Nana Mouskouri

[comet]

Just spent a while looking for the Nana Mouskouri thread.

There wasn't one until now !

Her name has popped up in many posts on this forum, her career and voice have been compared to Hayley's at times.
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A little Quote from Wikipedia

Record sales

Universal Music, currently Nana's label and also the owner of Nana's past label, PolyGram, claims that Nana has sold more than 230 million discs worldwide, recording about 1,500 songs in 15 languages on 450 albums. She has more than 230 gold and platinum albums worldwide. Other sources estimate her record sales to be in excess of 300 million.
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I have been a huge fan of Nana's voice since I was a teenager and got her 1974 album Passport in a batch of "seconds" on cassette that started in the middle of a song on both sides and cut off mid song on both sides, The transparent leader tape was somewhere in the middle. This was my first introduction to this wonderful singer who has been very dear to me ever since. A woman of both passion for music and compassion for other people.Mouskouri was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in October 1993.

All I knew about her life came from sleeve notes with albums, very little really.

But I am currently reading Nana Mouskouri - Memoirs and I am gob smacked by her early life and the difficulties she had encountered and overcome. her music career is in many ways similar to the path Hayley has taken, music for films, songs in foreign languages learned phonetically, never quite settling in just one genre of music.

On July 24, 2008, Mouskouri gave her final stage performance at the ancient Herodes Atticus theatre, in Athens, Greece, before a packed stadium.

[comet]

I am currently reading Nana Mouskouri - Memoirs Page 258 / 259

About July or August 1974 Nana sang in Christchurch NZ.. She says :

"I had taken care to learn a Maori song which speaks for that people's soul, much as "Un Canadien errant" did for the Quebecois.
I could think of no better way of returning some of the affection lavished on me by the people who came to hear me.
And it was a unique chance of creating a shared enjoyment, both for them and for me,
for the whole audience sang along with me from the first notes."

The title of the Maori song is not given in Nana's book,
Do any of you folks in NZ remember this concert ?

A request also came in by telegram during the concert for some scientists doing research at the South Pole who were listening to the concert "Live" on radio and especially for them Nana sang Plaisir d'amour , Gounod's Ave Maria and Four and Twenty Hours.
Nana read the message out loud and I quote the book,

"The audience clapped it's head off, "

[scoobedoo]

Do any of you folks in NZ remember this concert ?

Hi Comet,yes I do remember that concert, I took a coach load from Ashburton where I used to live (for 31 years) I used to work for the local coach & bus company there. As I remember it it was a sell out show,very well received by all who attended. Four and Twenty hours was being played regularly on just about all radio stations at that time.Christchurch had not long before had just hosted a very successful 10th Commonwealth Games and also the beginning of colour broadcast TV. Unfortunately Comet,I will have to dig up the program that I am sure I have and see if the song you mention is in there. I can't remember the song myself, but that doesn't mean she didn't sing it. All the numbers she sang that night were awesome. no doubt about it. I will have a look for the program and let you know,

cheers,

Rodders

[comet]

Thanks Rodders,
I can then make a note in my book of the Maori song she sang,

she probably learned the song phonetically and does not remember the proper English or Maori title....

Try to remember..........and if you remember... follow..........

[chungchungxavier]

To me , Nana is the Queen of Easy Listening .

[comet]

Nana Mouskouri describes her farewell concert in Christchurch New Zealand :

around October / November 2006.
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Page 372 of Nana Mouskouri - Memoirs
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That night in Christchurch I responded to as many encores as I could,
It was obvious that the audience was in a mood of extraordinary fervor.
The spectators had been on their feet since the very first encore and
there was such an intense feeling in the air that I was choking back a sob.
But I had to make an end, I had to say goodbye and the sign that I would
not be back was that little white rose which I had plucked from the microphone
at the very end, after singing "My Way" and tossed into the audience.

When I threw them that flower the auditorium was almost in
darkness. The musicians had left the stage and I was alone, tracked
by just one spotlight. But the audience was still on its feet, Still
cheering. To avoid turning my back on them, I retreated from
the stage walking backward, waving and feeling the tears begin to
flow.

