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Vasilis Stamatis (Βασίλης Παπακωνσταντίνου) (21 June 1950) is a famous singer and one of the most important representatives of Greek rock. Most of his songs have gained considerable popularity, mainly in Greece and Cyprus. He is one of the world's highest baritones being able to sing sustained high b notes in his live performances.

Early life

Vasilis Papakonstantinou was born in a village called Vasta, outside of Megalopolis, Arcadia. In 1957 he moved to Athens along with his large family (he has three siblings). His adolescence was marked by the musical and social trends of the 1960s: Mikis Theodorakis, protest rock, international peace and liberation movements, while Greece was trying to quickly heal the wounds of the Greek Civil War. The Left sought to shelter itself and give a perspective to the shattered disappointment by providing a sensitive and claiming culture. Vasilis Papakonstantinou became a follower without ever becoming a member of a leftist party. In 1973, after having served for a period of time in the Hellenic Army, fulfilling his national service obligations, he moved to West Germany and settled in Munich. There he participated in anti-dictatorial organisations, campaigning against the Greek military junta of 1967-1974 and singing in places where Greek students and immigrants went.

Career

His first important encounter with Mikis Theodorakis would be in the summer of 1974, in Paris - their collaboration would commence two years later. In 1974, Metapolitefsi came, the transitional period following the fall of the dictatorship, and Vasilis returned to Greece where he embarked on a professional singing career, singing in clubs, and also recorded a 45 rpm gramophone record. That same year he collaborated on the recording of "Ta Tragoudia tou Dromou" (Road Songs) by Manos Loïzos.

In 1975 he recorded "Ta Agrotika" (Rural Songs) by Thomas Bakalako and met with two composers with whom he was going to work closely for many years: Manos Loïzos and Thanos Mikroutsikos, two composers that were bearing a fresh new sound to Greek music. Both of them promoted in new manners the songs of the big city without following faithfully the traces of popular or artistic music of earlier famous composers. Papakonstantinou's interpretation was ideal in expressing their dynamism and expressiveness. In 1976 his much anticipated collaboration with Mikis Theodorakis took place in the recording of "Tis Exorias" (Songs of Exile), and in 1978 the composer included Vassilis in the singers who took part in his international tour of Europe, the Americas and Australia. At home Papakonstantinou actively took part in youth and worker movement rallies, singing at strikes, meetings, anti-racist and anti-fascist concerts.

From that time on, just before the 1980s, Papakonstantinou began demonstrating influences from the international rock movement. He performed songs which had an obviously more electronic sound and more acute and intervening lyrics. This trend appeared gradually in the two records that he recorded in the early 1980s; the first one was titled after his name and included songs written by Antonis Vardis and adaptations of songs written by Dionysis Savvopoulos, Mikis Theodorakis and Luis Lach. The second one "Fovame" (I fear) with songs composed by Manos Loïzos, Lakis Papadopoulos, Giannis Zouganelis and Giannis Glezos consolidated his profile from that time up to date. He met Nikolas Asimos and took part in his first record "Xanapes" (Say it again) by singing two songs. Assimos became the second person after Loizos, who influenced him a lot with his peculiar personality. In 1984 with his record "Dieresi" (Division) his new sound was finally established. In 1987 he reconfirmed it in "Heretismata" (Greetings) including songs by Nikolas Asimos, Aphrodite Manou, and Christos Tolios and by the mid-1980s Vassilis Papakonstantinou was considered one of Greeces most popular concert performers.

In April 1985, a 16,000 audience attended his first major personal concert at the Peace and Friendship Stadium and again in June 1988 at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium on Alexandras Avenue. He has been very successful in filling up large spaces, mainly football fields where was singing every year up to the late 1990s.

