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How to find the words to start talking about her Nana Moushuri; It’s like trying to describe the wind that starts from the heart of her songs, the sea that reflects the lyrics, the light that flows from her music.
Nana is not just an artist, she is a phenomenon – and phenomena are felt, not easily described. Even today, at the age of 90, her voice, full of wisdom and passion, continues to give us moments that touch us deeply, occasions to feel life itself.
The complexity of her form is reflected in her songs, emphasizing the feeling and emotion they evoke.
She started in the world of music
Nana Mouschouri’s career develops like a melody full of twists and turns and unexpected high points, from her first notes at the Athens Conservatory to the international scene she received. It was in 1950 that he entered the High School, to study classical music and lyrical singing. Fate, however, had other plans for her. In 1957, her young voice found an outlet not only in the strict rules of music education, but also in the songs she performed in a boîte, which led to her expulsion from the High School.
1958 comes as a wind of change. When Giorgos Oikonomidis hears her voice, he leads her to Manos Hadjidakis, and at that moment there is a deep artistic relationship. Hadjidakis was not only a mentor, he was the key that paved the way to glory.
She admitted in an interview with Kathimerini that she was always courageous and was not afraid of what people would say:
“I was brave and bold. You know, I am a child of the war and the Occupation. When you are suddenly a child in a shelter, when you hear bombs exploding near you, when you see people losing their lives unjustly, and you are hungry, courage develops. This is the courage I am telling you. These difficulties taught me something important: today you are there, tomorrow you are not.”
At the 1st Greek Song Festival in 1959, Mouschouri won the hearts of the listeners with “Kapu ista i aggi mou” and “I know a star”, taking the first two prizes. In 1960, he continues unbeaten with “Kyparissaki” and “Timoria”, which are tied for first place. Songs like “Paper moon” and “Himittos” are part of his identity.
The great recognition
However, 1960 was also the year he spread his wings beyond the borders of Greece. In Barcelona, the song “Wake up my love” gives her the first international distinction, describing her journey around the world. Not long after, “Weisse Rosen aus Athen”, the German version of “As You Whistle Three Times”, made her an icon in Germany, selling more than a million and a half copies. The success of this song turned “Weisse Rosen aus Athen” into a world tune.
In 1962, his fame reached the United States. The legendary Quincy Jones, enchanted by her voice, invites her to record her first American album, “The girl from Greece sings”. England soon followed with the song “My Coloring Book”. In 1963 she settled permanently in Paris and released “Mes plus belles chansons Grecques”, a disc that won her the “Charles Cross” prize of the French Academy of Music. Thus, Nana’s voice becomes a universal wind that travels from the shores of Greece to the heart of the whole world.
Where did she get her strength from?
Nana Mouschouri always said that her motivation was the love of her parents:
“The way I moved in life was completely in line with what we call morality and freedom. These two words have always guided me. This is what my parents taught me, despite their difficulties. My father had a passion for cards, I grew up very poor, we changed houses because we couldn’t pay the rent. We had difficulties, but you learn life from mistakes, not from happiness.”
Not the first “goodbye” Nana Mouschouri says
Nana Mouschouri, despite the many times she said goodbye to her audience to return again, this time seems to be putting a final stop to a career that has been a sign of the world of world music. With a legacy of around 1,500 songs in 15 languages, on 450 records – 230 of which have gone gold and platinum – Nana leaves behind an enviable body of work.
Her most recent musical work came just last year, with the double disc ‘Nana Mouskouri Radio Days’, which contained 24 previously unreleased recordings from the 50’s and 60’s. These recordings made by the National Radio Foundation, together with the Contemporary Music Orchestra, are a journey back to the beginning, a nostalgic return to the roots of marching music. Therefore, her work is completed with the same elegance and eternal charm that characterized her from the first moment.
In 1993, Nana Mouschouri was not only satisfied with her musical career, but also took on social roles of international importance. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she lent her voice and strength to support children’s rights around the world. From 1994 to 1999, he was also on the political scene, serving as a Member of the European Parliament with the New Democracy party, giving the same dedication he had to music as he did to society.
Her contribution to French culture and arts was recognized with honorary titles from the French state: Knight of Letters and Arts in 1986, Knight in 1997, Official in 2007 and finally Brigadier General of the National Order of the Legion of Honor in 2019.
Beyond the honors, Moushouri also showed his social sensitivity at a difficult time for the country. In March 2010, she sent a letter to the then finance minister, George Papakonstantinou, asking her to give up her pension as a former MEP, expressing her desire to help Greece overcome the financial crisis . With this act, she proves that her love for her country is not only limited to music, but also extends to her generosity in critical moments.