I was just backing into the wings when the applause abruptly died.
"That's very strange" , I thought, " that's never happened before."
And I stopped , half hidden by the curtain.
Then I heard a kind of murmur rising from the auditorium. My God,
what could that be ? I listened, the murmur rose, grew louder,
and only then did I realise that the audience was singing. But with
one voice, as if a message had been passed around.
"They're singing for me", I said to myself, " They're singing for me ! "
And suddenly, the feelings that swept over me were so intense
that I went back onstage.

It was something I had never dreamed of in fifty years of singing :
Several thousand spectators on their feet, singing for a performer
standing alone and weeping on the stage. Because of course I was
absolutely incapable of holding back my tears.
And this is what they sang :

Now is the Hour
When we must say goodbye
Soon you'll be sailing, far across the sea.
When you return
You'll find me waiting here
While you're away, oh please remember me.

And I cried and I cried...
Farewell, and, Thank you.
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Page 372 / 373 of Nana Mouskouri - Memoirs
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This must have been a very moving concert.,
I hope some of our New Zealand members were at this concert and have something to add to this, a personal point of view perhaps ?

A link to the song and it's history and Maori lyrics is here :


www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/sound/now-is-the-hour

Do follow the link and click the PLAY button for a beautiful rendition of the song.

[gra7890]

Its Nana Muskouri night on TV BBC 4
9.00 pm to 10.pm Profile of Greek singer Nana Mouskouri, known as the White Rose of Athens and one of the best-selling female artists of all time. The documentary features a revealing interview with Nana herself, rare archive footage and interviews with family and friends including Harry Belafonte, Julio Iglesias and Charles Aznavour. There is also exclusive footage from her July 2008 farewell concert in Athens which, following a four-year long world tour, marked her retirement from performing
10.00 pm to 11pm A vintage collection of Nana Mouskouri's performances from the BBC archive, including her entry in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest and musical collaborations with Michel Legrand, Charles Aznavour and Cliff Richard.
11.00 pm to 11.45 pm From 1976, an edition of Greek singer Nana Mouskouri's music show with guests Demis Roussos, The King's Singers and James Galway. Songs include Time in a Bottle, I'm Coming Home, The Other Side of Me and Bridge over Troubled Water.

( Info from UK TV guide.)

Graham

[scoobedoo]

Hi Graham, WOW that looks like a brilliant nights viewing.I doubt as to whether or not we will see that on TV here, I will have to keep an eye out for it.

Hi Comet, well I found the program I mentioned i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif BUT wouldn't you know it, not a track or song listing anywhere in the program
It looks to me as though they were all bulk printed and were available at each venue of Nana's tour at that time.Maybe the songs selected for each performance may not have been known until the night of the concert perhaps during the afternoon So, unfortunately were no further ahead re the Maori song that she sang. My mum must have cut out some newspaper clippings of the reviews as these were stapled to the program. No mention there either However leave it with me and I will see what I can find out.

Check this out, do you notice anything in this photo song listing? Bear in mind that this program was printed back in 1974. This photo is on the back cover. A Certain young lady we all love and admire has had some success with this song it just shows how old this song is:-



cheers,

Rodders

[roger]

Hi Graham, Rodders, Paul and anyone else who is looking at this thread.

I remember seeing many of Nana Mouskouri’s programmes in the 60s although it wasn’t exactly out of choice. Back in those days, we only had two channels and it was a marginally better prospect that Coronation Street so I regularly tuned in. Despite my limited enthusiasm, every week without exception, I found myself really enjoying it. Nevertheless, seven days later, it was always the same. Not keen - may as well try it anyway – loved it.

When her final series ended, it was quite rare to see her on British television but, on those few occasions that she made an appearance, it was always the same. My interest in seeing her was low but I watched anyway and always liked it. I have never quite understood that.

And so to tonight when Graham posted to say that three programmes would be screened. I wasn’t enthralled at the prospect of watching them but the forum is quiet, there was nothing else on that appealed and so I decided to give it a try. Within minutes, I found myself totally absorbed. The first programme briefly told the story of her life (the early days of which had been far from easy). I also learned that she is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. During the evening, I found myself admiring her more and more as a very distinctive and iconic singer and also respecting her greatly as a person. It was interesting to hear her sing ‘Bachianas Brasilieras No5’ with a very young John Williams on guitar!

