Vangelis, whose real name is Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, was a Greek composer who started his musical career in a group called "The Forminx" and who would have his heyday in Greece in the 1960s.
But it was in 1968 that his fate changed when he created the "Aphrodite’s child" with a certain ... Demis Roussos, as well as Loukas Sideras and Anargyros "Silver" Koulouris.
And it is with this group that he records what will become a huge planetary hit at the time namely "Rain and Tears".
Group that will produce 3 albums in all and will sell more than 20 million records. And which in the end will separate in 1971.
It was in 1973 that his solo career took off when he composed the incredible soundtrack "L’apocalypse des animaux", by Frédéric Rossif.
The same year, he also composed his first solo album "Earth".
After living in Paris, he moved to London and signed with the label RCA Records.
With whom he will release the albums "Heaven and hell" in 1975, then the sublime and avant-garde "Albedo 0.39" in 1976 and "Spiral" in 1977, followed by "Beaubourg" in 1978 and finally the majestic and imperial "China" In 1979.
Also in 1979, he again composed a soundtrack for film, still for Frédéric Rossif, soundtrack for the film "Opéra Sauvage".
He also released an album "Short stories" from his collaboration with the singer of the group "Yes" Jon Anderson.
And finally a solo album "Odes" where his favorite singer Irène Papas does wonders, notably on the sublime "Nerantzoula".
His fame grew and his compositions were used more and more to decorate certain scenes from films, advertisements or events.
The consecration arrived in 1981 when he composed the soundtrack for the film "Chariots of fire" for which he was to receive an Award.
New collaboration with Jon Anderson with whom he produced the album "Friends of Mr Cairo" from which the flagship title "I'll Find My Way Home" will come.
Shortly followed by the sublime soundtrack of "Blade Runner" which was released in 1982.
In 1983, new beautiful soundtrack for the film "Antartica" and new collaboration, still with Jon Anderson on the album "Private collections".
In 1984 a new soundtrack will be released this time for the film "The bounty", then in 1985 the dark album "Mask" and in 1988, the album "Direct" which will not remain history as its best.
In 1991, last collaboration, again and again with his old friend Jon Anderson on the album "Page of life".
In 1992, another soundtrack with “Conquest of paradise”. Followed in 1995 by the solo album "Voices" then by the album "Oceanic" in 1996.
Each time with pieces of anthology and others more obscure... The artist will continue thereafter and will often be asked to compose special hymns like those of the Olympic Games in Sydney, the football world cup in 2002, etc. …
Artist who will leave us definitively on May 17, 2022 at the age of 79 following heart failure.
Composer of genius, particularly prolific, Vangelis can be considered to this day as one of the major artists of the XXth and XXIth centuries and will leave in the history of the musics which will survive him and this for centuries and centuries.
To discover or rediscover...
Discography (among others ...) :
60s Decade :
• Rain and tears (Aphrodite’s childs) 1968
• End of the world (Aphrodite’s childs) 1968
• Fais que ton rêve soit plus long que la nuit Part II 1968
• I want to live (Aphrodite’s childs) 1969
• Let me love, let me live (Aphrodite’s childs) 1969
• It's Five O'Clock (Aphrodite’s childs) 1969
70s Decade :
• Spring, summer, winter and fall (Aphrodite’s childs) 1970
• Break (Aphrodite’s childs) 1972
• L’apocalypse des animaux - La petite fille de la mer 1973
• L’apocalypse des animaux - La mort du loup 1973
• L’apocalypse des animaux - Création du monde 1973
• Earth - My face in the rain 1973
• Earth - A song 1973
• Heaven and Hell Part II 1975
• Entends-tu les chiens aboyer ? 1975
• Albedo 0.39 - Pulstar 1976
• Albedo 0.39 - Alpha 1976
• La fête sauvage 1976
• Spiral - Spiral 1977
• Spiral - To the unknown man 1978
• Hypothesis Part 2 1978
• The dragon 1978
• Opéra sauvage - L’enfant 1979
• Opéra sauvage - Irlande 1979
• Opéra sauvage - Hymne 1979
• China - The long march 1979
• China - Chung Kuo 1979
• Odes 1979 (Irène Papas)
80s Decade :
• See you later - My love 1980
• See you later - Memories of green 1980
• I hear you know (avec Jon Anderson) 1980
