ΦΛΕΡΥ ΝΤΑΝΤΩΝΑΚΗ

[Gordon Neill]

This is ridiculous! While wandering around YouTube, I stumbled across this terrific singer. Flery Ntantonaki, I think she's called. Or it might be Fleury Ntantonaki. Or possibly Fleri Dantonaki. Or even ΦΛΕΡΥ ΝΤΑΝΤΩΝΑΚΗ. It's not that surprising that I've never heard of her, I'm blissfully ignorant of lots of things. But there's very little information via Google, other than she's a Greek singer. There's nothing at all on Amazon. And even the specialist Greek sites that I've visited give little away. I think she's pretty special:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXIDT3Bd ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voQNYMid ... re=related

Does anyone know where I can find these on a CD?

[judith]

I like her very much too, Gordon. There is very little info on her, no matter which name is googled.

If all the following are the same person - I haven't listened enough or looked at many photos - I found Fleri Dadonaki on Spotify in these albums that are on Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/36x6gop

Probably you've already found this site: http://tinyurl.com/2f8u9mq (under Fleri Ntanonaki). I think remember reading someone posting on the forum that it was very difficult to order from Greece to the UK?

Oh look, Gordon: "Antonis Boskoitis’ short documentary Fleury, Madwoman of the Moon... Short documentary film based on the life of the Greek legendary singer Fleury Dadonaki." My, but she is very beautiful. (article dated 2008).
http://tinyurl.com/39pxbww

A bit of the documentary is on YouTube, I think, it's in Greek. Somewhere, someone recently posted how to get translated versions on YouTube. Was it in the thread about Tarkovsky? Yep, it was Kevin on page 2 http://tinyurl.com/2uswy5e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbp4InjmuKs

Great find, Gordon.

[Gordon Neill]

Aha! A nice bit of sleuthing, Judith! While I was away, I did find a site that offers downloads of that album. The prices are so low, that I think it must be a bit dodgy (no royalty payments etc). But it does provide some sound clips. It's different in style from the two You Tube clips that I posted, but very pleasant:
http://www.music-bazaar.com/main.php?page=album&id=1745

As for the difficulties of ordering CDs from Greece, I think Studio 52 looks pretty good. I've ordered a couple of things from them (hopefully they'll arrive soon!) They've certainly got a deep stock, if you know what you're looking for. But not much by dear old ΦΛΕΡΥ ΝΤΑΝΤΩΝΑΚΗ http://www.studio52.gr/index_en.htm

[Ian A.]

As for the difficulties of ordering CDs from Greece, I think Studio 52 looks pretty good. I've ordered a couple of things from them (hopefully they'll arrive soon!)

Only just noticed this: hope your CDs arrived because I'd warn anybody off Studio 52 in Thessaloniki. I ordered 3 (quite expensive sets) items from them last autumn. They took the money off my card straight away but nothing arrived. They ignored all emails. It was only after a local friend with a bit of influence in the biz went in there and bollocked them that I eventually got them after 2 months, with no apology.

I highly recommend the Xylouris shop in Athens - both as an Aladdin's cave with very friendly staff if you go there, and very efficient by online order.

http://xilouris.gr/catalog/index.php?language=en

[Gordon Neill]

Ah. Thanks for the warning Ian. Although, so far, Studio 52 seem to be fine. There was a delay as one of the CDs I ordered was out of stock, but they've been fine about me changing part of my order and have now emailed to say that they're on their way. I'll just have to nervously wait for the postie.

But the Xylouris site is interesting. Their search engine throws up some odd suggestions and their stock doesn't appear to be as deep as Studio 52's. But a nice site and some sound clips!

PS How much does your pal charge to beat people up? Just in case....

[Philellinas]

I hesitate to offer this unsolicited testimonial but I have used Studio52 as a personal customer for over 20 years and have always found the proprietor extremely helpful and knowledgeable. As Studio52 is one of only two retail outlets left in the centre of Thessaloniki (to my knowledge, anyway) I do my best to support them. However, intrigued by the Xylouris site, I have now ordered this CD from them. I do not know any boys in Athens to send round should the service be unsatisfactory. So far,so good...

[Gordon Neill]

No need to hire the fRoots heavies! My CDs arrived, bang on schedule, from Studio 52. So I'd happily use them again.

Among the three CDs was one by dear old Fleury/Fleri/Flery/ΦΛΕΡΥ. As I expected, this is in a quite different style from the mildly poppy songs that kicked off my interest in her. I think she suffered some mental health problems at some point in her life, and this album sounds post-breakdown. It's a lot more subdued, but quite beautiful. So far, I think this is the best track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2_mZw7w ... 1&index=23

Oh. And sorry to change the subject slightly, but one of the other CDs was by a bloke called Giannis Papaioannou. It's full of gritty, bluesy Rembetica. Catch a load of this song, apparently it's about meeting the angel of death (it's just a pity that today's pop stars couldn't arrange a similar meeting):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE15Bxmy0KU

And the third CD was by the lovely Glykeria. I've already posted this in the YouTube thread, but to hell with it......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IGvwgNAdrY

[Philellinas]

I'm glad there's a happy ending to this tale, Gordon. I thought I would add another enigmatic variation on Φλέρυ Νταντωνάκη. Her original name was Eleftheria. Personally I am not a big fan of Hadzidakis and his piano cocktails. Markos Vamvakaris does a grittier version of "Fragosyriani". Yiannis Papaioannou must have been a near contemporary of Vamvakaris. The artist who drew the cover for the Papaioannou album has been very kind to his chin as only Jimmy Hill is in the same league. By the way,if you like Glykeria you might be interested in
which I bought on a recent trip to Thessaloniki (but not from Studio52).

[judith]

It's a lot more subdued, but quite beautiful. So far, I think this is the best track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2_mZw7w ... 1&index=23

It is very beautiful. I'm glad you found the album (and her name, whichever one it was). Who is Eleftheria Arvanitaki?
Edit: Never mind. I finally found her name correctly and found her on Wikipedia.