Kougioumtzis & Dalaras - Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou video free download

Stavros Kougioumtzis (1932-2005), from Thessalonica, one of the greatest greek composers of all times, composed this song "Mi mou thimonis matia mou" (Don't be angry with me, dear) in the 60s.

Thessalonica was his great love and Stavros walked a lot with his frainds, he knew every corner there. In the afternoons, Stavros used to go for a walk down the coast, meet his fraind and talk, so some day going usually on foot he passed by a friend who had a record shop. He told a Stavros, "I want you to listen a new song". It was the song "Ime aitos horis ftera" (I'm an eagle without wings) with music by Manos Hadjidakis, lyricks by Efthia Papagiannopoulou, singed by Grigoris Bithikotsis in 1963. He was so excited by the structure and tension of the song, that he felt lika doing something about it. Luckily, the friend he was to meet came half an hour late, so his own excitment and his friend's delay, were the reasons that both, the music and the lyrics was written in just a half an hour, during a walk along the coast.

He first recorded the choral song 1964 and the song was initially titled "Apoheretismos" (Farewell). Second recording of the song was at 1965. Alekos Patsifas had made the music comapny "Lyra". He believed in Stavros, so he signed him to Lyra. They decided that those choral songs should also be sung solo. They began with "Mi mou thimonis matia mou". The title was selected by Patsifas and Giannis Poulopoulos was the singer. It did became the success at the time, as a song of "Neo Kyma" (New wave) music style. But since the original was too big for a 45 RPM record, he had to speed it up a little. Also the bouzoukis were electric ones.

"I recall when, in 1968 the president of "Minos" music company M.Matsas called me about the new singer he would send me, an amezing singer. When i opened the door, I was met with surprise. An 18, 19 years old kid, shy, skinny, he didn't look like a singer to me, at least not a singer like the one I had created in my imagination through Matsas description. When we went to the piano, I was met with a second surprise, that young kid had a very mature voice, a sesnitivity, it was like he had be singing since the very first years of his life. That young singer was Giorgios Dalaras." - Stavros Kougioumtzis

Stavros finally did what he wanted in 1974, when he included the song "Mi mou thimonis matia mou" in the LP "Sta psila ta parathria" (At the high windows), there he had the chance to strech the song, and also open it with amazing bouzuki improvisation by Hristos Nikolopoulos. In this form the song was then loved by everyone.

An English translation of the song (music and lyrics by Stavros Kougioumtzis):

Don't be angry with me, dear, for leaving abroad.

I'll become a bird and come back to you.

Open your window, my blonde basil,

and wish me goodnight with a sweet smile on your face.

Don't be angry with me, dear, now that I'll go away from you.

Come out for a moment to see you and tell you goodbye.

Open your window, my blonde basil,

and wish me goodnight with a sweet smile on your face.