SALLY MORRIS: THE GREAT NANA MOUSKOURI
You might remember the frequent television ads for her music - maybe you found it irresistible and bought her albums. Nana Mouskouri has a unique and lovely voice and sings with great passion. You probably remember her for her atypical appearance, her sleek straight dark hair and her signature glasses.
Born in 1934 (she’s now 85), Mouskouri’s father was a film projectionist at the local movie theater in her small town. She mentions this on one of her album notes - how she internalized the music from the classic movies. When she was young the family moved to Athens, where she and her sister began taking singing lessons. Finances allowed only one to continue and her parents asked the advice of the teacher. “Jenny is the more gifted musically, but Nana has the greater need to sing,” was the answer. Nana continued. She has said that medical tests revealed that she has only one working vocal cord, which makes her singing a mystery, but perhaps explains her unique and beautiful sound.
She discovered jazz and began singing (“off-radar” to her school) at local clubs. When the school discovered that she was dallying with jazz they cut her performance from the recital she was to participate in. She left school at that point and pursued her love of jazz and more popular and traditional music.
Her performance in the 1963 Eurovision contest led to a meeting with Michel Legrand and the rest is history. Mouskouri has recorded over 200 albums in over 12 languages. I have a couple of them - treasured cds. Five years ago she toured, coming out of semi-retirement. Still beautiful.
I thought today might be a good time for some soul-refreshingly beautiful music. You can’t do a lot better than Nana Mouskouri.
“Only Love” - 1982 “Top of the Pops”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJY8E-c8dJE
“Three Bells” - 1974: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyZjBM7O6SU
“The Power of Love” - 1997: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7IUjgLGRjM
“Se Que Volveras” (with Julio Iglesias) - 1996: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJ-Oe3KqU8
“Plaisir d’Amour”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn_PQppxdKo
“White Rose of Athens” - 1984: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjAiIUP9YK4
Greek Medley (with some pretty good Greek dancing) - 1983: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSwKYYucyTI
“Over and Over” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3cRjY6l4T4
Hope you enjoy the music!
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