Lina Nikolakopoulou is a Greek Lyricist, one of the most important lyricists in Greece today; although criticized by many for her ambiguous and highly descriptive and unconventional way of writing, Lina has been loved as few lyric writers in Greece. She is considered a poet more than a simple lyric writer.
Lina Nikolakopoulou, the groundbreaking Greek lyricist
Nikolakopoulou is the woman who changed the route of expression in Greek Music the last twenty years, brining a new way of communication and wording, more fruity and dense, acute, gripping, romantic and realistic – in one word: groundbreaking. Her words balance at the razor edge, sensible and meaningful, with provocative rimes and intense feelings – above all full of truths.
Lina Nikolakopoulou spoke about life in a way that other people could not, she saw things that other people can not see, poetizing everyday life in a unique and narrative way. Everything has a place in her work: nuances, glances, details, the shadows of human life, the reflection of light. She wrote about everything in an intriguing and mind-blowing way, analyzing the superficiality and depth of human life.
Biography of Lina Nikolakopoulou
Lina Nikolakopoulou was born in Methana in June 30th 1958. Her mother was a teacher and her father a military man – she has always been saying that her life was divided between education and discipline.
She studied political sciences in Athens and had film courses at Stavrakou Film School in Athens; she also studied Theatrical direction at Pelos Katselis Art School. While at the University, she met Stamatis Kraounakis who would become her artistic partner since then.
The two of them would disturb the calm and conventional scene of Greek Music in the 80s. In 1981 she writes her first song for Vicky Moscholiou; the song is called “Na sou lerono to fili” composed by Kraounakis. That was the first sparkle that would create a blaze.
The LP – back then LPs still existed – “Kykloforo ki oploforo” was one of the greatest hits and the songs featured there are still among the most loved songs among Greeks.
Working with important Greek Composers and Greek Singers
Lina had the chance to work with all distinguished Greek Composers and Singers: Giannis Spanos, Giorgos Hadjinasios, Stavros Ksarhakos, Mikis Theodorakis, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Nikos Antypas, Manos Hadjidakis.
She also wrote music for foreign composers: Paolo Conte, Goran Bregovic, Ara Dinkjian, Kiki Lezendric, Angelo Branduardi, Leonard Cohen. The year 1989 was truly significant and marked Lina’s career, as Emir Kusturica in Former Yugoslavia releases the film “The time of the Gypsies” and Goran Bregovic composes music. Lina Nikolakopoulou and Alkestis Protopsalti, amazed by the power of the Balkan sound, go to Sarajevo and meet Bregovic. After long discussions and many cigarettes, the amazing “Paradehtika” is born, an album full of Balkan, Gypsy and Greek sounds, an album containing some of Lina’s best lyrics ever.
Theos an Einai, the featured video here is a song composed by Goran Bregovic and it means “If there is a God” in Greek. Lyrics are written by Lina Nikolakopoulou and they are considered among the best lyrics ever written in Greek Music. Its original performance was by Alkestis Protopsalti, however this performance with Haris Alexiou is unsurpassable.
Lina has worked with all major Greek Singers: Alkestis Protopsalti, Tania Tsanaklidou, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Haris Alexiou , Dimitra Galani, Giorgos Dalaras, Vicky Moscholiou, Kostas Makedonas, Manolis Lidakis, Giannis Parios, Milva and so on.
Lina’s works have been translated in many languages, from English to Swedish and Hebrew, French, Spanish, German and Italian. She was also the curator for numerous musical shows and performances in Greece, such as Protopsalti’s appearance at the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus in 1999, Haris Alexiou performances at Nefeli Studio and Dimitra Galani’s at Harama and the Opening and Closing Ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, for which she wrote the song “Pass the Flame” for the Olympic Torch Relay.
Lina Nikolakopoulou is still sprinkling the soil of Greek Music with the indelible perfume of exploration and magic, with her strong, poetic and female Logos.