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fuxi 
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 08 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 2459
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 Topic: Demis Roussos Appreciation Society
Posted: April 23 2007 at 08:16 |
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The current thread about "guilty pleasure bands" makes me wonder if there are any progheads out there with a soft spot for DEMIS ROUSSOS.
I don't know if Roussos ever made it as a solo artist outside Europe, but in most European countries (including Britain), around 1973, he was HUGE!
I wonder how many people are aware that Roussos sang and played bass (in the company of such luminaries as Vangelis and Irene Pappas) on Aphrodite's Child's 666, probably the most exciting prog album that ever came out of Greece...
Are there any prog freaks out there who secretly enjoy Roussos' solo singles?
And has Roussos done anything remotely PROG since 1972?
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Moogtron III
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 10616
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 08:29 |
I love Roussos' voice with Aphrodite's Child's music.
I have a soft spot for his solo single My Friend The Wind. Haven't heard it in years, but I liked the keyboards on that one.
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chopper
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: July 13 2005
Location: Essex, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 19952
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 08:32 |
 fuxi wrote:
The current thread about "guilty pleasure bands" makes me wonder if there are any progheads out there with a soft spot for DEMIS ROUSSOS.
I don't know if Roussos ever made it as a solo artist outside Europe, but in most European countries (including Britain), around 1973, he was HUGE!
I wonder how many people are aware that Roussos sang and played bass (in the company of such luminaries as Vangelis and Irene Pappas) on Aphrodite's Child's 666, probably the most exciting prog album that ever came out of Greece...
Are there any prog freaks out there who secretly enjoy Roussos' solo singles?
And has Roussos done anything remotely PROG since 1972? |
You're not wrong there! 
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iguana
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 01 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 825
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 08:43 |
“goodbye, my love, goodbyyyyeeeeeeeeee...., goodbye, auf wiederseeeeeeehhhhhhhnnnnn...“ fine singer though 
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progressive rock and rural tranquility don't match. true or false?
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Fassbinder
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: May 27 2006
Location: My world
Status: Offline
Points: 3497
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 09:00 |
When I was a child (actually, there's a Roussos' song called "When I'm a kid", if I'm not mistaken...), I liked him. I can't say I enjoy his songs nowadays, but I certainly enjoy his singing, and not secretly (once again, I remember him singing something like "...I like it secretly...", in the song called "Say you love me", or something like that...)
Eugene
Edited by Fassbinder - April 23 2007 at 09:01
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A B Negative
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 02 2006
Location: Methil Republic
Status: Offline
Points: 1594
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 09:59 |
Can't say I'm a fan of his solo work but the only thing I've heard is Forever and Ever. I love his vocals on 666 though!
Wasn't Demis a hostage in a plane hijack a few years ago?
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"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
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Moogtron III
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 10616
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 10:18 |
A B Negative wrote:
Can't say I'm a fan of his solo work but the only thing I've heard is Forever and Ever. I love his vocals on 666 though!
Wasn't Demis a hostage in a plane hijack a few years ago? |
He was, many years ago. I still remember seeing the newspapers after the hijack, with Demis who was looking kind of burnt out (no wonder, of course). I also remember the remark in the newspaper that he actually sang for the hijackers.
Edited by Moogtron III - April 23 2007 at 10:19
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Eetu Pellonpaa
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: June 17 2005
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 4828
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 10:38 |
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His voice is wonderful, and I like some of the pre-666 APHRODITE's CHILD much more than 666 itself, but his solo career doesn't please my musical taste.
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akin
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 06 2004
Location: Brazil
Status: Offline
Points: 976
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 10:51 |
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He is without a doubt an excellent vocalist. I like very much his singing in all three Aphrodite's Child albums.
As for his solo work, his first two albums are not bad, with some reminescences from Aphrodite's Child first two albums.
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Uroboros
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 25 2006
Location: Oxford
Status: Offline
Points: 912
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 13:00 |
He has a remarkable voice, truly impressive. I enjoy most of his solo stuff that I've heard and I know he and Vangelis continued to work together until late in his career, at least ocasionally. He has an album from '82 I think where Vangelis actually plays keys and is given writing credits for all tracks, and one of the songs features Jon Anderson and Roussos in a vocal duet. I haven't listened to it in a while, but this is what I vaguely remember.
But the album that I've found to be most impressive is one named Immortel from '94, where the guy sings in a charming, flawless French against a background of orchestral/ambient soundscapes. The music is beautiful in the pure, classic sense of the word and combines French chansons and Celtic themes in an interesting mix. There isn't much sense of rhythm, but there's a very nice balance between strong vocals in the forefront and the subtle, rich orchestrations in the background. I don't know if he released anything else similar to that album, before or after.
Edited by Uroboros - April 23 2007 at 13:02
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Tous les chemins
qui s’ouvrent à moi
ne mènent à rien si tu n’es plus là
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Tormato
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 24 2005
Location: Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 171
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 14:53 |
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Well. I don't have any new news about Demis. I just want to say that I really like his solo music, specially the song "lay iy down", one of his most hard rocking tunes! Great guitar!
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I like Tormato, so shoot me! Every person in the world can't think the same.
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paolo.beenees
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 30 2007
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 1136
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 15:04 |
I was born in 1973 and as a little child I used to be scared of Demis Roussos (he really looked like a sort of "Mangiafuoco", the giant puppet master from Pinocchio). Even if I don't like his songs so much, I find his voice simply divine. "Five o'clock" is so moving, and his voice so intense.
Then he started to sing "Forever, Forever, Forever, Forever I'll beeeeeeeeeeeee with you"...
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Prog.Sylvie
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 12 2006
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 449
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 16:18 |
Demis Roussos is well known in the Province of Quebec. His songs were playing from time to time on the radio in the seventies and I liked his voice. Many times, his songs got a nice message in them.
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C'est la vie
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Angeldust
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 18 2005
Location: Greece
Status: Offline
Points: 336
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 16:46 |
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Kind of poppy for my taste but still a really good singer.
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fuxi
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 08 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 2459
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Posted: April 23 2007 at 16:54 |
Wow, thanks folks, this surpasses my wildest expectations! Demis duetting with Jon Anderson - that must be a marriage made in heaven! (Or in hell; gotta ask Vangelis!  ) And Demis crooning to hijackers - now ain't THAT progressive! 
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Demis Roussos Appreciation Society