• Play within a play (avec Jon Anderson) 1980
• Chariots of fire 1981
• Cosmos theme 1981
• I'll Find My Way Home (avec Jon Anderson) 1981
• The friends of Mr Cairo (avec Jon Anderson) 1981
• Blade runner - Love theme 1982 (version finale en 1994)
• Blade runner - Tears in rain 1982
• Antartica - Theme 1983
• Italian song (avec Jon Anderson) 1983
• He is sailing (avec Jon Anderson) 1983
• The bounty 1984
• Soil Festivities - Movement 2 1984
• Soil Festivities - Movement 4 1984
• Mask - Movement 2 1985
• Mask - Mouvement 6 1985
• Invisible connections - Invisible connections 1985
• Rapsodies - To my champion and commander 1986
• Rapsodies - Rapsody 1986
• Direct - Elsewhere 1988
• Direct - Glorianna (Hymn a la femme) 1988
90s Decade :
• The city - Dawn 1990
• The city - Twilight 1990
• Garden of senses (avec Jon Anderson) 1991
• Is it love (avec Jon Anderson) 1991
• 1492 - Conquest of paradise 1992
• Voices - Prelude 1995
• Voices - Ask the mountains 1995
• Oceanic - Bon voyage 1996
• Oceanic - Fields of coral 1996
• El Greco - Mouvement V 1998
• El Greco - Mouvement X 1998
2000s Decade :
• Mythodea - Movement 6 2001
• Anthem FIFA World Cup 2002
• Alexander - Titans 2004
• Swiadectwo - Sanctus 2008
• Swiadectwo - Humanum est 2008
2010s Decade :
• Rosetta - Origins (Arrival) 2016
• Rosetta - Starstuff 2016
• Rosetta - Celestial Whispers 2016
• Through the night mist 2019
• Early years 2019
• Longing 2019
2020s Decade :
• Juno to Jupiter - Juno's power 2021
• Juno to Jupiter - In the magic of cosmos 2021
• Juno to Jupiter - Zeus almighty 2021
Tracks :
1968 ... surely one of the biggest hits of that year and the decade itself. The first steps of future huge stars (literally as well as figuratively ...)
1968...a sequel that can't match the previous gem but still allows the group to show that it won't be the group of just One Shot. The proof !
1968...the same year the young Vangelis began to work solo and the result was, to say the least...astonishing. This is just the beginning...
1969... back in grouped mode, a mode that suits him particularly well for the moment. But not sure it will last like this for very long...
1969... as long as the successes follow one another, the young Vangelis has no reason to want to emancipate himself from the rest of the group. For the moment...
1969...especially when they produce this kind of title. Their second biggest success, a success that definitely confirms the group as one of the most gifted of the end of the 60s. MA-GIC !
1970... the group will not survive the transition to the following decade. He delivers here one of his last titles and is about to turn the page definitively...
1972... the adventure will continue a little bit longer but the heart is no longer there, that's clear. Everyone will regain their freedom and 2 members of the group will begin a most successful solo career...
1973 ... the soundtrack with incredible lyricism which will reveal him and launch in a shattering way his solo career
1973 ... always the same soundtrack. After "La petite fille de la mer", here comes "La mort du loup", a 2nd WONDER !
1973...we end up with the "Création du monde", a 3rd WONDER with transcosmic inspiration ! In a single opus he will have succeeded in demonstrating that we will have to count on him in the years to come...
1973... he will do mainly in the instrumental since he is only a composer but he will make the others sing as well. Not often, but it will happen all the same...
1973... it is clear that this opus will not have quite the same level of inspiration as 'L'apocalypse des animaux' but we will be satisfied with it in any case...
1975... he obtained with this new opus a first real success on the album side and especially on both sides of the Atlantic, which does not spoil anything. The legend is now on !
1975...he signs here a new soundtrack for the Mexican film 'No oyes ladrar los perros' but this one will go somewhat unnoticed. Normal because the film, especially him, will hardly be talked about him...
1976 ... the title which will elevate him definitively and spectacularly to the rank of planetary star. A beginning of consecration which makes this totally extraordinary composer one of the biggest phenomena of the moment
1976 ... the confirmation of an incredible talent. But where is he going to get it all ? No one at this stage is able to compete with him, that's clear !
