Greek singer Giannis Parios paid tribute to the late artist Giorgos Mazonakis on stage during a concert in Thessaloniki on Saturday, September 19.
Parios dedicated several minutes of his performance to address the audience following the sudden death of Mazonakis at the age of 54. During the tribute, Parios shared the backstory of the song Pote Pote, performing the track after revealing that he had originally composed it for his late colleague.
Speaking to the crowd, Parios said that he held deep respect for Mazonakis, describing him as a wonderful and honest person who had endured significant personal hardship. He added that respecting someone is even more important than loving them.
The History of Pote Pote
Parios explained that Mazonakis had previously asked him to write a song for him, a request that was reinforced by their mutual friend Savvas in Thessaloniki. After Parios completed the composition, Savvas informed Mazonakis, who expressed interest in hearing the piece.
However, Mazonakis became preoccupied with other matters and forgot about the track. As a result, Parios included the song on his own album. Some time after Parios released the recording, Mazonakis heard it and reached out to Savvas, asking to record his own version. Parios agreed immediately, telling Savvas that the song was intended for Mazonakis all along and encouraging him to record it in full.
Before singing the track to the concert audience, Parios noted that while he has written numerous songs throughout his career, he chose to perform Pote Pote because he knew it was Mazonakis's favorite composition.
Musical Legacy and Context
Parios is one of Greece's most prominent vocalists and songwriters, widely recognized for his decades-long career in romantic ballads and traditional laiko music. His extensive catalog includes both his own performances and compositions written for other major figures in Greek music.
Mazonakis was a popular Greek laiko singer known for his distinctive vocal delivery and stage presence. Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city and a major cultural center in the north of the country, served as the venue for the memorial performance.
