GREECE
- How did you get the role of Ariel, back in 1989?
It was an audition, for both singing and speaking parts. It’s been many years since those days. My career as a singer had started years before, when I was chosen in an audition to play the role of Mary Magdalene in the Greek theatrical production of the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber. Then few years later I had played also the role of Peron’s mistress in the Greek production of the rock opera “Evita” of the same writers. In both these legendary theatrical productions the Greek actors had to pass an audition and be approved by the English original producers of these operas. The same with the Disney classics: American producers from the Disney film company have the last word in the choosing of the foreign actors and/or singers who dub the main roles. There are strict and precise rules to guarantee the good quality of the result. So Dimítris Lékkas (Δημήτρης Λέκκας), a well respected composer, who was the person responsible for these dubbings, had thought of me and had called me for the role of Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”.
After getting the role, it took me around two, three studio day sessions to do the dubbing. One day we used for the first recording of the whole film. Then the next day we made few corrections and few second “takes” so as to choose the best. There was also a third day for any other corrections that might be needed, in case something didn’t sound good enough to the producers.
After getting the role, it took me around two, three studio day sessions to do the dubbing. One day we used for the first recording of the whole film. Then the next day we made few corrections and few second “takes” so as to choose the best. There was also a third day for any other corrections that might be needed, in case something didn’t sound good enough to the producers.
- How was the experience, singing the famous song "Part of your World"?
I remember this song as a very moving song. The mermaid is wishing with all her heart to become a part of our world, to become a human being with two legs instead of a fish-tail, and be able to walk on the ground like we all do.
When I was singing it and whenever I am listening to it, the song is like a “reminder” of how important it is to be healthy and able to stand on your own feet. We consider this “given” and normal… but it is not. Some people do not have this gift. And many of us who have it, we do not appreciate it.
The experience was interesting and pleasant. When doing such a dubbing you have to be very concentrated and careful. While speaking or singing, you are simultaneously watching the ready-made film on a monitor screen in front of you. Further than singing or speaking correctly you also have to be following with great precision the movement of the lips of the animated figure. And also… each and every deep breath, laughter or weeping, each and every body gesture of the hero has to be followed. This is a much harder thing to accomplish, compared to what the original actor-singer has to do.
The original actor, who is speaking or singing the original language, is just reading and freely interpreting the role. Thus comes out the first audio recording of the spoken words and songs and it is afterwards that the designers and animators draw the figures. All animated movements, gestures, shaping of the lips etc are following the rhythm of the already recorded original voices.
Whereas the actor or singer who does the dubbing on another language has to adapt his voice and all the acting on what is already there on the screen. It is hard, but also interesting kind of job, that needs both talent and precision. I had very much enjoyed doing it.
When I was singing it and whenever I am listening to it, the song is like a “reminder” of how important it is to be healthy and able to stand on your own feet. We consider this “given” and normal… but it is not. Some people do not have this gift. And many of us who have it, we do not appreciate it.
The experience was interesting and pleasant. When doing such a dubbing you have to be very concentrated and careful. While speaking or singing, you are simultaneously watching the ready-made film on a monitor screen in front of you. Further than singing or speaking correctly you also have to be following with great precision the movement of the lips of the animated figure. And also… each and every deep breath, laughter or weeping, each and every body gesture of the hero has to be followed. This is a much harder thing to accomplish, compared to what the original actor-singer has to do.
The original actor, who is speaking or singing the original language, is just reading and freely interpreting the role. Thus comes out the first audio recording of the spoken words and songs and it is afterwards that the designers and animators draw the figures. All animated movements, gestures, shaping of the lips etc are following the rhythm of the already recorded original voices.
Whereas the actor or singer who does the dubbing on another language has to adapt his voice and all the acting on what is already there on the screen. It is hard, but also interesting kind of job, that needs both talent and precision. I had very much enjoyed doing it.
- What is your favourite scene from The Little Mermaid?
All the underwater scenes were like magic to me. It was like diving in a beloved, but also somehow a very well known world… Being Greek myself and living in a country surrounded by the sea, the whole of the sea world is something I am very much acquainted with. And actually it is from within the Greek mythology that mermaids were born.
