be done better.

G: Do you receive gifts from your fans?

N: Yes. I can take icons, most of them are of St. Nicholas, rosaries and some really simple things. I appreciate them. If somebody brings a golden watch, for me it doesn’t say much. I do not like expensive gifts. The movement itself is precious, it gives me a feeling of a contact. I love them (fans - LV)

G: Are you really the person you look like: a popular ("laiko") guy? Or maybe when the lights and cameras are off you have a different life? N: I don’t try to show anything. I am what you see and hear. No more, no less. Let time prove what’s behind the words.

G: Does it enter your mind, that the public who elevated you high can also throw you down?

N: Of course, yes it happens. Does it worry me? Yes, it does regarding my job. I try to be always better, not to disappoint people. My purpose is to let them hear great songs.

G: I read that you have a fear of hospitals and loneliness.

N: Yes. This is one more reason for me to sing. I sing because I want to be with people, not to be alone. I cannot live without singing, believe me. Now while I relax at home I don’t waste the time. I think about time when we start rehearsals in “Thea”. This is what keeps me going. When you are sitting at home not doing what you love, it can drive you crazy.

G: Do you want to have a family?

N: Yes, very much. I have missed this thing and I want to do it anyway. I wish God will give me a chance to have a proper family and to become a good family man.

G: What do you see as the right family life? What is the ideal spouse for you? Do you want her to be from the same space you are? How do you have it in mind?

N: I don’t have any singer in mind, but if it happens, then I welcome it! I do not ever plan it. What I would like to have in the relationship of husband and wife is respect, honesty and love above all. These are for me the key ingredients to start a family. I know, problems exist in all families, but they should be sorted out as smoothly and softly as possible.

G: Are there some bogus stories written about you?

N: Yes. There have been several stories written about my ‘”supposed –to-be” relationships, they have no basis.

G: If you were in love with a girl, would you go out with her without a fear of photography?

If I'm in love then yes, I'll do it. I have never hidden the fact that I am a man who courted and flirts. You may ask “Why for so long there is no a woman next to him?". That’s right, but again I do not want to speak about my private life, I don’t like talking about it. If it happens to me to fall in love, I will not hide it but I would try not to provoke interest. I will not go out to show it up. I will go to some quiet and beautiful place, to have a good time.
G: Can you protect the privacy of your personal life being who you are – an artist?

N: Certainly. Believe me. If you don’t want to show anything, you will not show, and if you want to show, then it is so easy, you can do it at any time.

G: And often what we see is not a reality ...

N: Tell me about it! Surely not…

G: Niko, do you have enemies?

N: We all have enemies. And as I wish everybody health and love, I hope for them (enemies -LV) to have all of this too. Gianni, we are creating our enemies. That's it. I do not want to have them. May be others want ... Competition I can accept, but only healthy competition. Enemies I do not want to have. I forgive easily and I want others to forgive me because I make mistakes too often. Nobody is perfect.

G: Where will you go for Easter?
N: For Easter I’ll be in Patra, with my grandma, she is lonely since I left, then I will go to see my friends. And I will be with my dad, will see my mother, my little and my older brothers. It will be a family time.

G: Do you have a sister?
N: No, we have man power in the family! (laughs). I would like to have a sister. When I was a boy I was saying "I wish I had one sister just to know her girl-friends!" (Laughs).

Edited and translated by Lucy Vaganova and Theo Simeonidis

Nikos Economopoulos Gives His Answers To "The Children of the "Sol"

”On 9 March 2010, Giorgos and Giannis, two friendly DJs, who host the radio show “Ta Paidia tou Sol” (Children of the "Sol") on the Aigaio Radio (based in Syros island), organised a telephone interview with Nikos Economopoulos - introducing him to their listeners as "one of the most popular singers in Greece and the winner of the two MAD TV awards."

Nikos expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to conduct an interview with this local radio, “because you appreciate the songs I sing and people in the provinces (ie outside of Athens) know almost all the songs and this is due to you; while in Athens the radio stations are playing only 1 or 2 select songs from each of my CDs. And it is well known, that artists are living from your (radio broadcasters) promotion."
PTS: Today you are a big artist, how do you feel about it??

