Born on the Greek island of Crete, Nana Mouskouri began her career in the 1960s with the song “White roses from Athens“, which also made her famous in Germany. Although the woman, who was born in 1934, had traumatic experiences during the German occupation of Greece in the Second World War, she later found herself a deep connection to Germany.
A visit to Berlin in 1961 was particularly formative for her Witnessed the construction of the wall. As she left her recording studio on Potsdamer Platz, she saw people waving handkerchiefs from the other side. She later discovered the wall from the other side. In the 80s, concerts brought Nana Mouskouri to the GDR, where she sang, among other things, “The Song of Freedom”. She described the fall of the Berlin Wall a few years later as one of the most beautiful experiences of her life.
These experiences shaped the singer and sparked fire within her a lifelong commitment to peace and understandingincluding as a member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1999 and to this day as a special ambassador for children’s rights for Unicef.
Her belief in humanity was also always evident in her music. The new recording “Poios échei dákrya” (“Who has tears?”) on her birthday album addresses current world events and reflects them reflects her belief that music can build a bridge between people and provide hope in difficult times.
Young people need trust in the future. She should also emphasize this with music. Music reaches people faster than ever today. Today, when you share positive things, they instantly spread around the world. Music really has power.
The end of a long career
In recent years things have become quieter around Nana Mouskouri – due to her age. In an interview with “Der Spiegel”, the singer announced to want to end her career in 2024.
I’ll do a few more performances and then that’s it. I think I’ve done enough.
You couldn’t pretend”as if I were a young woman“, said the artist in “Spiegel”. “I have no right to go on stage and sing badly, even if the audience applauds me for it.”
Her 90th birthday marks more than just a personal milestone: It is said to be her last as an active musician. Although she wants to do a few more appearances, there won’t be any more after the album that she’s giving her fans as a special anniversary.
The “Happy Birthday Nana” album contains 21 songs, including her favorite and best-known German-language songs such as “Good Morning Sunshine“, “Johnny Drum“and of course”White roses from Athens“. Next to “Poios eschei dákrya” are still two more new songs on the record she recorded with the Royal Symphonic Orchestra London.
Music had become her accomplice, she said in one of her earlier interviews. On stage she learned to express herself through singing. Today she can boast that she is one of the most successful singers of all time, having sold over 300 million records.
