I don't have a burning nail - Giorgos Zampetas & Madalen

For some reason, after the last few posts, YouTube's algorithm decided that what I really needed was lots of bad Greek pop, and I've been lost in a world of super-cute singers and over-the-top choreography -- nothing that should be seen by any self-respecting citizen (thus the radio silence).  

Anyway, here is a fine video to brighten your February days. 

A few, super-cool things to note.  First is that it feels like true, real, down-home rembetiko, which I have missed during these grim days of relentless cuteness.  Secondly, Zampetas is fond of making those spoken asides that make old Greek records so awesome.  Finally, the videographer does an exceptional job capturing some of the characters inhabiting that particular taverna -- a wonderful assortment of faces (that probably isn't Mickey Dolenz from the Monkees looking on at 0:22 but one never knows -- stranger things have happened*)

I always assume that the audience for this blog does not speak Greek.  I certainly don't, so I rely on my good friend Google to help me out, and today Mr. G is rocking it with its translatory skills.  Below is the chorus (the word baglama comes through loud and clear in the video) in the original Greek and then the translation, which is well worth reading.  One day I hope to write a song that includes the phrases "crap, crap, crap" and "driggy, driggy, driggy, driggy"**.

Χλάπα χλούπα, χλάπα χλούπα

παίζω εγώ το μπαγλαμά

νριγκι ντρίγκι, ντρίγκι ντρίγκι

τι τα θέλω τα λεφτά.

Crap, crap, crap

I play baglama

driggy driggy, driggy driggy

what do I want the money for?

From the movie Out of Poverty and a Good Heart (1964)

(7/31/24 -- This post has been updated -- the original linked video disapperated and was never seen again.  I have linked to a different copy of the same video)

*Like, for example, the great jazz trumpeter Chet Baker showing up in a bathtub dressed in a suit while the Italian rocker Mina belts it out at the best party in this history of humankind (as part of the fine Italian movie "Howlers in the Dock")

** Greek speakers -- if by chance this translation is anything less than perfectly excellent, feel free to let the world know what is really being said (in the comments).