Nikos immediately pointed out that he owes his fame to the opportunity he has had to work with Giannis Parios

Nikos: "We have worked for four months now at the 'Fever' night club in Athens, since 6 November, 2009, and we will finish around 20 or 27 March, 2010. I want to say that I picked up a lot from Giannis Parios. He is a great artist… and even perfect, impeccable and I thank him very much, because he has given to me the opportunity to collaborate with him and to learn so many things from him. Those who have worked with him know who Giannis Parios is and the type of person he is. I''ve gained a lot from this cooperation.”

PTS: You like to interact with great artists or you want to be the first?

Nikos: I don't care if I'm the first or the second ... my only interest is if people will like my songs.PTS: Tell us a little bit about your new album.

Nikos: It was issued at the very beginning of January. I am grateful to Spyros Giatras and Alekos Chrisoverghs because they trusted me for second time with their songs, as well as to many others like Marios Psimopoulos and other composers. I am a new man, a young singer and I am delighted that such special people trust me.
PTS: We have many questions from your fans. People from Patras ask when are you going to visit them?

Nikos: I go very often to Patras because that is where my grandmother, my dad, my mom, my brother and my friends all live. And there is always an opportunity to work in Patras.

PTS: And people from Thessaloniki ask the same question too.

Nikos: Two and a half years ago I went to sing there with Nikos Makropoulos. It was very nice experience to sing for people in Thessaloniki, they know what entertainment is about!
PTS: You started music at the age of 17?

Nikos: I started when I was 17 in Pyrgos, where I spent almost two years and got my first experience. My time there was very nice and I often go to Pyrgos - and to other places - because I have acquaintances and friends who love me and I know this very well, so I will always go to meet them.

PTS: How do you feel about the fact that you have fans him in far away places around the world.

Nikos: I am very happy that people know and appreciate my job, even though I do not appear on TV often. I don't like TV and hardly ever watch it, as I think it shows a lot of meaningless things like cooking, for example. I hope that one day television will highlight the most essential things in the life.
PTS - How do you feel about publicity?

Nikos: For 3 years I have been well-recognized but still I do not want to go out into the limelight for no good reason. I cannot judge myself that which I am doing. People are judging me for my work and for my songs.

PTS - Do you trust easily?

Nikos: I am very cautious and don't trust easily.

PTS: Let me ask you something. What is the best payment for Nikos Economopoulos: is it when someone buys your CD or it is the applause?

Nikos: The most beautiful feeling for me is the applause of people, I say it honestly. The most beautiful emotion for me is to receive applause from the people when I finish my song. I feel something as if everyone lives inside me. I would not exchange it for any other thing in the world.
PTS: Niko I want to go back in time and to ask you about one tape, tell me something about this particular cassette you recorded when you were a young boy?

Nikos: When I was 10 or11 or, maybe, 13 years old I came to Athens to my favorite uncle who I love very much and with who gave me a lot of confidence. So one day I went to the bathroom, connected the microphone to the console and started singing 3-4 songs a capella. After many years, if God will help me to make a good singing career, I would like to share this tape with people.
PTS: Which song of your new CD would you dedicate to your fans?

Nikos: “Offering from the Soul”Nikos Economopoulos thanked the listeners again and the song played at the finish of the interview with “Ta Paidia Tou Sol”. In closing, Giorgos and Giannis expressed their gratitude to the people, especially to FB users for their questions and to Christos Fragos for his help in organizing the listener audience for the interview.



Note written by Eirini Eusebi and Lucy Vaganova. Editing done by Theo Simeonidis.

Nikos Economopoulos Loves Football Too!

Impressions after reading the interview by Nikos Economopoulos (Nikos Oikonomopoulos), given to the musical Internet site “Tralala.gr” (03.02.10)



One month after the release of his last album “Katathesi Psychis” (“An Offering from the Soul”) Nikos Economopoulos, a singer with the most amazing voice in contemporary pop music, gave a big interview to the music site “Tralala.gr”.

