Read the English-language lyrics to “Alcohol is Free”, sung by Koza Mostra & Agathonas Iakovidis. They’ll compete in the second semi-final on May 16. Then let us know what you think of their entry in the comments box below.
The heavy sea found us (when we were passing) through Via Egnatia1
Beaufort forces take us on the open sea
The course might be a little wrong, who is playing with the lights?
And the (ship’s) fore is heading towards Grevena2
In a sea of whisky
(we ‘re) castaways and who can find us
And the whole earth gets dizzy, staggers
(Someone) with his head like a strainer
And the car like a fishing boat
Who has put it wheel and sail?
Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol is free (x3)
Alcohol is free, alcohol is free
(There’s) wave and it’s raging
And the mermaid is asking
But Alekos is drunk, fair lady
(There’s a) traffic light in the midlle of the sea
Dude, we were found out
Who took my little house far away, far away?
The heavy sea found us (when we were passing) through Via Egnatia
Beaufort forces take us on the open sea
The course might be a little wrong, who is playing with the lights?
And the (ship’s) fore is heading towards Grevena
The heavy sea found us (when we were passing) through Via Egnatia
Beaufort forces take us on the open sea
The course might be a little wrong, who is playing with the lights?
And the (ship’s) fore is heading towards Grevena
The whisky is not to blame
The ice cubes were bombs3
Even the boat eventually has wheels
Alcotest and traffic cop
The road wasn’t made for us
A downhill is starting in the sea
Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol is free (x3)
Alcohol is free, alcohol is free
Here in New York City, I scored their Saturday performance 11th. I had little doubt that, if they finished in the top 10 they would surely have deserved it. You sell comedy the right way (as demonstrated by their music video), you are more than likely to be rewarded.
The song has been translated into American, rather than English. What’s an Alcotest or Traffic Cop?
Even the automatic Bing translation gives you less of a dog’s breakfast than this!
One of the best in Eurovision Song Contest 2013. Thumbs up!
NICE SONG I REALLY LOVE THIS GOOD LUCK GREECE 😀 LOVE YOU FROM AZERBAIJAN <3
Good luck to Koza Mostra – one of my favourite Greek groups lately – and Agathonas. Finally a truly Greek song representing Greece. Never mind the translation mistakes, it’s a fun song. GO GREECE!!!!
I once read the translated lyrics of Bistra Voda. It was almost enough to put me off, but I had little trouble in forgetting them, and just hearing the magic. Same with Greece, of course it makes no sense to me, don’t care, love the song!
CAPOLAVORO!!! Fantastic!!
the song is absolutely greek, the lyrics make no sense translated in english. Only greeks can understand the song i understand why no else is happy with this sound. We are sooo crazy us greeks
Instead of uphill they translated downhill. I can’t see why such mistakes were allowed.The entire translation was done in no longer than a couple of minutes,if that.Of course the lyrics are not the most serious I have read but if someone does not understand Greek ,they do not make any sense.
the meaning is deeply allegorical.. here you need a better translation of the lyrics..
if you replace the word ‘alchohol’ with the word ‘money’ you might get an idea of the song’s attitude.
Definitely better than the sexy chicks they send each year. In the “Marry me” category though…funny but not in the top 5 unless everybody joins the party theme…
The translation is tragic
I have to agree with ‘Space’ …
The lyrics are really bad with translate.
This song have a BIG meaning for Greek people.If you know a little bit of the Greek history you will undestand something..The lyrics hace something behind them.It’s everything that said ‘Space’.
I don’t think that Agathonas & Koza Mostra going to win but I hope in a good place in the finals of ESC.
This song is fantastic but NOT BUT.These are false this is a FANTASTIC SONG in top 7 in eurovision 2013!!!!!!!!!!
The Lyrics have a very profound meaning in Greek: Egnatia was the street connection Greece to central Europe. Whisky is the dring of western europeans (that Greeks love). The mermaid is the sister of Alexander the Great, named here Alekos. The song means that while Greece is part of Europe, we have a difficulty to manage our coyntry and economy like nothern europeans. Once we discovered whisky, we loved being drunk (it’s a metaphore) but it wasn’t just because of whisky but because the ice we added was bad (the local way of doing things). the song recognizes that even… Read more »
Wrong Lyrics:
Alcotest and traffic cop
The road wasn’t made for us
A downhill is starting in the sea
The right lyrics are:
Alcotest and traffic cop
They are not for us the terror
A downhill is starting in the sea
I agree with Zolan. Very catchy tune and clever lyrics. Everything is well thought out, from the musical intruments (love the “baglama”) to the kilts, with the deliberate intention of bringing a folk feel to the performance. Although the “fustanella” would have had the same effect. Unfortunately, the translation provided above is terrible! Not accurate at all! It is a shame that the song’s message is lost in translation.
I like! but there are better songs….Denmark…;)
Best entry Greece ever made to the contest. Folk music combined with ska. Very much uplifting song. It will do well in the competition and will be a major hit at clubs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=a5PNz_AYuLo
Dimitris, I don’t really get it!You consider this song to be a disaster………..???Hopefully the rest greek audience did not think the same and voted for what I consider the most entertaining and up-lifting song of the contest so far!
Well, finally a song you can dance… is exactly what I thought about “Glorious”.
That’s my country and I don’t really feel proud of it. The old man singing thinks that they gonna win the whole contest. It’s a disaster. We don’t deserve a place in the grand final this year…
Naat,
The UK might as well plonk in Rylan Clark if they wanted a ‘dance’ and to have a ‘laugh’.
high5 Naat!
I just LOVE IT!!!!Brilliant sound and arrangement and finally a song you can DAAAANCEEEEEEEEE ! (dont think the fact that the guys wear kilts makes the song a ‘joke’! Isnt it about time to get rid of the Eurovision stereotype of Disney ballads or look-alike pop songs?)
I see it as the lesser of the national final evils. I kind of like the obnoxious sound of it. It’s not going to be everyone cup of tea and thats what make the world go round.
Now, let’s not get pitchy 😉
The kilts are a natural representation of musical and thematic solidarity with folk tradition. There is nothing here that isn’t relevant to the whole.
If you don’t enjoy it as a shallow party song, you can still appreciate it in other ways.
It is a playful allegory using irony to project a positive attitude. “Alcohol is free” is the punchline to a pretty clever joke.
The song is also a very well-crafted and performed piece of music.
Hey, this is up there with Athena when they represented Turkey.
Kudos to Greece for being adventurous!
And yes I voted for them in the Wiwi poll.
Every year, we seem to have at least one novelty ‘joke’ act at the Eurovision Song Contest. And this year, this would be one of them.
I fear Greece are having their own Father Ted moment this year…
Well, du-uh!
But well, if we’re gonna have a gimmicky trainwreck, at least this is kinda fun. Could be worse. Could be Rambo Amadeus. Or Jedward.
C#?!
This is not even worth a comment.