It may seem weird that some Turkish man writing about Rembetika.

But after years of interest, hundreds of hours spent on reading and thousands of drachmas spent on rempetika books and cassettes; I feel a humble authority to write something on this unique music phenomena.

On the other hand, being born in Mikra Asia is also a good reference.

Rembetika is a music genre that was born at the beginning of 20^th century in Greece and was very popular till the end of the 2^nd World War.

This genre is well known for its mostly pessimistic lyrics and the sub-culture of in which it grew.

The rhythms and the style of Rembetika is mostly inspired by its roots in Mikra Asia. When observed generally, you see that the melodies are more alike to Anatolian style. But on the other hand, nearly all significant Rembetika songs are composed and sung only in Greece (mostly in Athens).

Σαν θα πεθάνω, βρε παιδία,
αντί κεριά, λιβάνια
βάλτε φωτιές μες στο λουλά
πνίξτε με στα ντουμάνια.

Κι αντί για διάκο και παπά,
λαμπάδες και λουλούδια,
κόψτε σπαγγάνια τουμπεκία
(βάλτε φώτιες στον αργιλέ)
και πέστε μου τραγούδια.

Και όταν θα με θάψετε
θα ήθελα ακόμα
τον αργιλέ στο πλάι μου
το τραβηχτώ στο στόμα.

Μπαγιαντέρας (Δημήτρης ΓΚόγκος)

WHEN I DIE

When I die, my friends,
instead of candles and incense
put some fire on loula⁽¹⁾
and drown me with smoke.

And instead of deacon and priest,
lamps and flowers,
cut some tombeki⁽²⁾
(give some fire to nargile)
and sing songs to me.

And when you bury me
I want you also
put a nargile beside me
so I can pull into my mouth.

Mpagianteras (Dimitrios Gogos)

These two terms are related to "nargile" - traditional device for smoking tobacco (aka. hookah).
loula⁽¹⁾ : The upper part of nargile                 tombeki⁽²⁾ : Special tobacco for nargile