Talented young reporter Riana Kourakou’s focus of the interview was mainly on the topic of the songs featured on the CD. With disarming sincerity the singer provided answers to numerous questions, which for the most part were aimed to reveal the inner self of him as a person. In this interesting conversation Nikos comes across as a very serious, dedicated professional and, at the same time, as a good-hearted down-to-earth young man.

As we all know, skilful journalists are often able to lead the person they are interviewing in the direction that they, the reporters, have in mind. But with Nikos Economopoulos this was not possible, as his main priority – his work as an artist – consistently comes out through many of his answers.

For example, when Riana asks him about what he needs to maintain his mental balance, Nikos says:


“ Just because I am a workaholic lately and I love my job above all I want to be healthy and secondly, I want to get along with my work. I want people to love and to appreciate my work, because, honestly, I do it with big love and a big commitment.” On other occasions, when the interviewer is trying to lead him onto the topic of relationships, Nikos emphasises:
“In my life, the only thing I have now is my job! I can not live without it, I simply can not!”

In an attempt to perhaps shine the light on a guy-next-door personality, Riana asks, if Nikos sometimes feels, like all of us, bored with his job. But the singer replies in a clear way, which yet again reminds us - he is a professional in the best meaning of the word:

“No! I always expect the time of the gig all week long. We work Friday, Saturday, Sunday. So, from Monday I am waiting for Friday.”

In his earlier interviews Nikos has already emphasized his love of hard work and here again Nikos puts his work ethic on the list of his personal qualities he likes:

“I am a man of work. I don’t like to be lazy” At the same time Niko is mentioning, that to keep his voice in a good condition he needs to sleep up to 10 hours a day. I would add: no limits of sleep time for you, Nikos, because we need this beautiful over tones, which make your sound unique!

Music and people in the business obviously occupy a big part of Nikos Economopoulos soul, which he is generously offering to the public (the singer has confirmed in the interview, that the title of his album corresponds to what he is doing).

It is with great sadness that Nikos speaks about Michael Jackson’s death:
“I was depressed, as if a very close to me person died. A strange thing, which many people felt, not just me! It was something special. This man was a phenomenon! Hardly will we expect to experience such an artist again!”
At the same time Niko express his happiness regarding his collaboration and friendship with Giannis Parios:
“I think it would be an impossible dream for a new singer like me. It is very important!” (Another singer Nikos would like to work together is Anna Vissi)
In addition to this, Nikos is very grateful to other people who have helped him in his music career, such as Thanasis Papageorgiou and Nikos Manolias. At the same time he points out, that without the love of people in general no work can bring a result and his big love and duty are for his public.
But Riana’s interview also managed to reveal some personal details about the singer which were particularly touching and special. Personally I found it very symbolic, that Nikos loved to play football in his childhood. Probably research might reveal about the positive influence of playing football on voice development. Remember the tenors/footballers: Pavarotti? Carreras?
Regarding his private life Niko is not hiding the fact, that he is dreaming to have a good family in future and shares his thought about an ideal woman for him: .
““I prefer a woman who will be with me because she loves me truly, not because of who I am as a name, because in essence we are all equal and we all live in the same society. I need very simple things, like everyone else.” ”
The interview is a long one and I don’t see a reason to re-write it. But there were words said there I feel like it is necessary say again. These words show perfectly who Nikos Economopoulos really is, and I will finish my review with them:
“The joys, generally in life, whether it is business or personal, are occupying a very small space, regardless of whether you are a singer or not. There is more sorrow there, it’s for sure! For me, however, an incredible moment I live for is when I come up on stage to sing and people applaud me.”
Lucy Vaganova , Auckland, New Zealand

PS My special thanks to Eirini Eousebi and Theo Simeonidis for help with the edinting of this review!