- Do you know why it was decided to re-dub the movie in 1998? What are your thoughts on the new version?
I guess the redubbing was decided by the Greek video company some years later, so as to refresh the interest to the Greek market, by offering a new version of the film with new names from the commercial Greek pop music scene.
I had not even heard about this redubbing when they made it, but also I didn’t care. By 1998 I was already very much into my own creations, writing my own songs, releasing CD albums, touring around with my band etc.
I had not even heard about this redubbing when they made it, but also I didn’t care. By 1998 I was already very much into my own creations, writing my own songs, releasing CD albums, touring around with my band etc.
- In 1991, you dubbed Belle for Disney's Beauty and the Beast. How did you get that second princess?
The producers liked the result of “The Little Mermaid” so they asked me to do also the voice of Belle in “Beauty and The Beast”. But of course I had to pass an audition again. Because Belle is supposed to be older than Ariel, so in the audition they wanted to check whether I could make my voice sound more of an older woman than that of Ariel. I did so and took that role also.
The recording session went exactly like the dubbing of The Little Mermaid that I had done before. But of course it was also a bit easier for me, as I had become a bit more experienced in the synchronization technique.
The recording session went exactly like the dubbing of The Little Mermaid that I had done before. But of course it was also a bit easier for me, as I had become a bit more experienced in the synchronization technique.
- What is your favourite song from the film? Do you like the Greek dubbing of the movie?
Yes, I like this Greek dubbing because Dimítris Lékkas (Δημήτρης Λέκκας) had put a lot of his soul in it and this had created a nice atmosphere in the studio and therefore a nice result. And also there were some very good and respected colleagues involved, like for example Yiánnis Palamídas (Γιάννης Παλαμίδας), a singer I very much admire.
I cannot exactly say which song I like best, but I remember that scene in which Belle is choosing one book among many in a library and is then sitting in front of the water fountain among the sheep and reading it in peace. ("Belle", ed)
I cannot exactly say which song I like best, but I remember that scene in which Belle is choosing one book among many in a library and is then sitting in front of the water fountain among the sheep and reading it in peace. ("Belle", ed)
- How do you feel about being the voice Greek children associate with Belle today?
It is indeed a sweet feeling, whenever fans of my music are approaching me after a concert or writing to me in the website or in my facebook page, about how they suddenly discovered in the internet that it was my voice they were listening to when they were children, each time they were seeing these legendary Disney classics, “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast”. I so often hear this from fans, who are of course much younger than me. They say, “I like your albums, your songs, your concerts, etc, but also as a child… I grew up listening to your voice”. This is funny…
- How did you get the role of Shanti in The Jungle Book the same year?
You are right… I had dubbed Shanti and also I had dubbed the voice of Bambi’s mother in “Bambi”, and maybe also few more… But I don’t remember details of all these.
It’s just that, after I had done the two main roles of Ariel and of Belle, I had gained technical experience in dubbing. So whenever there was a need for a dubbing of the voice of a short female role in any of the other films that were dubbed later in time, producers would call me to go help, with no need to go through any other audition again.
It’s just that, after I had done the two main roles of Ariel and of Belle, I had gained technical experience in dubbing. So whenever there was a need for a dubbing of the voice of a short female role in any of the other films that were dubbed later in time, producers would call me to go help, with no need to go through any other audition again.
- Which character would you say reflects your personality the most: Ariel or Belle?
Both characters have main elements that reflect also to my own personality. This is the reason why I had such good time when “sinking” in both these roles, so as to interpret them in the best possible way.
I loved and I felt very close to the role of the Mermaid, because I love the sea with its wonderful underwater world, the rocks, the plants, the living creatures of the salted waters. And also its waves, its scent, its ever changing color, its cool breeze. I feel I wouldn’t be able to live far away from the sea, and all of the above is expressed in many of my songs, like for example in my 2003 released CD and song and video-clip titled “The Secrets of the Rocks”.
