Monday, February 11, 2008

A tribute to Former (x) Republic Radio!!!

Some days ago,it was Wednesday i think,i decided to get up really early in the morning.A plan for coffee with a good friend didn't go well (sorry Ef.) so i stayed home.The ritual is well known : wash up,make a coffee,listen to some music.It was then when it hit me!!!

Almost two months now,or maybe more,my radio was off,since the Republic radio station "disaster".Now,almost mechanically,my hand pressed the button,the radio was on and Republic was on air...But no,this is not Republic,our Republic,our beloved Republic!For one moment i felt almost as one of those people who had created this unbelievable radio station,this never seen(heard) before music radiolution!I was angry,disappointed,sad,"ruined",nauseous!A few seconds later the radio was off again and this post had been born in my mind.

Most of us who live in Thessaloniki and were listening to Republic Radio every day,the whole day until late in night,would agree that it wasn't only a radio station,some radio producers and their music cd's.It was something more than that.

Starting from the morning,Eleni Triferi was there to make our day better.News,comments,games were some of the many things Eleni's everyday show could "offer" us!After her,Stelios Vrettos would put a smile in our face,making us forget how tired we are getting in our jobs or by our studies!Later in the day,Mirella Kappa made our noons soft,easy and smooth,while Nikos Markopoulos would get us ready for a great night out or...in,since we knew that after his show it was Demy's Papadopoulou's turn to...travel us with her music and madness!I believe that i don't have to tell anything about Mr Nikos Komninos or Mema Mpinopoulou : they could keep us in our houses or couldn't let us sleep,with their great music choices!

Still,it wasn't only this!People,the listeners,the audience,WE had something in our heads,in our minds,in our souls!We had to be there,to listen to Republic,to find out who else is listening!It had started,it was becoming OUR music nation,we were part of it and we wanted more and more everyday!I was happy enough to get to know some people,either "live" (Ploutwnios,Me:moir,Efoudi,Xrysopsaraki,Miss Tati,Archive,Mata,Stereotype person,Stelios,Vag) or through internet and emails,mostly myspace (Maria,Yvonne,Renia,The Thelo,|z|,Eba Nicole,Denyo,Natasa,Brainless,Alexandra,Gioulitsa,Rita,Aussie,Miss Pigeon,Mary,Theti,Sevi,Anestis,Kerasoula,Efi,Krystallenia,Eve,Voula,Miss Stellastar,Dimitra,Elenitsa...forgive me if i didn't mention you...).This was Republic and this was a great achievement:it brought people close to each other,it made us feel like we were part of a big "family"!!!And then...

One day something bad happened.I could go on writing for days about the good things and feelings Republic gave us and i could do the same about what happened and who was responsible,why,when,etc...Instead,i wanted this post to be a "nice" tribute to Former Republic Radio and what better way to do it than...music?It is just a reminder but i am sure that it will take all of us back to those days,those shows,with this music and these songs :

No Lyrics Night Volume 1

Craig Armstrong - the ball
Orbital & Angelo Bandalamenti – beached
Stereo Nova - nea zoi 705
Jean Luc Ponty – mirage
Barry White - Love's theme
Fluke – reeferendrum
Mylo – musclecars
Alan Parsons Project – mammagamma
Gato Barbieri - last tango in paris
Tilt – crescendo
Tic tac toe – varum
Stoa – luvah
Roger williams - autumn leaves
Air - la femme d'argent
kool and the gang - summer madness
peter green - slabo day
Wim Mertens - belly of an architect
Smiths - oscillate wildly
Durutti Column - sketch for summer
Sebastian Schuller - le dernier jour
Yann Tiersen - summer 78
Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke-sacrifice
Clan Of Xymox - theme 1
Gustavo Santaolalla – Iguazu
Tristeza – balabaristas
Moby – everloving
Max Richter – Sarajevo
Michelle Legrand - summer of 42

Here you can find a zip file with the whole list : No Lyrics Night Vol.1 .Don't forget:this list was made by Mr. Nikos Komninos,so don't thank me,but him!!!


Hopefully,we will be able to listen to those lovely voices once again on our radios!As for now,i can only thank them for two wonderful music years!I hope you are all doing great :Eleni Triferi,Stelios Vrettos,Mirella Kappa,Nikos Markopoulos,Demy Papadopoulou,Nikos Komninos,Mema Mpinopoulou!Kisses to all,producers and listeners!!!

Until then : MUTE OFF!!!


P.S.:I have to thank my good friend me:moir for helping me completing this list.Of course,i can't forget Mr Europat,from Quebec,Canada,who's help was more than a divine gift!Thank both of you!!!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

People should read this.

DR PAKO® said...

@ Piera : People have read it... :)
Thank you for stopping by!!!