The Nightingale from Patras

Nikos Economopoulos - Νίκος Οικονομόπουλος

It was a lucky catch: one day, while rambling through the YouTube videos and being disappointed with everything, I decided to check out a mix, made of many Greek songs sung by various singers. It was not bad, but still I did not feel any great satisfaction until suddenly the sound of a voice I would not even dream to find emerged. Believe me – I was really happy! And I was two times lucky, because the owner of the video carefully included all the names of the singers featured on the video. So, it turned out, the voice belonged to Nikos Economopoulos (through Google more often it could be found with a different spelling - Oikonomopoulos, because of the direct Romanization of Greek letters.) Well, it was totally new name for me.

I had previously visited Greece several times and already knew some singers and, besides we Russians, in general, have some idea about and appreciate Greek music. I went to YouTube search and in a minute found his portrait: “Wow! Nikos is a handsome blond guy! It is already a good reason to start listening to the song” and with those thoughts I clicked on “This Star” (ΑΥΤΟ ΤΟ ΑΣΤΕΡΙ) video. Again - “Wow!” Then - a few more tracks…So, after “My Eyes” (ΜΑΤΙΑ ΜΟΥ) I became a complete and untreatable fan of Nikos Economopoulos

I was eager to ask the opinions of others and I started to show his songs to some of my friends and students. Reactions were along the lines of: “This voice I could listen to the whole day long” or “I can’t believe to what I am going to say, but this is the best singer at least in Europe!”… “Opa!” – As my Greek friends say, or even - “Eureka!” (Ευρηκα), if we remember Archimedes. Starting from the middle of July 2009 I checked Niko’s videos daily and never was disappointed, with his live recordings being especially impressive. In every video clip I was heard and saw confirmations of what I found in him straightaway: an unusually beautiful voice, a very exact pitch and an outstanding charisma.

Nikos Economopoulos was born and spent his first 17 years of life in Patras, the town in the north of the Peloponnese, dubbed as “The Gates to the West”. Patras has strong historical connections to Italy and France and obtained fame as a city of a distinctive culture and tremendous carnivals, which could compete with those of Venice. Patras’ slightly bohemian life style and big concentration of musicians and artists brought out another name for the town: “Little Paris”. So, even while being involved from the very early years in his family’s fishery business, Nikos was soon influenced by the unique musical atmosphere of his hometown. Here, in Patras, are the roots of his singing style and persona.

Another positive feature of Patras’ culture is that ordinary people, who knew Nikos, were able to recognize in him a big talent. As a result, the owner of a pizzeria, where the hard-working boy was employed, has found some musical professionals to develop his natural gift. This was a beginning of Niko’s career.

As a young and still unknown singer, Nikos was performing around Greece until finally, at the age of 22 he entered and won a TV contest “Dream Show 2,” in December 2006. His perfect interpretation of the hit of one of Greece’s most beloved singers Paschalis Terzis “I Asked my Eyes” (ΡΩΤΗΣΑ ΤΑ ΜΑΤΙΑ ΜΟΥ) was a real triumph. As a result, Nikos was signed with Sony Music (Greece) and in 2007 his first single “My Eyes” and an album “First Love” were released. In 2008 Sony invested into a second album “I Heard” and it became Gold.

At the very beginning of 2010 (3rd of January) the new CD “ΚΑΤΑΘΕΣΗ ΨΥΧΗΣ” (in my free translation - “An Offering from the Soul”) was issued as a promotional release, which was sold together with the weekly newspaper “Sunday Espresso”. The global financial crisis has seriously affected the music industry, which was already in a shaky position long before it – and not only in Greece. So, no wonder that sometimes CDs in Greece may be released primarily for the promotion of an artist and live performances become the main source of a singer’s income. Nikos Economopoulos has been doing live performances for all the years he is in music.

But it is not just money that the performances are bringing to an artist. The precious experience of work with other, already well-known musicians (for Nikos these were Anna Vissi, Nikos Makropoulos and Stamatis Gonidis) and public applause are the most important things in a singer’s life. Nikos is no different. In his interviews the young star always accentuates it, saying that it is not money, but that live performances and the warm reactions of people that make him happy.

