To Tango Tis Nefelis – Haris Alexiou

Posted on 19. Sep, 2009 in Greek Songs

Haris Alexiou sings To Tango Tis Nefelis, which translates in English as “Nefeli’s Tango”, a romantic mythological and lyrical interpretation of Loreena McKennitt’s instrumental song known as Tango To Evora.

How soothing this melody is! How probing is the perfectly suited voice of Alexiou when she, like the waves coming and going of the shores, sings about the nymph of clouds, Nefeli, and ”two little angels who were dreaming of Nefeli and wanted to feed her pomegranate and honey, so that she could not remember, so that she would forget what she wanted.”

From the very first pounding sounds of “Nefeli’s Tango”, you to sing along, to dance, to be in the arms of your beloved one, to close your eyes and let yourself be taken on the mythological journey when love, fantasies, seduction, and innocence are weaved so playfully. And when you know that at the end, despite of everything and because of everything, “the benevolent Zeus” saves Nefeli, “turns her into a cloud and disperses her so that they could not find her”.

Canadian musician, songwriter, and producer Loreena McKennitt, known for her instrumentals and her very refined soprano voice, published this tango on her 1991’s album “Visit”. It didn’t take long before Alexiou, moved by the passionate melody, found her own inspiration in it and painted it with the Greek touch.

Lyrics: Haris Alexiou
Music: Loreena McKennitt
Performed by: Haris Alexiou

To Tango tis Nefelis – English Lyrics

Two little angels
came and stole
the golden rag
Nefeli used to wear on her head,
so as to differ from us all in the vineyard.

Two little angels
who were dreaming of Nefeli and wanted
to feed her pomegranate and honey,
so that she could not remember, so that she would forget what she wanted,
they managed to seduce her.

Hyacinths and lilies
robbed her of her scent and wear it
while flying love gods laugh at her,
throwing their arrows towards her.

But the benevolent Zeus
takes the adolescence water away from her,
turns her into a cloud and disperses her
so that they could not find her.

To tango tis Nefelis – Greek Lyrics

Το τανγκό της Νεφέλης – Χάρις Αλεξίου – Ελληνικοί Στίχοι

Το χρυσό κουρέλι
που στα μαλλιά της, φόραγε η Νεφέλη
να ξεχωρίζει απ’ όλους μες στ’ αμπέλι
ήρθανε δυο μικροί μικροί αγγέλοι
και το κλέψανε

Δυο μικροί αγγέλοι
που στα όνειρα τους, θέλαν τη Νεφέλη
να την ταΐζουνε ρόδι και μέλι
να μην θυμάται, να ξεχνάει τι θέλει,
την πλανέψανε

Υάκινθοι και κρίνα
της κλέψαν τ’ άρωμα και το φοράνε
κι οι έρωτες πετώντας σαϊτιές
την περιγελούν

Μα ο καλός ο Δίας
της παίρνει το νερό της εφηβείας
την κάνει σύννεφο και την σκορπά
για να μην την βρουν.

Tags: Alexiou