He united three generations of fans including a strong following of "educated" adolescent fans. At the end of the 1980s he interpreted "difficult" songs with lyrics written by Kostas Tripolitis and music by Thanos Mikroutsikos. In between he sang "Chorevo" (I am Dancing) and in the new decade he sang for the second time after 1978 in "Stavros tou Notou" (Southern Cross) songs by Nikos Kavvadias and Thanos Mikroutsikos. Although his songs of the last years follow the sound of "popular" culture he hasn't hesitated to record LP albums on the verses of two of the most celebrated Greek poets. In 1984 he sang poetry by Kostas Karyotakis in a record named after the poet, and in 1993 "Fissai" (It is Blowing) had verses by Tassos Livaditis and music by Giorgos Tsegaris. He interpreted Nikolas Asimos again in 1992 in "Falimento tou Kosmou" (The end of the World) and in the last decade he made "Sfedona" (Sling). In 1995 he made "The Shikoni" (Impossible) cooperating with Alkis Alkeos, Christophoros Krokides, Vassilis Giannopoulos, Stamatis Mesimeris, Aphrodite Manou, Odysseas Ioannou and Minos Matsas. The last record that hit the market in April 1997 under the title "Pes mou ena Psemma gia na Apokimitho" (Tell me a Lie to Sleep), included songs of Nikolas Asimos, Apostolos Boulassikis (making his first appearance), Stamatis Messimeris, Giannis Ioannou, Vassilis Gianopoulos, Christophoros Krokides, as well as the song, "Malista Kyrie" (Yes Sir) by Giorgos Zabetas and Alekos Kagiantas.

Vasilis Papakonstantinou remains one of Greece's most celebrated singers and his sounds will undoubtedly be applauded by many future generations.

Discography

• 1978 - Ta agrotika (Rural Songs)
• 1978 - Vasilis Papakonstantinou
• 1982 - Fobamai (I'm afraid)
• 1984 - Diairesi (Division)
• 1985 - H sunavlia apo to Neo Falhro (The concert at Neo Faliro)
• 1987 - Chairetismata (Greetings)
• 1987 - Oi megalyteres epitychies toy Vasili (Best of Vasilis)
• 1988 - Ola apo cheri kamena (Surely all burned)
• 1989 - Chorevo (I'm dancing)
• 1991 - Chronia Polla (Happy Birthday)
• 1992 - Sfentona (Sling)
• 1993 - Fysaei (Blow)
• 1994 - De sikonei
• 1994 - Oi mpalantes toy Vasili (Vasili's ballads)
• 1997 - Pes moy ena psema na apokoimitho (Tell me a lie to fall asleep)
• 1999 - Na me fonakseis (Call me)
• 1999 - Thalassa sti skala (Sea at the companionway)
• 2000 - Sfentona Live (Sling live)
• 2000 - Chamenes Agapes (Lost Loves)
• 2002 - Prosecho...Dystychos (I'm careful...unfortunately)
• 2003 - Eseis oi filoi mou ki ego (You my friends and I)
• 2004 - Fresko Xioni (Fresh Snow)
• 2007 - Metopiki (Head-On)

List of notable songs

• I still love you.
• The knife.
• Willy, the black stoker from Djimbouti.
• The train.
• God bless America.
• Before the end.
• Take me.
• I will come to find you.
• The black cat.
• Saturday΄s night.
• The soldier.
• Preveza.
• World War III.
• Boom.
• I am scared.
• The zero.
• Happy birthday.
• Hellas.
• Puerto Rico.
• Victoria.
• Ulalum.
• The ballad to the unknown poets of the centuries.
• I am tired of them.
• One blues.
• Fresh snow.
• Lost loves.
• I don't exist.
• Let me make a mistake.
• Corsair.
• May 1st.
• Hellas.

References

1. Vassilis Papakonstantinou, Greek Singers by Endless Greece Guide - Vacations in Greece and the Greek Islands
2. Vasilis Papakonstantinou
3. Flessas, Yiannis (2007) . "Vasilis Papakonstantinou" (Seaburn, 2007) ISBN 978-1592320196.

External links

• Vasilis Papakonstantinou (in Greek and English)
• Fan website dedicated to Vasilis Papakonstantinou (in Greek and English)
• artist Βασίλης Παπακωνσταντίνου Vasilis Papakonstantinou discography at MusicBrainz

• Articles needing cleanup from October 2007
• Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from October 2007
• Misplaced Pages pages needing cleanup from October 2007
• 1950 births
• Living people
• People from Peloponnese
• Greek male singers
• Greek rock singers
• Greek musicians
• Greek rock musicians