“The world needs more heart”

On February 13, you will receive a Victoire de la Musique which rewards your entire rich and long career. What does this mean to you?

This is an honor that I absolutely did not anticipate. France has always been a very special country for me. This is where my career took off, after my debut in Greece in the 1960s. A record company manager, Louis Hazan, spotted me and invited me to come and sing here. At the time, I was completely unknown. But I stayed, and I had the opportunity to perform not only in France, but also in Germany, England and other countries. This is how I was able to build an international career. For a very long time I didn’t receive an award. That’s fine, I don’t feel any bitterness about it. But today, at 91 years old, I receive this distinction as a great reward for all these years spent sharing my music with the public. I am deeply grateful.

Tell us about your latest album, for which Serge Lama wrote all the lyrics. How did it come about?

Serge is a long-time friend. Most of the songs he chose for this record are songs of his that I have sung throughout my career, but there are also two previously unreleased tracks: My life as a swallow which opens the album, and Tell the time that passes which closes it. It’s a way of telling my story, and of sharing this conviction that drives me: not to waste the present moment.

Let’s go back to your beginnings. Why did you choose to sing? It was a difficult profession to envisage in Greece at the time…

I grew up in a modest family, my father was a cinema projectionist. From a young age, I sang the songs I heard in movies, imitating the artists I saw on screen. Music quickly became a life companion. I studied it at the conservatory and made it my career. I never wanted to be a star, just a singer.

Your career has spanned almost seventy years. What are the most notable moments?

I have had the chance to work with exceptional artists. In Greece, I can mention the great composer Manos Hadjidakis, who wrote me magnificent songs. In France, I remember my first meetings with Michel Legrand, a true genius. Then there was the American producer and arranger Quincy Jones, who worked alongside artists as different as Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. He invited me to work with him in the United States. I had incredible experiences, such as my participation in Eurovision in 1963, for Luxembourg, or an American tour alongside singer Harry Belafonte, who nicknamed me “the French girl with glasses” (Laughs). These moments remain engraved in my memory.

Music has evolved with digital technology and new technologies. What do you think of this change?

A real revolution has taken place. In the past, we listened to music on vinyl or at concerts. Today, it is consumed more quickly, often via streaming. There is more diversity, but I sometimes have the impression that some people use it as background noise, without really listening to it. I like modern songs, but I perceive a form of aggression in them from time to time. I understand it, because it expresses suffering, but I prefer when artists find more peaceful ways. Rap, for example, says important things, but in a way sometimes… It’s not for me, but after all, everyone has their own tastes. Each era has its particularities. What matters is that the music continues to touch people.

You are multilingual and have sung in several languages. Was this important to you?

I have sung in Greek, French, English, German, Spanish, and other languages. Each has its own musicality, allows emotions to be transmitted, and opens doors to other cultures. I am fascinated by the sound of languages.

As an experienced woman, a convinced European, a Unicef ​​ambassador, what is your view on today’s often divided world?

Too many people want to command, to conquer. There are two or three in the world who want everything, like Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin. More broadly, the gap between rich and poor is dramatic. The solution is to communicate, to respect different ideas, to seek the common good, and above all, to try to put yourself in the other’s place. The world needs more heart.

You have gone through personal trials: cancer, Covid. Have these experiences changed your outlook on life?

Yes of course. Cancer and peritonitis are difficult challenges. But I have always been a positive person. Hope gave me the strength to move forward. I was lucky to have been surrounded and supported, and I continue to love what I do: working, singing, sharing my music.

You sometimes quote this Greek proverb which says that luck is like a beautiful woman who walks down the street, but few people notice. Do you consider yourself a lucky person?

Yes, I think I was very lucky. It’s not just a matter of chance. It is also a mix of meetings, work and opportunities.

You have announced your withdrawal from the stage several times. But you continue to work, releasing new albums…

As long as I can sing, I will continue. Of course, the voice changes over time, but music is part of my life, and I can’t do without it. I’m 91 years old and it’s not over yet. Well, I hope so.

Do you have any regrets?

Not having raised my two children directly, as I would have liked, pains me a lot. When they were little, I traveled a lot and often left them with a nanny. Despite my absences, they have become beautiful people. Today I have three grandchildren and I’m trying to catch up with them. I see them every summer. As a grandmother, I pass on to them the values ​​that are dear to me: respect for oneself and others.

Finally, what do you want people to remember about you after your departure?

I hope people will say that I was a good singer, an artist who respected her audience. I have always done my work with passion and seriousness. I believe that the most important thing is to love what you do and to do it with all your soul. This is what I would like people to remember about me.