Nikos Economopoulos in the flow of musical life
(A TV “confession” before the winter concert season).
In a recent MAD TV show "OK", which was an interview in conjunction with certain prankish confession, Nikos Economopoulos talked frankly with host Themis Georgantas and to all the TV audience, expressing his views on recent events in his career and musical life in general, what is happening and how he would see it progress in the future.
Themis Georgantas has the rare tact and ability to win over the guests on his program, to encourage them to be sincere and to expose to the public most clearly, who they are and what they think. In the case of Nikos Economopoulos, viewers could see yet again that this extraordinarily talented singer has a very sharp mind and a rare modesty.
Nikos again reaffirmed his commitment to the laika style of music and expressed his concern that not enough of this music is featured on radio and television.
At the same time, Nikos emphasised that he also likes many other musical styles and Themis did not fail to take advantage by immediately asking which musical artists of those “other’ styles Nikos would name as the most successful over the past decade. Nikos’ answer was not unexpected, as he named Sakis Rouvas, Michalis Hatzigiannis and Despina Vandi.
Any interview of an artist provides a good chance for the artist to promote themselves. Nikos Economopoulos is obviously not one of those who cling to the slightest opportunity to tell the world about their achievements. Despite a good chance, the artist never recollected or mentioned his recent stunning triumph in Cyprus - although it might have been tempting to talk about the raging crowd that surged onto the stage of "Monte Caputo" (Lemesos) in a sincere desire to be close to the singer and to clutch him in their passionate embrace.
When Nikos was asked whether would prefer to share a stage with Despina Vandi or to be performing in a programme by Anna Vissi and Sakis Rouvas, he chose the first option, explaining that he would not like to be the third artist on the stage. This answer was probably the only possible answer to such a question, as he would chose the option of being second rather than third. As an artist, he has the talent and experience to be able to honestly say it. Here we might also admit that the reality of musical life goes further than fantasy as we now know that Nikos will be the first in collaboration with Nino and Ioakeim Fokas.
While answering in a relaxed manner any questions regarding the music business or television, Nikos responded without a hint of irritation to sensitive issues relating to his personal live, leaving, however this area shrouded in thick fog.
During the theatrical confession Nikos replied to the question "Where do you want to be now?” quite unexpectedly: "In a strip club." In doing so he revealed his feelings during this public mental undressing of himself – his desire to swap roles, his preference to be a spectator not a participant of such a psychological experiment, albeit not very serious.
Talking about the gloomy predictions across the country which is in the midst of an economic crisis, Nikos noted that he cannot help but worry about the future, but that, at the same time, he wants to be an optimist on this issue and relies on God.
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” – this quote goes well with what happened to Nikos’ scheduled winter season performances with Giannis Parios in “Fever”. It took only half a month after Nikos announced details of his coming season on both TV and radio shows during Greek music week, (7th & 8th October) that the singer’s plans changed - as they say: “due to the new circumstances”. Is this change for good or bad? This question was and still is hanging in the air.
But, as ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitis said : “You can’t step twice into the same river”. The fact that Nikos Economopoulos sings this season not with the prominent Giannis Parios but with well known young pop-rock singer Nino and the promising Ioakeim Fokas is a big challenge and a good sign of the progress and development in Nikos’ career.
Being the biggest and hugely popular young star in Greek music, Nikos hardly would make the correct step by appearing for the second time with the “father-figure” of Parios, as he did last winter season. The drawn-out collaboration on the stage of a very young man and a veteran luminary of Greek song would have concealed the danger of rooting in Nikos the sense of discipleship, and, at the same time, skipping over an important period of the young singer's boldness. The new alignment of forces on the Greek stage will enable this extremely talented singer to prove himself as an idol of youth and to enrich his repertoire with the songs in the rhythms of fashion.
On his work at the moment, Nikos talked with noticeable relief: his new album is in the process of being recorded and it is expected to be ready close to Christmas. The singer lifted the veil of secrecy by revealing that many of the songs on this occasion will be of a more contemporary style than previously, and traditional laika and zembekiko tracks are combined in this CD with rock compositions and other new trends.
One of the songs, the first single of the album Ksimeronei (Kalimera) is already on air now and has gained big approval, especially among the younger audience.
So, as the seal of confession has been broken and all of us are getting to know Nikos Economopoulos’ hopes and wishes for the future - along with his thoughts about the past - the only thing we have to say now is to let him successfully enter the new winter season and to keep on being the biggest young musical sensation in the contemporary Greek music scene.
Performances of Nikos Economopoulos , Nino and Ioakeim Fokas will begin on 12th November, 2010, on the stage of the night music hall venue “Fix” every Friday and Saturday.
Guido d'Arezzo
Edited by Theo Simeonidis
Many thanks to Eirini Eusebi for providing us with a full text of an interview
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