The fact that such a huge figure in Greek music as Giannis Parios started helping Nikos can be described as a blessing from the heavens. The moment at which the bigger public started to associate Nikos Economopoulos with Parios occurred during the popular TV programme “Στην Εγεια Μας!” (“To Our Health!” of 17 October 2009. Giannis was a guest on the show and Nikos was honoured to sing a couple of old Parios’ hits. A very successful interpretation of ΛΥΠΗΣΟΥ ΜΕ (Have Pity on Me) by the young singer, attracted to him more attention from a lot of people in Greece and even abroad, including those of 40-50 years old or more.

Following that live TV appearance, further performances together with Parios at the very popular night club “Fever’ made the picture complete: a most respected figure in Greek music scene obviously was pointing out to the world: “Look at him – he is the one!” With great appreciation and respect, Nikos calls Giannis “father” meaning Parios’ role in his artistic life.

So, my very short biographical writings were done just to make it easier to shed some light on the main goal of my essay, in other words - to find out which qualities of Nikos Economopoulos earmark his as a singer with a big future and, maybe, to identify his emerging style.

At this point I can restrain myself no longer from describing the precious instrument given by God to the young Patras native. Let me now concentrate attention on some qualities of the voice belonging to Nikos Economopoulos!

First of all, his sound is very attractive with its tremendous sensuality; just like a voice of an old Italian master’s cello or violin. We, musicians, call this quality an overtonal timbre. Amazing is that this beauty spreads through the whole range of Niko’s voice – from the bottom till the top. Each note he sings is well supported, that’s why the sound is extremely even and reliable as that of a luxurious expensive instrument. Niko’s voice perfectly resonates in his mask (a “carnival mask covered” area in the singer’s face, which has the resonating cameras) and this feature gives us a feeling of easiness while we listen. His vibratos of various kinds are naturally well controlled.
All the registers in his voice appear with the most desirable qualities: the lower is velvety and strong, the middle is clear and noble and the top is dramatically bright. In opera the kind of this singer’s voice would be called tenor “spinto” (combined lyric and dramatic), but the pop style of singing lets Nikos go lower, to the baritone range. Not necessary the highest, but the most versatile voice! Amazing that all these privileges of his voice are always there, even while Nikos is moving on the stage! But he knows perfectly well how to move and not to lose the quality of his vocal performance.

I feel obliged to describe how important is the exactness of his pitch, because this is another secret to the attractiveness of Niko’s singing. I checked dozens of his live videos and every time experienced almost a soccer fan’s excitement, willing him to never to lose pitch. And Nikos was always perfect. This is a real joy for people like me: I start getting sea-sick with the slightest signs of out- of -tune singing. That’s why I feel very insecure listening to a new singer, being scared of developing this unpleasant feeling. With Niko on stage any demanding expert should feel fine and relaxed. He is giving to the public exactly what is supposed to be sung, without being disturbing listener's ears with so-called “neighbour notes”.

As a stage artist Nikos Economopoulos doesn’t need to do much to impress. His exceptionally attractive looks naturally make him the centre of attention without any extra efforts from him.. Imagine, please, blue-eyed dark blond (at least for now!) Apollo, dressed with a smart yet sophisticated and relaxed sense of understatement. And I say all this without any exaggeration, in fact in total seriousness. The inner sense of ease and comfort with himself and the happiness with what he is doing reflect in each gesture or step while Nikos is performing. He is not pretending and is not trying hard to keep the public amused, he knows that his work on stage is impressive enough not to be bothered with over-playing. At the same time being a real Greek artist, Nikos generously involves his public in the performance process and creates an atmosphere of a big party during his concerts.

So, we are smoothly drifting with our observations towards the most desirable by readers and most dangerous for the writer’s part of our essay – we need to catch and nail a capricious butterfly called “style”.

