Greek Laika
Get Into The Groove: Greek Music And Crete Holidays
It was in the 1920s when Greek music first originated and it started with a type of music called ‘Rebetika’ which was played in brothels and seedy clubs.It was the urban folk music of Greek society’s outcasts, the criminals, the drug takers and the refugees.From Rebetika emerged another form of music called ‘Laika’ which is more like the music that one associates nowadays with Greece, the music you hear when you come on Crete holidays.A bouzouki, a type of stringed lute is often used to accompany the dance-like-tunes.Laika is still popular now.
Greek Laika didn’t really take off until the late 1950s. After the austerity of the war years, more and more young Greeks were buying records and listening to the radio. This was also the time that tavernas became popular and live music started to be played in them. People on Crete holidays would hear this new music and go home and search for Greek records themselves in their own country. Laika went from strength to strength. A new type of music in opposition to Laika emerged, called Entekhno. It was orchestral music with elements of Greek rhythms and melody. The lyrics were based on either politics or on the works of famous Greek poets. It was the music of the young intellectuals but it could never surpass Laika. Laika stars like Poly Panou became big stars and household names. Greek music started to gain interest all over the world.
A prestigious music festival known as the Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival takes place in the small village of Makrigialos in south west Crete from 23rd-28th June this year. All inclusive hotels are often booked up months in advance as the festival is so popular. Including classical music, modern works, Greek poetry and dancing, the festival looks set to be a huge success.
DJ Andreas-Laika Mix Part1 (Karatia Production – Greek)