As for “Beauty and the Beast”, when I had first seen the film and examined the role to interpret, I had felt so close to Belle… How the people of her village were calling her “weird”… because she liked books and because she had a “weird” taste for life in general… Was not much to interpret, I felt I was just playing my own self.
I loved and I felt very close to the role of the Mermaid, because I love the sea with its wonderful underwater world, the rocks, the plants, the living creatures of the salted waters. And also its waves, its scent, its ever changing color, its cool breeze. I feel I wouldn’t be able to live far away from the sea, and all of the above is expressed in many of my songs, like for example in my 2003 released CD and song and video-clip titled “The Secrets of the Rocks”.
As for “Beauty and the Beast”, when I had first seen the film and examined the role to interpret, I had felt so close to Belle… How the people of her village were calling her “weird”… because she liked books and because she had a “weird” taste for life in general… Was not much to interpret, I felt I was just playing my own self.
- Have you ever sung these Disney songs live?
No. But let me describe to you the funny incidents that kept happening later in my life. While giving concerts with my band in Athens and around Greece, I started noticing that very often, especially in open air concerts, there were a lot of children among the audience. I felt it was normal for young parents to be bringing their children along with them, especially in open air performances that take place early in the evening and not late in the night, like when we play in clubs here.
But very often some of these children would come near to the front of the stage and ask me to sing songs of which the titles I didn’t recognize… I couldn’t figure out which songs they were referring to…
Then in one occasion, a little girl from the audience had screamed to me: “Please Kristi, play the song of Ariel!” I thus suddenly realized what all these children kept asking for... The musicians of my band had burst down in laughter. I had to explain to the cute girl that these were songs that were not included in the repertoire we were presenting with my band. That they were not my own creations, but just songs from a film I had once in my lifetime dubbed.
But very often some of these children would come near to the front of the stage and ask me to sing songs of which the titles I didn’t recognize… I couldn’t figure out which songs they were referring to…
Then in one occasion, a little girl from the audience had screamed to me: “Please Kristi, play the song of Ariel!” I thus suddenly realized what all these children kept asking for... The musicians of my band had burst down in laughter. I had to explain to the cute girl that these were songs that were not included in the repertoire we were presenting with my band. That they were not my own creations, but just songs from a film I had once in my lifetime dubbed.
- What are you doing nowadays?
Together with my long time companion in life and in music, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Stathis Kalyviotis, we have made six CD-albums that got very good response in the international world music scene. So Stathis and I, we write songs and release albums, we form bands, we play music and we tour the world giving concerts.
I am writing the lyrics of our songs and Stathis is writing, arranging and recording the music. The music is a fusion of Greek traditional rhythms and scales together with elements of psychedelic rock, punk and electronica. The lyrics of our songs are mainly experiential, which means that they have to do with my own direct experience of this world, revealed or secret…
Our latest CD, released by Riverboat Records UK in September 2016 is titled “Nyn”. It went No 1 in the Transglobal World Music Chart (October 2016) and No 2 in the World Music Charts Europe (November 2016).
Nyn means Now in ancient Greek. So the main thing I am doing now, is trying not to forget to be living in the Now.
And so I am now thanking you, dear August, for your interest and for your nice questions, that gave me the chance to make a fast and short trip to my past.
I am writing the lyrics of our songs and Stathis is writing, arranging and recording the music. The music is a fusion of Greek traditional rhythms and scales together with elements of psychedelic rock, punk and electronica. The lyrics of our songs are mainly experiential, which means that they have to do with my own direct experience of this world, revealed or secret…
Our latest CD, released by Riverboat Records UK in September 2016 is titled “Nyn”. It went No 1 in the Transglobal World Music Chart (October 2016) and No 2 in the World Music Charts Europe (November 2016).
Nyn means Now in ancient Greek. So the main thing I am doing now, is trying not to forget to be living in the Now.
And so I am now thanking you, dear August, for your interest and for your nice questions, that gave me the chance to make a fast and short trip to my past.
Interview by Agust Ingi Aðalheiðarson
May 1, 2017
May 1, 2017