1976 ... new soundtrack, new success. Official supplier of HUGE BO. Each title released from now on is an event in itself
1977 ... new sound shock that once again amazes the world, never heard before. MO-NU-MEN-TAL !
1978 ... and what about that one. A real monument in itself ! Surely one of his most emblematic pieces. MAS-TER-FUL !
1978...two opuses which came out in 1978 but later because they actually date from 1971. Given the style and the sound used, we suspected it a little...
1978...what is surprising is that with this title dating from 1971 we can see all the progress made by the artist since then in terms of composition. The progress is amazing !
1978...this opus dates well from this year 1978 but it is clear that it will not remain as the most inspired of the artist. It also happens to him to pass 'through'...
1979 ... another dream soundtrack sublimated by an inspiration from who knows where. The composer's inspiration is limitless and constantly renews herself. This is called genius !
1979 ... after "L'Enfant", "Irlande". There are no longer enough superlatives to describe what it feels like to listen to a song like this. We are squarely touching the supernatural and almost perfect. MA-GIC !
1979 ... still from the same soundtrack, "Hymne". Another piece among the best known of the artist and which definitely consecrates him as one of the greatest composers of his time, just that !
1979 ... sudden inspiration from the Far East, it's simply beautiful. In total opposition to what he had done so far. But that's also genius !
1979 ... an incredible inspiration capable of embracing all cultures and all planetary sounds. Unique in it's genre !
1979 ... listen to me this other WONDER ! An Irene Papas at the height of her vocal possibilities and who literally transcends this extraordinary song once again
1980 ... small transition phase between 2 eras. After a 70s decade which consecrated him as one of the greatest composers of the decade, the following decade prepared to consecrate him definitively as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century...
1980...this title will be released for the first time in 1980 and will be released 2 years later in the soundtrack of a small film called...'Blade Runner'. As much as it will go somewhat unnoticed when he comes out, he will mark the spirits afterwards...
1980...the first collaboration between the 2 artists. A collaboration that will produce several albums and above all several sung titles of very very high caliber !
1980...from their first collaboration, we feel that their respective worlds complement each other perfectly. With the key to a result necessarily as a result !
1981 ... the title which will definitively make him enter the musical legend of this end of the XXth century. A movie that will stay in history in part thanks to this sublime soundtrack and among the best known of this end of the century. MAS-TER-FUL !
1981 ... live from Cosmos ! It is clear that his inspiration comes from there ... Hence exactly, good question ...
1981...when 2 huge stars of the moment meet again, the result is necessarily up to par. The proof with this first title which works perfectly. HU-GE !
1981 ... the duo is incredibly effective and the voice of Anderson mixes wonderfully with the music of Vangelis. All good little guys !
1982 ... a cult film, a cult soundtrack ! Everything is cult. This film remains to this day as one of the most significant of this end of the XXth century, in particular thanks to this absolutely incredible music
1982 ... the film's finale, an INCREDIBLE sequence, filled with beauty and emotion rarely seen in cinema. The composer has reached perfection !
1983 ... another soundtrack of remarkable inspiration. We are dumbfounded by its ability to find new, unexplored musical paths year after year
1983 ... new delirium between friends. And it still works just as well between these 2 artists with very different but oh so complementary profiles !
1983 ... a collaboration that we will find several times and which allows Vangelis to show that he can also make 'sung' titles. That's what we call total mastery !
1984 ... listen to that, royal ! Another film that can thank Heaven for having such a soundtrack. How many films would have known a very different future without these soundtracks ...
1984... new personal opus. Certainly it will not have quite the same level of influence as the previous soundtrack but will still experience a level of success of the most honorable...
1984...an inspiration that constantly regenerates year after year, decade after decade. And it's far, very far from over...
1985 ... an inspiration rarely seen in the 20th century ! Already more than 10 years of delivering to ordinary people songs of absolutely extraordinary intensity...a near record !
1985...not only does this man have a more than certain musical genius, but he is also constantly looking for something new. This produces opuses that are in no way alike, which further underlines the prowess of the composer...
