Sotiria Bellou
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2015) |
Sotiria Bellou | |
---|---|
Euboia), Greece | |
Origin | Greece |
Died | August 27, 1997 Metaxa Hospital, Athens | (aged 76)
Genres | Rebetiko |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1941–1994 |
Sotiria Bellou (Greek: Σωτηρία Μπέλλου) (August 22, 1921 – August 27, 1997) was a Greek singer and performer of the rebetiko style of music.[1] She was one of the most famous rebetisa[2] of all, mentioned in many music guides, and a contributor to the 1984 British Documentary entitled Music of the Outsiders. On March 14, 2010, Alpha TV ranked Bellou the 22nd top-certified female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960).[3]
Early years
Bellou was born in Halia (now called Drosia, part of the town of
Career
In 1940, she moved to
In December 1948, after a beating by a group of right-wingers (see Activism below), she moved from the "Tzimis o Hontros" club to the "Panagaki" where she worked with Markos Vamvakaris.
She sang in the best
Works
During her career from 1941 to 1976 she collaborated with the best composers of rebetiko. Some of her greatest hits were:
- Synefiasmeni Kyriakh (Συννεφιασμένη Κυριακή) (Cloudy Sunday) by Vassilis Tsitsanis
- Kavourakia (Καβουράκια) by Vassilis Tsitsanis
- Otan pineis stihn taverna (Όταν πίνεις στην ταβέρνα) by Vassilis Tsitsanis
- Kane ligaki ypomoni (Κάνε λιγάκι υπομονή) by Vassilis Tsitsanis
- Pos tha perasei i vradia (Πώς θα περάσει η βραδιά) by Yannis Papaioannou
- Kane kourayio kardia mou (Κάνε κουράγιο καρδιά μου) by Yannis Papaioannou
- Anoixe, anoixe (Άνοιξε, άνοιξε) by Yannis Papaioannou
- O naftis (Ο ναύτης) by Giorgos Mitsakis
- To svisto fanari (Το σβηστό φανάρι) by Mitsakis
- Eipa na sviso ta palia (Είπα να σβήσω τα παλιά) by Apostolos Kaldaras
- Laiko Tsigaro (Λαϊκό τσιγάρο) by Apostolos Kaldaras
Activism
Bellou was also a political activist who joined the
Members of extreme right groups never forgave her political stance and her participation in the
Personal life
In 1938, at the age of 17 she met her future husband Vangelis Trimouras, a bus conductor. Her father arranged her marriage despite her objections because he thought that her husband could tame her. Their marriage lasted for only six months as he reportedly abused her, even causing her a miscarriage. During one of their fights, she reacted by throwing vitriol, a corrosive acid, in his face. She was sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment. She spent three months in prison at Chalkida before the trial and one month at the Averof prison in Athens. She appealed and her sentence was reduced to six months. After paying for bail, she returned to her home town where she was treated with hostility and was often beaten by her relatives for the embarrassment that she supposedly brought to her family.
In her personal life, she had two big weaknesses: gambling and alcohol, which eventually led her to poverty and caused her mental problems. She was treated in a psychiatric clinic on at least one occasion. Sotiria was openly a lesbian in a time when this was practically unheard of.[6]
Illness and death
Although she was particularly admired by artists, critics, and the public, she was alone and ignored towards the end of her life. Only a handful of people supported her in the last stages of her year-long struggle with throat cancer with which she was diagnosed in 1993. She died in Athens on August 27, 1997, and she was buried according to her request in the First Cemetery of Athens next to Vassilis Tsitsanis.
Legacy
Her talent has attracted many celebrities and she had many famous fans. Among them was the famous Greek painter Yannis Tsarouchis who would burst into tears each time he listened to her singing. Paradoxically, the government never honoured her during her lifetime, perhaps due to her controversial personality. Only after her death was she regarded significantly.
Her biography was published in 1998 under the title "Sotiria Bellou – Pote dortia pote exares".[4] The author of the biography also wrote a theatrical play by the title "Sotiria me lene", a production sponsored in 2008 by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) and starring Lida Protopsalti.[7]
Notes and references
- ^ Kotarides Nikos, Ρεμπέτες και ρεμπέτικο τραγούδι. Athens, Plethron, 1996
- ^ A female singer of rebetiko is called in Greek ρεμπέτισσα (rebetisa), plural ρεμπέτισσες (rebetises).
- ^ Chart Show: Your Countdown. Alpha TV. Airdate: March 14, 2010
- ^ ISBN 978-960-236-901-2(Biography of Sotiria Bellou, in Greek.)
- ^ "Για τη ... Σωτηρία της μνήμης της". Rizospastis. August 27, 2000.
- ISBN 0-304-33959-8
- ^ "Πρόβλημα λάθους συνδέσμου (404) — ΣΚΑΪ (www.skai.gr)". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
External links
- Biography of Sotiria Bellou (in Greek)
- Official Biography from Music Heaven Recording Company (in Greek)
- Sotiria Bellou performance of Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki (Cloudy Sunday) on YouTube
- Mueller, Diane, Sotiria Bellou, retrieved March 8, 2010
- http://www.ellines.com/en/specials/myths/14553-h-teleutaia-rempetissa/ Archived September 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine The last of the Rebetiko singers – Ellines.com