Area - Cometa Rossa ( Red Comet) live

[umbertino]

 

 

Italian Jazz - Rock- Prog. Band ( politically involved)  whose leader was Greek  Demetrio Stratos , extraordinary Vocalist (RIP).

 

Had the privilege to see them twice in concert. First time with Demetrio in 1975 ( he passed away in 1979 due to sclerosis) and then another time without him. Band was really good  and Stratos performance and singing absolutely unique. He did indeed have a  special gift.

 

In 1977 or 78 he won first prize at the Contemporary Music Festival in NYC. He presented a  tune from his solo voice album "Metrodora". Audience tributed him  a standing ovation 10 mins. long ( at least so reported the chronicles of the time) 

 

He died in a NYC hospital in 1979 in a desperate last attempt of saving him.... A few days or weeks  after his death the best Italian musicians of the time ( Finardi, PFM etc) held a mega concert in his memory in Milan.....I recall hearing it live on the radio.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sung in Greek

 

Translation ( partial) . Ancient Greek Poem.

 

Open my lips, April

 

sweetly so that I can sing

 

Open heart

 

Comet

 

Close the Poets' mouth

 

Comet close the mouth

 

and go away

 

Open eyes to Freedom

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_(band)

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demetrio_Stratos

[umbertino]

 

 

Odesa's apple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://songstranslation.com/amp/area/la-mela-di-odessa/

[umbertino]

 

 

Joy and revolution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sing for you that come listening to me
I play for you that don't want to understand me
I laugh for you unable to dream
I play for you that don't want to understand me

In your eyes there's a light
that's warming my mind
By the sound of our fingers
a battle is fought
It brings us on the streets
of people that know how to love
It brings us on the streets
of people that know how to love

My gun is a double bass
it shots on your face
it shots on your face
what I think about life
By the sound of our fingers
a battle is fought
It brings us on the streets
of people that know how to love

[umbertino]

 

 

Beautiful, extremely powerful song / message

 

 

July, August, (Black) September

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arabic Part

 

My love
With peace I have placed loving flowers
at your feet
With peace
With peace I stopped the seas of blood
for you

Forget anger
Forget pain
Forget your weapons
Forget your weapons and come
Come and live with me my love
Under a blanket of peace

I want you to sing, beloved light of my eyes
And your song will be for peace
let the world hear,
my beloved and say:

Forget anger
Forget pain
Forget your weapons
Forget your weapons and come
And live in peace

 

 

Italian Part

 

Playing with the world, leaving it in pieces
Children that the sun has reduced to old age

It's not my fault if your reality
forces me to fight your conspiracy of silence
Maybe one day we will know what it means
to drown in blood with humanity

Discoloured people, almost all the same
my anger reads above the news
reads into the past all my pain
sing my people that don't want to die

When you see the world without problems
seek the essence of all things
It's not my fault if your reality
Forces me to make war with humanity

 

 

umb's note: my solidarity to the ( occupied) Palestinian People....Yesterday, today more than ever, tomorrow....Always

 

I'm with the Palestinians....Men, women, children, elders...I'm NOT with the terrorists

 

Until today in Gaza, West Bank and Rafah:  almost 33,000 killed ( 10,000 children).......IT IS A GENOCIDE.PERIOD...A FINAL SOLUTION ISRAELI (NETANYAHU) WAY

[umbertino]

 

 

Flautofonie ( Literally: flute vocal sounds).......Solo voice experimentations....Incredible Demetrio Stratos

 

 

 

 

[umbertino]

 

 

I Ribelli ( The Rebels) - Pugni Chiusi ( Clenched Fists)...Circa 1965/66

 

This was Demetrio Stratos' first Italian Band  in the 60's...They used to be the accompanying band of a very famous (here  in Italy) singer, Adriano Celentano

 

This was one of their very few singles as a band (without A.Celentano)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clenched fists
I no longer have hopes
in me there is the blackest night

Eyes off
in the darkness of the world
for those like stone me

Clenched fists
lost forever
has no more reason life

My salvation is you
six clear water for me, yeah
the sun warm you love
back back here by me

Clenched fists
I no longer have hopes
in me there is the blackest night
comes the dawn
and a ray of sunshine
draw your face to me

Oh, hands clasped
you are here with me
and embrace life
with you, yeah ...

[umbertino]

 

 

One of the few songs Demetrio recorded in English ( that I know of at least...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus another one I found....

 

 

 

 

[umbertino]

 

 

Greek language ultrafast word play - very short interview in Italian - another word play

 

 

 

 

[umbertino]

 

 

With  Alberto Radius ( Formula 3 guitarist who then took on a solo career)....He  passed away February 16, 2023