Greek TV in Greece?

Greek songs popular & traditional?

• On ERT world satellite TV, every Saterdaynight, for over 3 hours, since years, we are weekly watching 'JAMAS', a sing a song & dance entertaining broadcast with Spyro Papadopoulo. In Greece we have seen it on Thursdaynights on Net TV. Although we do not understand the language, we so much enjoy the spirit and joy brought by the participants. What wonders us however is how almost all participants know by heart the text/lyrics of all songs that are brought; not for 1 but for almost all songs, and every week again they all join the leading singers. Is music so alive in Greece? A lot of songs are part of your cultural heritage for sure, but is music still teached at schools? We think this Greek spirit is not met by other nations. Keep on singing, even in this sad days.

• Answer:

  Thank you for the good words... Even though I have not been a follower of the show, I can say it's one of the few attempts of the greek television to demonstrate that Greece is something more than the western-like pop culture and that has its own tradition to offer to the world (apart from all the ancient - byzantine historical stuff). Several well known or less known personalities who have contributed to the development of the Greek non-pop music current (-music on the basis of the traditional music heritage, like dimotiko or rebetiko, or even entechno etc) have been there and offered some quality times to the viewers. The truth is that music is hardly taught at schools. The relationship of modern Greeks with the kind you have enjoyed so far through the show is something like the relationship with the different types of food (I suppose you have an idea of what I am talking about). Of course there are those who do not prefer it, but it's still there. The changes in the country in all aspects during the previous century have played their roles in creating this particular music character, but I would say that especially the "older" generation (the one of the hosts of the show) has loved music a lot. It's because in difficult times, when tv/internet/consumerism etc did not have the dimensions they have today, music was always there for company, expression, emotional support. But besides that, it's the temperament we, as culture, are brought up with. We learn, even subconsciously, to use music in our everyday lives (and I am talking as someone who doesn't really listen to music - but I have plenty of melodies and tunes in my head and from time to time I remember lyrics I wouldn't think I know). ... At this moment I have run out of thoughts, lol. Stin ygeia sas vre paidia! == (Cheers to you, buddies!)