Niko’s repertoire covers a few genres of songs within one big trend in Greek music – laika (specific Greek folk pop music). In trying to categorise his songs into different groups and classes I finally found my self buried under the big mountain of music, performed by not only Nikos Economopoulos but other Greek singers as well! To save myself and readers of this article from the flood of information I took a decision not to compare Nikos to anybody and to avoid topics regarding any system in his repertoire. I will just try to describe the unique features of his style by analyzing some live as well as some recorded performances of a few selected songs.

Let’s take as a first example one of his most popular songs - “This Star” (ΑΥΤΟ ΤΟ ΑΣΤΕΡΙ) from the first album of the singer.

This pop laiko style piece has a very attractive tune, made of down words going passages, which consist of the shorter down words going motives. So, in the melody itself there is an illusion of the sparkling waves, created by a composer Panos Kapiris. Instrumentation has prominent bouzouki lines above the rhythmical section. Niko’s voice in this piece reflects the tune shape by creating the effect of inner sparkles within, at the same time echoing bouzouki sound. How is it possible? The secret is that in the choruses of this song our singer adds tiny vibratos to some notes in an excellent proportion, which lets his sound to be generally smooth while still having some flashes of a “fire” inside.

As a contrasting sample to the previous one piece we can take, let’s say, “ΑΚΟΥΣΑ”.
The title song from the second CD, “ΑΚΟΥΣΑ” (I Heard) is written jointly by Alexandros Chrisovergis and Spiros Giatras in the zeimbekiko (Greek man’s dance) genre. One of the features of a zeimbekiko is an alternation of shorter and longer phrases in the vocal line, which creates an additional rhythmical spring. Niko’s voice demonstrates some metal in this song, but at the same time retains an overtonal timbre and above-mentioned sparkles. He doesn’t let his long notes be ornamented and does not add any extra vibratos to them, but uses those arabesques for the shorter motives. The result is that the song brings out a lot of energy as well as an overwhelming beauty of the tone of his voice.

A lyrical ballad “It’s my fault” (ΦΤΑΩ) has a very provocative tune, full of dangerously sentimental turns in it. I think, what Nikos is doing with this song shows a great taste in his performance, which is a very rare feature for a young singer. By singing with the best vocal quality, Nikos doesn’t use any speech-like or sobbing effects, because the song itself has a lot of drama inside and it doesn’t need any extra effects to be added. As a result we have a perfect interpretation of what was written by the composer, an amazing fusion of both technique and emotion, the real musical masterpiece.

In the song “And Don’t Come Back” (ΚΑΙ ΜΗ ΓΥΡΙΖΕΙΣ) - the last one from the same album – I would like to turn the listener’s attention to the sound of the longer notes Nikos is creating. Long lasting, very even and strongly supported, those notes in his voice are challenging the clarinet solos in the orchestra with their rich cello/violin like nature.

Another remarkable thing in Niko’s song interpretation is his very clear articulation, which does not affect the vocal cantilena at all. The great Enrico Caruso was letting beginners to sometimes sacrifice articulation in order to achieve the good sound as a priority. In Nikos Economopoulos' case everything works perfectly. The song “I Would Like to Be” (ΘΕΛΩ ΝΑ 'ΜΑΙ from the third album) has a big impact on the listeners with its words by the gifted poet Vangelis Karatzanos. The singer’s voice drifts here along with the tune, imperceptibly transferring from the speech-like beginnings of the verses to the cantilena choruses, always giving the priority to the poetry. His precise work with each word is unfolding a deeper meaning of this simple-at-first-sight song.

While speaking of Niko’s unique cantilena, I have to mention this in the context of his performance of “The Absolute” (ΑΠΟΛΥΤΟ). This great piece composed by Alexandros Chrisovergis and Spiros Giatras should soon become recognized as one of the world’s famous love songs. And at the same time Nikos should be named as one of its creators, because besides the refined lyrical poetry and a beautifully-shaped tune, the charms of his voice and his interpretation transform this song into a big event in the contemporary pop music. Here again, as in the previous example, the singer combines his ability to work with low register speech-like motives and huge breath-taking cantilena waves. For the first ones he uses his tiny ornaments, which sound extremely sensual in the low range; for his big breath-demanding waves Nikos just gives what he has in his voice – a million golden sparkles for each note, this is the way his overtones work, bringing out the effect of a shimmering light within the sound.

