Nana Mouskouri was born on the Greek island of Crete and began her career in the 1960s with the song “White roses from Athens“, which made her famous in Germany as well. Although the woman, who was born in 1934, had a traumatic experience during the German occupation of Greece in the Second World War, she later found herself. deep connection with Germany.
A visit to Berlin in 1961 was very formative for her Evidence of the construction of the wall. As she left her recording studio on Potsdamer Platz, she saw people throwing handkerchiefs from the other side. Later she discovered the wall from the other side. In the 80s, concerts brought Nana Mouskouri to the GDR, where she sang, among other things, “The Song of Freedom”. She described the fall of the Berlin Wall a few years later as one of the most beautiful experiences of her life.
These experiences shaped the singer and set her on fire a lifelong commitment to peace and understandingincluding as a member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1999 and to this day as a special ambassador for children’s rights for Unicef.
Her faith in humanity was always evident in her music. The new recording “Poios échei dákrya” (“Who has tears?”) on her birthday album addresses and reflects current world events. she expresses her belief that music can build a bridge between people and provide hope in difficult times.
Young people need confidence in the future. She should also emphasize this with music. Music reaches people faster than ever before today. Today, when you share positive things, they instantly spread around the world. Music really has power.
Nana Mouskouri
die Rheinpfalz
End of a long career
In recent years things have been getting quieter around Nana Mouskouri – because of her age. In an interview with “Der Spiegel”, the singer announced looking to end her career in 2024.
I’ll do a few more shows and then that’s it I think I’ve done enough.
Nana Mouskouri
Spiegel
You couldn’t pretend”as if I were a young woman“, said the artist in “Spiegel”.”I have no right to go on stage and sing badly, even if the audience is applauding me for it.”
His 90th birthday is more than a personal milestone: It is said to be her last as an active musician. Although she wants to make a few more appearances, there will be no more after the album she is giving her fans as a special anniversary.
The album “Happy Birthday Nana” contains 21 songs, including her favorite and most famous German songs such as “Good morning Sunshine“,”Johnny Drum“and of course”White roses from Athens“. Next to “Poios eschei dákrya” still two more new songs on the record she recorded with the Royal Symphonic Orchestra London.
The music was an accomplice, she said in one of her previous interviews. On stage she learned to express herself through singing. Today she can say that she is one of the most successful singers of all time, having sold over 300 million records.