1985...sometimes he seeks novelty so much that he gets lost in it. Too many musical innovations can kill musical innovation, the proof with this opus which will pass 'through'...
1986...he will have his favorite singer - Jon Anderson - and he will have his female equivalent with Irène Papas. And in the 2 collaborations, he will manage to get the best out of the 2 artists on the singing side...
1986...an opus centered mainly on the sublimation of Greek Orthodox liturgical texts or chants. An entire program !
1988 ... the years go by and everything is in balance. Notes flow through his head like an inexhaustible fountain ...
1988...and each opus does not contain just one title of more than certain quality, but at least several. This increases the listening pleasure all the more !
1990...new decade and especially new opus. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to continue to produce titles of the same quality as what he has produced before...
1990...for the moment it's indisputably heading for it. We are therefore off again for a new decade of musical discoveries of which he has the secret !
1991...new 100 % male collaboration and as always with these 2, it works perfectly ! They must have known each other by heart now...
1991...and on the collaboration side, it will not be the last, far from it. They like to work together in an obvious way and we can only encourage them to do so given what they produce !
1992 ... 500 years later, he too has reached paradise. One would have thought that after 3 decades at the peak of his possibilities, it would be time for him to breathe ... What the hell ! It starts again from more beautiful on the decade 90 !
1995 ... his compositions are incredibly timeless. They are still at the top of the era and take no wrinkle...unheard of !
1995...in addition he has this incredible ability to know how to evolve over time and to adapt to all eras and all the latest musical influences. What talent !
1996 ... an ocean of tranquility where everything is peaceful. Nothing changes, we are touching on perfection, once again !
1996... with each title we tell ourselves that he has achieved the best he can do and each time he surprises us with his ability to reproduce the best again and again...
1998... what reinforces the brilliant side of this unique artist is that he is still active while most of the composers equivalent to him at his beginnings have already hung up their gloves a long time ago. And he is still there and not just a little !
1998 ... 30 years separate "Rain and tears" from this song. 30 years of almost uninterrupted huge compositions. Who says better ?
2001...just like a Verdi... The Maestro begins his fifth decade here at the height of his art...and the adventure is far from over...
2001...certainly the composer is aging but the level of inspiration remains at a level that is impressive to say the least. Which is often the opposite when artists get older...
2002...a hymn to the glory of futcheboal. He will have done everything to us. Everything, I mean, everything ! But as everyone wants him, it's normal that we find him in fields that are varied to say the least...
2004 ... another film carried at arm's length by an awesome soundtrack. How many directors have to say thank you ... dozens, that's for sure ! At least...
2008... here it is on the soundtrack of the documentary in homage to John Paul II. A soundtrack that went somewhat unnoticed but given the basic subject, this documentary only concerned a necessarily limited audience...
2008...he has this incredible ability to adapt to all possible and imaginable subjects and themes. Surely one of the very few composers to know how to do it so precisely...
2016...while we thought he had indeed retired this time, here he is back 8 years later and in what way ! A tribute album to a space probe, who would have thought that possible...?
2016...nearly 50 years after his debut, the composer has lost none of his creative level. But how does he succeed in maintaining himself at such an inspiring level ? Good question...
2016...paying homage to a space probe that went to study a comet is surprising to say the least. But with him, nothing is surprising at this level...
2019... 50 years ago the amazed world discovered him with the other members of Aphrodite's Childs. Who could have imagined at that time the brilliant composer he was to become in the decades that were to follow. Not many people, that's for sure...
2019...not to mention that he will be great until the end ! While leading a very discreet life on the side, far from the star system and glitter. A real alien, there are no other words !
2019...what is certain is that his music will still survive him for decades and decades, even centuries. This is the lot of genius composers !
2021...new tribute to a space probe, this time Juno. A fascination for cosmic exploration which has always been one of his favorite themes, it is clear...
2021...this opus will unfortunately be the last. Because fate will soon catch up with him but at this stage he does not know it yet...
2021...the title of this title is 'Zeus Almighty'. But now we can also say 'Vangelis Almighty' because his name is now part of Greek mythology !
Top Bonus : the story of a lifetime...
Top Bonus : the story of a lifetime II...
Top Bonus : the story of a lifetime III...
Top Bonus : the story of a lifetime IV...
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