Tirana – The famous Greek singer Notis Sfakianakis has arrived in Tirana for Thursday’s concert at the Palace of Congresses. Based on the reactions he has had to this concert, Sfakianakis tells Top Channel that he has never offended Albanians, but according to him, the media have manipulated him.
Journalist: Do you know that you have a lot of fans here?
Notis Sfakianakis: Yes. I know that there are many Albanians who know me and love me and like my songs. As well as most Albanians who are in Greece, I know that they listen to my songs.
Journalist: Let’s start with Soma Mu, one of your biggest hits. How did this song come about?
Notis Sfakianakis: I am very happy that you know the song Soma Mu. I believe that other people will know it too. This would make it possible for us to all sing the chorus together at the concert. I was in my studio, preparing the album “Hapa e Pestë”. And together with the composers, playing the guitar, we had the idea to create this song. We immediately realized that this should be the song of the album. Its sounds were very simple and we put it directly.
Journalist: Another one of your most famous songs is “The Eagle.” What was its history?
Notis Sfakianakis: It was 1994, when this song came out, again by the same composer. Other singers had heard this composition and no one had chosen it. I immediately realized that this should be my song. While when we made the video clip in Sologi, what looks like snow is actually salt. I also got pneumonia there. Because it was winter and very cold, we finished at two in the morning. I couldn’t go to Patras to the hospital, but I returned to Athens.
Journalist: Despite the ups and downs that everyone has in their career, you have always been on the Top List in Greece. How did you manage to be successful?
Notis Sfakianakis: I’m currently working on my last three albums, each with seven songs. Every time I start selecting, I have over 1300 proposals coming to me to listen to. And it’s very difficult to select the right ones. But this is a work process that has helped me to have continuity.
Journalist: You had a low point in your career when you had throat surgery. What was that time like?
Notis Sfakianakis: In 2004, I was away from the public for 18 months, due to throat surgery. After that time, the song “Birthday” came out. My brother always told me, release this song! After being absent from the stage for so long, 10 minutes before my performance, I heard the crowd calling my name. After some time, I learned that my brother had been diagnosed with cancer.
Journalist: You describe yourself as a controversial, oppositional, revolutionary, and anti-conformist person. Is that part of your personality or a media show?
Notis Sfakianakis: People who do not belong to the masses are different from others. I have been like that since I was little. As for politics, I think that our elected officials are not doing their job well, so I have often called for their overthrow. While the media has often changed my words. Only what I say is true. I am the one you see and hear.
Journalist: What will you sing at the concert at the Palace of Congresses?
Notis Sfakianakis: I always do what I feel at the moment. The audience always at my concerts, only knows the first and second song. The rest is a surprise. This is probably due to the fact that I was a DJ from the age of 15 to 24. Just as I changed the playlist then, I can also change the songs at the concert. I can tell you that the first song is from the last album. Big Loves. While the second is Gypsy Day.
Journalist: Recently, you have been widely commented on in Albania for a statement in which you are said to have called Albania, and specifically Albanians, an inferior race. What can we say about this?
Notis Sfakianakis: These are words I have never said. The media has manipulated me. The fact that we are here in Illyria says it all. Let’s invite the public together to the Palace of Congresses on Thursday. I love you very much. I am waiting for you at the Palace of Congresses.
(BalkanWeb)
© BalkansWeb