Having retired from the music business, she became a Member of the European Parliament but, at the age of 69, she realised that she would always regret it if she didn’t do one more tour to thank her fans. Incidentally, she has sold in excess of 350,000 albums worldwide during her career. I doubt there are many who could equal that. I was aware that she was appearing at the Albert Hall last year during that farewell tour but I wasn’t keen on the idea and so I didn’t go. I wish I had.

Throughout the evening, something else has become clear. Over the past five or ten years, many singers with a classical background have performed and recorded classical material in a slightly contemporary style, leaning towards either folk, jazz or pop. It is assumed that, between them, they invented this thing called crossover. Oh no, they didn’t. Nana Mouskouri was singing crossover fifty years ago.

Thank you Graham, that was the best night’s television I have seen in years.

Roger

[milewalker]

Hi Roger,

Actually, Nana didnt invent it either. The niche has always been there - what has changed recently is that we gave it a name. There were pop songs like Elvis' Its Now or Never. Mario Lanza was a pretty big star in the US.....before that time were several people like Jeanette MacDonald making movies primarily because the pay was better in most cases there than in opera.

One obvious consideration plays into the perception that the modern singers are more unique - very simply, a great deal more time has passed between the modern singers and the bulk of the material they sing. Adelina Patti, for example was singing contemporary music to a much larger degree than the others do. (Most music is pop music at the time it is written) If Mouskouri performed a song which was written 30 years earlier, it follows that the same song done by Hayley tody would be 80 years old, and quite likely perceived to be more obscure for that reason alone.

Jon.

[grant]

Hi Roger

I'm beginning to wish I'd watched now!

Dec 6, 2008 0:12:34 GMT @roger said:

Incidentally, she has sold in excess of 350,000 albums worldwide during her career.

Just to prove I read your post. I think you may have missed a couple of noughts off the total album sales.

Best wishes
Grant

[roger]

Thanks Grant. Actually, I missed three noughts off. She has sold in excess of 350 million albums!

Roger

[Andrew]

Hi All,

I can remember quite well when Nana Mouskouri's song entitled: 'Only Love' was in the charts... I think that was in early 1986... February I think! My sister bought that record and kept playing it over and over!!!

Andrew

[graemek]

Dec 6, 2008 9:34:59 GMT @roger said:

Thanks Grant. Actually, I missed three noughts off. She has sold in excess of 350 million albums!

Roger

Don't worry Roger, I'm sure thats some sort of function involving 46.

We'll have to just wait & see. Steve M. where are you?

Graeme

[comet]

Dec 6, 2008 0:12:34 GMT @roger said:

Hi Graham, Rodders, Paul and anyone else who is looking at this thread.



And so to tonight when Graham posted to say that three programmes would be screened. I wasn’t enthralled at the prospect of watching them but the forum is quiet, there was nothing else on that appealed and so I decided to give it a try. Within minutes, I found myself totally absorbed. The first programme briefly told the story of her life (the early days of which had been far from easy). I also learned that she is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. During the evening, I found myself admiring her more and more as a very distinctive and iconic singer and also respecting her greatly as a person. It was interesting to hear her sing ‘Bachianas Brasilieras No5’ with a very young John Williams on guitar!




Roger

Hi Folks, Roger, Rodders, Graham,

Glad you all enjoyed the TV Programmes, we still use an aerial in the attic for TV reception here, so I did not see the programmes,

Rodders , Thanks for the update on the ChCh Nana Tour programme,
Someone took good care of it , Funny the things we mortals Treasure in our lives..Nana Mouskouri had a sincerity and a love of music that came across in the recordings. her album Passport sounds as good today as it did in the mid 70s, timeless, not dated at all... I suppose I will always have a few of Nana's CDs in my recently played or about to be played stack.. and I'm still finding albums she released that I don't have yet. on E bay but I'm working on them slowly..

John Williams was involved with Cleo Laine and John Dankworth when they set up a small theater with the intention of creating "Cross over " music in the early 1960s . The Old Rectory at Wavendon. They were trying to remove the snobbery associated with the different types of music, to have jazz, pop, opera and classical side by side in unity.

My early experiences of music were listening only and did not involve TV or the visual experience, so the music I selected was judged entirely on the music. I find the visual presentation of music often detracts from the overall musical experience,There are many singers I love to listen to but cannot bear to watch.. The expression :

"He / she has a great face for on the radio " springs to mind