The last sample I will take is from the Nikos Economopoulos and Christos Papadopoulos collaboration. The song “On the Roads where you wander” (ΣΤΟΥΣ ΔΡΟΜΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΓΥΡΝΑΣ) has not yet been included in an album, but became popular because of the Cyprus TV soap opera “Dangerous Zone”. Here, same as in another Papadopuolos song “One Soul Said to Me” (ΜΟΥ 'ΠΕ ΜΙΑ ΨΥΧΗ) Nikos sings permanently on the border of his middle and high range and it is a very hard technical task for any singer. In this range Niko’s voice sounds in its most subtle way, gently and smoothly, exactly as oriental violin which Papadopoulos likes to include in his instrumentation. No extra vibrato is used here, but just an exquisite performance of the existing in-the-tune ornaments.

Now, I guess, it is a time to stop with my descriptions and to look on what we can cast as original features of Nikos Economopoulos’ style. It doesn’t seem very hard to conclude that any genre of laika songs he is working with (Nikos is positioning himself clearly in his interviews as a laika singer) has a quality which is always there: the perfect sound of the voice is the main priority of everything he is doing. And this sound is very emotionally coloured, exactly tuned, extremely well supported and it works well together with the articulation of the words. A beautiful voice, when it's positioned above everything else, in classical music has a title “bel canto”. Nikos Economopoulos has got a talent big enough to make it possible for him to be judged as equal to the famous opera stars and so I am giving my verdict by calling his style “bel canto laikos”. This combination of Greek and Italian words in the phrase brings me back to Niko’s biography and I see in him a new “Gates to the West” as his native Patras has always been. I strongly believe that Nikos Economopoulos is a singer born to make Greek music more and more popular around the world!


List of the songs and authors, mentioned in the article:


ΑΚΟΥΣΑ : Αλέξανδρος Χρυσοβέργης – Σπύρος Γιατράς
ΑΠΟΛΥΤΟ : Αλέξανδρος Χρυσοβέργης – Σπύρος Γιατράς
ΑΥΤΟ ΤΟ ΑΣΤΕΡΙ : Πάνος Καπίρης – Αγγελος Παλαιολόγου
ΘΕΛΩ ΝΑ 'ΜΑΙ : Δημήτρης Αναστασόπουλος – Χρήστος Παπαδόπουλος –
Βαγγέλης Καρατζάνος
ΚΑΙ ΜΗ ΓΥΡΙΖΕΙΣ : Νίκος Παπαδόπουλος - Νίκος Βαξaβανέλης
ΜΑΤΙΑ ΜΟΥ : Παναγιώτης Μπρακούλιας- Νίκος Βαξαβανέλης
ΜΟΥ 'ΠΕ ΜΙΑ ΨΥΧΗ : Χρήστος Παπαδόπουλος - Ελένη Γιαννατσούλια
ΛΥΠΗΣΟΥ ΜΕ : Γιάννης Πάριος- Πυθαγόρας
ΡΩΤHΣΑ ΤΑ ΜΑΤΙΑ ΜΟΥ : Γιάννης Κάραλης
ΣΤΟΥΣ ΔΡΟΜΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΓΥΡΝΑΣ : Χρήστος Παπαδόπουλος–
Χριστάλλα Κουλέρμο

Lucy Vaganova B(Music) Hons Auckland (NZ)
Diploma Novosibirsk Conservatoire (Russia)


I am very grateful for support of my friends Eirini Renata Eousebi(Greece) for providing me with info, videos and CDs and checking my Greek, Theo Simeonidis (New Zealand) for helping with translations and editing, Hristina Andreeva (Bulgaria) for keeping me updated with photos. Thank you, Patra residents (especially Gwgw and Sotiris) for bringing to New Zealand an atmosphere of your home town!